New Tack Inspection Rule

[eightpondfarm]

@pluvinel

Ok. That makes sense…but I still ask the powers in the great universe what caused bits that were previously legal to now be declared illegal?

“When you know better, do better.” maybe?

[pluvinel]

@eightpondfarm

The $ spent is relative i guess. I wouldn’t consider it prohibitively expensive to get objective feedback from a good judge. Nor would i mind paying for the whole experience of a show. The stall set up, being around a ton of other horses. My horse getting the experience of riding through my own lack of confidence (normally i’m pretty confident) and having to show up emotionally in spite of that. I would like to give it a go, and to overcome the hurdle.

Ok…

Excuse the pedantic engineer, but I have been hanging around lawyers too much and they make it clear that I have to be clear with my words. If I take apart your statement I would agree and disagree.

I agree that paying for “the show experience” with all that entails, eg., stabling in a strange place, the warmup chaos, etc is worth it as part of the training of a horse.

The getting feedback at a show is where I beg to disagree. In a test sheet you get a few disconnected sentences that may be useful, or may be WTF? and leave you wondering what the judge was thinking. This is where I think that paying for a judge to coach you thru your test would give you (a) the score, (b) the rationale for the score and © suggestions for what to do to improve your score as part of a dialog with the judge.

[eightpondfarm]

i was going to try to continue this in PM so as to not further derail this thread. but instead, i think i’ll quote you over onto the ‘what’s killing rated dressage shows’ thread. mKay?

[trubandloki]

@eightpondfarm

i was going to try to continue this in PM so as to not further derail this thread. but instead, i think i’ll quote you over onto the ‘what’s killing rated dressage shows’ thread. mKay?

Um.
So freaking confused and … um… wow.

[eightpondfarm]

what is confusing?

[gailbyrd]

@pluvinel

@gailbyrd

Don’t know if there is a rash of incorrect bits except that new rules were recently implemented banning bits that were widely in use. Some people may not have gotten the memo so instead of them being eliminated ring-side after their test, they have a chance to change out their bits before their ride. Just a guess.

Ok. That makes sense…but I still ask the powers in the great universe what caused bits that were previously legal to now be declared illegal?

Everyone I know who use French Links were asking the same question. There have been some suggestions (hard to distinguish from a Dr. Bristol, link can be filed to be made sharper , etc) but who knows.

[enjoytheride]

At a recent show I am aware of, a bit checker did a bit check, thought the bit was legal and OKd the rider. It turned out the bit was not in fact legal and the rider was eliminated.

The questions brought up were 1. what training should bit checkers have 2. How easy is it to actually check by a hand in the mouth and 3. When does it become rider responsibility.

[Knights_Mom]

Best strategy: If they insist on making it so hard that even the experts (like TDs are supposed to be) can’t tell what’s legal simply take pics of your bit and email the Federation and get written confirmation of the bits legality.

[outerbanks77]

@pluvinel

Ok. That makes sense…but I still ask the powers in the great universe what caused bits that were previously legal to now be declared illegal?

Maybe it’s that there are so many new bit designs that created gray areas.

If this really boils down to most bit violations being due to either rules interpretation or lack of awareness, rather than blatantly trying to get away with using an illegal bit, it could be pretty easily addressed. Provide notice to competitors that there is a bit check station, and due to the wide variety of bits, and potential for misinterpretation, anyone who is unsure of their bit legality, should bring the bit when they come to the show office (or wherever) and get the bit inspected. Could use a piece of unique tape or whatever as suggested up thread if needed so the ring steward could see that any questionable bit had been tagged and cleared. This method could also be used for horses that could be difficult for bit inspection. Just treat it like TSA pre-check!

[pluvinel]

@eightpondfarm

i was going to try to continue this in PM so as to not further derail this thread. but instead, i think i’ll quote you over onto the ‘what’s killing rated dressage shows’ thread. mKay?

@trubandloki

Um.
So freaking confused and … um… wow.

You’re not alone…I have no clue what “derailment” there is…I am offering opinions that whatever TPTB have formulated for this tack/bit check does not seem grounded in logic and seems to be confusing/complicated to implement…eg…

@gailbyrd

Everyone I know who use French Links were asking the same question. There have been some suggestions (hard to distinguish from a Dr. Bristol, link can be filed to be made sharper , etc) but who knows.

And…

@enjoytheride

At a recent show I am aware of, a bit checker did a bit check, thought the bit was legal and OKd the rider. It turned out the bit was not in fact legal and the rider was eliminated.

So…I am offering opinions on this poorly thought out rule…and that’s being kind.

As a disclaimer/qualifier, I spent an engineering career in the petrochemical industry which required writing procedures for handling highly hazardous substances.

[endlessclimb]

I have a bit that I sent in, questioning the legality. They confirmed it was legal in writing, said they would update the rulebook, and they never did.

Now what? The bit checker doesn’t know that I have a paper trail proving my bit is legal.

[pluvinel]

@endlessclimb

I have a bit that I sent in, questioning the legality. They confirmed it was legal in writing, said they would update the rulebook, and they never did.

Now what? The bit checker doesn’t know that I have a paper trail proving my bit is legal.

I rest my case…horse ladies writing quality procedures…sure.

I would keep the paper trail with you in case you get DQ’d

[K_VanOlst]

@endlessclimb

Now what? The bit checker doesn’t know that I have a paper trail proving my bit is legal.

I would keep several copies of that email printed out with your show stuff. If you’re showing alone it might be hard to have on your person in the warm up / show ring, but if they were checking at stalls it would be easy to pull out for proof.

[endlessclimb]

It’s the Bomber ported barrel bit, for the record. They insist the one in the rulebook is illegal, but mine is legal.

… except… they don’t make different port heights in that bit. They’re all the same port size/shape.

I have the bit in several cheekpieces, so depending on which one I’m riding in they still might try to DQ me.

[endlessclimb]

Proof:

Emails exchanged before I sent them the two bits were fraught with misunderstood questions regarding what “position” the bit is put in when a measurement is taken, but I can post them if anyone is curious. I sent them both of those bits because one is “legal” and the other is not and they are identical in port height.

I explained to them that the bit in the rule book is torqued down, making the port height appear taller. I guess that fell on deaf ears. Personally? I think they took the photo from the Bomber website and never actually measured one in person.

[sparkygrace]

Who did a second bit check that resulted in the elimination? As I mentioned before, training is spotty for bit checkers. It’s hard to get volunteers and many are not experienced horse people. It’s not easy to do a physical bit check.

Riders are ultimately responsible, but there will always be a few who knowingly break the rules. To me it is the same as riders who give their horses bute or another prohibited drug and hope they aren’t randomly picked for a drug test.

[lorilu]

@sparkygrace

who give their horses bute

I agree with you but just to note that some bute is OK… I think it’s 1 gm/12 hours?

[sparkygrace]

I think you need to have some type pre-approval, right? A friend had to bute her horse competition and alerted the show management.

[lorilu]

no just has to be given within time limits, assuming the metabolites clear the system as predicted. https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/2Zp2C_YKs4s/2022-equine-drugs-medications

[sparkygrace]

Thanks. My memory is fuzzy. I did have an incident at a championship show when my horse developed a runny nose and cough. The show vet gave him Dexamethasone. I had to contact a person at the drug hotline to inform them and get approval. The vet said my horse was not contagious and I got permission to keep him in the competition. It was a real hassle, but that’s how the rules work.

Had to edit for mistakes. Caught a cold and am lightheaded!