I once arrived at a show, and pulled on my custom boots. Then I had to take one off because there was a pebble in the foot. When I pulled it off, the whole sole came off.
Maybe something like that happened.
Now Flash… didn’t you just want to tell that other rider to just hack off? 
Jr* Now that you’re back from England where’s home?
Good grief! What a disaster! I have no advice on how to explain the situation to your students.
Maybe this is the judges brain, this is what the judge pins when he is on drugs?
After an awards dinner this winter, I had a couple friends sleeping over. Both were showing the next day(at Snowbird). There was a misunderstanding w/t our trainer, & we recived a called at 12 saying “WHERE are you!?” So we ran into the car & rushed, doing 50 on a 25 mph road. One friend, Jen was ready & fine, so she showed her pony. The other, Kiki, incidently forgot to tell my mother she gets carsick! 
So by the time we reached the show, she was green & puking…eww…So my trainer had my friend schooling the pony, but she had never ridden him before. Since I was the only other person who had ridden the pony(he’s not push button), I got on w/t my jeans, chaps, paddock boots, barn jacket, (at least my hair was up in my hairnet w/t my hat). I showed the pony dressed for a ride at home, but I did have a number. I put in ok trips, I had a couple misses, but I had a nice 3rd trip & hack. I didn’t get a single ribbon. My trainer wasn’t mad, because she said that this judge in particular likes riders dressed properly. I shouldn’t have won, I didn’t have the best trips, but I expected at least 1 ribbon in the hack or something(there were 7). Its really up to the judge…BTW~This was Childs Hunter Pony
It was an experiance to remember
XOXO
Kris
~Think Big~Proud Blue~
Krista52087@hotmail.com
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So, was she the best rider in the class, or not? Sounds to me like something happened to her “real” boots.
I figured she forgot her boots, but there are so many people there, and the show is SO generous in lending things, I have personally borrowed martingales, stirrup leathers (students broke), spurs, crop etc. She could have found something.
It just didnt make the situation look good to the other competitors, who, like adult amatuers will, sensationalize the results and the fact that EVERYONe is watching them! To them it looked unsportsmanlike and disrespectful. it kind of disses the trainers who anally pick on their students and mounts for each detail to be acceptable, and then the situation here doesnt give them much credibility.
I know if it were me, I’d take the responsibility, turn my number over, school the show, asked the judge where they would have set me, and then learn a lesson about being organized.
The judge is SUPPOSED to be judging riding ability, not fashion sense.
If the h/j disciplines had the gumption to put realistic “attire” requirements in the rule book, this would be less of an issue.
regalmeans,
Actually I think she sounds just like a person who got to the horse show and realized she didn’t have her boots!
And while the shirt could have been tucked in, I can envision a last minute panic and flurry of activity as the status of the boots was discovered, that might have contributed to a disheveled appearence.
Lord knows, there is nothing like screwing up my pre-show ritual to put me in a total tizzy 
Personally, boots are less relevant than the rest. If her REAL boots were gone – she still has no excuse to show up into the ring with DIRTY paddock boots and an untucked shirt. This is a horse SHOW, and that means that no matter what, you should look your best. How was her horse turned out?
I personally think that one has two ride a thousand times better than anyone else in the class pinned over neat, tidy riders like that. I guess I’m neurotic about turnout – my trainer at school makes fun of me for riding with my hair up every time (force of habit) but by the time I get into the ring she’s grateful because at every horse show my tack is clean, my boots are shiny, everything’s neat, pressed, and tidy – no matter what.
And even if I did leave my boots or something and had to go into the ring in my paddock boots – they’d sure as hell be clean.
havaklu wins!!!
And to our first winner, we are awarding… A Compass!!!
Details for our runner up and creativity award (Janet and the “zero” concept) will be awarded shortly…
One is the loneliest number that you ever knew…
If the prize list said anything like “proper attire required”, then the show staff could have asked the rider to change her clothing or not compete.
If such a thing was NOT mentioned, then it would be up to the judge to not pin the girl.
Of course, if she had a perfect round, and the other competitors were less than stellar, I would expect the judge to pin the better rider. It was equitation after all.
Ain’t that the truth, DMK? I get upset if my number isn’t divisible by 3. At a schooling show a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t get one of my field boots on so I had to wear on dress and one field boot, but I don’t think anyone noticed. I still felt wierd, though.
Honestly, I’d really like to believe that this person forgot her boots, but after I saw a girl at Upperville show in the AA Jumpers in a tank top two years ago, I’d believe anything. Sometimes it just seems like people don’t care any more.
Oh Spots - I agree with you that that is the best local show - so I checked with the owner, she told me the woman left her boots at home (out in Lancaster County), and since there was not enough time for her to go home and get them, she was given permission to show.
When we saw her, she was neat - just bootless - so if she started falling apart, blame it on the time of day??
I hope that helps your client understand what happened - I am sure it wouldn’t happen normally!
The fact that a rider could win on riding ability rather than attire–heavens, what is the show ring coming to?
Hmmm, interesting topic. You did say it was a local show, were there any specific rules governing attire? The kids you brought may have made a number of less glaring errors then the winning entry but those added up to enough to move them down. Local shows also tend to be less well run then larger, rated events and the judges on the learner level. Maybe by 7pm the judge, having been at it for 12hrs plus with only a short bladder break or too, just wanted out. It happens. LordHelpus is also right to suggest the attire was oked. Speaking of LH if anybody hasn’t visited the Kimberwicke vs Pelham discussion and seen her picture competing at MSG some years back you should treat yourself to a look/see. This gal is way too modest.
From Allergy Valley USA
There may be many reasons for the turnout. I will not ever accept dirty though. It doesn’t cost to apply a little water with a sponge or towel. And it doesn’t require much effort to be sure all your body parts are coverd, and your clothing is in place.
As far as explaining to your students, that did put in the effort to be proud of their public display, I say, “You pay your money, you take your chances. There is always the next show.”
“The older I get, the better I used to be.”
