I was at a local show this weekend and one of the competitors was riding a horse that had huge round open wound spur marks on the horse’s side. I had never seen marks like this. It was disgusting. I said something to the horse show manager, who said something to the well-known local trainer, who just shrugged her shoulders. What else would have you have done? These were open wounds, deep, the size of a quarter maybe.
You did what you could, unfortunate show management didn’t kick him off the grounds.
If the show is recognized by an association (local club, state HJ, ect) then you can write a email to the board about the horse/trainer and lack of response by the show manager. Better if you have photos to include.
Years ago I was on the board of a local OTTB group and we hosted several shows as I was laid up in bed with a broken leg I was not at the facility for one show - and of course it happened to be the show that one of the local trainers had a kid bring her newly rescued horse to. The horse was major underweight and really should not have been at the show (seeing photos then horse should have been at the vet’s for observation). As the trainer can get rather pushy and confrontational she ran roughshod over the office staff and stayed at the show (she was also a prior board member). My phone and email blew up like no tomorrow. And I had to write a formal “what the hell were you thinking!!!” to the trainer. I also advise that if she ever brought a horse in that condition - regardless if it was a new rescue or not - to a show she better pack her trailer and turn right around and will be banned from our shows for 1 year plus I will forward the reprimand to the other riding clubs that we were associated with (the shows were cross approved for several local clubs for points).
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I was judging at an A show and had to call the steward over to get a girl to take the spurs off of one that was bleeding from quarter sized holes. The ironic part is that it was running away with her…
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I have alerted several Board members of our association. I don’t think it will anywhere though. No one wants to be the “bad guy” but rest assured if I see this horse at a rated show (and I might later in the summer) I will be running for the Steward.
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My husband used to work as an EMT at rated shows. There was a pony with bleeding spur rubs on both sides, you couldn’t miss it. DH told the steward about it and the steward shrugged it off stating “It happens”. Kid continued to ride, spur and win throughout the weekend. DH felt awful, like he should do more, but didn’t know exactly how to go about it.
Reading this, I am glad that I’m in the UK where this would be considered to be a serious disciplinary issue and be dealt with immediately and firmly, without fear or favour.
On the other hand, the rider would probably now be facing death threats on social media for abusing her horse, so no system is perfect.
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