My bad, but that you were referencing Western Dressage wasn’t really clear.
Haven’t paid much attention to the WDAC rules since it’s not related to EC, USEF or the FEI,
Maybe it will be easier to ask for changes?
Competition arena?? HAHAHAHAHA. My horse reacts to EVERYTHING whether at home, on the trail, at my trainer’s facility for a lesson, etc. I’ve owned him for 12 years and exposed him to everything. He’s better now, at 14, than he was at 4, but he’s by no means completely relaxed at home, but noise (and everything else) sensitive at shows. Shows really aren’t the issue. It’s his reactiveness. Hey, I’ve coped. When I CAN get him to relax (he’s better in indoor arenas with less to see/hear), he has scored up to 70%. Other times, I feel happy that we stayed in the arena and did all the movements, even if tensely. Exactly what “job” should I give him?
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Mine is better outside, if she can see what made the noise then she settles quicker, noise that she can’t attribute to something…more worrying.
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There was a book written by a psychologist/horse/dog trainer where she said that the reason German Shepherds make good police dogs is that “they are the experts in ‘what’s wrong with this picture.’” That’s my horse: If anything is “different” or “strange,” he notices…and he may or may not react. He’s better in indoor arenas because there’s less to see, but even in an indoor, if there’s a loud or strange noise and he can’t see what’s making it, he’s going to react. It’s just him: If he hasn’t changed in 12 years, despite my best efforts, he’s not going to change. Even at home we ride with ear poms and an ear bonnet. I have a neoprene bonnet that I will use if we ever get to show again. And that just takes care of sounds…I was pleasantly surprised last night when I was walking him out around the property where I board and the deer were wandering about. He got looky, but he did not react spookily - which he has done in the past. On the other hand, they didn’t bound away - they just walked. What he might have done if they 'bounded" is ??? a few minutes later, a sound as loud as a gunshot went off next door (also a boarding and training stable). He squatted and started piaffeing/passaging, but in about a minute and half, I was able to settle him down. Small Progress. Also, ROFLOL, at the advanced age of 14, he seems to have decided that the wild turkey hen that has taken up residence does not eat (spotted) horses. Again, he keeps a wary Appaloosa eye on her, but doesn’t do his patented telescope neck, spin and bolt. Believe me, if he were a wild horse, no wolf or cougar would ever get him. He would be the herd sentry.
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lol! I know the type. Mine is definitely of the belief that he needs to be aware of what is going on. He has a very strong sense of self preservation. As the years have gone by, he’s mellowed, and he is VERY well behaved in the arena when he knows someone else has it covered. But he definitely wants to know that someone is working on it. He’s usually right.
We have the same personality, actually ;).
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Does he notice right away? For all her ‘looky lou’ tendencies, she is so bloody unobservant at times, it makes you laugh. I had the large size mounting block brought indoors for the winter. First day it appeared, I led her up to it, and mounted no issue, started warming up, great…about 10 minutes in she suddenly ‘saw’ the block for the first time, with spectacular results…gotta love her. Have had her eyes checked to make sure that she isn’t over compensating because she doesn’t see that well. At 18 I’m not sure how much I am going to change her.
Oh yes, he notices RIGHT AWAY. I will say this, he has scars on his left front pastern, an even larger one on the front of the left hind canon, and smaller scars in the hock area on both hind legs. The breeder told me he was chased through a fence by a pack of feral dogs when he was somewhere between weanling/yearling. I often wonder if that’s why he’s so wary of many things. On the other hand, things that people talk about having issues with - tying and pulling back, trailer loading, ground manners in genera, good for the vet and farrier - he’s just fine (but first time around, he did have to be formally introduced to the vet and farrier - farrier couldn’t catch him w/o an introduction from me). I can leave him tied to the trailer at a show and not worry about him. The only time he has pulled back in the cross ties is when I tripped and fell down right in front of him - I can’t really blame him for reacting to that!
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Whatever job you would like, if you can ride him within the rules.
