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Post by essendy on Jul 21, 2015 22:43:18 GMT
As title states, should Judges ask the age of horse/pony in Open Classes. Is teenage show horses discriminated in general?
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Post by titch on Jul 21, 2015 23:14:52 GMT
I think it's an irrelevant question!! I think it's just small talk. My mare is 13 and has been the oldest at both our county shows but has been placed at both. I do think they are penalised sometimes. I must admit I have said 11 a few times when asked . Her age to me is a benefit as her experience has bought her from 14th to 6th at one county show. I feel proud that she is still holding her own and still showing at her age when some fat young ponies may not still be in the ring at her age !
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Post by janetbushell on Jul 22, 2015 5:23:20 GMT
Yes IMO - age is a factor when assessing the general wear & tear on animal's limbs, but not as an actual comparison of the year the animal was foaled. The most amusing answers sometimes come from young children who say "he's 16 but Mummy says to say he's 10"
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Post by CarolineNelson on Jul 22, 2015 5:42:48 GMT
....... why ever not? Age has two ends of the spectrum - one can judge a 4 or 5 yo going beautifully with manners and confidence which belays its years. Yet you often find a ten or so yo which should know better, has learned a few tricks along the way, acts up and appears as green as a breaker. Or plain bluudy naughty!
That's not discussing wear and tear. A well cared for 13 should not be penalised. Remember Charisma won the Olympics with Mark Todd at 18!
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kaya
Junior Member
Posts: 121
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Post by kaya on Jul 24, 2015 16:57:53 GMT
I think they should. My horse did his first county show the other week in an open class, as there was no novice class for him. He was pulled 11th out of 24, so well pleased. He looks very mature for his 5 years & the judge just got on & rode, saying nothing but good morning. As she got off, she said that he felt a bit wooden. I then explained it he was only 5 and at his first big show & she seemed very surprised. Had she asked before she got on board, she may have ridden him differently. He did not give a bad ride, just a little green, but a different approach to him may have improved our placing.
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Post by pipandwill on Jul 24, 2015 17:38:34 GMT
I have no problem being asked how old they are, my open m&m worker is 18, and he looks fantastic for his age, as every judge who has judged the hoys quals he has done this year, he completely holds his own, as proven when he was 1 mark from qualifying this year. I dont see the problem of being asked how old your horse is...
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Post by maxandpaddy on Jul 24, 2015 19:08:25 GMT
Well I usually fib, and say they're younger. Usually because they've behaved like a numpty and saying they're 5 or 6 almost makes it more ok. But no it definitely shouldn't matter xxxx
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Post by whip lass on Jul 25, 2015 18:06:38 GMT
I would always ask the age as a bit of wear and tear on an older horse would be acceptable but not on a young horse.
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Post by fanfarefan on Jul 25, 2015 18:39:13 GMT
Unless it is a Novice class , or a Veteran class , age is irrelavent ,,, you might say that a good show from a 5-6yr old is better than an average show from a16-17yr old , but actually there is no relavents in an open class, therefore no , a judge has no need to ask age ,,,, they might comment on how well a youngster has gone , or how good an older horse has gone , but in an Open class , they are all equal
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Post by Guestless on Jul 25, 2015 18:49:21 GMT
Unless it is a Novice class , or a Veteran class , age is irrelavent ,,, you might say that a good show from a 5-6yr old is better than an average show from a16-17yr old , but actually there is no relavents in an open class, therefore no , a judge has no need to ask age ,,,, they might comment on how well a youngster has gone , or how good an older horse has gone , but in an Open class , they are all equal They are all equal, but I think it can still have a bearing. IMO you can forgive a bit of wear and tear on a 15 year old more than you could if the pony was an 8 year old.
