I agree that there’s not much point in going to a competition if you don’t plan to compete. But that doesn’t change the fact that 71 or 72% is not a poor score, no matter where it puts you in the pile. If you got 72% and the horse that won with 72.025% hadn’t shown up that day, your “poor” score would magically be a great score, I guess. This is what is not making sense to me.
18 Likes
I agree with you but here are a few ideas…
SOme facilities cut the schooling shows a break in fees. Schooling shows are usually one day.
Normal recognized shows are typically two days (two nights).
Regionals (I’m at Region 3 right now) are haul in Wed through SUnday, so 4 nights.
Regionals also requires more security I think.
But yes, too expensive, especially when some facilities require you buy their shavings at an inflated price.
3 Likes
Its important at TL and the lower levels, because how many times have we seen a horse shut down into a little trot by the rider? Or the rider causing a lateral walk due to tension? Later on, as you mention, the components of a quality gait are expected…
1 Like
You tell her to “you do you” then complain when she says how she sees/uses judge remarks?
7 Likes
The discussion about scores is really interesting. A few years ago, I competed my hot-as-a-pistol pony in her first approved show. Our tests were not great and our scores reflected that. Yet, we won all of our classes with scores in the low 60’s. All that meant was the other riders had crappier rides than I did. They were not thrilling wins. I would have felt much better if I had scored higher and did not win.
14 Likes
Back to the topic. Our local shows fill up fast and have a waiting list. The facility is wonderful and management caters to competitors. Despite incentives, there is a struggle to get volunteers. A few years ago, a training session was held for all potential volunteers. It was well-attended, but there were still spots to fill during the competition. Luckily, there is a core group who step up when needed and fills empty slots.
The shows are expensive. It costs me at least $500 to ride two tests at a weekend show. Now, most weekend competitions are two separate shows, so that’s an added expense as some fees are paid for each competition.
2 Likes
I so agree with this…the placing does not matter if there are 3 people in the class and the highest score was a 61.
4 Likes
Just responding to the bolded part. I agree that you can’t complain, much less penalize a judge, for not liking the criteria they are required to use.
But if I am correct in the rest of what I said-- that competitive dressage’s criteria have become something like performance testing for Northern European horse breeders, then anyone not buying their stock ought not bother to show up. And that’s too bad. Because good gaits can also come from great training, those gait scores are a complicated thing to consider.
4 Likes
Wait, only the winning score is worth having? Worth showing up for?
God, if everyone thought that way the shows would be shut down in just a few weeks. Talk about sour grapes. Talk about not being able to admit there are nicer horses than yours out there, and/or that you got outridden by someone else. While I, too, show up to win, if I don’t I’m not going to go stomping home to pout. I am motivated to ride better, so next time the tables can be reversed.
Our schooling shows around here are largely rank beginners. They don’t even list anything above maybe 1st on the bill, and you might have 1 or 2 entries in it. I’m not tooting my horn, but I ride better than that. I feel like I’m “stealing” ribbons at my local shows, but don’t have the $$ to show recognized. It’s a conundrum for me, because I enjoy showing but don’t want to “win” against the kid on the school pony. It doesn’t feel fair.
16 Likes
May I suggest that this is attitude is part of the problem? No one wants to spend more time and money
than they really can afford, when they will be treated as “less than” when they get there. The environment at recognized shows is often NOT welcoming or positive. There is SO much condescension.
Riders can improve by taking more lessons, going to clinics, etc. You don’t have to show to be a better rider as many have pointed out above. There are definitely better riders out there who can afford more professional training and more talented horses. No one is in denial about that. So let them have their shows among themselves. No one wants to subsidize them with their time or their money anymore.
7 Likes
I think the point some people are making is that “riding better” isn’t enough to reverse the tables unless that ‘nicer’ horse has a really bad day. I can put in the best ride of my life on a 6 mover and not break 70. Meanwhile, Abby Amateur comes in having a mediocre day, barely able to steer on her 8 mover and blows us out of the water. Objectively, my 6 mover was better trained, better ridden, and working more correctly. But it was not the better mover, so we don’t “win”.
Some people are totally OK with that scenario, happy to see whatever improvement and scores are within the horse’s capability irrelevant of the class placings. Others don’t see the point of paying a fortune when losing is a forgone conclusion. 
To each their own.
But, this is basically the same gaits discussion that has been hashed and rehashed repeatedly over the years. The PTB are clearly fine with things as is, and there isn’t going to be a grand overhaul of score criteria or judging.
18 Likes
I don’t even show recognized, so you can aim the comment elsewhere. I flat out can’t afford it.
But if I stomped off because I didn’t win the class, you can’t possibly say that’s a good attitude, either. Second place? Nope, if I don’t win there’s something nefarious going on. It couldn’t possibly be that someone else was actually better than me, even by a hair. Nope, impossible.
What, should everyone get a participation ribbon instead?
2 Likes
Oh, I thought that we were talking about recognized dressage shows (as in the title of this thread.) I haven’t seen anyone complaining about local, unrecognized shows but perhaps I missed it.
1 Like
I’m aiming at the person who showed up with their stallion, didn’t get the results they wanted and said “anything below #1 is a poor score.” Are you kidding? So everyone at, say, regionals got a poor score except the winner?
3 Likes
Do you… or can you… read for comprehension. I said that if I was not competitive I did not show.
I did not complain that “I did not get the results I wanted.”
OK, Heinz, fair enough. But really, does that scenario play out EVERY SINGLE TIME you show? Of course not. Because if you really are putting in that much of a better test at every show, most of the judges will score you higher than the huge mover with an ill-equipped rider.
I used to feel as a lot of folks on this thread do. I thought people were out there “buying” their ribbons/medals by getting expensive, made, horses to ride. And some of that happens, it does. But it’s not every show and it’s not every time you ride. I don’t care about those outliers anymore. I care about improving my scores every show. If I win the class, it’s a bonus. If I’m in the ribbons, I call it a successful show. If I get a score better than the previous show, regardless of being in the ribbons, I call it a success.
And if you aren’t striving to improve your tests every time, then I really don’t understand the desire to show. To say that you got 2nd and believe it’s a “poor score” simply because someone else won the class, that’s just. . . a unique perspective. Nobody wins every time. Nobody. (OK maybe Isabelle Werth, but that’s about it).
7 Likes
No, but you did say your score over 70% was a “poor score” because it wasn’t the winning score.
5 Likes
So… let me get this totally straight. You think second place is not competitive?
So an Olympic silver medalist is… not competitive?
Second place at DaD, not competitive?
In what world is “I win, or else I quit” a good mindset to have? How else can that be interpreted, but sour grapes and packing your toys?
7 Likes
Me thinks someone over estimated themselves greatly, and got a big-ass reality check at the show. A-la, The Maestro or similar.
Else, I am not putting this together that “not first place” = “not competitive”.
1 Like
Where did I say that a “score over 70% was a poor score?” Please provide a quote.
