I am so tired of whiny, rich horse [people] complaining about WEG

[DownYonder]

@Palm Beach

So are you insinuating that reiners don’t care about their horses and will run them through anything? They have no concerns about proper footing and don’t give a darn about what happens to their horses? Do you really think that good reining footing is “deep loose sand” or “bad floor” or “concrete?” Wow.

Good reining footing is nowhere near a deep sand beach. It may be deep-ER than good jumping or dressage footing, but it’s not a deep sand beach.

I don’t think anyone has insinuated anything of the sort. What people have tried to point out MULTIPLE TIMES is that dressage horses and reining horses need DIFFERENT footing to perform their best at top levels, without undue risk of injury. Not sure why it is so hard to understand that.

[DownYonder]

@roseymare

I think it’s the lateral movements that are an issue.

But they could have adjusted the footing. They can take out dirt.

No. They just can’t “take out dirt”. It is a different TYPE of footing. To make it SAFE ENOUGH for the world’s top dressage horses, they would have had to remove the reining footing and replace it with dressage type footing. Which could not be done for logistical reasons, given the time constraints and the fact that the area was under a heavy storm advisory.

[roseymare]

@TMares

I don’t know what’s so hard to understand about wanting the right footing

It’s not that for me it’s the insinuation that the footing couldn’t be changed or made correct.

And you can’t tell me that these horses have never been rode in suboptimal footing. I am not talking footing that obviously problematic but footing that is not 100% what everyone wants. Each rider does not have the same exact footing in their home arenas.
That is what some if us are saying. The decision was made for a multiple set of reasons. Trying to blame it just on the footing is a mistake.

[roseymare]

@DownYonder

No. They just can’t “take out dirt”. It is a different TYPE of footing. To make it SAFE ENOUGH for the world’s top dressage horses, they would have had to remove the reining footing and replace it with dressage type footing. Which could not be done for logistical reasons, given the time constraints and the fact that the area was under a heavy storm advisory.

Um isn’t that removing dirt? The footing could have still been changed in 12-24 hours if it was truly going to make a difference. It wasn’t because of multiple other logistics but it’s an easy thing to blame.

[Belowthesalt]

@yaya

And how do you think they would know that it was less than expected? Storms are tricky, uncontrollable things. They can turn at the last minute and either leave you dry, or destroy everything, depending on which side you end up on.

Whether mild or severe weather, there was still poor contingency planning. I fully accept there were difficulties that could not be overcome, But collecting ticket money, cancelling, then"toobadsosad, we keep the $$$" not nice. When baseball games are cancelled, you get a raincheck or your money back. A raincheck was not possible here, apparently due to shipping considerations, but a refund is. We shall see. Ticketing people were vague. Since it was far from sold out, I imagine they are going to hold on to every cent

[roseymare]

@Belowthesalt

Whether mild or severe weather, there was still poor contingency planning. I fully accept there were difficulties that could not be overcome, But collecting ticket money, cancelling, then"toobadsosad, we keep the $$$" not nice. When baseball games are cancelled, you get a raincheck or your money back. A raincheck was not possible here, apparently due to shipping considerations, but a refund is. We shall see. Ticketing people were vague. Since it was far from sold out, I imagine they are going to hold on to every cent

THIS. There was no contingency planning. Maybe there was not time. I don’t know. I kind of think they rolled the die and lost. I also wonder as someone else pointed out in one thread if much of this is a direct result of the vertical integration of the facility owner?

I am kind of two minds about the ticket refund. I see both sides.

[tabula_rashah]

@DownYonder

No. They just can’t “take out dirt”. It is a different TYPE of footing. To make it SAFE ENOUGH for the world’s top dressage horses, they would have had to remove the reining footing and replace it with dressage type footing. Which could not be done for logistical reasons, given the time constraints and the fact that the area was under a heavy storm advisory.

It’s rather sad isn’t it? We’ve bred horses half ton plus animals that can move like none other, as long as they are on the type of footing that doesn’t break them.

[roseymare]

Oh and another thing? Are we sure the Reiner’s were not using a composite footing?

[sascha]

@tabula rashah

It’s rather sad isn’t it? We’ve bred horses half ton plus animals that can move like none other, as long as they are on the type of footing that doesn’t break them.

That’s not really fair. Many top horses hack out and use varying footing day to day. However, one wouldn’t expect a top quality dressage test, or for the horse to last!) Doing tests on pavement or forest trail .

And then there is the issue of the music. It won’t match if the footing is harder or softer than what is expected.

[tabula_rashah]

@sascha

That’s not really fair. Many top horses hack out and use varying footing day to day. However, one wouldn’t expect a top quality dressage test, or for the horse to last!) Doing tests on pavement or forest trail .

And then there is the issue of the music. It won’t match if the footing is harder or softer than what is expected.