And noise muffling ear bonnets, if not ear poms, are now within the rules. But there were comments that using/wanting to use such was a failure of training/riding and one should find the horse another job rather than use them. This is my seventh horse (owned, as opposed to just ridden/worked with) over a period of 45-plus years. He’s the only one that has been so reactive and not “gotten over it” with schooling and exposure. At 73, if a bonnet and poms help, I’m using them (though obviously not poms at shows). I don’t need any more spooks and spins than absolutely necessary! LOL (now i’m giggling over the image of Pom(eranians) stuffed in a horse’s ears.)
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I’m not understanding your post, but that’s OK… Whatever you do with your horse in a training situation is up to you.
The title of this thread is a question by the OP, who wonders why “ear plugs” (not nets, not bonnets, but ear plugs) are considered “evil” and are not allowed in the shows that the OP wants to ride in.
I and a few other people have tried to give good guess about why the rules are as they are. Some of us think the rules are OK, some would like to have them changed. We all have opinions.
If I had realized that the OP was asking about Western Dressage rules I would not have offered an opinion, since I know absolutely nothing about Western Dressage (except that it is not under the governance of the FEI).
OP is Canadian so EC would be the place to complain, perhaps? I don’t know…
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Nope. EC doesn’t regulate WD.
The only thing they did was to allow their judges to judge WD classes.
Skydy - What I was saying - I don’t think it’s that unclear - was that although poms are not allowed at shows, sound-muffling bonnets (as well as your everyday look-nice-keep-the-flies-out bonnets) ARE now legal for shows, and that since my horse is so reactive, I will use one. That is, the new sound muffling bonnets are the legal alternative to ear poms. And it does seem odd that if the sound muffling bonnets ARE allowed - then, as the thread title goes - why are ear plugs “evil?”
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It’s more complicated than that though…
The show l’m referencing is an EC Bronze show, with both Western and English, so the general rules are those for EC Canada. If I was able to get WSDAC to allow any form of noise reduction device in tests, then the ground rules would over ride them when not riding.
Typing that I do realize that there might be a difference in allowing poms or sound reducing bonnets…more research needed.
I have one of those bonnets - and the problem with them - in a hot environment, they are HOT. My mare’s ears are soaked with sweat, so I don’t use it. Agree, using the logic - sound muffling bonnet allowed - WHY are ear plugs “evil”?
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Yes. I’m sure we’d both prefer to use a regular, lightweight ear bonnets and ear poms. Besides, the lightweight ones are prettier and you can get them with bling! LOL Assuming my horse is ever sound enough to show again (we’re still at walk/walk/walk), I have a nice new navy show coat and matching helmet - purchased two years ago at Rolex (now Land Rover Kentucky), and a matching navy ear bonnet, with bling. I’d sure love the opportunity to use them!!!
I don’t see how it’s more complicated than that…
EC only allows their judges to judge WD classes.
It has nothing to do with EC Bronze shows.
The show you went proposed WD classes but it’s not part of the Bronze level shows.
it has everything to do with the ground rules though! WD rules apply to the classes obviously but for everything else, EC rules, Provincial Rules or Showground rules apply.
If the show rules say no ear puffs on the grounds, that is nothing to do with WD…
The interesting thing would be if WD allowed them in the ring for your test…
Sorry - I did not realize you were talking about western dressage, I assumed this was regarding USDF USEF dressage which does allow the noise canceling ear bonnets. My horse is fine when it’s hot out, it’s in the cool weather that he is super noise sensitive, so it works out for us.
Actually, no.
If WD dressage would permit ear plugs, you would be allowed to wear them.
WD is not part of EC or your provincial association. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the « dress code » for WD is only subjected to their own rules.
WDA 6.01 : You could wear a helmet or a western hat.
1.b : Helmet use may be deemed mandatory in any competition and/or warm up areas where the show, organizers, show affiliation or facility owner requires the use of a helmet.
It’s the same when there is a Gold and FEI show on the same day/same ground. FEI riders can wear soundproof bonnets and Gold riders can’t.
If WD was subjected to EC dressage rules, you would not be allowed to ride in a western saddle or have a curb bit.
You would also be allowed to have a martingale in the warmup even if WD is not allowing it…
In doing WD classes, you are doing the WD show which is separate from the EC show.
You only pay EC/National fees because WD dressage shows have decided to be affiliated with bigger shows for the use of their show grounds, EC judges and TDs.
