Silver Birch Show Argh!!

[welshmountain2203]

I went to Silver Birch Show 29th May & have a few moans... firstly class fees... for a local show I was shocked at the entry fees, we were going into 2 showing classes & the novelties & the total was.... £70!!!!!!!!! I was absolutely shocked & quickly cancelled most of the entries into the novelties - it was £10 per class & £6 per novelty (for none members) & £2 for first aid fee... Maybe this is is 'normal rates' but for 2 show classes & novelties I didnt expect it to be £70... It was very slightly cheaper to become a member (not that we will ever be going back!)

Next the actual classes... the Shetland class was won by a pony that was placed in the miniature class.. the miniature class said it excluded shetlands so how could it be placed in both classes, I did ask the steward in the shetland class but she ignored me & walked off... I wasnt being agressive just enquired on the rules.

Lastly the novelties were won seemingly by the judges friends children who she was chatting to outside the ring & the young handler class was actually won by a child who didnt even lead her pony! Her parent lead the pony & the child just walked on the other side of them away from the pony! It was a shame for my daughter as she tried really hard & didnt even get a look in, (not saying she should of won but to be beat by an adult in the young handler class seems corrupt?!) we stayed all day in the rain & it seemed a complete waste of time - she was so disheartened that we didnt even stay for the last class wasting £10!

Anyway sorry for the moan, just wanted to get it out of my system as not been to any other shows where have felt like this!

[thecremellosociety]

We have upped our on the day entries though you can get them down to 6.80 per class pre show day, this includes novelty classes, as need to encourage pre entry all other classes £10 on the day or 5 for £40, with quality rosettes and championships.

Overheads have rocketed x

[welshmountain2203]

Wish we'd pre-entered then!!! lol x

[thecremellosociety]

Sorry talking about my show not this one x

[my4boys]

Toptrout,
Know exactly what you mean, earlier in the season we entered shiniest coat (£6) Our L/R Showpony (coat gleaming) was against 2 very woollie section A`s. We came third. And although this is a novelty class at £6 you expect to be judged fairly. We could even hear comments from outside the ring, about how ridiculous the placings where.
Just is not fair on the Kiddies.

[bettyboo]

I have to say I totally agree - we are quite new to the area and Silver Birch was on paper a perfect local show for us - however I also could not believe the entry fees - overheads or not - we had shown at local agricultural shows with better judges and classes for less money. Also the rules definately do not seem to be applied - I also watched the miniture horse class (in which shetlands are not allowed! - can someone therefore explain to me how the winner of that class then went on to win the Shetland - WAS IT A SHETLAND and if so why was in allowed in the miniture horse class ? As for the novelties - the pony who won the YOUNG HANDLER ie. capable of being handled by a child actually bolted out of the ring at one point and galloped off and it was obvious to everyone watching that the lady who judged the novelties was at least very friendly with the child who won the young handler and other classes as well - I know that in showing its the opinion of the judge but entry fees and paid and you expect to be judged fairly- THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS NOT the case - I have 6 horses (5 of which are competitiion horses / ponies ) and am new to the area so from a revenue point of view Silver Birch Show have probably lost a lot of entry fees as it is probably one of the nearest show grounds to my livery yard but NOTHING WOULD MAKE ME GO BACK - I would say that anyone who wins there appears to be friends of the organisers.

[welshmountain2203]

Thanks for your replies - glad its not just me being OTT!!! Doesnt seem right woolies would win over a LRSP with a gleaming coat in shiniest coat?!!!!!!
All classes should be judged fairly, even novelties! (£6 is steep for novelty classes right??!! lol)

[mollymalone]

This show sounds like a perfect example of why i dont show at local shows anymore! A local RC to me runs shows which a similar mix of classes and their entry fees are on a level - why would I pay £6 or £7 a class to be poorly judged in a frequently dangerous set up, with bad ground, no working in space, when I can pay less and go to a better run show - at a higher level but as an experience it is much better!

[Wishiwasrich]

god i thought £5 too much for local level, NCPA is £8 or £10 thats with the qualifiers and approved judges. My answer to this was to step up a level, we at the bottom of the heap in showing society world but lots happier with the standard of judging. xxx

[bettyboo]

I have to agree - we have started doing dressage instead of showing at local level and only showing at the bigger shows

[thecremellosociety]

we aim to give you a good day out, and have excellent judges x

[ponymum]

I have over the years showed at Silver Birch, but after a break of a few years went im may 2010 - and the classes were £10 to non members then ......we only went as a one off and did do very well , 2 firsts , however I made enquiries into another local show on the same day and there entry fees for n memebrs we also £10 , so the fact that silver birch were closer swayed my decision. That said , in this day with the state of the economy I think cheaper entry fees are what competitors look for (well the parents do!!)

[welshmountain2203]

Emmajane which show do you run?

[andreab71]

My friend's granddaughter entered into a couple of the novelty classes, I noticed that the winners of most of the classes wore laminated back numbers so were members.

[thecremellosociety]

Notts Derby Horse Show is the one i am discusiing here, but also run the Derby Agricultural Show x

[siany]

Last year a show local to us did entry into all 'childrens' classes for £3. It was packed!

Most other shows last season had very small turnout.

