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What bothers you at shows?

14K views 92 replies 41 participants last post by  Cinder 
#1 ·
What types of things bother you at show? Example: People bringing their horses to the shower, and not cleaning up their poop.
 
#2 ·
I do not have things that bother me at shows. I go to show and have a good time. You are only there for 3-5 days for most shows so why let things bother you??
 
#3 ·
I can't stand people running the gate. I get so excited going to shows where it's terms for disqualification, haha. I just find it dangerous, careless, and a lack of rider ability.
Another thing that goes along with running the gate, is when the gate watchers (for lack of a better term..) always tell us over and over again that running the gate is allowed. If I choose to not run the gate, then leave me alone about it.
Last thing I can think of right now, is when we take Lucky to a show, have a red ribbon and tell all the gate watchers, etc that we have a kicker. Do you not think that they'd move away and be more careful? :| At our last show, Drew took Lucky. The gate guy almost got a nice kick to the head/chest area multiple times, you'd think he'd get the memo after the first time he almost got kicked?
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#4 ·
First what are you calling running the gate? That could mean many different things.

Also if you have a kicker then you need to work on that at home and teach your horse not to kick at people. It is not the persons responsibility to get out of the way it is yours to train your horse.
 
#5 ·
By running the gate, I mean by starting your run (well..starting off) outside of the arena, as well as blowing through the gate after your pattern.
And as for the kicking, the horse kicks at the gate. It only happens at shows, so we can't work on it at home. Also, this is not my horse, nor the horse I'm leasing, so I can't really say anything. My point was that people don't have enough common sense to move away when given multiple warnings that the horse is likely to kick.
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#7 ·
I cant stand people who let their kids loose period. It is dangerous and a problem for other people. I am there to compete or groom/ braid for other people NOT to babysit your feral children , if you let your kids ride bikes/run/ generally make a problem of themselves around my horse it is not my problem if they get kicked/trodden on/bitten. Like above , a couple of the horses I show / groom for are biters or kickers and they wear red ribbons to alert the surrounding people that they have a vice. Respect that people.

yes I agree that biting / kicking is somthing that should be trained out - but at the same time Im not going to let that stop me from competing. If you come to close it is your own fault - and if you cant control your children put them on those toddler leads - I have one for my own son , and while I rarely use it (infact have only used it twice while on international flights he wore it at the terminal - for those who have a problem with them , I would rather my toddler be secure on a toddler rein rather than lost in a country he dosent know that speaks a language he dosent understand - and besides, even in an english speaking country he couldent tell you his name/address/phone number if you asked him anyway) He hates it so much that the threat of being put on the rein keeps him close. And when im busy doing the horses he is secure in the truck - I clean it off and put down a large rubber mat that covers the floor and he can play in there / ride his trike around and can still see us as I have a roller gate that is fitted to the ramp opening that keeps him in and everything else out. hes safe and the horses are safe -

If I am moving around the grounds I often carry him in sling on my back for his own saftey (as I dont think that any small child is safe while at a show grounds and horses are moving around - for all I know , those horses have never seen a small person and might freak , he is safer off the ground on my back) This keeps him safe (and happy ! theres nothing worse than a screaming over tired toddler - he is quite happy asleep secure in his sling and I have both hands free for whatever.


bottom line people , control your children - they are YOUR responsibility and no body elses. If you cant control them , get a sitter for the day there is no excuse for putting your child in danger , and that includes not supervising them around large 'tame' animals.

maybe im a grump - but I do not see being '2/3/4' year old as a good enough reason for bad behaviour. Unfortunatly so many parents do feel that it is.
 
#8 ·
I do agree about kids. Not a big fan of them to begin with. In my family they mind very well. Even the 2yos.

As for kicking and biting. NO way should they be at shows. If a horse is a kicker and kicked one of my horses in the warm up pen I would be very very ****** and I am sure there would be a cop involved. There are just too many horses running stopping and spinning in the warm up pen and too many things going on. I have had horses slide to a stop in front of my horses to the point my horse has slid into them. Mine had just turned 3. Lets just say that all horses where very well trained and nothing happened b/c of it. That is how it should be.

Just like kids if you can not control your horses and I mean every inch of the horse then leave them at home with the kids.
 
#10 ·
Alot of things bother me about shows, but the main thing is when people obviously have no connection with their animal. When it is so obvious that they did not train/take care of their horse. Someone else did it for them.

I cannot imagine having someone else take care of MY horse. If I'd show my horse, I'd take care of and train my horse. Maybe have someone help train them, but it's just stupid to not take care of your own horse. It makes for bratty children/teens and even adults. I really just can't stand show people. Whether it be horses or dogs. I show dogs, but it just kicks my puppy when somone just doesn't want to be there.