It’s absolutely fair to say that we’ve given up a good amount of soundness for what we consider brilliance.

[sascha]

@Palm Beach

So are you insinuating that reiners don’t care about their horses and will run them through anything? They have no concerns about proper footing and don’t give a darn about what happens to their horses? Do you really think that good reining footing is “deep loose sand” or “bad floor” or “concrete?” Wow.

Good reining footing is nowhere near a deep sand beach. It may be deep-ER than good jumping or dressage footing, but it’s not a deep sand beach.

Clearly you missed the exaggeration that was meant to drive the point about differences in footing home rather than send it out into orbit.

Reining footing is deeper and looser than dressage footing. Period. Nobody is making this up for goodness sake .And this is not only on an international level. Try being a serious dressage rider sharing an arena with serious barrel racers or reiners when it comes time to revamp aged footing. There is always a compromise that ends up a little deep for the dressage folks and little shallow for the western folks. Safe for both, but not optimal for either.

[sascha]

@tabula rashah

It’s absolutely fair to say that we’ve given up a good amount of soundness for what we consider brilliance.

Maybe. Maybe not. What is absolutely sure is we know a lot more about soundness and lameness, and are perhaps more careful and cautious about doing our best to keep our horses comfortable in every aspect of their lives. Add on owners who invest boatload of money and the responsibility to keep a horse sounder can seem even greater.

[saje]

And at the end of everything, this was a competition first and a spectator event second. These riders and teams do this for a living, they and the owners/sponsors spend stupid amounts of money on these horses to keep them fit, working well, and most of all placing well. That is their first priority. We as spectators matter, but we are certainly not their first priority. They did what they needed to do FOR THEIR HORSES. The armchair railbirds, many who weren’t even there, are the least of their worries.

[TMares]

@roseymare

It’s not that for me it’s the insinuation that the footing couldn’t be changed or made correct.

And you can’t tell me that these horses have never been rode in suboptimal footing. I am not talking footing that obviously problematic but footing that is not 100% what everyone wants. Each rider does not have the same exact footing in their home arenas.
That is what some if us are saying. The decision was made for a multiple set of reasons. Trying to blame it just on the footing is a mistake.

Who said this was only about footing?

[roseymare]

@TMares

Who said this was only about footing?

I believe the first explanation given for cancellation was the footing. Then it was the flight schedule.
Really it should have just been something like due to the logistics of an event this varied and large, rescheduling is not an option so we will have to cancel Freestyle Reining.

[sascha]

@roseymare

I believe the first explanation given for cancellation was the footing. Then it was the flight schedule.
Really it should have just been something like due to the logistics of an event this varied and large, rescheduling is not an option so we will have to cancel Freestyle Reining.

Perhaps you should offer your services as PR rep for them? Hee, kidding, I’ve made more horrendous mistakes I’m sure

I think it sucks terribly that dressage freestyle was cancelled. I’m betting that there was not a single person on the WEG team of organizers and PR people who was not shitting bricks about it. The tough part is though, that when things get super skewed in several directions at once, it is not always possible for the people with the best language for assuaging the masses to massage the language and coach the public face of every thing that reaches us.

[Oliver4Ever]

If everyone wants to whine, bitch and moan, why don’t you go find some people who support the Big Lick horses. Those guys could really use your help. I’m so sorry the dressage people decided to take their toys and go home, but they did. Get over it.

[TMares]

@roseymare

I believe the first explanation given for cancellation was the footing. Then it was the flight schedule.
Really it should have just been something like due to the logistics of an event this varied and large, rescheduling is not an option so we will have to cancel Freestyle Reining.

They had a lot of difficult messaging to get out quickly. In the age of social media the rush to get anything out STAT sometimes overrides the desire to get it out in good order. I’m not defending, I am suggesting it was well intended yet poorly executed. Nevermind that the ticketholders have yet to receive the promised follow up email.

[sascha]

@Oliver4Ever

If everyone wants to whine, bitch and moan, why don’t you go find some people who support the Big Lick horses. Those guys could really use your help. I’m so sorry the dressage people decided to take their toys and go home, but they did. Get over it.

What makes you think that no-one here takes issue with the big lick BS? Why is a discussion and good natured argument a problem? Shall we stop discussing the pros and cons and the ins and outs of the weather too? How about those that don’t like “bitching” and “moaning” stay off the threads they deem to be full of bitching and moaning? No-one has a gun to your head forcing you to read the bitching and moaning.

[NCRider]

It will be interesting to see if there is any sort of refund-would likely depend on whether there is event cancellation insurance and how the policy deals with this type of cancellation that really resulted from the fact that they didn’t build any contingency into the dressage schedule. The freestyle must happen outside at this exact time or it will be cancelled is very different from the freestyle must happen within this time frame and here are our contingency plans. A bad thunderstorm could have cancelled this thing.