I would say to all show organisers DONT BE GREEDY! There is a recession and people will vote with their feet!

[thecremellosociety]

Theres not being greedy and not being able to run, i have said IF we manage to make a profit prices WILL come down next year, have you any idea what its costs to run a show ?

[thecremellosociety]

AND any proceeds made after bills does go to charity ..... over the years we have given £5000 to charity ............

[siany]

That comment wasnt aimed at you Emmajane - I was referring to the Silver Birch show and similar.

Your show sounds to be of a higher calibre. I am always happy to pay more to go to a show where I know we will be judged properly, and the rosettes are decent too.

I am referring more to the type of show we went to recently where we were asked to do an individual show in the best turned out but not in the mountain and moorland!

Or the other show where as there were a lot in the ring they were asked to ride side by side in pairs to get through them quicker!!

I object to paying £8, £9 or £10 at these shows!!! If the entries are £3 I'll accept whatever I find!

Its value for money I'm talking about!

[cayo]

Admitidley over heads are high but that is taking the preverbial and as someone has said gives local shows a bad name but they do have high over heads same as affiliated shows ,at the local show/club i run we charge £4.50 members and £5 non memebers at trophy shows too we barley break even but makes everyone happy ,i dont see why clubs charge non members so much over the odds people may only be going once or twice so may not want a membership charging such high prices keeps people away from trying your club and dosent encourage them to join if you charge less they may like it and then become members the following year .its called cutting your nose off to spite your face lol come to west craven warm welcome panel judges and reasonable prices for all x

[cariad]

You should all come to Clifton and Kearsley instead!!!

[kates]

Jun 16, 2011 11:42:10 GMT mollymalone said:

This show sounds like a perfect example of why i dont show at local shows anymore! A local RC to me runs shows which a similar mix of classes and their entry fees are on a level - why would I pay £6 or £7 a class to be poorly judged in a frequently dangerous set up, with bad ground, no working in space, when I can pay less and go to a better run show - at a higher level but as an experience it is much better!

ditto!

[thecremellosociety]

Belive me if we were in it for the money and lack of stress, we in the wrong game, i dread to think of the money i have never claimed back over the years runs to well more than hundreds .... We run once a year, not as a club i can understand being miffed if paying thise prices on a regular basis

[welshmountain2203]

Emmajane I think comments are aimed at silver birch show, not your show, which I'm sure is great

[sectiondcrazy]

Jun 16, 2011 14:16:06 GMT ponymum said:

I have over the years showed at Silver Birch, but after a break of a few years went im may 2010 - and the classes were £10 to non members then ......we only went as a one off and did do very well , 2 firsts , however I made enquiries into another local show on the same day and there entry fees for n memebrs we also £10 , so the fact that silver birch were closer swayed my decision. That said , in this day with the state of the economy I think cheaper entry fees are what competitors look for (well the parents do!!)

I think I know which other show you're talking about The rosettes there are really nice and the team are fantastic. Its good value for money there
xx

[reachforthestars]

my friend took her coloured to silverbirch, she payed a lot of money for the classes and went ina novelty class. she walked round for 15 mins and a little girl came in very late, just as the judge was picking and she won. when we asked the judge about it she said she had seen the pony in a previous class and wanted it to when. this wasnt fair as it was up against a different set of ponies now. the class was nicest colour and it was a plain bay (no offense to bay horses) but there was a few coloured ponies and some lovely other ones. my friend ended up 5th.

[ruftytuftyrider]

I am not saying that the judge or the judge's friends didn't know the child the judge placed first but sometimes things are not what they appear.

Last year my daughter and her pony went to our local show. It was their first show and my daughter wanted to enter every novelty class she could - 7 in total and came away with 7 rosettes including a first and two seconds. Most of the classes were judged by the same judge who seemed to be judging fairly. Towards the end of the day we spoke to the judge to basically say what a wonderful day we had had, how well the day was organised and she made a comment in a light hearted way about being careful someone didn't see us talking to her and jump to the wrong conclusion.

We had never met or even seen the judge prior to that day but as daughter had come away with lots of rosettes it could have looked to someone that we knew her.

[welshmountain2203]

That sounds a lovely day, I've had similar days at other shows. My original moan was a child handler class won by an adult leader, I can accept a judge liking another pony more than mine oh and class fees oh and the shetland/not a shetland getting placed in 2 classes when rules don't allow to enter both classes... haha I rarely would name & shame so to speak but it clearly wasn't fair! Anyway there are plenty of other shows we can go to.

[bowditchblobs]

Ahhhhhhhhhh the joy of a local show, one local i wont mention what or where, in an EQUIFEST qualifing class riding pony in hand, guess what won and got the ticket..........................snort............a section A, classic it wasnt plaited and shown in a white halter, it wasnt even true to type. A very nice show pony got 2nd, needless to say the owner of said show pony was livid!!!!!!!!!!!

Equifest need to be more careful when dishing out their tickets to these locals honestly, you couldnt make it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[network]

We were really shocked last month when we decided to go to Leigh and District riding club show, to discover the classes there were also £10 each and £2 first aid for non members, as a member you not only get your entry fees cheaper but also your first aid The rosettes admittedly were lovely but still felt that price was steep, they also charge you to park on their ground at £2 per car