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Post by fanfarefan on Jul 25, 2015 19:02:26 GMT
Maybe , that said ,,,, say in a RH class , shouldnt a 12yrold go the same as an 8yr old , ,,, the age then should have no bearing ,,,,, i can see maybe that if a 16 yr old goes beautifully , and a 6yrold has an odd blip , youd say , oh well its a youngster ,,,, but its an open class , and open means open,the youngster , will have its day , and the older horse has learnt along the way, and polished its show to a T ,,,,, you judge according to whats in front of you , whether you decide to be age relavent is a personal choice,,,,, but IMO you judge according to class , and age is not an issue
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Post by Guestless on Jul 25, 2015 20:24:37 GMT
Maybe , that said ,,,, say in a RH class , shouldnt a 12yrold go the same as an 8yr old , ,,, the age then should have no bearing ,,,,, i can see maybe that if a 16 yr old goes beautifully , and a 6yrold has an odd blip , youd say , oh well its a youngster ,,,, but its an open class , and open means open,the youngster , will have its day , and the older horse has learnt along the way, and polished its show to a T ,,,,, you judge according to whats in front of you , whether you decide to be age relavent is a personal choice,,,,, but IMO you judge according to class , and age is not an issue Yes, sorry, maybe my post wasn't clear enough. I meant the age is relevant when it comes to the conformation side (which is why I mentioned wear and tear ) but I agree performance should be marked on an equal basis
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Post by mcnaughty on Aug 4, 2015 9:53:03 GMT
I was once told years ago by a top hunter judge that he judged the animals on what would be the most valuable. Therefore he said that a good 6 year old would be worth more than an equally good 10 year old. Therefore the 6 year old would win.
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sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
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Post by sarahp on Aug 4, 2015 14:15:08 GMT
I think that's a judge I'd avoid.
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chesca
Junior Member
Posts: 197
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Post by chesca on Aug 5, 2015 14:02:59 GMT
I was in a class once where my boy (at the time) did a foot perfect show and the judge absolutely adored him. 100% the best in that particular class in terms of performance and conformation. Not being biased but it genuinely was, and as soon as the judge asked his age her face turned sour and I was placed second to last. Granted, my boy was 18 but looked stunning for his age and was as fit as a fiddle regularly out at least twice a week at various competitions. I don't think its fair to ask, purely based on my bad experience!
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Post by CarolineNelson on Aug 5, 2015 18:07:20 GMT
I was in a class once where my boy (at the time) did a foot perfect show and the judge absolutely adored him. 100% the best in that particular class in terms of performance and conformation. Not being biased but it genuinely was, and as soon as the judge asked his age her face turned sour and I was placed second to last. Granted, my boy was 18 but looked stunning for his age and was as fit as a fiddle regularly out at least twice a week at various competitions. I don't think its fair to ask, purely based on my bad experience! That was just one person. Don't let it put you off. I've said it before and will say so again - Charisma won the Olympics with Mark Todd (the 3-Day Event discipline, for the uninitiated) also at 18 years of age!
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Post by 2connies on Aug 5, 2015 19:42:47 GMT
I was in a class once where my boy (at the time) did a foot perfect show and the judge absolutely adored him. 100% the best in that particular class in terms of performance and conformation. Not being biased but it genuinely was, and as soon as the judge asked his age her face turned sour and I was placed second to last. Granted, my boy was 18 but looked stunning for his age and was as fit as a fiddle regularly out at least twice a week at various competitions. I don't think its fair to ask, purely based on my bad experience! I think if I was you I would say ' 10 +yo ' in future ! lol !
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chesca
Junior Member
Posts: 197
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Post by chesca on Aug 6, 2015 11:22:00 GMT
I agree - Luckily he was more a showjumper so we only did the odd show together, but it did put me off for a while on other horses I have had for sure! Funny how one persons opinion bothers you! Silly really.
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Post by Guestless on Aug 7, 2015 11:00:39 GMT
Funny how one persons opinion bothers you! Silly really. I think this is a really important point. It is SO easy to get hung up on that one judge that doesn't like your pony, even though you've perhaps come across another 10 that do. Sometimes we need to get things into perspective and, while showing should be fun, does it really matter if we don't win a red rosette?
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