My original posts specifically asks that we NOT debate the risk assessment of others and pretty much everyone else has done so; until this post.
Some people are just looking for an argument. :rolleyes:
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Your OP was very bias towards not showing and it’s clear what you think of those that are showing, so I’m not sure what you want to talk about here.
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I gave you my rationale for why I feel it’s fine to show if you feel comfortable showing. I don’t care if you don’t want to show, but I do care when your OP starts off by judging everyone who is.
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I’m not showing because I have no need to. My one is still green and the other is in between levels. So we’ll just keep training.
A friend of mine is desperate for a few more shows. She’s leasing a GP horse to try and finish her gold medal. It’s down to the wire and very stressful. First world problems, but she’s not made of money and getting this horse onto the property was a small miracle. This journey has been 30 years in the making, and this may be her last shot. For her sake, I hope the shows In the area still happen, and people follow the rules.
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I am showing, because I need a handful of scores to potentially move through the judging programs. My horse is fit and ready, but older. I’m not guaranteed to have another horse who can show this level and get these scores, nor am I guaranteed unlimited seasons at FEI on this particular horse. I’m not showing my young horse because of finances and the virus. If I were in an area with more cases, I’d probably think again about my decision.
I have been to 1 show so far, just a 1 day truck in, but it was very quiet, every one was masked except while riding. In our area, at least, shows are not allowing spectators–not even owners. We are allowed a coach (signed on entry form) and a groom, and at some of the shows, the grooms even have to sign a release and wear a wrist band to be on property. At the show I attended, the only coaches I saw were there riding anyway. They arranged ride times by trailer group as much as they could, and it was a very quick in and out. The shows with stabling are leaving empty stalls between groups to allow for easier distancing.
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I am showing because:
- I’m 67 this weekend.
- Bravo is 15.
- I have been to shows and I find that people are wearing masks, not congregating, and practicing “safe showing”. Dressage shows are not rail classes or H/J shows with grooms and trainers packed along the rail. It’s a fairly individual event. We are certainly +6’ away from each other.
- The showgrounds are 2 miles from my house and I sleep at home, hauling in for my classes.
- and finally, Regionals are 2 miles from my house for the first time this year and I have been looking forward to it for two years.
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I have a new horse (bought last year). Need more time to get us ready. So if I can go to a local schooling show where I can haul in, climb on, show, leave I will. But not in a hurry. Scores at this point are a moot point.
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Hmmm, let’s see I explicitly ask that people not judge others’ rationale, give my personal rationale for not showing, and say I’m interested in hearing others’ perspective because I don’t get it. Yet some interpret this as me judging others.
News flash: having a different opinion isn’t automatically judging others.
When presented with a different opinion one can react in many ways. A couple of options are:
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One can interpret the different opinion as a challenge to one’s own beliefs and “right fight” by arguing that person is wrong and trying to convince all that you are correct.
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Seek to understand the rationale for the other opinion and use that to challenge one’s own opinion. This is fundamentally the value of diversity, not just of appearance and background, but also of perspective and experience. Difference of opinion has many sources. On more than one occasion, I have actually said “I never thought of it that way.”
Some clues I use to differentiate between a difference of an opinion and a “right fight” is the use of pronouns. An opinion typically uses “I” and “me” or “my” as in “I think this”, “This is my experience…”
Right fighters tend to make statements about others such as “You’re telling me …” “you are wrong”
I had a real turning point in the workforce with another person when I had this realization. One day in a meeting when we had very different opinions on the best way forward on a problem, instead of continuing to engage in right fighting (apparently, this person and I are descended from warring tribes) I stopped as asked “why do you think that?” instead of just arguing the benefits of my own position. The room fell silent, he was taken completely by surprise, thought for a moment, and gave his rationale in a much calmer voice. We then engaged in a much more civil dialog and found a middle ground that incorporated the best of our ideas and was a better solution for the entire endeavor. That lesson has stuck with me. YMMV
Thanks to all who shared their perspectives in that spirit.
Be well!
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I had vague ideas of possibly doing a schooling show or two late in the season this year, but now that’s extremely unlikely for several reasons - one of which is the extra regulations. It wouldn’t have been for anything other than to get my green horse some experience, and he can wait until next year for that, so it’s better for me (my wallet, my health and the health of others) to sit this year out.
Plus, I haven’t shown in ~7 years and he’s not as far along as I’d hoped training-wise, so what’s another year. :lol: He’s only 5, plenty of time, and we can always find places to field trip to that are busy without being a show.
”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹I have no problem with other people showing, especially those in pursuit of scores, with older horses, etc. that don’t necessarily have another year.
