BigEqRls has it right. The Doda boots definitely get used in the equitation ring. No guessing here - I have put them on the horses myself.
[QUOTE=BigEqRls;7203033]
Go stand at the equitation ring at WEF or Devon, and you’d see a pretty large number of equitation horses getting their regular hind boots swapped for Doda’s just before they jump their last schooling jump. [/QUOTE]
That’s why I said “showing in Doda boots” as compared to “schooling in Doda boots.” I’m well aware that different techniques are used in schooling. I cannot imagine Doda boots being used in BigEq IN COMPETITION.
Devon would be where I stand by the ring watching, and I cannot recall ever seeing someone SHOW in Doda boots. Did I see every darn competitor, no, but I did watch for several days and I don’t recall seeing anyone using them in competition. I saw all a manner of things in schooling that didn’t walk into the ring.
I’m saying that the regular boots are swapped for Doda’s just before the last schooling jumps and then are worn into the ring for the judged class, just as they are for jumper classes. Watch the gymnastics phase from the USET finals–the camera man was pretty good about focusing on the horses legs through the trot poles at the end of the ring.
I get that most people don’t want to believe it, but at the end of the day, there is an obscene amount of money spent on buying, caring for, and showing these animals, and the pressure on the trainers and caregivers to win is huge. Doda’s are far from the worst thing happening on a regular basis at the top level of this sport.
That’s really not something I’ve seen, but if you’ve seen it-- I have no reason to doubt it. I don’t think it’s particularly pervasive and I wonder whether, on video, someone could really tell what kind of boots specific boots are.
Trot POLES, people. If you’re doing a trot poll, I presume someone is running next to the horse/rider combination asking them whether they feel that they have enough impulsion to do the cavalettis properly and recording the answer.
So here’s my question: are Dodas the end of the world if they’re being used properly and not on young horses? Having used them a few times at home when schooling, I did find that they made a lasting difference with my horse (and I didn’t have them tight by any stretch of the imagination).
I don’t have any personal issue with Doda/pinch boots if they’re used in educated hands. It just comes as a bit of a surprise to me that they are used in the equitation quite frequently these days - I don’t remember ever seeing them used when I did it ~5 years ago. Interesting insight from some of the other posters.
If you look at the difference between a horse jumping with Dodas on and without them on it’s nutso. The hind end is way better finished and more followed up. Let me see if I can find an example.
ETA:
Don’t know this Horse or Rider, so if someone wants me to take it down I will.
Without Dodas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiO4BNqZS00
With Dodas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhMrS0OEn9Q
I found it easier to see the difference watching with the dodas first and then comparing, and the horse is much more accurate with the hind feet.
Also I really like this team and I love this horse.
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7203420]
With Dodas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhMrS0OEn9Q[/QUOTE]
Oopsie. Careful what you wish for! :lol:
[QUOTE=hunterrider23;7203420]
If you look at the difference between a horse jumping with Dodas on and without them on it’s nutso. The hind end is way better finished and more followed up. Let me see if I can find an example.
ETA:
Don’t know this Horse or Rider, so if someone wants me to take it down I will.
Without Dodas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiO4BNqZS00
With Dodas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhMrS0OEn9Q
I found it easier to see the difference watching with the dodas first and then comparing, and the horse is much more accurate with the hind feet.
Also I really like this team and I love this horse.[/QUOTE]
I have to say, impressive abs and balance. He stayed on quite a bit longer than I expected thrown over the side of the horse’s neck!
I completely see why someone might want the effect of Dodas on a jumper. It still seems entirely counter intuitive to me for equitation. Nobody every wants a rail (including in hunters) but making the horse harder jumping and harder to sit to can’t be the goal in equitation. You’d be in a better shot to get a good score with a rail than with a horse that launches you and shakes up your position over every fence.
That was an outstanding example. Thank you, hunterrider 23. As a groom it would make me ill to be forced to slap the Dodas on that combination. I have no doubt that without them they’d have sorted it out naturally without forfeiting the trust of the mare. Looks like a very talented pair.
Is there a link to the gymnastic phase?
http://www.usefnetwork.com/featured/2013USEFShowJumpingTalentSearchFinals/
The list of the jumping phase and ride off phase by riders displays on the right, but if you scroll down the list you will eventually hit the gymnastic videos.
[QUOTE=goodlife;7203415]
It just comes as a bit of a surprise to me that they are used in the equitation quite frequently these days - I don’t remember ever seeing them used when I did it ~5 years ago. Interesting insight from some of the other posters.[/QUOTE]
Well, they also barely existed 5 years ago. I think I really first saw them in 2009 when I was riding/working in California.
But yeah, I agree with Emily, per usual. Their use does not bother me.
[QUOTE=supershorty628;7203349]
Trot POLES, people.
I’m sorry. It was late. I was tired. I have edited.
So here’s my question: are Dodas the end of the world if they’re being used properly and not on young horses? Having used them a few times at home when schooling, I did find that they made a lasting difference with my horse (and I didn’t have them tight by any stretch of the imagination).[/QUOTE]
I’m sorry. It was late. I was tired. I have edited.
As for the boots-
I was just stating that it is a fact that they are used in the equitation ring. I don’t think they’re the end of the world. I don’t even think they’re the end of the world in the equitation ring. Horses have pretty strong opinions and if they don’t like something they’re generally pretty quick to let you know. Equitation horses work hard, and some of them are lazy, which is why they are equitation horses instead of jumpers. These horses weigh 1300+ lbs, so while Dodas may not be as innocuous as normal hind boots, they aren’t torture devices either.
I don’t have any problem with using the boots, but I’m not sure why you’d want that effect on a horse, since it seems like it’d be a harder jump to stay with.
[QUOTE=Tha Ridge;7203721]
Well, they also barely existed 5 years ago. I think I really first saw them in 2009 when I was riding/working in California.
But yeah, I agree with Emily, per usual. Their use does not bother me.[/QUOTE]
Ah, makes sense. Wasn’t sure if they were one of those things that I was only exposed to as I worked my way up and spent more time around the bigger jumpers, or if they were a relatively new invention. Thanks for clarifying. 
