You can do the Performance Award in two shows IF you can ride for 4 different judges. Depending on scheduling, you are not guaranteed to ride for different judges even in a multiple-judge show.
1 Like
yes I mentioned medals aboveā¦ ?
Last year they changed the requirements for Regionals to jsut two scoresā¦ no other qualifications. You could even make it a qualifying score AFTER the show - all that was due to COVID and fewer shows. I do think they should remove the two shows requirementā¦
As to footing, it has nothing to do with being a ārich AAā. Itās about horse welfare. Maybe YOUR horse doesnt mind unstable sand that might be wet (slippery?), too deep, or too hard. Not all of us have such sound horsesā¦ OR we worry that the footing could impact our sound horseās soundness! Mediums and extended paces are hard on a horse to begin with. Of course truly collected work also is harder in poor footing.
There is nothing wrong with GOOD sand footing. There are venues here in Florida that have it - Clarcona"s two front arenas come to mind. BUt it is hard to keep it in good shape over the course of a long show day. THis month a show needed to be moved as the original venue is under construction. THe only available place was nearby but the footing was really not sufficient. I understand there were many complaints to the manager and she finally cancelled the show. Rightfully.
2 Likes
Amen. Iāve taken some āheatā for refusing to ride my horse in slop. Others are welcome to risk their horses in crap footing. I donāt need to show/clinic/ride/lesson/jump more than I need to protect my horseās welfare
4 Likes
So donāt go to the shows where you donāt like the footing. Seeā¦ hereās the problem. There are PLENTY of shows even around here at facilities with good footing. The show at this facility was the only one that was affordable to the low budget ammie and rated. My trainer (may he Rest In Peace) always encouraged me to ride my pony on all sorts of footing in training so it wouldnāt matter at a show and this has served me well.
The question is what can we do to make dressage more affordable and accessible and it starts with not getting shows shut down or facilities banned because they arenāt up to YOUR (general) personal standards. Itās ok that itās not, so go to a different showā¦ when you get this facility or that facility banned, youāre now making it more exclusionary to those that can afford the higher priced facility.
Obviously, if enough people vote with their wallets, the show dies out, and thatās fine if it had happened that way. Unfortunately, I know that thatās not what happened because I did talk to the show management to find out why the show was suddenly moved.
Sadlyā¦ most of this will fall on deaf ears because the sport is becoming more exclusionary (not just dressage but competition under the USEF umbrella in general) as prices for shows continue to climb. And sure we can say that dressage is training and you should be happy to do it at home by yourself but for me, because I do work full time outside of the horse industry and have a family, shows are the motivational factor that keep me going out and riding my pony regularly working toward that goal.
5 Likes
Replied to wrong post!
Again, increase quality of training available at the lower/entry levels.
Itās been my experience that there are a whole lot more trainers distributed around the country capable of teaching a first level rider than there are who are capable of helping someone produce a horse to Grand Prix.
2 Likes
If itās the facility Iām thinking of (also held hunter/jumper A shows), my understanding is that stalls were required so that if there were any complaints to Public Health, they could state that all the horses āboardedā there and so owners/riders were allowed on the property, in contravention of provincial Covid protocol. Nice.
Exactly. Why ruin it for people who donāt have a problem with the footing? If itās really that bad, people will opt not to show there and eventually the lack of exhibitors will make the facility either improve the footing or simply stop holding shows.
3 Likes
I think you need to re-read what you quoted.
They are saying last yearās show season, so 2019 show season. Pre-Covid.
I believe they also said (or someone else did) that this last show season (2020) they removed that rule so people would show up, show their horse and leave. Not hang around.
1 Like
Thereās two situations, I think.
I thought @kris0227 was speaking about the 2020 season, but as they clarified they were speaking about 2019 and the rule changed in 2020.
I was speaking about the dressage shows near me in 2020. They did not allow haul-ins. I am hoping they change this rule for 2021.
What about between first level and FEI? If lack of correct training is the obstacle for everyday horses and riders to progress, why is there that lack?
2 Likes
I was referring to Piaffe11ās mention that last year the show didnāt allow haul-ins. Last year was 2020, and s/he says s/he doesnāt see it changing this year, 2021. The facility in question (if itās the one Iām thinking of) made stalls mandatory last year (2020) in order to get around the requirement of allowing only owners/riders of boarded horses on the property.
Because dressage is hard. Because you have to sit a medium and later an extended trot starting in second level. But also because many of the short cuts taken by local trainers and lower level ammies result in horses that donāt have a foundation to move beyond first level.
If you start in with the crank and spur and head set at training level, you can get through first level with a horse that looks āroundā but is actually on the forehand. When you start trying for collection in second level things fall apart.
I get to watch local backyard trainers who do this to their own horses and to their students horses. Many of the horses just eventually go unsound.
3 Likes
There actually is not that much middle ground once you get past collection and the changes. At that point it is adding to things the horse already should understand and developing them to a new level. The hump is at second level, after that if you can do 4th you can probably make a passable attempt at the psg and so on. There is another hump between the small tour and the Grand Prix and some horses will never make it.
But the reality is that in general terms there is much more training, and training of decent quality, at the lower levels.
That is excactly why my suggestion would be finding ways to improve the quality of tranining at the lower levels. There are many riders committed to improving, dedicated to fitness, sacrificing to be able to do this at all. They are not too stupid or lazy to make it happen. But people donāt know what they donāt know unless there is someone to help them find out.
5 Likes
USDF offers Instructor/Trainer programs starting at Training Levelā¦ COVID of course has halted many programs but hopefullly they can be organized in the future. Meanwhile it is a good idea to research the trainers you use or followā¦https://www.usdf.org/education/instructor-trainer/
Very well said, but these people are food for everybody taking their money and it happens on many levelsā¦
What exactly are we talking about when we say āmake dressage more affordableā? Is it horse ownership? Training? Showing?
3 Likes