If you don't want to be at a show, or don't have the dedication to take care of your own animal, then just don't come. (Sadly there would be hardly anyone at shows, then.)
 
#11 ·
The thing is that there are people like myself who have horses who are Open caliber horses and to get them shown at that level you MUST have a trainer or be a trainer. So that means your horse goes to the trainers and they stay there. It takes about 2 years to train a reiner and about 5 years to finish a reiner.
 
#12 ·
I never went to a show,:-( but I am dying to go to one. Though I did once participate in my old barns "Home show". It was just an even to get together, ride and have fun, but they did give out ribbons to those who placed.

I really didn't like the riders who got mad when they placed lower then they wanted or expected... like people, LIVE WITH IT.. it's not the end of the world if you got 3rd. :?
 
#13 ·
with biting/ kicking I more mean when you are obviously getting up in his space not general courtesy in the ring - if your being a idiot in the ring (like ur sliding reference) then yes , you deserve what you get and if you cant act like an adult and have some common courtesy then you probably shouldent be there. But if your standing right up my horses **** and he has a red ribbon on then Im not going to surprised if you get kicked. likewise for biting - my horse dosent like random's touching his face , particularly around his eyes (rescue case - were working on it) and he will bite if he dosent know you and your all up his nose 'petting' there is a sign on the truck above where he is tethered stating this along with a nice big red one saying 'don't touch the horses'.

Frankly if you don't own the horse don't touch it is to me , a good rule of thumb - I dont like random people touching my animals and like wise I wouldent go up to somebody else and touch their horse. I think it is disrespectful.

I also don't like random people hanging around my truck - I think it looks shifty (maybe Im just a un trusting person)


oh thought of another one,

boys - dont take a wizz on somebody else's truck!! (not my truck in this case , but our neighbour truck on the site - and man did she go bat **it crazy at him!!
 
#15 ·
with biting/ kicking I more mean when you are obviously getting up in his space not general courtesy in the ring - if your being a idiot in the ring (like ur sliding reference) then yes , you deserve what you get and if you cant act like an adult and have some common courtesy then you probably shouldent be there.

It is an NRHA Reining show. You say that I should not be sliding my horse? No one should be sliding their horse? It is what we do. Has nothing to do with being an adult or child it is what is it. A reining show. Every horse when asked to stop will slide. Even in the warm up pen. My point is that the horses are very well trained and when it happens not if the horses can handle it.


But if your standing right up my horses **** and he has a red ribbon on then Im not going to surprised if you get kicked. likewise for biting - my horse dosent like random's touching his face , particularly around his eyes (rescue case - were working on it) and he will bite if he dosent know you and your all up his nose 'petting' there is a sign on the truck above where he is tethered stating this along with a nice big red one saying 'don't touch the horses'.

Frankly if you don't own the horse don't touch it is to me , a good rule of thumb - I dont like random people touching my animals and like wise I wouldent go up to somebody else and touch their horse. I think it is disrespectful.

I also don't like random people hanging around my truck - I think it looks shifty (maybe Im just a un trusting person)


oh thought of another one,

boys - dont take a wizz on somebody else's truck!! (not my truck in this case , but our neighbour truck on the site - and man did she go bat **it crazy at him!!
I agree I do not like people around my horses dogs or vehicles.
 
#14 ·
Here is my horse show HATES list:
1. People who do not call where they are going in the jump arena
2. People who go out of their way to make a rude comment to you or about you
3. Horrible show secretaries
4. Poor sports
5. Kids that are unbelievably rude and inconsiderate to their parents (AKA spoiled brats)
6. The parents who do not get after their kids for being total brats
7. Psychotic show mothers
8. Cry babies
9. Snobby people
10. Western pleasure trainers who decide to lope with their horses haunches to the inside RIGHT WHEN YOUR GOING BY.
11. Dirty looks
12. Obnoxious loud mouth people
13. Trainers that think and act like they own the arena and you MUST obey to all they yell at you for (whether its their fault or not)
14. Jump hogs
15. That one mother who always has to be up their kids butt at all times, whether the kid wants them there or not
16. Dirty show boots
17. Twisted reigns
18. Exhibitors who do NOT show up for class (I.e jackets unbuttoned, hair messy, horse dirty, tack dirty, collar all over the place etc.)
19. Announcers who say a persons name completely wrong, and continue to do so after they have been corrected
20. Really stupid judges

