obnoxious competiors

[mollymumble]

Well said arther, Its not only the horses who should have good manners, at the end of the day manners dont cost anything whether you win orlose and agree or disagree with the judges decision

[mellymoo]

I have not seen many obnoxious competitors out and about this year, thankfully. Only one youngish girl that had a tantrum in the ring because she wasn't first, proceeded to jab the pony in the mouth and whip it, and was asked to leave without a rosette at all. Mother also roasted said girl for being a spoiled little bag, dragged her off the pony, and took it home. I like to think I am a good competitor - always congratulate others, and I always thank the judge and steward for their time. Even when I'm last ;D

[09rebel99]

I always use to say well done no matter where I was in the line up! And always said thankyou to the judge before lap of honour. I was never nasty to a judge but did how eer end up in a bit of a dispute as I went and asked why I was so far down the line, purely out of interest really not being snotty and wasn't after an argument but my god she got right on the bounce and started slating my pony and his confirmation and saying he had no manners which anyone who knew my lad it was just a ridiculous comment. Then got told if I was planning on going to a certain breed show not to bother as she would make sure I wouldn't get anywhere! What can I say? I was after constructive critisism, Works both ways though their are some rude competitors and some very snotty ones that think they are so much better than everyone else!!

[rightrein92]

i always say well done to everyone .....you cant win all the time and even if you do its just plain sportsmanlike, some people are so rude these days and always lame the judge
a women i know got pulled in 10th at a show with her granddaughter, then procceded to take the rosette to the secretarys office and say the judge must have been confused as there were so many ponies in the ring and it was raining and her pony should have been higher placed and got her tenth rosestte swapped to a seventh , some people are a right jobsworth !!

[armada]

I had one woman this year, come over to me as people were streaming into my ring for the championship, and said her child was on the pony in the lead rein class (not yet pulled in, and about 9 of them) and also with another child in the FR afterwards.
I said she would have to decide whether to come into the championship or continue with the other classes.
'Does that mean you wont wait?
'No, I replied' indicating everyone else was present in the ring already.
Her response was 'well they've waited before, and I cant pull her out of a class just for a championship' and off she stalked.
It was beyond me why she expected to inconvenience everybody else, and have the ring for the rest of the day running late just because of her one pony I dont know.
And as for arthurs second point, I had a class of senior best riders, and they were all as awful as each other, thought they were great, and were horrified when I pulled one lady, who was over the moon, in 6th on her cob, but she'd managed to do a decent show, got her diagonals and transitions correct although she was a little insecure, but made a better fist of it than all the potential dressage riders (in their own minds only) on the back line.
Even the one who won, in the championship, after I'd lined them up, when I went behind to see who was sitting up straight, was sat like a sack of spuds and to one side - what did she think I went behind the line up for?
I've got to the point now, where I just cant be bothered wasting my day, trying to be constructive and kind, give helpful advice only to have it thrown back in my face by ungrateful and unknowlegable individuals.

[sallyw]

rightrein needs to get her facts right. In fact the class was judged in the morning and the rosettes were wrongly given out in the evening performance. The society involved apologised and gave the correct rosette to the competitor - oh and it was not raining!

[Karen, garrettponies]

Sadly showing seems to bring out the worst in people, manners have gone right out of the window sometimes. OK so we don't always agree with judges decisions, we all think our ponies are the best but have to allow for the fact they may not be best on the day under the judges opinion. We go to be JUDGED, we have off days and good days but that's no reason for rudeness. We can go back to our lorries and spit feathers, bad sportsmanship in the ring and in collecting rings is rude. I always had it drummed into me that there could be judges watching outside the ring as well as inside!!

Ok there is plenty of judge bashing going on and sometimes on here it gets very personal, not nice. Put yourself in the judges shoes occasionally, its all very well for us to take the high ground but what would we do if we were in their place in the middle of the ring making the decisions in situation we been judged under, wrong legging, misbehaving etc etc a class full of lovely lead rein that all go well................ hard, yes, please everyone, no.

Instead of whinging and whining about judges, get yourselves on panels/judge locally and see just how easy it is ;D or not................

[jaycee]

Personally I think it is just a case of "obnoxious people".

Judges, competitors, spectators, shoppers, drivers etc etc etc, the list is endless.

At danger of sounding a boring old f...t, but very few seems to have any thought for anyone elses feelings, being honorable, and even fewer have basic good manners.

It is such a shame that even the traditional standards associated with occupations such as the showing world are being invaded by cretins.

[auntiebarb]

I am just a happy hacker and know nothing of showing, but I do love to watch the HOYS showing classes. My friend and I are in awe of the ladies who rode each and every horse in last year's hunter and hack classes. It was so interesting to see the changes in each horse when ridden by their owner/rider and the judges representative and the conversation afterwards between the judges and the riding judge. I do hope they enjoyed it, but they must have been exhausted.

[Bexy]

I know what you mean, although I did have one nasty comment from a judge, however I have taken that on board and are working on it for next year, but the competitors aren't much better, I did lead rein with my pony and a child I adopted to ride my pony, and we slowly made it up the line up each show till we were getting top. The judge's would always comment on how we are always smiling and how well the pony goes and how we always reward the pony. The other competitors would start shouting at the kids and complaining to the steward and asking how my pony won the LR M&M and not theirs. Now mine's a bit of a 'pit pony' I have to admit, all the other ponies are full bred welshies etc, mines a Dartmoor x Welsh Section A. But mine simply won because of 1. Manners 2. Rider 3. I would have the lead at the end.

I'm sorry, but if you go into a show ring, please don't always expect the top, I was happy for Toby to come last as long as he went well, I would always ask the judge for tips to improve and they were always happy to give it.

[muggley]

It's the competitors that give a sardonic smile and a snort when receiving a rosette that was lower than they think they should have been that really do my head in. No words swopped with the judge just snorting and taking the rosette.

I have always, and always will continue to thank judges and stewards. Judges get thanked upon receival of rosettes, stewards at the edge of the ring when they have opened up the ropes to let you out and all get at least a nod and a smile as I head off for the lap of honour no matter where I end up in the line up. It's just good manners.

[colouredpony14]

Sept 12, 2011 18:17:07 GMT my little pony said:

I have just read all the comments of another link, and I'm fed up of the comments that are said, people come under judges but when they are not placed or go badly they are so quick to call.

Ive seen competitors throw ribbons down on the ground because they weren't placed where they thought they should be ,Ive been to shows and seen judges being verbal abused. every one wants to watch their darling little child or spouse but when they have missed a class because they have not sent a Representative to let the ring know that they are clashing or they on their way its the shows fault , right

i think every one seems to think that stewards and judges are well paid to stand in a middle of a field all day getting P.....d wet through with 20Min's for lunch just for the fun of it .

i think its about time you all stand back and have a little respect or take time out and don't go under the judges that don't like your pony's just Look at the schedule a bit more closely .

Here here! I agree!