Eventing Pet Peeves?

[Littleluck55]

[QUOTE=pony grandma;8745457]
Is this a gripe or a pet peeve??? The total lack of preplanning for drainage in the stabling at the KHP. So that leads to the inconsiderations of people stabled there. We were there for the Fri/Sat so were loading up to leave Sat aft and the people across the aisle, slightly uphill from the other side of stalls where we were, started running their hose to cold water a horse’s leg (lengthy) when our things were stacked up on the pavement on the side of our trailer to be loaded. Everything we had got soaked, with the manure yuck that develops in those aisles.

Now IMHO the park must have paid dearly for someone to build the stabling area… what planner doesn’t start with drainage issues first??? Who approved that?[/QUOTE]

Amen…I will say the last two shows we did there, someone either didn’t like us or they really like us, not sure which. For MidSouth, we had a stall in the very middle with one stall with no one stabled within 5 stalls of us on either side. It felt like we were in a mansion. The time before at MayDaze, they had us in the indoor barn by the Alltech arena. They have the water inside the building but no drainage whatsoever so anyone who runs the water leaves huge puddles everywhere.

[Winding_Down]

@pony grandma;8745457

Is this a gripe or a pet peeve??? The total lack of preplanning for drainage in the stabling at the KHP. So that leads to the inconsiderations of people stabled there. We were there for the Fri/Sat so were loading up to leave Sat aft and the people across the aisle, slightly uphill from the other side of stalls where we were, started running their hose to cold water a horse’s leg (lengthy) when our things were stacked up on the pavement on the side of our trailer to be loaded. Everything we had got soaked, with the manure yuck that develops in those aisles.

I’d be majorly annoyed with the people across the aisle. What the HECK?

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=devvie;8745422]
For some illogical reason, everyone at all levels wearing white breeches including for x-c bothers me.

The only other eventing pet peeve I have is that I have a really hard time affording it (my problem, organizers, not yours, don’t work in publishing if you need entry fee money).[/QUOTE]
Do people forget that white is transparent when wet? BTDT got the crazy laughing looks when everyone could see what color undies I was wearing… I love white, I really do, but I don’t wear it XC anymore.

[mg]

1-day events with inconsiderate timing between phases. On more than one occasion, I’ve had to learn my stadium course and make an educated guess about striding and turns based on watching other rounds because there was either no time between my dressage and stadium times to walk and the course wasn’t available for walking prior to my dressage time, or the scheduled course walk was immediately before my division started jumping (that one really gets me). I appreciate the desire to get people in and out in as expedited a manner as possible, but it stinks when you drive 6+ hours round trip and spend your time on the show grounds running around like an idiot and not getting to feel as smart about your course walks.

Re: Volunteering. I love volunteering, but got frustrated by TDs being lax about rules, which is no help to competitors and sometimes resulted in angry moms screaming at me for calling the TD in the first place. I had a TD allow illegal bits in dressage (he didn’t even bother looking inside the horse’s mouth, just saw a loose ring on the side and said, “it’s fine.”), look the other way when competitors arrived to XC with a tank top under their vest, and say nothing when two trainers were yelling at each other in stadium warm-up over whether or not someone could ride their round without a jacket, amongst other issues. I always hoped those same people didn’t go to another show with the same setup and get eliminated because of it

[tbchick84]

[QUOTE=mg;8745997]
1-day events with inconsiderate timing between phases. On more than one occasion, I’ve had to learn my stadium course and make an educated guess about striding and turns based on watching other rounds because there was either no time between my dressage and stadium times to walk and the course wasn’t available for walking prior to my dressage time, or the scheduled course walk was immediately before my division started jumping (that one really gets me). I appreciate the desire to get people in and out in as expedited a manner as possible, but it stinks when you drive 6+ hours round trip and spend your time on the show grounds running around like an idiot and not getting to feel as smart about your course walks.

([/QUOTE]

I’ve had this both ways, and I still don’t know which I prefer. I’ve been to shows where all 3 phases happen within a 90 minute time span. I have to walk both stadium & XC before I even unload my horse and then bam bam bam it’s over. I like that I’ve got it all prepared in advance and the short times don’t give me time to psych myself out.

