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Post by Hope on May 25, 2007 11:36:18 GMT
I am judging a HOYS LR/FR qualifier somewhere this year, something I am really looking forward to and will hopefully have a lot of entries. I am lucky enough to know my co-judge very well and we are thankfully in accord with our opinions. A safe mannerly pony is top of our list, type and good conformation complete the picture - no turbo-charged tanks for us ! Neither of us is blind and will be looking for the usual tricks employed to disguise a puller. I judged at a very large show several years and had one of the nicest lead rein ponies I have ever had the pleasure of judging (which I had never seen before) mini champion without hesitation. The overall ridden championship was in the evening with all the attendant loud music, clapping and cheering etc. This little pony stood like a rock throughout and did a foot perfect show, whilst a lot of the other ponies and horses fidgetted and/or worse, a 101% 'lead-rein' pony. I felt it deserved to be Supreme Champion, one of the other judges said "don't you think it's feet are a little bit boxy to make it overall champion?" - I smiled sweetly and stuck to my guns, whilst thinking 'what planet are you on - I couldn't care if it's hooves were cloven !' Please hope it wasn't syringed full of Defuse and wearing earplugs!Apols forthe cynicism but I was about to give my pony a last once over with a stable rubber and brush before a RIHS qualifier last month and picked up the wrong teatowel...underneath was a syringe of Defuse and a bag of foam earplugs...It wasn't mine and we don't wear earplugs....and we stand like a rock.
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Post by think again on May 25, 2007 11:41:56 GMT
Excuse my ignorance after fifty years of showing but what the hell is Defuse?
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Post by Hope on May 25, 2007 11:52:13 GMT
A supposedly legal calmer which comes in two forms... not sure what the first is but the version I saw was evidently the booster given just before competing which is in a huge plastic syringe. It seems loads of people now use them - including the pro who owned the one I came across - and that's why ponies today go straight into the ring without being worked in. Sad day for ponies, showing and genuine production skills.
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Post by not logged in on May 25, 2007 12:11:45 GMT
I have never used Defuse or any other calmers (legal or otherwise)..however, I do think that earplugs are useful for evening performances for some animals. We have a pony who is very laid back. We hack down a main road, through the village centre, hunt, pony club etc and he is phased by very little. A plastic bag can blow in his way and he will just step over it.... but, the intense noise of an evening performance really bothers him, and there are some thoughtless individuals who see this and just increase the clapping and cheering for a laugh! After plugging his ears, he was quite ok about it. I don't see the harm in that?
Just going back to calmers....just don't see how or why the "legal" variety work???
I do agree with Hope that it would be a sad day for showing (or equestrianism in general) if we were to rely on these products rather than correct schooling, experience and trust!
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Post by tippytoes on May 25, 2007 12:38:44 GMT
Been showing for donkeys years, been lucky enough to have a lead rein 'pony of the year' back in the 90's. Always thought you held lead rein in the left hand, thus leaving the hand nearest the pony ready to help a 'wobbly' jockey. After all these beautiful ponies are supposed to be shown with the intents of introducing our jockey's into the ring so it is not uncommon for them to be less than pro's (the jockey's) and a steadying hand should be on the ready.
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Post by clobo121082 on May 25, 2007 12:50:54 GMT
I agree about ear plugs for an evening performance as it does often throw up noises that horses wldnt usually deal with!!
My question is what is the difference between using say Defuse or giving the pony 4 hours of work?
At the end of the day from the judges point of view all they can ever do is judge what is in front of them regardless to whether it has been ridden in by an adult or given some 'calming' stuff.
When i was very young i use to a lunge a very well won lead rein pony for hours on end before it went in the ring! However i guess from a parent point of view maybe this is where you decide what is more important: To know your pony is a true childs pony who is safe for said child to ride or do you really want to win, maybe losing the true child's pony element along the way and having something your child is put on just before it goes in the ring? Its everyones own choice at the end of the day and it may not be right but i guess thats the way it is!
