"Perfect" horses and ponies

[bluecarrots]

Does anyone else think that showing has changed theses days?
It seems that a lot of people are asking quite a lot from their horses, I went to a local show today and it shocked me how much riders/handlers are wanting their horses to be "perfect."
In hand there was:
1. A young handler with her horse hitting her horse with a showing cane every step of the way round the ring (to me showing in hand is to show the horses natural paces)
2. A woman had a young horse that didnt want to stand still (with it being a youngster) so when it wasnt doing what she wanted it to do she punched it in the neck when the judge wasnt looking.
Ridden:
How does a horse doesnt stand still in a line up and backed up into a fence when the judge is looking at its conformation, does it still get placed?
Jumping: Shouting at a horse to get it over every jump on a course makes me think its not willing to jump only the owner is.

I know I am not the world's best rider but I do know the difference between what the horse is and isnt capable of.
Does anyone else think the same?

[mellymoo]

I don't like to hear people roaring at their horses when they jump, and also those ones that whack the horse as it takes off. Oh, and the ones that don't ride positively to a fence so the horse runs out, then proceed to jab it in the mouth and batter it with a whip. Why bother coming out in the first place?!

My boy can be a tit in the showring - he doesn't do standing still very well - but that is my fault because I am still working on his training. I'm not going to beat him up for my shortcomings as a trainer.

[bluecarrots]

Thank you, im glad someone else is on the same wave length. I do understand that yougsters dont want to stand still sometimes (i have a yougster too) but i wouldnt punch it to tell it off or smack it, its only going to play up more. I would use more voice commands to calm the horse.
There was another woman with a halter on her horse showing and jabbing it yanking the halter to make it stand properly. How is all this going to build up your trust between yourself and the horse???

[hursty100]

Now a lovely judge once said to me the other day:
"God only made one perfect horse and kept it for himself"

Now, i was abit upset the other day when my boy stood last in all his in-hand classs for having a slight it of mud fever that was on the mend. I didnt cover it up or make it obvious it was there.
He wasnt lame, sore or limping and it didnt affect his pace.
And this was the only reason the judge put me horse down all day because it was a blemish.
There is sooo much more i could go off on about it. But I grin and bare it and just think of what that lovely judge said to me.

[honeybees]

I some times give a little 'grr' approaching a fence if I feel he may run out/stop or not responding to leg aids mainly because I don't use a whip.

What I hate to see is people kicking their horses with spurs on or using a whip as punishment not an aid