H&H displaying columnist Rebecca Penny just lately reminded readers to train prudence when posting on-line. I agree together with her wholeheartedly; it’s vital to equestrianism as an entire, not to mention displaying, that we, as representatives, are conscious of how we’re perceived in an more and more troublesome social panorama.
However it’s not sufficient. We should do extra. We are able to’t afford to easily seem to “behave” after we publish photographs for the remainder of the world to see. We should behave higher in the direction of one another and to our horses, on and offline.
I usually imagine that what we put on-line is one of the best of us — a scrubbed up model of our lives and ourselves. If so, I’ll decline an invite to satisfy the “in actual life” variations of some people commenting on displaying posts on social media in the meanwhile. They’re nothing greater than bullies hiding behind screens, anonymity and the unrecognisable accent of the keyboard.
I just lately interviewed an excited baby and mum or dad at a present; they’d netted their largest displaying achievement up to now. So I used to be shocked when mentioned mum or dad contacted me to ask that we didn’t publish their success in spite of everything.
Why? The horse and baby had been subjected to such criticism on-line that mentioned mum or dad was afraid of additional backlash. That baby is seven years previous. That mum or dad labored exhausting to supply a pony to an excellent commonplace — no imply feat. Why tarnish such a cheerful event? On this occasion, an previous saying springs to thoughts: “decide on somebody your personal dimension”.
They don’t seem to be alone, and this isn’t the way in which to nurture the subsequent era of gifted showmen and ladies or safeguard the way forward for our sport.
Being appropriately mounted
Now to get out my tin hat.
Allow us to be clear, weight tips exist with good purpose. If the welfare of a horse is compromised because of the weight of its rider, it’s an issue that must be resolved. How we’re addressing the problem, nonetheless, is equally regarding.
To start with, I feel that there’s a distinction between being inappropriately mounted as a consequence of weight, and inappropriately mounted as a consequence of that all-important think about displaying: “the image”.
I do know of a number of very small adults who’ve been advised that the “image isn’t proper” once they experience smaller native breeds and so they generally end positioned under combos who’ve carried out a lesser present consequently, even when it’s a case of desire – the image – quite than as a result of that grownup exceeds the load tips.
Nonetheless, I imagine when weight tips are exceeded and subsequently welfare is a real concern, judges are reluctant to remark for worry of offending, backlash and condemnation. But, for me, judges are uniquely positioned to have the ability to discreetly remark and “vote” with their placings. Can we must be extra open about this drawback and assist judges develop a rhetoric to sort out this taboo topic within the ring? I’m unsure.
One factor I’m completely sure of, nonetheless, is that the right solution to tackle this difficulty isn’t via on-line bullying so merciless and vitriolic it’s devastating. Neither is it the singling out and disqualifying of people in a gathering ring by welfare officers dubbed the “fats police”.
My coronary heart broke for a teenage woman I noticed faraway from her Dales pony — a local bred over generations to hold vital weight, far exceeding her approximate UK dimension 14-16 — at a present. She was not, in my humble opinion, any heavier than different riders within the class, however she was much less polished and her apparel much less updated, and being alone quite than strolling amongst the others, simple to pick.
Such actions can solely carry hurt to a rider — a human being with emotions and with vanity that may very well be irrevocably broken. Cruelty to horses has no place in our sport, however neither do discrimination, shaming and humiliation. They don’t belong anyplace.
The necessity for security stewards
While I’m unsure stewards with scales are the reply, I do really feel we’ve a necessity for elevated stewards for security functions, particularly across the pony and employees rings.
I heard a employees choose bellowing — rightly — from inside her ring just lately. A spare pole-cup was nonetheless dangerously in place on a follow fence. She additionally needed to inform a baby which route to leap. This could not have been her duty.
In the meantime the entire gathering ring was bedlam. For starters, it was tiny, with ponies whizzing up and down, over-zealous mums barking directions and spare siblings hanging round — generally actually from the fence. Comical, actually, if it didn’t pose such vital security hazards for each rivals, their horses and spectators.
Within the absence of such people to watch both security or welfare, we must be higher at policing ourselves and one another, albeit respectfully.
Keep in mind, something that displays badly on displaying on-line additionally displays badly in actual time, particularly at county reveals and main fixtures the place a spectator might simply as simply be an skilled fellow as a curious member of the general public.
We have to be conscious of this, to not placate arguably overly “woke” sensibilities, however for our horses and for one another. This manner our social licence could be renewed again and again. And deservedly.
Some rays of sunshine
Displaying societies are making adjustments, evolving what they do to attempt to improve inclusivity, engagement, and enjoyable. It appears to be working.
Tweaks to the BSPS Winter championships schedule had been rewarded with file entries, and I cherished seeing so many participate in passion horse competitors on the Northern Eire Competition.
That’s the way in which to make sure our youngsters wish to develop, enhance and stay on this sport. Nicely executed to organisers!
● What do you suppose is the easiest way ahead when an unsuitably mounted rider arrives at a present to compete? Tell us your ideas. Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your identify, nearest city and county, for the prospect in your letter to look in a forthcoming difficulty of the journal
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Credit score: Elli Birch/Bootsandhooves
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Credit score: Helen Revington
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H&H displaying editor
Bethan joined Horse & Hound as displaying editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Displaying World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she began displaying as a teen and has loved wins at main reveals up and down the nation, together with Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, in addition to HOYS, RIHS and London. She is especially captivated with Welsh breeds and can also be a Welsh language commentator.