The shows where I have 3 hours between dressage and stadium/XC, I’m still no the fence about. It’s nice to do dressage and then have time to take a breather and walk the courses, but then I sit there waiting for my time to come up. I’m a get it done type of person, so I think I actually prefer the tighter times. The trick is to get my butt up there early enough that I get it all done in advance.

[mg]

[QUOTE=tbchick84;8746357]
I’ve had this both ways, and I still don’t know which I prefer. I’ve been to shows where all 3 phases happen within a 90 minute time span. I have to walk both stadium & XC before I even unload my horse and then bam bam bam it’s over. I like that I’ve got it all prepared in advance and the short times don’t give me time to psych myself out.

The shows where I have 3 hours between dressage and stadium/XC, I’m still no the fence about. It’s nice to do dressage and then have time to take a breather and walk the courses, but then I sit there waiting for my time to come up. I’m a get it done type of person, so I think I actually prefer the tighter times. The trick is to get my butt up there early enough that I get it all done in advance.[/QUOTE]

Oh, I’m totally with you about getting there early! I’m all for that, but a couple times I’ve done this, the courses aren’t even finished being set until after my dressage time, so that doesn’t work out so well

But! At the end of the day, I just have fun eventing in general, so I try not to let my pet peeves grow to anything more than a passing thought

[Carried_Away]

[QUOTE=pony grandma;8745457]
Is this a gripe or a pet peeve??? The total lack of preplanning for drainage in the stabling at the KHP. So that leads to the inconsiderations of people stabled there. We were there for the Fri/Sat so were loading up to leave Sat aft and the people across the aisle, slightly uphill from the other side of stalls where we were, started running their hose to cold water a horse’s leg (lengthy) when our things were stacked up on the pavement on the side of our trailer to be loaded. Everything we had got soaked, with the manure yuck that develops in those aisles.

Now IMHO the park must have paid dearly for someone to build the stabling area… what planner doesn’t start with drainage issues first??? Who approved that?[/QUOTE]

Totally agree about KHP, and I’ll add to this: people who think it’s fine to dump water buckets in inappropriate places because they are too LAZY to carry further (aisles, right outside stalls, etc.). Same goes for hosing horses outside the wash racks, don’t tie up the hoses people need to water their horses so you can give a lengthy bath or cold hose!

[runNjump86]

Damn…I definitely have made it to some of these lists!! I am fully aware of the risk of wearing white breeches, but I loved how they looked with my colors on my chromed-out half-Arab. I made sure to wear thick ones, and flesh colored undies just in case!! I also usually ride back to stabling after XC. It lets me get a feel for how my horse is feeling, if he’s walking evenly, and let’s him cool out. My knee is usually killing me by the end of the course and to hop off and hobble back wouldn’t work well.

Anyway.

*Dumping water buckets or stall waste in areas where they don’t belong!!
*When a trainer (BNT or wanna-be BNT) brings a horde of clients, usually kids, to the warm up and proceeds to overtake the entire arena and screech out basically an entire lesson to every one of them.
*People who do. not. understand. that even though they are walking their course (during another division) they need to pay attention to their surroundings! No, I’m not an asshole volunteer with a complex, I’m trying to keep your stupid ass safe and not getting run over by the Intermediate horse barreling towards you or chewed out by the rider when they track you down in stabling!
When people leave their gear spread out and not in “their space”. Yes, boots and saddle pads need to dry, but instead of leaving them in the sun in the middle of where people and horses are walking, perhaps use twine as a clothesline and string them up on your stall door?

[FitToBeTied]

Clueless people walking a course can be amazing. In one event I was coming into a fence when a group of 4 people walked across the face of the jump. The jump judge was yelling at them and they just kept moseying along. I stayed on my line and passed about three feet behind them. I was tempted to whack them with my stick.

With that said, I hate when eventers come to a fence yelling and screaming about spectators. I’ve seen them do from a 100 yards out. It’s the JJ’es job, let them do it. I can’t imagine it is helping your horse for you to yelling and screaming up there. And some of the riders are yelling some pretty foul things.

