Home court advantage? What do you think?

[Foxglove]

Pick a discipline --we’ll say Eventing for the example but could be dressage or reining, or competitive trail riding . . . In your area, within reasonable driving range, are four facilities that can and do host horse competitions (or did before COVID). Right now, organizers are putting out feelers for who will be up for attending and jockeying for dates on the calendar.

One rider, ranked very high in the sport, is push, push, pushing for three competitions to be held at her facility. That’s 3 of the planned 6 that I know about.

Here’s my problem: she almost daily posts pix of herself doing the courses, using the rings, well, practicing! In Eventing, I recall a rule that the “course was closed” six weeks before the competition --although I do know a couple of facility owners who didn’t exactly follow that . . .

Since in all horse disciplines, practice is what makes horse and rider great, I feel that if she wants to have ONE competition at her place, great —but not 3.

And before you say, “Foxglove, why don’t you have one at your hunt club?” —I have, and I have offered the venue this year —I have been ignored --and perhaps rightly so —although I did run ONE 3 day clinic at the hunt club 2 years ago, I have declined to do so again —anyone who has organized a clinic or competition --it’s a lot of WORK —at my age, I’d rather just participate.

So am I just being petty to think that the super-star should back off lobbying for her facility to be chosen 3 times?? Frankly, we don’t even compete at the same level --I’m in Geriatric Division . . .she’s in professional.

Thoughts? Is there a home court advantage in a competition?

[SugarCubes]

Well, sure, a little…but when it comes down to it, you have to ride the horse you have that day and even on your ‘home turf’ you’re going to have off days.

I’m going to use a H/J example, because that’s what I know, but we have several barns in the area that host local schooling shows. Their riders have the advantage of schooling the courses in their lessons the week prior to the shows. But you know what? The results are usually a mixed bag, with riders from many barns all pinning well. It’s not like just the riders from the host barn are winning every class.

There’s always going to be nicer horses and better riders, so worry about you and your horse and compete against the only thing that matters - yourself.

[polkadotedpony]

I board at a facility that has 6+ rated USDF shows a year and I compete in them pretty often and I think the answer to your question depends on the horse. Mine is a looky loo type and I generally find he does better away from home. At a venue a horse doesn’t see regularly everything is new and so for my horse he just has to suck it up and listen to me when I tell him not to worry. When we’re at home it is much easier for him to hone in on the little day of changes and fixate on those and get really worried/spooky. At another barn he has no idea what it’s supposed to look like, at home he knows that judge and scribe and their water bottles were not there yesterday and are definitely there to eat him today… That said, all sandboxes are essentially alike so schooling over a fence ahead of time might be more helpful than come court for dressage. Or it could be the same situation that I’m in where that new flower pot is now lying in wait to murder him at his old friend the Swedish oxer…

[Ruth0552]

There are a lot of local places owned by Pro’s near me that have their own events. The Pro does not ever ride in any of them, for a variety of reasons. First off, who has time to run their own event and ride in it? Hell no. They have 14 thousand kids and students riding in it so they are coaching and answering 1 million questions and running the show all day. Plus, they are likely riding at Prelim+ and those divisions aren’t usually offered. I assume this is a local circuit since the recognized events have all already been set in stone for ages.

I’d think that questions like “are you planning on riding in it or will you be available throughout the day?” would be a completely valid question to the other people involved in planning and picking dates/locations. If she’s hosted and ridden in the past, haven’t there been issues? Those should probably be addressed?

[trubandloki]

@Foxglove

Pick a discipline --we’ll say Eventing for the example but could be dressage or reining, or competitive trail riding . . . In your area, within reasonable driving range, are four facilities that can and do host horse competitions (or did before COVID). Right now, organizers are putting out feelers for who will be up for attending and jockeying for dates on the calendar.

One rider, ranked very high in the sport, is push, push, pushing for three competitions to be held at her facility. That’s 3 of the planned 6 that I know about.

Here’s my problem: she almost daily posts pix of herself doing the courses, using the rings, well, practicing! In Eventing, I recall a rule that the “course was closed” six weeks before the competition --although I do know a couple of facility owners who didn’t exactly follow that . . .

Since in all horse disciplines, practice is what makes horse and rider great, I feel that if she wants to have ONE competition at her place, great —but not 3.

And before you say, “Foxglove, why don’t you have one at your hunt club?” —I have, and I have offered the venue this year —I have been ignored --and perhaps rightly so —although I did run ONE 3 day clinic at the hunt club 2 years ago, I have declined to do so again —anyone who has organized a clinic or competition --it’s a lot of WORK —at my age, I’d rather just participate.

So am I just being petty to think that the super-star should back off lobbying for her facility to be chosen 3 times?? Frankly, we don’t even compete at the same level --I’m in Geriatric Division . . .she’s in professional.

Thoughts? Is there a home court advantage in a competition?

I guess I am confused at the problem other than you think someone is getting an advantage.

If this person wants the hassle associated with hosting shows at their place, that allows you to just show up and ride then let them. It seems like a win for you since you do not want to do the work associated with hosting (don’t blame you there).

[Foxglove]

@trubandloki @Ruth0552 --the professional has spent the fall/winter creating a venue. She is hosting one in June. I don’t think she has ever actually organized/hosted a competition at a place she’s leased or owned --however, in the four-five years I’ve been involved in this sport, she has competed extensively. I wonder, Ruth0552, if she is unaware of how much work goes on to organize a competition . . .via her Facebook posts, she practices on everything new, lots and lots – and yes, I think that’s a bit of an advantage to have tried different approaches to various challenges, each time the horses becoming more comfortable with what’s expected. While I appreciate @SugarCubes observation that it may depend on the horse --hers doing better away from home that at home, I would think that a horse who has seen the same flower box 500 times would be less likely to spook than one who had never seen it.

I am fine with the professional having one or two --but she’s pushing for more than that --if she gets what she’s asking for, she will have the majority. Of course I can choose not to go to her venue. I actually have my own small facility that is good enough for fun and practice. It may not be worth the mental baggage to go where she will clearly be the super-star.

As I said, we don’t compete in the same divisions --and it maybe that I am in a twitter about nothing, especially since I am unwilling to organize anything.

As to local/not local --with COVID restrictions, all our results count toward national ranking – which may at some point lead to being named to a team that competes overseas. As I have 0 plans to ever compete internationally, (my horse would insist on first class seating) again it does not affect me . . . kind of just wondered what others thought --now I know.

[RedHorses]

In my opinion:

If it’s a choice between having the event at her place and having fewer events then let her host. Just make sure if there are any year end awards points must be collected from a minimum of half the locations hosting competitions.

If she is bumping out someone else who wants to host, provided they have decent facilities, the other person should get to host.