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Happy Birthday!
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I totally agree IRT to use of certain words. Giving YOUR opinion does not mean calling others derogatory names or adjectives. ANd Thank you.
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“Filling to max capacity” is meaningless phrase in the context without the numbers for max capacity this year and last year (which you may have seen). Shows that reduce entry numbers would naturally fill to capacity faster, and given the thwarted desire to show that so many people have pent up it seems likely that entries would come as early as possible. Between the two factors it’s not surprising that shows would fill quickly.
All but one of my possible endurance competitions this year have already been cancelled. The last one standing will be submitting their plans and protocols to the discipline’s governing body and local health unit in the next few days. Given sport and health sanctioning it will run provided the curve doesn’t rise again.
I’m going to compete and volunteer if it runs and the area and provincial COVID-19 situation remains similar to now. Because the current risk here is low. Because I like to have something to work towards in my riding. Because I spent thousands on a truck to pull my trailer a week before we got locked down. Because the last two years have pretty much been losses as far as being able to do the fun extra activities with the horses and this year the ducks were lining up nicely before lockdown.
But if the risk changes my decision might as well. Right now I’m hoping for the best.
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By max capacity, I mean, the number of tests that a judge can judge in a day. Our shows are small here - usually 1 or 2 judges in normal years, so when they fill this year, it is likely going to be the same number of competitors because they aren’t going to have the judge sitting and staring at an empty arena for half the day.
I’m not showing, mostly because my horse isn’t ready. He’s an orchid. And it is expensive to ride an orchid in a recognized show.
I know a h/j trainer and dressage trainer who are just taking their clients to shows now. Certain shows. They say that so much has changed in terms of the office, stabling, and social distancing rules at the rails. Both have no need to take students to shows if they felt the process was unsafe. Both are pretty strict about people wearing masks in close quarters… Both do remote or distanced lessons. So many changes are being made to keep people safe, and I suspect there will be continued changes in the future. You might want to contact a few shows to see what their rules are now and see if it is something you want to work with. Check in again in a few months, I suspect things will change after the first couple of shows. Also, perhaps contact a trainer like one of the ones I mentioned above who can coach you at a show safely. Quite a few trainers and riders do NOT want COVID-19 and are happy to take precautions.
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I had plans to attend two specific shows this season; but, then Covid-19 happened. I have long term goals that far outweigh and really do not depend on any short-term desire to "go see how we do’ at a show this year. Despite taking precautions while continuing to take/give regular lessons up until one month ago, my coach ended up with Covid-19. Non-horse related activity was the most likely exposure; however, lessons came to an abrupt halt. My horse is ready and could put in a decent test or two. I also am one who has more than enough confidence and have shown on my own without having anyone else there; but, I am in a high risk group. I take care of my mother who is 84 and thus she is in a very high risk group. I have others in the household who are also high risk. I am in a position that from the start of this whole thing has been considered essential so am forced to deal with the public on a daily basis. I take as many precautions that’s possible. Considering my responsibilities including my job I choose not to increase my risk of exposure any more than what is absolutely necessary and that’s already pushing the envelope as it is (because of my job). I figure, given there’s nothing ‘vital’ to gain and I already shun all but Costco, the grocery store, the drug store and my mothers multiple doctors’ appointments why add to the potential to become either a fomite or typhoid Mary? It would be a hard hit if I were to get sick (I also financially support my mother); but, even worse if I were to get anyone else in my immediate care/association sick too. If others wish to show that is their business and their choice. I have no judgment on their decisions. I am solely thinking of myself and those I care about and care for, that is all; and I take that as MY responsibility and don’t put that on others.
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I’m not showing, but I’m not crazy about showing anyway.
I have done some clinics, though. I would say that I feel a lot safer in an outdoor, distanced environment than an indoor environment (like work). Honestly I feel that if I’m exposed to the virus, it won’t be horse related.
At clinics I try to go in the tack room when no one else is there and quickly grab everything I’ll need. I don’t really see that I come within 6 feet of anyone, other than quickly retrieving the speaker thing - but I’m mounted and therefore I think the risk of transmission in that second is probably minimal.
As far as falling off and needing care, I do think that would worry me if I lived in a place where hospitals were currently overwhelmed. It’s a very scary situation. I do think, though, that the situation is looking less and less “temporary.” Hopefully next summer will be better, but no one really knows. I definitely don’t want to put myself at risk, but I feel that horse activities are pretty low risk. Of hear at clinics there used to be buffets and people eating together and that’s not happening. I sure hope that we can be back to that soon. It’s a bit sad now to be rushing and trying to avoid everyone.
