Disputes Between Riders and Officials at USEA Annual Meeting

[Xctrygirl]

You know this is funny to me. I compete predominantly in jumpers now and the warm up is effective for what it is. USUALLY the trainers are controlling the fence and dictating what the rider warming up does. There are multiple “fences” with enough standards and poles to make anything legal.

Now as a former eventer I still usually warm up without a ground person but I ask if I can share a jump with people and either explain I am alone, or point out any minion I might have who can help put a pole back as needed.

I still event a bit and I’ve seen scary warm ups at events as well as at shows. I think the compulsion to over warm up is the issue that causes the worst episodes that I have seen.

Especially for eventing it really is important to teach riders that less is more. You can’t fix all the problems in the warm up, but you for sure can cause more issues and expend useful energy that you and your horse might need if your attention to fitness preparations is lacking.

I would think you would see more success if you tried to have the situation where people do “have dibs” on a fence so that people can warm up for themselves and their animals more how THEY need and less about “I had to jump a max square oxer because I had no one on the ground and we nearly died!” It really is just about owning your choices, at least imo.

Em

[sherian]

ffs can we leave starter grassroots! whole point is it is a cheap and cheerful way to get people started and they don’t need the death of a thousand fees from EC to do this

[Old_Mac_Donald]

@Jealoushe

I left a clue for you

Has he… recently been discussed on here? Or am I Over Thinking it?

[Jealoushe]

I don’t think so actually but I have a wonky memory bank lol

[fordtraktor]

I am really curious who complained about Harry!

Maybe there needs to be a posted schedule with any modifications and objections need to be resolved at least by the day before. Last minute changes are really unfair, as is stopping people during their warmups unless absolutely crucial.

If we want to encourage the best of the best to come over here, we need to ensure they don’t get treated like that after spending tens of thousands getting a horse over the pond just to ruin their ride like that.

[IronwoodFarm]

Janet, one comment in microchipping from owning a breed that requires microchips to evaluation. We have been at it for a long time but many of our chipped horses have 10 or 12 number chips versus the USEF standard of 15 number chips. The different numbers signify different frequencies and not all scanners read all frequencies unless you buy a top of the line instrument ($250+). The USEF requires that their 15 number chips are used, so there will be situations with some breeds where the horse will have to have two chips – the older one and the newer USEF one. Removing an existing microchip is not a simple option.

i am curious from an organizer’s perspective – will an organizer be required to have a scanner on hand? I would assume so.

I agree the cost is modest. My vet charges $25 for the chip and insertion now. Back in the old days when few people chipped, it was $140. I routinely offer microchipping to my foal buyers because it is cheap and easy. However, I recognize that I live in a vet rich area but others may not have that option. I’m opposed to mandatory chipping in my breed registry because reduces registrations to some degree. When it comes to discretionary activities such as horse shows, it is just the cost of participating like USEF and USEA membership.

[Janet]

@IronwoodFarm

i am curious from an organizer’s perspective – will an organizer be required to have a scanner on hand? I would assume so.

As far as I know, there is no requirement for the organizer to have a scanner.

[Rackonteur]

@Old_Mac_Donald

ALL dogs and cats MUST be microchipped in Australian states QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, WA. You cannot legally sell a puppy in my state unless it is microchipped.

A lot of Americans wouldn’t stand for that. They don’t want any government/official regulation of anything that keeps track of anyone’s comings and goings.
There’s also concern that animal microchipping will lead to human microchipping, and I can’t see that being allowed here either.
There are people over here who refuse to license their dogs and cats (vaccinate them), leash their dogs, or keep them fenced in. They don’t spay or neuter them; they’re certainly not going to microchip them.

[Rackonteur]

@Old_Mac_Donald

ALL dogs and cats MUST be microchipped in Australian states QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, WA. You cannot legally sell a puppy in my state unless it is microchipped.

All citizens MUST vote, too, or so I’ve read.
That wouldn’t fly in the US either, not for some people.

