Barefoot for the hack, rule change proposal

[MHM]

@IMReserve

Funny, related story: The same horse won every over fences and the under saddle in the 3’3 at Capital Challenge this year. And, for that matter, won every 3’3 over fences and every under saddle at every other indoor show that he entered. With shoes. Yet, I still saw upwards of ten horses pulling shoes in that division. What? Were they gunning for seventh place? I guess I get it if you’re in the running for champion, but in this case it would seem like a complete waste of time, money, and horse hoof since the same horse won every class.

Maybe the others were all hoping to be reserve champion. Which is still a huge deal at Indoors, even if they know they won’t be champion.

The difference between fifth and sixth place can be enough to make a horse champion or reserve at a major show, depending on the points, complete with the accompanying bragging rights. So yes, under certain circumstances, many people will think it’s worth the money and effort to take their best shot, even for a low hack ribbon.

Or even if they are not in contention for a tri-color, who wouldn’t want to be able to say they had the hack winner at Indoors?

[poltroon]

Fewer rules are probably better, and the process is probably self-regulating, because of the cost, the hassle, and the risk of lameness. The downside of a rule is that horses that need a farrier to do an actual shoeing repair might not be able to.

But still, IMHO a pretty dumb practice and I think we’d be better off without it.

[HonestPersonFakeAcco]

@IMReserve

Funny, related story: The same horse won every over fences and the under saddle in the 3’3 at Capital Challenge this year. And, for that matter, won every 3’3 over fences and every under saddle at every other indoor show that he entered. With shoes. Yet, I still saw upwards of ten horses pulling shoes in that division. What? Were they gunning for seventh place? I guess I get it if you’re in the running for champion, but in this case it would seem like a complete waste of time, money, and horse hoof since the same horse won every class.

Funny. And true. One step further: The same horse also won the U/S at Harrisburg, WIHS, and NHS the previous year. Also with shoes. I do get a kick out of watching horses with no (or few) points over fences rip shoes off for a hack. What are they thinking?

Unrelated, does anyone else feel that judges disproportionately let “safe” horses win (or place high in) the U/S? In other words, doesn’t it seem like the horses that win the U/S at WEF also win at Devon and also win at indoors? Is this because the best hunters are generally competing at WEF? Or is it because it is very “safe” for judges to automatically reward well-known horses at high profile shows instead of risking irritating the big muckety mucks at the top shows?

[vxf111]

@HonestPersonFakeAccount

Funny. And true. One step further: The same horse also won the U/S at Harrisburg, WIHS, and NHS the previous year. Also with shoes. I do get a kick out of watching horses with no (or few) points over fences rip shoes off for a hack. What are they thinking?

Unrelated, does anyone else feel that judges disproportionately let “safe” horses win (or place high in) the U/S? In other words, doesn’t it seem like the horses that win the U/S at WEF also win at Devon and also win at indoors? Is this because the best hunters are generally competing at WEF? Or is it because it is very “safe” for judges to automatically reward well-known horses at high profile shows instead of risking irritating the big muckety mucks at the top shows?

I think it’s because true 12
movers are rare and the judge can easily appreciate them

[HonestPersonFakeAcco]

@vxf111

I think it’s because true 12
movers are rare and the judge can easily appreciate them

Fair enough.

[m_m1]

@Pennywell Bay

No snark intended, so my apology if that is how it came across. I, too, think I see a difference in my mare, albeit slight. Don’t know if it is unintentional bias as my farrier and vet swear they don’t (this summer we were looking at a possible lameness issue).

I’m glad you were called on your “snark” - it came across to me as snarky, and I was surprised. I don’t “know” you that well, Pennywell Bay, but I don’t expect you to be snarky, so it was good to have you clarify that you weren’t.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.