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Post by kellytl on May 25, 2011 15:31:43 GMT
Hi, I have been showing my Section D cob since he was 4 years old under saddle. I have had problems over the years with him being strong in the show ring whilst everyone going around. Anyway ill cut the long story short. Last year at Machen show i competed in 3 classes. 2 of the judges was fine no problems what so ever. Third class i went to, i was pulled in 2nd and very happy. My pony did a foot perfect individual show and i was so pleased! in the final placing I was put down to 4th so i asked the judge why.. her answer was simply i dont like swales bits.. Is this right? there is no rules/regulations against them so why should people be put down because of it. Ok ive heard there are bad write ups about them but it depends on how soft the rider is. This was the only bit I could hold him back in so i really had no choice!
Anyone else had this? I was absolutely fumingggg on the day of the show!
kelly.
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Post by welshie<3 on May 25, 2011 16:14:36 GMT
Hey kelly, i feel like you were treated unfairly, i totally agree if the rider has soft hands and uses the bit correctly then why mark you down for this? My friend got marked down for using a pelham at a show as she can't hold her horse in a snaffle as he is too strong, but the judge said that she shouldve had him in a snaffle as he didnt need a pelham?? Its ridiculous sometimes but i suppose its the world of showing lol xx
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Post by kellytl on May 25, 2011 21:13:50 GMT
Yes, the severeness of the bit reflects from the rider. I think it is competely unfair by judges, they should judge the horses peformance without even considering what bit they have in their mouth! unless of corse there are actually 'rules' against it  world of showing is great most of the time, but i know exactly what u mean! |
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Post by melons on May 25, 2011 21:38:24 GMT
I too have heard that some judges don't like them and that is their preference.. but we have used one on a very strong pony who now goes like a dream.... this bit is not for novice hands by any means but what I do know is more judges will remember the pony for bad behavious and "bogging off" in the ring than will remember it being in a swales!
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Post by welshiegirl on May 26, 2011 15:58:54 GMT
Hey kelly, i feel like you were treated unfairly, i totally agree if the rider has soft hands and uses the bit correctly then why mark you down for this? My friend got marked down for using a pelham at a show as she can't hold her horse in a snaffle as he is too strong, but the judge said that she shouldve had him in a snaffle as he didnt need a pelham?? Its ridiculous sometimes but i suppose its the world of showing lol xx That's very unfair, that judge didnt know your pony, i presume, but how do they know? they've not seen it go in a snaffle. Judges need to think about this. xx |
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Post by kellytl on May 26, 2011 16:14:27 GMT
surely the judges preference of bit shouldnt affect their decision! i do agree they are not for novices but then neither is the horse/pony if they needed one lol. and yes im sure id be very much remembered if he took off an threw im some of his famous bucks lol!
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Post by pipandwill on May 26, 2011 17:46:00 GMT
Bits shouldnt be the difference in the final placings, should they? I have never used a swales bit, but to what i have heard if used correctly, they shouldnt be a problem?
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Post by kellytl on May 26, 2011 20:29:56 GMT
i dont think so, it is the horse that is being judged not what its wearing. If a horse gets showed in a synthetic saddle should it get put down or if a rider has an old jacker? its the same thing in my eyes and dont think it should affect anythin!
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Post by bundle on May 27, 2011 10:24:16 GMT
Sorry but being "devils advocate" - of course the use of bits should affect the final judging. The whole idea of showing is to paint a picture. The choice of bit, jacket, saddle etc are all part of the picture. Each judge has an opinion which is what makes it interesting.
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Post by delfachhighwayman on May 27, 2011 10:54:39 GMT
I agree with Bundle - also did anyone hear the judge's comments in the SEIB Search for a Star? Both judges were commenting on how much they disliked Wilkies...
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2011 11:38:16 GMT
I agree with last two comments, if i was judging and was stuck between the first few horses i would then go to the overall picture. I have been knocked down for a noseband width before as she could pick between us so i was placed down because of my noseband and i thought that was fair enough. They have to come to a decision however they decide.
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Post by kellytl on May 27, 2011 14:43:31 GMT
ok fair enough on the comments about the tack and riders clothing etc, but still dont think should be put down as to what bit is being used, i mean come on if your looking at the 'picture' then should someone win because their bit is shinier?
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Post by hs on May 28, 2011 19:03:03 GMT
Perhaps the judge thought your horse was not as well behaved or well schooled as the others as you are riding in quite a severe bit?
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Post by hollycane on May 28, 2011 20:08:23 GMT
I loathe and detest swales bits and always remark on this to the rider. They are horrible sharp bits and I have yet to ride a horse that actually goes well in one. By that I mean calmly accepting the bit, yielding and going forward into the bridle. most of the time they yaw down, open their mouth and there is no feel to both sides. This is because it's a polo bit designed for use with side reins.
In my mind I also think "OMG must have a mouth like a brick wall".
However you are right in that each animal must be judged on the day on it's individual merits and once compared I have put horses up to win who have worn a swales but I still make the comment.
Generally I find that if one actually uses the leg and seat instead of just the hand severe bits such as these are not required. I know that's easy for me to say as I don't know your horse kellytl but at the end of the day when you enter a showing class you are actively inviting the judges opinion, to which they are entitled.
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Post by cayo on May 29, 2011 8:12:33 GMT
I feel that if a bit is a legal bit for whatever class its being used in with any other piece of tack then the judge shouldnt be swayed into marking a horse down simply because they dont like a part of its tack surley they are there to judge the horse and performance not the tack if its legal its legal .to me swales are like any other bit and some horses go well in them and some dont we all strive to find what suits our horse best ,i hate to see weymouths and pelhams with very long shanks and i never use a single jointed snaffle on any of mine i hate the nutcraker action .
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nerja
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Post by nerja on May 29, 2011 9:07:09 GMT
If it was a producer in the ring with a swales bit one it would not have been put down and 2 we would not be having this convertion..........
Nothing wrong with the swales bit if you hav tried everything else and nothing works......... its far better using a swales bit than having your arms riped out of there sockets
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Post by kellytl on May 30, 2011 12:48:10 GMT
Thank you cayo and nerja! i honestly have tried everything else! he doesnt go behind the bit and doesnt open his mouth, he happily excepts the bit and works beautiful in it! as u said is it legal! |
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world of showing is great most of the time, but i know exactly what u mean! 