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Chiming in late. I have been doing A LOT of thinking about this. Personally, I feel that dressage shows are pretty safe - or at least that I am capable of conducting myself safely at one. However, as a health care worker, I feel a responsibility to be not only safe, but completely above-the-board legal. For a while, in my county, outdoor recreation with less than 50 people was allowed if social distancing could be maintained. Under that rule, there were a couple of one-ring trailer-in shows where they re-arranged the schedule so that people came in, rode their two tests back-to-back and left. For me, that just didn’t feel like a horseshow. It takes all the fun away if I can’t schmooze with my friends, watch others ride, etc. This week, the limit on outdoor gatherings was reduced to only 10 people. So in my opinion that means no more shows.
However, a couple of shows have found a local loophole that “professional sports” can continue without spectators if they follow the guidelines of the national organization. There is even a large multi-ring show with stabling that is using this loophole. IMO, the professional sports loophole was obviously meant to allow our professional basketball, baseball and football teams to continue. Those national pro sports have pretty tight guidelines about the team quarentining together doing testing, etc/, and they insure that the necessary testing is available. I really don’t believe that UESF falls under those guidelines. (i.e. the USEF guidelines say that shows can be held only if they are allowed by local law). So, I won’t go to shows now. I also won’t travel to a place where shows are legal if they are not legal in my home county. I just do not feel that is upholding the spirit of the law.
I probably I feel more pressure to be legal than others. In my work, I do some tele-medicine, and also see some patients in person. When I, as a professional, ask someone to come into the office, they trust me. I am always very aware that if I ever test positive, my workplace will have to call every patient I saw in person for two weeks, and tell them to quarantine and get tested. If that ever happens, I want to know that everything I did was completely above board. I want to feel not only that I acted safely, but also that I acted completely legally. I don’t want to feel like I need to hide my actions – either because I am not proud of them, or because they would look bad to others.
I will add that this has been a difficult decision for me. I plan on becoming a judge in the future, and do not yet have all of the scores for that. This year I have a horse who (I think) is capable of scoring at both 4th level and PSG. Getting the scores on him could mean a lot for my future in the sport. He is young and I expect that we will still be able to get scores in the next couple years. However, if anything happens to him (or me), will I kick myself for not getting out there and getting the scores when I had the horse for it?
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I am showing. Some local Combined Tests and a couple of recognized dressage shows. I’m in my late 50’s. My homebred is finally adulting and getting more fun to ride rather than just survive on, a long road. I always live my life in the Do It Now mode. Everything can change in a second, I’ve known this for a long time. Next year he or I may not be here for hundreds of reasons.
It has been very easy to distance at the shows I’ve been to, much less risk than going to a grocery store, which I also limit.
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I was planning on sitting the season out, but I changed my mind. I have one horse showing 4th and schooling the PSG. I am trying to go for my silver medal. As a smaller pro, that silver is something I would love to have. I went out and received my fourth level scores a week ago. Horses get hurt, nothing is a given, and I weighed my risks and decided to go for it. I also have a fantastic youngster that I was planning on getting out at the schooling shows. He can wait. If he sits out another year, I am ok with that.
I will say our local rated show is doing a great job of social distancing. They are enforcing masks, stalls are separate ( since numbers are down), hand sanitizer is everywhere, and bathrooms are clean.
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I miss showing. I sat out most of last year because I had a rather demanding new job that required a lot of travel, a new horse that I was still getting to know, and I was in the middle of moving up on my other horse, who wasn’t quite ready to compete at the new level. My plan was to go to FL over the winter, get everything tuned up and ready to go, and start showing again this spring. We did get to do a month in FL, which was a wonderful experience, and got home just before the COVID stuff hit. Since then we have been kind of hunkered down here at the farm, which is fine.
Under normal circumstances I don’t get to spend anywhere near this much time at home so I am enjoying the opportunity; I am fortunate to have good facilities for training here so I am just riding at home and working on improving the basics. I don’t know that I would enjoy showing anywhere near as much without the fun social aspect that we usually have, and I also don’t find the notion of staying a hotel particularly enticing at the moment. While we have a couple show facilities that I suppose we could drive back and forth to daily, they are far enough away for that to be inconvenient, and I also noticed photos from a recent show at that facility had quite a few photos of people not practicing social distancing, wearing masks, etc. (Interestingly the show manager later put a post on social media asking people to remove those photos - not apparently because she took issue with the non compliance, but just in case the USEF/USDF happened to see them and sanction the show for failing to follow guidelines.) Let’s just say that that sealed the deal for me.
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