| Author | Message | ||
     foto-forum Posted From: 80.4.224.4 |
Im not sure why you consider 13.2 a fairer split between classes, we would then have say 10 hands to 13.2 hands in one class and 13.2 plus to 17.2 hands in the other? How would you expect a large horse to compete against a 13.2 plus pony, when they struggle against the smaller horses as it is? Have you checked out the horse and pony results, the pony results invariably beat the horse results? In our region in the first competition of the season all winners would have been ponies, dont we want to encourage our horse drivers? Just a thought? | ||
| Donna Begley Posted From: 64.222.234.54 |
We found you!!!! You can run but you cannot hide! Email me......... | ||
| THE BEVERLEYS Posted From: 195.92.168.170 |
JUST TO ADD OUR THOUGHTS TO RECENT DEBATE : WHY NOT TAKE A LEAF OUT OF THE PRIVATE DRIVER'S BOOK AND MAKE THE HEIGHT DIVISION AT 13.2?THIS WOULD GIVE A MORE SENSIBLE HEIGHT DIVISION AND HELP TO EVEN OUT THE CLASSES.IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR THEM AND I SUSPECT THEY DO IT IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR CLASSES WORKABLE FOR THE SHOW SECRETARIES AND STEWARDS. AS IT IS THE VERY HARD WORKING EVENT ORGANISERS THAT ENSURE THAT WE HAVE COMPETITIONS, WE ARE IN FAVOUR OF LETTING THEM DECIDE WHAT IS A PRACTICLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM . | ||
| Mike Watts Posted From: 80.176.138.26 |
The fact that some animals will be on the borderline of height doesn't seem to me to imply we should change that borderline to a different height; there will still be animals on the borderline. If anything, it tells us we should keep the indoor and outdoor definitions strictly in line to avoid extra confusion. ..so if we do need a different arrangement of sizes to make indoor classes more equally sized, we should use a different term rather than calling a pony a horse and confusing people. For example, the indoor classes could be 'below 14 hands' and '14 hands and above' or some other mouthful. Other disciplines manage class names much like that. Since you raise it, I think it's a very bad idea to post a rule change as having been made with immediate effect if you are just flying a kite to solicit feedback. The result is that future announcements will have less credibility It also wasted organisers' time dealing with queries from competitors about possible rearrangements of the schedules of forthcoming events already posted as well as previous results. (I had just posted a batch ...). I don't think this is a question of being PC; I think it is a question of practicality [not losing credibility or confusing people] and courtesy. | ||
| Barbara Nadin Posted From: 195.93.21.8 |
The horse/pony height debate Wow!…what a fantastic response to this issue….just what the doctor – or should I say Chairman – ordered. I posted a large pile of Newsletters to club members just before going away on holiday for a week…smart move on both counts, given how much flack Dick has since taken, “I feel well and truly perforated” were his words when we spoke on Monday 30th. Before I make my personal comments on this particular issue of the day, it is worth taking a look at the background to this controversy, and controversy it seems to have become, given the tone of some of the comments posted on the indoor driving web site. Since the indoor driving format was devised it has been a struggle to run separate Novice and Open horse classes. Remember, there only needs to be three or more entries for there to be a separate class, and with this in mind, during last season, when we saw the highest total number of entries, it was only possible to stage separate Novice and Open horse qualifying events on 9 occasions out of 62 qualifying events. In every other event it was necessary to combine the classes – sometimes combining horses and ponies into Novice and Open classes. It was the intention of the indoor club committee to debate the mixed class issue together with the pony/horse height issue at the members’ meeting held during the national finals held at Keysoe in April this year. Unfortunately, this topic wasn’t put onto the written agenda for this meeting and ‘on the day’ the Chairman forgot to raise the matter for discussion….an oversight, a mistake, a confession even, for those who posted comments on the web site seeking an admission of guilt and responsibility. After only a couple of events of this season the horse/pony size issue reared its head again. Two instances illustrate most of the points: one, a competitor last season was put into the Novice horse class; this season the same animal and driver changed region and were put into a Novice pony class. The animal is on the cusp of being a horse or pony – 14.2hh and a bit with new shoes; 14.1hh and a lot with worn shoes, and, of course a different measuring stick was used. Which is correct? Second instance, an animal competed at an outdoor national event as a pony; indoor the same animal is deemed to be a horse. Who says so? The driver and organiser presumably – but who is correct? And still we have horse classes with only one or two competitors. Anyone who knows our Chairman knows that ‘grey areas’ are dealt with in his own inimitable style (one of the main reasons we have a thriving indoor season). I said “let’s ask for views in the Newsletter”, he said “we won’t get any response other than from one or two stalwarts…I know how we’ll get a response!! ” Was he right?…you betcha! Was it PC…hell no! Will you discuss it in depth during the season…I sincerely hope so. In any event, the topic has been put on the agenda for the next AGM and will be debated when this takes place at Keysoe during the national Finals next March. So hopefully now I’ve explained the background, I can be allowed to express my personal views. It really doesn’t matter which class you are in - horse or pony – the best will still win whatever the height of the animal – simply look at the results. When you are a novice, I agree it is important to feel you are improving. In the SW region we give a ‘best beginner’ rosette to the leading driver at each event in his or her first season indoors. I also realise that the competitive element in drivers makes us want to qualify for the finals. If you’re good enough you’ll get there. The Chairman always has a few places for invitees – ask Wessex Region last year, when two competitors tied for qualification. Chairman’s answer – invite them both. Correct decision in the circumstances even though the situation is not covered in the rules, NEVER forget the hard work and good intentions of all the IHDT team. Our involvement, as members, is vital to any improvements made and on this subject there can be no doubt that our views had been made very clear. Keep it up. This letter will be published in the next newsletter for the benefit of members who don’t have access to the internet |