[NCRider]

[QUOTE=FitToBeTied;8748368]
Clueless people walking a course can be amazing. In one event I was coming into a fence when a group of 4 people walked across the face of the jump. The jump judge was yelling at them and they just kept moseying along. I stayed on my line and passed about three feet behind them. I was tempted to whack them with my stick.

With that said, I hate when eventers come to a fence yelling and screaming about spectators. I’ve seen them do from a 100 yards out. It’s the JJ’es job, let them do it. I can’t imagine it is helping your horse for you to yelling and screaming up there. And some of the riders are yelling some pretty foul things.[/QUOTE]

A little defense of riders who take it into their own hands to warn off people blocking fences from 100 yards away. First of all, there’s no excuse for abusive language so I’m not commenting on that. However
1-The rider has the most at risk if the people don’t move, from both a safety standpoint and a competitive standpoint.
2-If the jump judge is appropriately forceful, there won’t be people standing on course in front of a jump when a rider is only 100 yards away. The JJ has already failed at that point. I can understand why a rider might be concerned that the JJ is either not paying attention or is having insufficient influence over the course blockers that he/she can’t be trusted to make them move in time that they don’t interfere with the horse and rider navigating the jump in a safe manner.
3-If the people aren’t getting out of the way, the rider needs to circle early enough that they haven’t presented to the fence to avoid a lengthy argument with officials about removing their 20 points for a refusal.
4-Sometimes JJ’s are not as aware of alternate routes/ways of presenting to the fence as they could be and those spectators could be right in the middle of the rider’s Plan B.

[pony_grandma]

^^^ YES. :applause:

Part of a rider’s education is to learn how to be proactive when competing. No rider knows what experience a fence judge really has, many have never been competitors themselves … you can’t wait to find that out!

[runNjump86]

[QUOTE=NCRider;8748651]

2-If the jump judge is appropriately forceful, there won’t be people standing on course in front of a jump when a rider is only 100 yards away. The JJ has already failed at that point. I can understand why a rider might be concerned that the JJ is either not paying attention or is having insufficient influence over the course blockers that he/she can’t be trusted to make them move in time that they don’t interfere with the horse and rider navigating the jump in a safe manner.[/QUOTE]

I agree with all of your points, however I have seen and dealt with some VERY rude spectators (who are usually competitors just at a different level) who WILL. NOT. listen. I’m not known for tip-toeing around people’s feelings so can get creative when asking [telling] people to get out of the way, but I can easily see a younger JJ or someone who isn’t as confident having a hard time, even if they are forceful.

[Rallycairn]

[QUOTE=NCRider;8748651]
A little defense of riders who take it into their own hands to warn off people blocking fences from 100 yards away. First of all, there’s no excuse for abusive language so I’m not commenting on that. However
1-The rider has the most at risk if the people don’t move, from both a safety standpoint and a competitive standpoint.
2-If the jump judge is appropriately forceful, there won’t be people standing on course in front of a jump when a rider is only 100 yards away. The JJ has already failed at that point. I can understand why a rider might be concerned that the JJ is either not paying attention or is having insufficient influence over the course blockers that he/she can’t be trusted to make them move in time that they don’t interfere with the horse and rider navigating the jump in a safe manner.
3-If the people aren’t getting out of the way, the rider needs to circle early enough that they haven’t presented to the fence to avoid a lengthy argument with officials about removing their 20 points for a refusal.
4-Sometimes JJ’s are not as aware of alternate routes/ways of presenting to the fence as they could be and those spectators could be right in the middle of the rider’s Plan B.[/QUOTE]

This whole post is brilliant, but I want to emphasize 2 – if a JJ has riders riding down yelling to clear the course, s/he has already screwed up a bit, I think. The JJ’s job is not just to clear the course but to clear it in time that no rider’s performance is affected.

Riders should not have to experience a moment’s anxiety or loss of focus on performance for worry over whether the course will/will not be clear. Stuff happens and people are obstreperous, but if a particular JJ experiences a lot of riders having to yell for a clear course, maybe that JJ needs to reset their perceptions of what is ample time for each rider and clear the course sooner.