But then the US doesn’t control gun ownership, or provide healthcare to everyone, so …

[libgrrl]

I was an “uber volunteer” for a local animal shelter for a bit.

The microchips don’t keep track of anyone/anything’s comings and goings. They are not GPS enabled. They are scannable if the pup/kitty is found and can (possibly) trace lost beast to their owner – if the owner bothered to register the microchip.

Lots of resistance to it, however. Government intrusion, Mark of the Beast, etc. We’re just trying to get puppy home

[DogWithBigEars]

So what is the clue?

[enjoytheride]

I have no issues with microchipping, but it gets frustrating when people from other countries assume the US works the same way. I mean, apparently in Australia everyone spays and neuters their pets, there are no backyard breeders, no dogs running loose, no animal goes unvaccinated, etc. It certainly seems like utopia in Australia with the lack of unwanted pets.

[skydy]

But the camels , the snakes, and other issues!

Come on, I really don’t think that this is a competition about which country is more utopian than the other. People can only explain how it works where they live.

I don’t feel the need to become defensive when people from countries other than the U.S. have different experiences and share them here. I find it interesting and educational, not condescending. After all the U.S. does tend to brag a great deal about our “greatness”. Sure, we’re good, but so are other countries, and nobody’s perfect.

As far as stray animals are concerned, many countries have a better handle on that issue than the U.S. does. That’s a fact, but needn’t be a bone of contention.

[Willesdon]

Most “officials” at Events are amateurs who volunteer to do the job. Maintaining a list of overly officious volunteers who make a bad call about e.g. neck straps would simply reduce the already small pool of volunteers. Why give up a day of your life to be listed as incompetent?

In the UK, all the FJ and many other officials at Events, even at unaffiliated these days, have radios. Any disputes or aggravation, the TD or Steward will be there quickly as the Voice of Ultimate Authority. Where I’m based, the Unaffiliated Events all follow BE rules and this is clear in the Event schedule when riders enter. Rules are clear and are clearly enforced. As a wise TD once said “We will back you up. We can always get competitors but it is really hard to get volunteers.”

[trubandloki]

@Willesdon

Most “officials” at Events are amateurs who volunteer to do the job. Maintaining a list of overly officious volunteers who make a bad call about e.g. neck straps would simply reduce the already small pool of volunteers. Why give up a day of your life to be listed as incompetent?

This is a good point.

I was thinking about the warm-up example and I do wonder how a person is supposed to know if the rider is going thru their ever important and not to be intruded upon ring orientation or just walking Dobbin around the ring before starting work? And the other side of that coin is, what if no one said something about something that was a rule until the rider was done warming up, that chops a whole bunch of time off their ability to send someone to get whatever is needed to fix the problem and might make them miss their ride time.

It kind of feels like (on that complaint) there is a no win option.

[Willesdon]

@trubandloki From experience, I would say it is quite easy to see who is seriously warming up and who is wandering around having a chat. It only takes a minute to say “Your tail bandage is still on” or “Your nose band is undone” as a Ring Steward. The time time consuming part is the rider who then says “Oh no it’s not”. And people rambling around with no focus can do that outside the ring!

[Fergs]

Most of what the USEA has done since about 2000 has been about $$$.

[Jealoushe]

Are they? In Canada the officials are licensed through EC. I agree though that we DO need officials and need them badly, however that doesn’t mean they should have a free from consequences position. I support an open dialogue from riders and officials when there is an issue.

[Blugal]

Sadly there is an easy option to fix this: pay all officials properly, including all ring stewards, tack check, jump judges. Entry fees would double, but then we could all have the ability to complain about our “rights”.

Tongue in cheek… except that’s what the H/J world did, and it’s unbelievably expensive (as an amateur who’s not going to beat the pros so I’m just there for the experience).

[trubandloki]

@Blugal

Sadly there is an easy option to fix this: pay all officials properly, including all ring stewards, tack check, jump judges. Entry fees would double, but then we could all have the ability to complain about our “rights”.

But… but… but… then I would lose my fun volunteer job where I get to stand out in whatever the weather happens to be that day.