Disputes Between Riders and Officials at USEA Annual Meeting

[Willesdon]

Certain people are licensed by BE such as the Course Designer, the Steward, the Course Builder, and they all get BE training in order to qualify. I don’t know about payment but I presume they get something. Fence judges, ring stewards, crossing stewards, pole pickers, stable managers, person who sets up all the dressage arenas, all do it for the love of the sport. But the Fence Judges do have a full briefing before each Event.

Blenheim Palace 4*, when run by BE, had a full time boss person and her two assistants. Everyone one else in the 350+ roles were unpaid volunteers.

[trubandloki]

I can not imagine what eventing would cost if everyone doing everything had to be a certified paid individual. Darn.

[Rel6]

To that point, at Land Rover this year, someone was disqualified during dressage because they forgot to take off a piece of equipment after their warmup (I think it was bell boots). I agree - its a little damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

[Willesdon]

In the last 22 years I’ve given, free of charge, at least 10 months of my life. Wonder what that is worth in cash?

[ACMEeventing]

Wasn’t there also a noseband with double bridle issue also? Although that should fall on the rider, not on a volunteer

[Rel6]

I’m not sure - it could have been that and I’m misremembering it as bell boots. And its absolutely the rider’s responsibility! I just mean personally I’d rather my warm up be interrupted then end up DQ-ed for missing it.

[Jaegermonster]

@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.

im inclined to think that maybe in AUS unwanted strays roaming about tend to get eaten by other things. There are lots of nasty critters and snakes over there. Yikes.

[Aleuronx]

It was a double bridle with a flash. Which, maybe it was a flash attachment that could pop in and out but otherwise seems odd to warm-up in and then ‘forget’ to remove.

It’s a One-Two Punch for Halliday-Sharp After CCI4*-S Thursday Dressage at...

[Jealoushe]

I’ve lived this. Wore my bell boots into dressage, tack check said nothing. Got eliminated at the end of my test. Judge was so kind
“I don’t want to eliminate you but I have to”

Would have been 2nd out of over 20 at a hard event

Live and learn ahaha

[beowulf]

Ohhh no… Your fellow competitors did you dirty too (IMO) if they noticed and said nothing!! I cannot tell you how many times I’ve quietly pulled aside a competitor and said “pssst… you forgot to pull your boots.”

It happens more often than you’d think and not for the reason you think (disregarding the rules). It’s just sometimes the last thing you think about when your mind is preoccupied with the thousand demon-monkey anxieties of showing.

[Jealoushe]

I know! I would always tell someone too…they were bright orange too. Pretty hard to miss LOL My fault though truly. I got into a habit of keeping them on from her stepping on herself and pulling a shoe one time at the trailer.

[Rel6]

Yes, that was it - thanks! I personally don’t find it weird to school in a piece of equipment you don’t plan to show in, but to each their own.

I mean, a rider can’t really think showing in a forbidden piece of equipment at a venue of that caliber is going to be overlooked right? So I don’t get the quotes around forget, when he either forgot or chose to spent the $$ to bring a horse to Land Rover just to purposefully risk a near certain DQ in dressage.

[Mander]

In all the busy-ness, chaos and being focused on what’s coming up next that goes on at a show, I don’t find it surprising AT ALL that it got forgotten. We’re only human

[Aleuronx]

Sure, but these riders aren’t rocking up on their own. For the most part, they have grooms/owners/others in their entourage with them.

I understand mistakes happen to all of us! But if I were to purposefully warm up in an illegal equipment set-up then I’d make darn sure my team knew of the steps to be taken prior to entering the arena.

[Aleuronx]

I put that in quotes as I don’t believe there was ever an explanation offered as to what happened. He could have forgot, or groom forgot, or horse was tacked up in schooling or hacking set up versus dressage and rider didn’t notice. Probably more options from there as well, not making a nefarious comment other than nothing was shared as to the reasoning.

[frugalannie]

For Beowulf and others who are mentioning issues to riders, wouldn’t that be considered unauthorized assistance or am I overthinking this? Or does it matter where it happens (in warmup rather than when entering the ring)?

[libgrrl]

Or at least their groom!!

[trubandloki]

@frugalannie

For Beowulf and others who are mentioning issues to riders, wouldn’t that be considered unauthorized assistance or am I overthinking this? Or does it matter where it happens (in warmup rather than when entering the ring)?

A rider does not have to be in a vacuum while they are on the grounds. Unauthorized assistance is only while they are competing.

[beowulf]

Unauthorized assistance is only while the rider is actively competing during a test - IE, in a dressage test, on XC, or in SJ after the bell is rung. You can say anything to any rider as a fellow rider during warm up, before the bell rings for a test, etc.

[frugalannie]

Thank you!