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Post by Think again on May 26, 2007 7:37:42 GMT
Well said Tippytoes! Lets get back to holding the rein in the left hand with the right hand for emergencies and anything else penalised.
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Post by leader on May 26, 2007 12:19:07 GMT
I would like to ask Guess Who where they are judging as they sound like my kinda judge. Have shown on the lead both show and M&M ponies all have gone to HOYS and as for the left or right hand think its what you,rider and pony are happy with. Dont like to see the M&Ms going like show ponies, in my humble opinion all should be steady and look safe.
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Post by ponies4me on May 27, 2007 11:31:13 GMT
my pony is on magic calmer to take the edge of her. i work her in myself for about half an hour before a show just to calm her down and get her head level. my daughter is a very small seven year old (who rides her off the lead at home) and we are in our first season showing. i have been to clinics with both julie templeton and kate carter. both had differeing ways of doig things. one told me to have a slow trot the other to trot out to show ponies paces as they were brill. both told me to hold rein in left hand so if child was unsteady i could grab her with other hand. common sense if you think about it.
i dont agree with the earlier post saying that ponies are not sheep dogs. mine walks and trots to the voice. i have a trained working sheep/cattle dog as well so know what i am on about! little kids legs arent long enough to push them on to trot.
i would rather see a mannerly pony with a child bouncing on its back than one who does airs with a kid that can rise to the trot. a lead rein pony is all about taking care of the rider - starting them off in the best possible way and letting the rider gain confidence.
there is a website (australian) that encourages judges to chat to the kids and break the ice by asking their age, the ponies age and their names to put them at ease. must be really nerve wraking for the kids and if someone comes and smiles at them and takes an interest in them it puts them at ease. better than having someone just walk up and around the pony and then saying go and do your show please.
if someone is seen holding onto the noseband or the lead on the bit they should be thrown out of the ring. its against the rules. something that maybe the stewards could keep an eye on?
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Post by ferret on May 27, 2007 12:43:28 GMT
I judge at local level and utmost on my list for LR is ....a pony thats true to type , good confirmation etc etc ....but they HAVE to be safe .....if the most stunning pony i had ever seen was in my LR class and the handler had to grab the rein tight suddenly or was holding the pony tight with the right hand to control it ..it would be dropped . I have actually done this and when placing the ponies have explained to the handler why i have dropped them ( in a nice way of course ) . I also always have a little chat with the jockeys as they come and stand up before they do their show ..as some children are very nervous and wary of the judge !
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Post by please tell on May 27, 2007 13:13:56 GMT
Guess who Please tell us what show you are judging i have a lovely well behaved chap but as i am home produced and he is not a well known pony i fear i will be wasting my time doing HOYS qualifiers he has qualified RIHS but really genuine judges are as hard to find as the really genuine ponies
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Post by guess who on May 27, 2007 19:57:16 GMT
I don't feel it is appropriate to say exactly when and where, all I can say is it is somewhere in middle England, somewhere around the end of June and it is a lovely show and very well organised. Look forward to seeing lots of well behaved ponies. I am not remotely interested who is on the end of the string.
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Post by Horsham on May 30, 2007 6:27:44 GMT
I admire the Open ponies who are coming forward and proving themselves to be excellent Lead Rein ponies this season. It takes a vey genuine sort to do both jobs well and Red Ember and some of the A's are going superbly in their dual role.
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Post by please tell on May 30, 2007 8:57:55 GMT
Guess who are you judging LR/FR SP or LR/FR M&Ms. If M&M do you have a preference to any particular breeds or are you open minded obviously safety is paramount
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Post by guess who on May 30, 2007 10:40:36 GMT
M & M's, absolutely no pref for breed. As I said before, safety and manners are top of my list, although it has to look nice as well. Turnout of pony, rider and handler also important, I like to think people have made an effort to show under me, as I will when I judge - nothing I like better than dressing up !
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