As you can see, there are a TON of things I hate at horse shows. I've learned to deal with all my dislikes :/
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#67 ·
Here is my horse show HATES list:
1. People who do not call where they are going in the jump arena
2. People who go out of their way to make a rude comment to you or about you
3. Horrible show secretaries
4. Poor sports
5. Kids that are unbelievably rude and inconsiderate to their parents (AKA spoiled brats)
6. The parents who do not get after their kids for being total brats
7. Psychotic show mothers
8. Cry babies
9. Snobby people
10. Western pleasure trainers who decide to lope with their horses haunches to the inside RIGHT WHEN YOUR GOING BY.
11. Dirty looks
12. Obnoxious loud mouth people
13. Trainers that think and act like they own the arena and you MUST obey to all they yell at you for (whether its their fault or not)
14. Jump hogs
15. That one mother who always has to be up their kids butt at all times, whether the kid wants them there or not
16. Dirty show boots
17. Twisted reigns
18. Exhibitors who do NOT show up for class (I.e jackets unbuttoned, hair messy, horse dirty, tack dirty, collar all over the place etc.)
19. Announcers who say a persons name completely wrong, and continue to do so after they have been corrected
20. Really stupid judges

As you can see, there are a TON of things I hate at horse shows. I've learned to deal with all my dislikes :/
Posted via Mobile Device

It might have been shorter just to list what you DO LIKE. :wink:
 
#16 ·
I diddnt say don't slide at all (and Im not a western rider by any stretch of the imagination! ) I meant when it was sad that somebody was sliding into sombody else - that just seams irresponsible to me.

obviously if your there to slide , you have to slide - but not into somebody else - that just sounds dangerous.

Obviously I dont know about western - if you have to slide you have to slide , so maybe everyone should be aware of that and keep out of eachothers way.
 
#17 ·
You are missing what I said. The horse loping in front if my horse stopped (sliding stop) and my horse had to stop fast (sliding stop) and slid into the back of the horse. It happens. There is nothing you can do about it. You just hope that the person stopping (sliding) their horse looks behind them before they are asked to stop.
 
#19 ·
Ive never really been to a horse show yet, but at dog shows I hate it when people dont watch what their dogs are doing and let them sniff around, and bug my dog... Im sorry, if you cant control your dog, you shouldnt be at a show in the first place. :/
 
#20 · (Edited)
Being that this is in the reining section, I am going to make the assumption (dangerous, I know....) that we are talking about REINING shows. They are definitely unique.:)

The common thread tho seems to be paying attention! To your horse as well as those around you. Use common sense (which is not so common, unfortunately) and courtesy!

I find reining warm ups really intimidating.....I am pretty new to them, and thankfully have a horse who does best by himself, and I try to warm him up in a quieter place, rather than in the show arena with 50 people all running and fencing their horses all at once. However, at least for the most part, they are all courteous enough to all go in the same direction at once during the fencing, and are smart enough to do their circles so that they are not coming head on toward each other. Which, by the way is NOT what I found at H/J shows where it is literally every man for himself and you had to be looking in 50 directions all at once! The reining people I have encountered are also all very nice and supportive-they don't seem to be as "cut throat" as what I was used to in the english world. I think NRHAreiners attitude of having fun may be more common amongst them.

I also go to have fun. I will not sweat the small stuff. I used to, but not anymore. Just leave me alone and let me do my thing. If you choose to be miserable and let everything bother you-please just do it away from me. I pay too much $$ to not have fun doing it. When it becomes work, or I stop enjoying it, I will stay home.:wink:

Rude kids with parents who pay no attention to them are an issue everywhere, not just at shows. If they are around MY horse, I will speak to them myself. If they have a problem with that and run and tell mommy, so be it. I will be glad to talk to her too!:lol: My kids will gladly tell you-do not mess with me.
 
#21 ·
People who do not pay attention red ribbon means stay away period whether they kick or not but it is a safety thing specificaly for that reason. If you are that oblivious or walking behind horses in the first place then its your own fault if something happens. Also hate when people stick their kids up on horses and let them loose in the warm up arena with no former rules on passing,turning,or staying out of other horses butts (had one little girls horse almost get kicked in the face because she couldn't control it and he ran up a kickers butt.
and lastly would have to be agree upon with the loose kids around the horses
 
#22 ·
Yes, i hate riders who ride up my horses a$$. It really bothers both my geldings...so I started putting red ribbions in there tails to try and keep them away but it's annoying because some people don't even seem to know what it means.

I also can't stand it when Im OBVISOULY schooling circles in my own little corner of the warm up ring and someone just rides right through it so I either have to stop or get out of there way...ugh!
 
#23 ·
Funny how it seems to be certain disciplines that have red ribbons. I can not say I have ever seen one at an NRHA show. I do know that if your horse kicks out at anouther horse you will be excused from the warm up pen and if they do it in a class it is a -5 points.
 
