| Author |
Message |
    
Guest
Username: New
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 14 January, 2008 - 11:47 pm: | |
I am really sorry that you have taken my comments the way you have. You have a fantastic pony and we have all said we want to hijack him. I did not take you to one side. I asked you to hang on a moment, as you came out of the arena and quietly surgested that you use tone of voice not volume to talk to your pony, I DIDNOT say DON'T talk. Any one who knows me and my tandem knows that I consider the voice to be a vital aid . Anne Chambers LHHI |
Fiona Powell
Username: Fionap
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, 14 January, 2008 - 05:34 pm: | |
I'm very dismayed to hear about your experience.
Please don't give up - do get some training, as you say you will as this might help you and your horse as well as showing willing to the event organiser. See if you can find out what level of encouragement is acceptable? I always talk my horse round the obstacles. I think it's very important, for all the reasons you cite, too. What does not go down well is the groom shrieking at the driver/horse, which is not your problem - but I wouldn't normally suggest anyone stopped doing it unless it were really over the top!
Do stick with it!
Fiona, East Anglia event organiser |
Guest
Username: New
Registered: 12-2006
| | Posted on Monday, 14 January, 2008 - 02:25 pm: | |
I have recently returned from compteting at Tickhill arena, Yorks at only my third event very unhappy and certainly not going to be competing there again. My reason for taking up the sport of driving was firstly as a hobby as I have run a very busy riding school and compete three dressage horses. Secondly, as we had watched at some of the driving competitions the driving people had been really supportive and friendly. At our first two competitions the friendly and supportive atmosphere continued but by 13/01/08 it has gone. The day began quite stressful as the organisers were really pushing so that we didn't run late, which I can understand to a certain degree. However, it is really difficult to maintain a friendly and supportive atmosphere when constantly being hassled to hurry up. I am all too familiar with keeping to a strict time scale at the riding school. Which brings me to the organisers main complaint about myself. I was taken on one side after the first two hazards had been driven and told that my voice was too loud and horrible and that basically this wasn't good for the sport. I agree that my voice does project very well it has to for my profession. However, the words that I use, Merlyn on, this way, come, steady and good boy !! can not possibly be seen as offensive. I never, ever have to use the whip on my pony due to the fact that he is so responsive to my voice. In the next two hazards I was told not to use my voice, so for fear of offending the organisers again I obliged. To my absolute horror my pony was compltetly lost without my voice aid and crashed into the hazard. This early in his career could have had a very negative and dangerous impact on him. However, I very "quietly " continued and slowly helped him through the final hazard sucessfully. I do intend to continue driving as my pony, partner and myself enjoy the sport. It is also my intention to seek proffesional instruction so that we progress correctly,sucessfully and safely.I completely trust Merlyn with my life as we have been together for nine years competing at a variety disaplines, I strongly regret that I listened to advice that ultimately could have lead to Merlyn loosing his trust in me and an accident. |
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