UDJC.. a new forum for dressage showing.. THOUGHTS?

[OverandOnward]

People can consider anything they wish when entering. Any show.

No schooling show that I know of is adhering to any of that.

One of the reasons that the USEF shows are so expensive the many regulations they are monitoring and enforcing (or attempting to enforce). Maybe this is a ‘you get what you pay for situation’.

The ginormous AQHA is also connecting with SafeSport through the USEF, so altogether that would be a giant chunk of all of the people who show horses, in the U.S. But undoubtedly there are many branches of horse showing that aren’t connecting with SafeSport as well.

[UDJClub]

You’re answering your own question in your post. Why is it necessary? Because all the kids are in the hunters. USDF is doing an absolute horrible job at promoting dressage at the base. Every beginner should ride “dressage”, there’s not even anything to argue about that. Dressage, Jumping and Hunters are mostly seen as 3 different sports here, even though it’s all the same. Hunters and Jumpers build on dressage. So how comes that nobody is doing it? Because USDF doesn’t even try to get kids into it. Don’t ask me why, I seriously can’t answer that, but the environment at a lot of dressage shows is absolutely horrible for kids, that’s for sure. The German system is less “friendly” to AA, because the amateur status doesn’t even really exist, everybody rides against everybody. Also you’re not allowed to ride whatever test you want, you have to qualify. Which is great. Is that what you mean by unfriendly?

[Manni01]

You don’t need to teach me about Dressage, I was riding Dressage already when you were not even born .
And about kids doing jumpers, in Germany it’s the same. I live in a state predominantly ruled by jumper riders. most kids jump and many of them have no idea how to do dressage… The basic certifications (medals) for them to participate in shows are a joke regarding dressage… so obviously Germany is doing a bad job as well.
And something which I hate about the German system is that they pamper kids until they are 16 and at that point they are either international team riders or they dump them… as soon as they age out they might as well stop showing. and most of them do.

And the unpleasant athmosphere is caused by the system which promotes junior riders and professionals because they need to put ribbons on their sales horses (in order to sell them to the US…)if you are an AA rider you always rank behind Pros and youth team riders…. Not sure what’s welcoming about that…

[trubandloki]

@Ajierene

Go to schooling shows and you will see horses is martingales in flat classes.

Your mileage is different than mine on this subject. Even the most backyard schooling shows in my part of the world do not allow martingales, side reins, tie downs, etc. in judged flat classes.

@libgrrl

The sidereins in Manni’s video were really really loose – hardly forcing a horse into a frame.

I have not read all the rules for this new show series. Is there a description about only allowing really loose side reins?

@UDJClub

we’re open for everyone

I guess this opens up that whole safe sport question again, hu?

@atr

You could go get your show ring experience in many other ways, whether it was gymkhana games or showing. Those things just don’t exist in the English showing and riding world over here. (Something that made me rather sad when I moved here 35 years ago because I left behind a really rather nice show hack prospect.)

They do exist in my part of the world (and I am very much in the US). Shows that you can do an English under saddle class and then go do pole bending.

[axl]

I am learning quite a bit here about early German riding education.

My question is, do they teach paragraphs?

[NJRider]

I completely agree with this. it just comes down to having common sense. There are many people in the horse world who are convicted sex offenders who are on their state sex offender list but who are not in disciplines that require USEF membership. In my opinion these people are much more dangerous. In Missouri there is a western horse trainer who teaches lessons, helps other local Hunter jumper trainers and he also sells horses. He is also not only on the sex offender list but he recently reoffended and it has a new court case. He is not supposed to be around any minor. So he is free to roam and do whatever he wants because he technically will never be on the safe sport list because he will never join the USEF.

[trubandloki]

@NJRider

He is also not only on the sex offender list but he recently reoffended and it has a new court case. He is not supposed to be around any minor. So he is free to roam and do whatever he wants because he technically will never be on the safe sport list because he will never join the USEF.

If he legally is not allowed to be around minors then I would assume if you call the police if he is actively doing something with minors that are not his own family, he would likely get in trouble legally.

[Manni01]

Not sure what type of paragraphs you are thinking about, but the new President of our Federation ( spent some time in the US, but I don’t think he was involved with riding) plans to introduce Safe Sport…. . I am not thrilled about this… the only difference for me after they introduced SS were endless hours I spent in front of the computer to finish the continuous education … I never saw a difference in daily life… and just saying cases like GM are not a result of SS…

[axl]

Sorry @Manni01, I forgot that you are very literal.

I just meant breaking up your responses so they are a little easier to read online.

It was a gentle joke about @UDJClub, who has occasionally written some quite long responses without any spacing.

It is a COTH convention, which I do not blame him for not knowing.

[skydy]

@Manni01, I’m so sorry to hear that your experiences showing in Germany are not happy ones.
Your horses look to be coming along so well and you look good on them.

[atlatl]

@SillyHorse

They lost me at allowing sidereins in lower level classes.

Many classical riding schools start beginners in side reins. I don’t have a problem with it.

[Christa_P]

@atlatl

@SillyHorse

They lost me at allowing sidereins in lower level classes.

Many classical riding schools start beginners in side reins. I don’t have a problem with it.

I don’t think people are having a problem with starting beginners in side reins at home. The problem is showing in side reins.

[Manni01]

Well I guess that’s all a matter how you look at it….

Side reins are a tool to achieve your goals a bit earlier…
having your coach warm up your horse at a show is also a tool which supports your goals…
The same with easy prep or even some bute or whatever people give their horses in order to optimize their performance
So side reins is a piece of the picture along some others… not sure how you can decide which is more desirable or less desirable….

[Manni01]

Well my bad experiences so far were with my old mare. I decided to retire her and now I have 3 young horses… so for the next years I will be busy to try to put show miles on them and I will evaluate how it goes… Maybe I am simply too old for the show system in Germany and maybe I will retire on my sofa but so far I still have some strategies for my goals and will keep working on them…
but in fact I do voice my concerns whenever I get the chance because IMO so far no too many people ever thought about it. Obviously I have a fan club when I enter a show who cheer for me…

[skydy]

Keep us informed! I’m glad to see your new horses and how well you are bringing them along.

[atlatl]

@Christa_P

@atlatl

@SillyHorse

They lost me at allowing sidereins in lower level classes.

Many classical riding schools start beginners in side reins. I don’t have a problem with it.

I don’t think people are having a problem with starting beginners in side reins at home. The problem is showing in side reins.

I get that but everyone needs to start somewhere so I still don’t have a problem with it for beginners. That said, don’t get me started on the people that want to post the trot all the way up the levels.

[SillyHorse]

@atlatl

I get that but everyone needs to start somewhere so I still don’t have a problem with it for beginners.

If you can’t navigate a simple dressage test without sidereins, you are not ready to go in the show ring.

[Salty]

When I was a beginner, my first dressage test had the comment, “Free moving horse, but above the bit.” The score reflected that. I didn’t bash my horse in the mouth, no one got hurt, I completed the figures, I just got a score in the 40s and knew what I needed to learn to get better. It never occurred to me to ride in side reins!

[skydy]

I think that thought may be what is inhibiting youngsters from getting involved in Dressage in the U.S.

U.S. dressage needs more young people to be interested. My only concern is that the U.S. is lacking in trainers who are able to train a horse or pony to be ridden in side reins. However I doubt that the use of side reins will be an issue, because of that lack of experience.

[skydy]

It wouldn’t would it? If you were riding in the U.S. it wouldn’t be done.