#24 ·
I do showjumping so not really part of reining!! but there are a few things that irritate me!!
At 1 show was ran into twice by 1 horse then another was smacked several times hard for stopping yer me that doesn't smack my horse because because errr 1 she doesn't need it and 2 she might throw me on the floor in protest!! :shock: because this horse was smacked my horse had a compleate turn!! ended up with us both going in the ring very flustered!! :oops:
people that cut you up!! cut across the landing line as you aproaching..
people that let there horses either run up your horses **** or run alongside too close errr basically because this results in a bucking fit rather not do stunt riding before I go in the ring!!
Ok not really the riders fault but horses in the warm up at the same time as me that stop or have fences (I don't meen just have them kick them into next week!!) basically because errr my princess doesn't like it!! the stopping upsets her think it's because she wouldn't dream of it and thinks it's very naughty!! and the noise of a pole coming down not a good thing for her especially if she's too near when it happens!!
 
#25 ·
things that bother me at my shows...There are 3 things at my shows that bother me.

1. People who allow their children to attempt to run under my horse's belly while he's tied(literally turned my back for one second to fix something and some kid was halfway under his belly...i normally don't yell at people's kids but you can bet I did this one his mom just gave me a dirty look and led him away mumbling about how uptight I was)

2. There is this one lady at my shows EVERYONE has dubbed her "the crazy lady" she's constantly bringing hot hot hot horses that she bought from the auction a week before and running them ragged at the shows. (these are little backyard shows so there are beginners to advanced riders here) she has no concern for space and has hit my horse a good couple dozen times and other people's horses too. We all tell her to control her horse (even though it's not his/her fault) but she just gives us nasty looks and rides away only to do it again an hour or so later.

3. People who allow their horses to just walk around loose even when that horse causes trouble for horses at other trailers.
 
#26 ·
We're pretty new at this but my number 1 is kids running ammuck. I think that parents that bring their kids to the show NEED to teach them how to behave around large animals. Running, screaming, throwing things, and ducking under the horses belly or neck (saw that this weekend) is NOT the horse owner's issue, but who will get blamed when their kid gets hurt by a horse in these situations?

My number 2 is people (particularly kids) riding around the cars. I know that at many shows part of the parking lot is the holding area. Fine, be in the saddle there, but not riding between cars, jogging and loping up and down the driveway, etc. It's dangerous for the rider and the horse.

These are things that are dangerous and that's what bothers me. If an adult doesn't want to have a connection, or take care of themself, that's their own business, but their kids should be taught how to be safe around horses, both in the saddle and on the ground.
 
#27 ·
I'm not a western rider, but in the dressage ring, these are my pet peeves:

1. lack of personal awareness - People riding too close behind you, people brushing against you as they pass, or being whacked with someone else's dressage whip.
2. Lack of communication - If your not in the mood to follow the 'left on left' rule, please tell me.
3. people randomly stopping in the middle of a busy ring, for whatever reason. Strolling over to an empty corner, or out of the way is fine.
4. Kids in general annoy me...a crying child beside the ring as your trying to hear your reader is very inconvenient....
 
#28 ·
NRHA-I have never seen a red ribbon at a show either, unless perhaps Pony Club or 4-H. I have one who is "sensitive" about his personal space, shall we say. Knowing this, I would never consider showing him in a flat class where the expectation is that other horses are close to you, passing you, etc. Unless it was a schooling show. Just me, but I don't need the aggravation. Again=I am there to have fun.
As far as others "smacking" their horses when schooling, or stopping at fences-that is what warm ups are for, and if your horse gets upset at those behaviors, perhaps you need to do more training at home. Your horse should be paying more attention to you and what you are asking than everyone else. JMHO.

Warm ups-in any discipline-always give me "crabby pants". As I get older, my tolerance for stupidity decreases.:wink:
 
#29 ·
You think warm up pens are hectic at a regular show. You should come and warm up at an NRHA show.
 
#34 ·
You think warm up pens are hectic at a regular show. You should come and warm up at an NRHA show.
This is so true NRHAreiner! But if there is a method to the madness! People know which direction to circle, not to stop on the circle, run down and fence with decorum.

Nothing at a Reining annoys me...I would rather be at an NRHA show than anywhere else in the world....

...even the partially sighted man who frequents our local show who can not see you just makes me smile, I just stay out of HIS way. I have shown dogs, minis, show jumpers and hunters, and Quarters and the atmosphere is totally different at a reining show. People are helpful, friendly, honest (never lock the truck, leave my tack unattended all night) and mostly have a clue. The horses are well trained and on the whole quiet minded ladies and gentleman...even my very green mare.
 
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