[QUOTE=Velvet;6487848]
I guess you’ve never shown dressage. They are doing a bit check. Not to look for blood, when they stick their finger in the horse’s mouth. Blood would be secondary to their purpose.[/QUOTE]
The bit check is before you ride.
If you’re going to be certain, you better be right.
9. Ring stewards appointed by competition management must check saddlery and inspect bits and spurs on both sides of the horse for at least one-third of the horses in each class. Inspection of saddlery and bits must be done at the direction of the technical delegate. Inspection of saddlery and bits must be done immediately as the horse leaves the arena. (See DR126.1i) The checking of the bridle must be done with the greatest caution, as some horses are very touchy and sensitive about their mouths.
Source:http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2012/08-DR.pdf
[QUOTE=katarine;6487912]
If you’re going to be certain, you better be right.
9. Ring stewards appointed by competition management must check saddlery and inspect bits and spurs on both sides of the horse for at least one-third of the horses in each class. Inspection of saddlery and bits must be done at the direction of the technical delegate. Inspection of saddlery and bits must be done immediately as the horse leaves the arena. (See DR126.1i) The checking of the bridle must be done with the greatest caution, as some horses are very touchy and sensitive about their mouths.
Source:http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2012/08-DR.pdf[/QUOTE]
That was not my experience, but okay. I wasn’t showing at the Olympics.
I was not wrong to say that they appeared to be checking for blood, because that’s what it looked like, as I also saw them looking at spur marks.
Those aren’t the ‘Olympic’ rules. Those are the ‘USEF’ rules.
‘Okay.’
[QUOTE=TheHorseProblem;6487896]
The bit check is before you ride.[/QUOTE]
I have never had my bit checked before the ride, nor have I seen it done before the ride at licensed shows in the mid-Atlantic region.
It is always post-ride.
[QUOTE=SaddleFitterVA;6488070]
I have never had my bit checked before the ride, nor have I seen it done before the ride at licensed shows in the mid-Atlantic region.
It is always post-ride.[/QUOTE]
^ :yes: ^
FYI, the stewards check the bit and the length of the spurs (not looking for “spur rubs”). Makes little difference I suppose, but for the sake of accuracy…
The Austrian rider used a cream saddle pad and wore cream breeches. Everything matched her sheepskin pad. It looked gorgeous on her horse Augustin.
OT, but Rubi’s piaffe!:eek: Wow!
[QUOTE=SaddleFitterVA;6488070]
I have never had my bit checked before the ride, nor have I seen it done before the ride at licensed shows in the mid-Atlantic region.
It is always post-ride.[/QUOTE]
When I rode at the PVDA Ride for Life in 2007, my bit was checked prior to my entering the arena.
[QUOTE=see u at x;6488517]
When I rode at the PVDA Ride for Life in 2007, my bit was checked prior to my entering the arena.[/QUOTE]
Not all volunteers know the timing rules I guess.
That would be disruptive. You warm up, with a specific ride time, you have a set routine that works for that horse, and to have that interrupted before the test would not be good for lots of horse/rider combinations.
I bet that had someone mentioned it to the TD, the bit checks would have been after the rides.
[QUOTE=SaddleFitterVA;6488575]
Not all volunteers know the timing rules I guess.
That would be disruptive. You warm up, with a specific ride time, you have a set routine that works for that horse, and to have that interrupted before the test would not be good for lots of horse/rider combinations.
I bet that had someone mentioned it to the TD, the bit checks would have been after the rides.[/QUOTE]
That makes complete sense to have it done that way - good to know for the future! Totally something I never even thought about until I read it here. :lol:
[QUOTE=SaddleFitterVA;6488575]
Not all volunteers know the timing rules I guess.
That would be disruptive. You warm up, with a specific ride time, you have a set routine that works for that horse, and to have that interrupted before the test would not be good for lots of horse/rider combinations.
I bet that had someone mentioned it to the TD, the bit checks would have been after the rides.[/QUOTE]
The shows we hosted at my former barn had a ring steward in the warm up. The same person with the clipboard and ride times checked bits, spurs, and whips as we entered the warm up.
Of course, this was the lower level ring, not the FEI ring. 
I am watching the live feed of the freestyle and there is a TD clearly checking the horses for spur rubs. She runs her hands along the horses’ sides even if the rider has dismounted. Maybe that’s covered under a different rule, but that is what I see happening. She looks at her hand checking, I presume, for any sign of blood.
“Hockey? I think you have your Olympic seasons mixed up, not mention years”
That’s be FIELD hockey…
Carol
Of course that top hat looks devine. But safety first. I have to appreciate those who opted for helmets, and the winner wore a helmet. I think the professionals need to set an example for those younger riders and think about wearing that helmet.
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