[pony_grandma]

Yes to the JJ education also, but it is a wild card to get all the volunteer help you need at some venues. It is not just sitting in a chair getting to watch all day. And it is overwhelming for some new people to try to process everything at 6:30 am at a briefing.

I am waiting for some educational video support for the volunteer positions so they can see some experience in action before they do the job.

[redalter]

I have one though more about people.

If one brings their friends and family for support that’s great! But PLEASE, do not take up 6 parking spaces next to the trailer - each with one car!

We went to an HT the other day, driving around the grass parking and saw this everywhere! We ended up parking FAR from everything because there were so many cars parked next to trailers. I saw one that was one two horse trailer, then parked next to it, each next to the other, SIX cars.

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=redalter;8748830]
I have one though more about people.

If one brings their friends and family for support that’s great! But PLEASE, do not take up 6 parking spaces next to the trailer - each with one car!

We went to an HT the other day, driving around the grass parking and saw this everywhere! We ended up parking FAR from everything because there were so many cars parked next to trailers. I saw one that was one two horse trailer, then parked next to it, each next to the other, SIX cars.[/QUOTE]

Well, that wasn’t my trainer, but when she has the four horse and is taking younger students, their parents, siblings, and everyone they have ever known all come to the show and all park with the trailer. Drives me insane too. Especially since many of them don’t have horse sense.

You’re a spectator, go to the spectator areas.

[redalter]

[QUOTE=soloudinhere;8748922]
Well, that wasn’t my trainer, but when she has the four horse and is taking younger students, their parents, siblings, and everyone they have ever known all come to the show and all park with the trailer. Drives me insane too. Especially since many of them don’t have horse sense.

You’re a spectator, go to the spectator areas.[/QUOTE]

Yes! Or just try to double up and not park one next to the other! A couple people who were sitting in chairs watched us drive by, stop, look, but no offer to move their car. They were not dressed to ride so I “assumed” ( I know, dangerous) they were just there to help or watch.

[riderboy]

[QUOTE=Lusoluv;8741566]
Riders taking over a section of the stabling area and making it difficult or dangerous for others to pass the aisle due to their: dogs, trunks/muck buckets, chairs, saddle stands, etc. spread all over in disarray. We all need to share space with consideration for others, as well as for safety![/QUOTE]
I would add setting up large cabanas, tents, or other sundry forms of camping gear thus blocking a large section of aisleway. Annoying as hell.

[frugalannie]

[QUOTE=Rallycairn;8748681]
This whole post is brilliant, but I want to emphasize 2 – if a JJ has riders riding down yelling to clear the course, s/he has already screwed up a bit, I think. The JJ’s job is not just to clear the course but to clear it in time that no rider’s performance is affected.

Riders should not have to experience a moment’s anxiety or loss of focus on performance for worry over whether the course will/will not be clear. Stuff happens and people are obstreperous, but if a particular JJ experiences a lot of riders having to yell for a clear course, maybe that JJ needs to reset their perceptions of what is ample time for each rider and clear the course sooner.[/QUOTE]

Just an example of how this can work out: Some time ago, riding a BN greenie at a local venue coming uphill to a stonewall and a family decides to cross. Jump judge is yelling at the family to hurry and they sort of do, but their 4/5 year old kid tagging along behind freezes in the middle of the track. Jump judge can’t see the kid for the adults in the way, everybody is yelling and I’m wondering if the kid is going to pull a squirrel (you know their motto: always, always double back). Pulled my horse up and pointed in the direction of the family telling the kid to go that way, wait until kid is collected and then trot horse to fence. Good thing horse was sane enough to allow all of this and that the course was untimed!

[Highflyer]

[QUOTE=redalter;8748929]
Yes! Or just try to double up and not park one next to the other! A couple people who were sitting in chairs watched us drive by, stop, look, but no offer to move their car. They were not dressed to ride so I “assumed” ( I know, dangerous) they were just there to help or watch.[/QUOTE]

Oh, I ask them to move. And same goes for the people who park their car (usually something like a BMW or a Land Rover, somehow never a 15 year old Camry) directly behind/ in front of/ next to my trailer. It’s amazing how quickly, “I’d really hate for my horse to sit on it, it’s so shiny.” inspires people to move.