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My Standardbred CADORA Experience
Hi,
Today at the Caledon CADORA show I had an unfortunate thing happen. I had ridden my test (Training level) and the judge called me over and the first words out of her mouth were "Standardbreds do not belong in the dressage ring." As if this was bad enough she then told me that my horse was sore, but for some reason he was only sore to the right on the stretching circle(The only time he tried to pace through the whole test). I tried to explain it was just his pacing however she did not want to hear me. I am 17 and pay for everything I do with my horse as well as my horse with my part time job. I think that discriminating against a breed is not correct. I understand that a judge has a right to opinions but do they have a right to do that to this extent? Two years ago the same thing happened except the judge said they were going to call the SPCA on me because I was working my horse when he was sore.(He was less experienced and had way more pacing then.) I am confused by this treatment, is this the way everyone else's standardbred is looked upon while at a show or are these just a few bad experiences?
Today at the Caledon CADORA show I had an unfortunate thing happen. I had ridden my test (Training level) and the judge called me over and the first words out of her mouth were "Standardbreds do not belong in the dressage ring." As if this was bad enough she then told me that my horse was sore, but for some reason he was only sore to the right on the stretching circle(The only time he tried to pace through the whole test). I tried to explain it was just his pacing however she did not want to hear me. I am 17 and pay for everything I do with my horse as well as my horse with my part time job. I think that discriminating against a breed is not correct. I understand that a judge has a right to opinions but do they have a right to do that to this extent? Two years ago the same thing happened except the judge said they were going to call the SPCA on me because I was working my horse when he was sore.(He was less experienced and had way more pacing then.) I am confused by this treatment, is this the way everyone else's standardbred is looked upon while at a show or are these just a few bad experiences?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by KELLY MCLAUGHLIN on
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you need to report those judges...... and you need to come to our standardbred only show on august 2 we have 2 dressage test w/t only and a w/t/c.. we dont penalize against pacing as it is a natural gait......we also have 20 classes other than dressage..... www.standardbredshowcase.com
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Permalink Reply by Brittany on
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Thank-you very much. I have looked into the show on August 2nd and will see if it is possible for me to attend. When do the entries have to be in by? As well I am sending a letter to dressage canada to inform them of this comment made on the weekend. Thanks for your help!
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i can send you the entry form if you contact me by email - standardbredshowcase@live.ca... dressage is preentry only by july 22 we will take them up to....classes at 10 each until show day then they are 15 each. check out our site www.standardbredshowcase.com
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Is there a different entry form for Dressage? Otherwise I have the entry form filled out and I will send it in! Thank-you for your help.
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the entry forms are the same as the regular show. But dressaeg must be preentered
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Permalink Reply by Mary-Joe Figueira on
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Brittany I am sorry about what happened. In my opinion if you can teach a donkey to do dressage, then you should be able to enter him, at least at this level.
As far as the soreness goes, as a scribe I have experienced judges pulling riders from their test and not allowing them to complete the test if their horse is sore. Unfortunately this is one of the Equine Canada dressage rules and no one gets around it.
I am happy you have given your horse a second chance and I am glad he is to.
Mary-Joe -
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Hi! Thank-you for your response.
I know the judge had to put on the sheet that he was taking irregular steps(He was only because he was trying to pace on the stretching circle!) but I did not realize they could tell me that standardbreds were not allowed in the dressage ring!
Jack loves his new job and I hope to continue showing him because he is such a willing and handsome horse!
Thank-you for your input, it is good to know that other people agree I should be able to enter him in dressage shows.
Brittany -
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Permalink Reply by Donna Humber on
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I am applauding you [ clapping madly ] , for training Dressage with your STB. We have a race track here, and STB's are everywhere, yet most people think they are only good for trail horses. They ARE awesome as trail horses, but most of them have a great jump, and some do very well in Dressage.
I know of several incidents like yours, where judges have discriminated against competitors. If the rider was my student, I would place an official complaint with the show organizers. It may not get you a ribbon on the day, but it just might stop that particular judge from being booked again, at least locally. My first horse was a STB, she was lovely. I never did show her, because I didn't want to deal with the attitudes. I regret this now, as she was very nice, and would rarely pace.
STB's aren't the only breed maligned in the "show" world. I once rode a beautiful test on my QH mare [ OT & quite hot ], only to be told that QH's don't belong in dressage. However, on that day, she got the best marks & took the high point. THAT judge didn't like her, but marked her fairly anyhow.
I HATE breed prejudice...each horse should be judged solely on what you see, not by breed reputation. Horses are individuals, and while pacing is never going to be poular under saddle, it shouldn't affect the horse's ultimate performance if it DOESN"T actually OCCUR.
I have to say though, that they DO tend to look uneven when attempting the pace...it is probaly lack of exposure to gaited horses and how they move, that made the judge notice, but I disagree completely with her comments about standardbreds as a breed. One of my students has just rescued a georgeous gelding....he looks like a TB, and actually floats, with nice suspension, even in the canter. Can't wait to get him going.
Good luck, and keep showing & training...SOME judges can cope with a horse not from Germany, so when you meet one, you will be vindicated. -
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Thank-you very much! I will keep trying and I know my horse will too!
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Permalink Reply by Lucy on
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Sorry to hear about your bad expereince.
I am currently training my horse for dressage as well. I have never had any negative comments in terms of my horse's breed. Most I have had is in the comments section about breaking from trot to pace as it was not a consistent gait. I have had a lot of other competitors who have been surprised to find see his tattoo and find out he is an stb and have actually had alot of positive comments. Mind you I usually do only smaller schooling shows. I will be trying CADORA with him in September so hopefully it goes well. -
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