Olympia Rule

[littlehorse]

Maybe it will be the begining as I disagree that all the best are getting to Olympia. There are many super ponies ridden very well that will never go as the system works at this moment in time.
The system 50% of the time favours the riders face not the pony.
Sad but very true.[/quote]

Oh so true - yes lets hope that a change will mean that it is quality ponies getting through rather than 'quality faces' - not to say that the ponies currently getting through are not all quality ponies as a vast number are - and the 'face' issue is not only confined to Olympia we musnt forget - HOYS qualifiers seem to have been exceptionally 'face' judged this year as well

[hp]

Do you not think that the inherent problem with the olympia classes is that it it one persons opinion on one day. We all interpret breed type differently and as there is only one judge it is down to their definition of the breed type.
Whilst the new rule wont stop producers entering I do feel it will narrow the field as breeders or owners will be reluctant to send a producer a pony if there is no chance of it competing in qualifiers.

[diadem]

But if you wont be getting "x " amounts of qulified ponies from one producer, of course it allows many more ponies to get through in theyre place. It just changes the goal posts and in a good way.

It doesnt stop them qualifying just makes it more fair.

[halfpass]

I'm a little on the fence on this one, I can see both sides of the coin, on the one hand you will open it up for all. in that once all the faces are qualified it's a open class for all others, on the other side producers will only take in one pony to qualify each year so the top people will be at a premium, then you have the people who breed and can't produce their own ponies who obviously want to put the best person on to ride their pony especially if it is to be used for breeding, they are the ones that will be left out in the cold, as trying to find a un-known person to ride for them is very difficult, and it will be like trying to get your child into the best school, you will have to book them in before they are born

[Get real]

Aug 31, 2008 13:45:43 GMT hellosailer said:

Not sure if it is all 'facey' or just that those who produce are the best riders and know how to show the pony to the best advantage!!! Probably a bit of both!!

Hardly!!! I know plenty of riders that are better than producers, my pony was broken by ************* who just rushed it around the school at light speed. My sister could do a much better job if we had a school!!!





Edited to remove names.

[halfpass]

to start of with you are talking about a well respected producer who has ridden a lot of quality horses and ponies, plus why do you need a school to break your own ponies if you could do a better job a lot of people do not have schools and manage very well so that excuse really does'nt hold water,

[diadem]

Thats really disrespectful Get real....your sister may be a great rider but theres no need to bring a very well respected guy into your equation.

[absfabs]

Had the pleasure of ** being the ride judge at a past show. He rode my lad beautifully! Should I want a producer, he'd be my first call!






Edited to remove name

[pigsear]

Not to mention good eye candy!

[diadem]

hehe bless, he is rather easy on the eye

[halfpass]

Sept 5, 2008 12:59:03 GMT diadem said:

hehe bless, he is rather easy on the eye

On that point I'm in total agreement,

[chloesmum]

Have to say I agree with comments above that it is a shame that a valid discussion about an nps rule turns into a 'let's knock a producer'. Why is there a need to name someone speciifcally when this is a personal matter in terms of how you feel about your pony?
Never had a pony backed by ** but we have used him for teach-ins in our area on several occassions and he has been superb. Never managed to get there myself but the children adore him (and the mums!!) he has lots of patience and a sense of humour!
I have also seen him ride judge and been really impressed - as the saying goes 'horses for courses'. But on to the topic of the new rule I think like several other people I can see both points of view and wait with interest to see how to pans out.
It is an interesting point to see what happens with producers who undoutably get sent ponies to aim to Olympia, especially by breeders who may not compete themselves perhaps they will need to find other riders so that may open up some opportunities for other less well known riders.



Edited to remove names

[Milliesmum]

Hi, I have edited this thread to remove the name of the producer in question, which I didn't feel was relevant to the topic.

[interesting]

Interesting to think that this year, so far, there is only one producer that has qualified two ponies. However, one amateur has also qualified two

Last year one producer had two in a final - hardly a huge problem then out of 36 ponies So why the big fuss?

[finally]

Sept 13, 2008 12:36:28 GMT @interesting said:

Interesting to think that this year, so far, there is only one producer that has qualified two ponies. However, one amateur has also qualified two

Last year one producer had two in a final - hardly a huge problem then out of 36 ponies So why the big fuss?

Completely agree! Finally someone has pointed out the obvious. I dont see what all the fuss is about at all... Surely those facts prove there is no need to change the rule!?

[Deleted]

From the top of my head - Aimee (&^%$ and Sam Roberts BOTH qualified more than 1 pony each last year, theres probably others, its about time amateurs were given a fairer chance at getting just as good ponies to this!!

[interesting]

Oh yes - I stand corrected - forgot about Sam.

However, there are no others and there is an amateur, Sandra Burton who has qualified two also, plus plenty of other amateur riders that have qualified (I can think of at least 8 off the top of my head).

As I said previously the number of producers qualifying more than one pony is a very small percentage of the overall total of ponies. Amateurs do and will continue to give the professionals a run for their money but I still believe that the new rule would potentially de-value the competition. It is a ridiculous, ill-thought through rule that will only cause issues in the future

[Deleted]

The alternative is judges judging the pony in front of them and not the face sat aboard it - then there would be no need for this to be brought in.....

[jj]

surely it would be better that when a pony has qualified you cannot enter a qualifier again,
that way everyone gets a chance,

also I know some people get a producer to qualify a pony and then ride pony themselves.

but personnaly I blame the judges. they should judge pony on the day, not who is riding it.

but then what do I know, after 55 years in horses I don't care, I compete for fun now and as long as I have a good ride and pony behaved I'm happy, at the end of the day it is only one or two peoples judgement, and lets face it everybodys judgement of breed standerd and way of going is so different to-day.

anyway good-luck to all those that qualified. and I hope you all have a good ride on the day.

sit back and enjoy.......................

[interesting]

jj - once you have qualified a pony for Olympia that pony can't do anymore Olympia qualifiers - it's not like HOYs

Eminems: I really don't think this rule will stop this - as I said before the rule hasn't been thought through as to what it is trying to achieve. What would help is that if you are a judge and you undertake to jude Olympia qualifiers then you shouldn't have a pony or a connection that is also trying to qualify - it's a conflict of interestes and brings in the perception of "you qualify my pony/producer and I'll qualify yours"

NOTE: I said perception!

[Deleted]

I agree a rule like this should be brought in play also, what they are trying to stop though is people paying a producer to qualify a pony for them and several ponies going through to the final due to the person that was saton them in the qualifying round, they are trying to create an equal playing field to get the crem de la crem through to the final, and lets face it, how many judges are going to own up to connections or stop certain people going under them because of a connection? It isnt going to happen and this is the only way NPS are able to deal with this

[interesting]

Another amateur beat the producers to qualify for Olympia yesterday - in open competion - without a change of rule. Is there really any need to move the goalposts now???