| Author | Message | ||
     Brian Cairns Member Username: Brianc Post Number: 25 Registered: 01-2008 |
i would just like to add that there are lots of people who recognised the need for these changes, but for some unknown reason where not prepared to push for change. We have a governing body here who are supposed to look after the sport and the welfare of the horse, hopefully now they will look to the FEI and follow other equestrian disciplines to bring driving in line. | ||
| Patti Atkinson Member Username: Pattia Post Number: 114 Registered: 03-2007 |
Brian - In your first post on this thread you said "Our horses will never be world class until the training and the competitions allow the natural progression of the horse." As our fabulous sport is carried on world wide there needs to be a governing body to oversee its development and progression. The new competition for young horses makes some effort to address this 'natural progression'. Although purely from a personal viewpoint I think the ages too low and the requirement too high unless you are a full time horse person. Training for many of us amateurs can't happen in the winter darkness! ;-) | ||
| Brian Cairns Member Username: Brianc Post Number: 24 Registered: 01-2008 |
It is very interesting Patti,there are a lot of people in this sport who cannot see the wood for the trees until the FEI plots the route through the forest for them. | ||
| Patti Atkinson Member Username: Pattia Post Number: 113 Registered: 03-2007 |
The new "FEI World Driving Championships for Young Horses - Singles" rules are interesting to see the progression and development required for 5, 6 and 7 year olds. Page 5 & 6 of http://d2ig246cioy4di.cloudfront.net/cdn/farfuture/LDEPMkSV09IOYVu6j3uxsjf72ERdK XpIh3bY-nUggfg/mtime:1417101581/sites/default/files/FEI_Driving_Championships_fo r_Young_Horses_Rules_Nov2014.pdf | ||
| Brian Cairns Member Username: Brianc Post Number: 23 Registered: 01-2008 |
All advanced movements need to be taken out of the novice tests. FEI have now recognised at last! that young driving horses now need to be trained correctly and brought along slowly, i only hope BC also recognise this and make the neccesary amendments.Lots of things need to change in our sport, this is only the tip of the iceberg. | ||
| peter edwards Member Username: Petere Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2011 |
In my opinion I was under the understanding that to achieve a lengthened or extended trot one first had to collect so why remove collected but not lengthened pace!! | ||
| Brian Cairns Member Username: Brianc Post Number: 22 Registered: 01-2008 |
It is the horses that need to be registered, as is the case in other countries and other diciplines. Other countries seem to have it right why dont we follow them as they seem to be able to train driving horses a lot better than we can.Now that FEI have produced a dressage test with the advanced movements removed, can we now hope that BC will recomend this test be used for novice horses so as they can be started in the correct manner. | ||
| Brian Cairns Member Username: Brianc Post Number: 21 Registered: 01-2008 |
No collection from the FEI is certainly a step in the right direction, i hope BC follow suite! When training a young horse, three different paces must be established first,the slow trot is already been used in the tests, when drivers slow down the horse and pull it on the forhand, and this happens in the open classes also. When a horse is trained for the slow trot this is done in self carriage and is better for the horses progression than forceing it to slow down with pressure from the bit, which is light years away from lightness, self carriage and collection.Horses must be forward, i agree, but the forwardness must be acompanied by obedience, lightness and self carriage which can be easily achieved in the slow trot. | ||
| Janet Pilling Member Username: Janetp Post Number: 119 Registered: 03-2007 |
IS there actually such a movement as 'slow trot' in ridden tests Brian? I don't think so and I don't see the usefulness of such a pace - driving horses must be 'forward' thinking at all times and a slow trot could IMO be detrimental to the future quality of their impulsion. Also, with driving horses we have different requirements regarding safety - rein-back is essential in early training to avoid getting yourself into awkward or dangerous situations - and this should be shown in our novice tests. More appropriate would be asking for good clean transitions to show obedience and suppleness, changes of rein, perhaps more halts, and accurate shapes in the school - just like the indoor tests actually ;) I think our Intermediate test is a fair test for a horse or pony at that level, however I've just been looking at the new FEI 1* tests - the collectives are very descriptive of what is required and the tests are more demanding in the shapes of the movements - and NO collection! :o) Surely this must be a step in the right direction? | ||
| Brian Cairns Member Username: Brianc Post Number: 20 Registered: 01-2008 |
It is the ability ofthe horse that is paramount and not the driver and a novice horse should be classified according to its ability.novice and intermediate classes have advanced movements and need to be removed from the tests and replaced with movements such as eg.slow trot, medium trot, walk on a long rein. | ||
| Julie Hoskyns Member Username: Julieh Post Number: 76 Registered: 03-2007 |
Well said Janet. If British Showjumping, Dressage and Eventing can cater for the novice horse and/or rider then there is no good reason BC can't. As Janet said....it's in the wording! IMHO We modernised our branding, now it is time to think about moving our sport forward and falling in line with the others, especially BE which our sport is based on. | ||
| Janet Pilling Member Username: Janetp Post Number: 118 Registered: 03-2007 |
I certainly didn't take it to be a quarrel, it's a discussion. I do agree that we are out of kilter from the other equestrian sports though where the class is suited to the horse/pony OR the rider, usually the criteria is 'this combination not to have won more than...' - if you compete affiliated you are assumed to already be climbing up the ranks but could have a more novice horse or be a novice rider. I have a novice pony coming on and to take him to Nationals I can either go Intermediate (which is my intention) or into the Open class to attempt what is in actual fact an Advanced test - the Open Single Test was the previous Advanced Pairs test and is very challenging with quick changes from collection to extension and back again - more than I would like to face a novice with. | ||
| Christine Twigg Member Username: Rosibob Post Number: 176 Registered: 02-2008 |
How sad is it that the word 'argument' is interpreted as a quarrel or disagreement, rather than its other, perfectly proper meaning of 'a line of reasoning'. | ||
| Ian Priestley Member Username: Ipriestley Post Number: 9 Registered: 04-2008 |
Arguing? Who's arguing? How sad is it that whenever anyone makes a suggestion that could possibly improve the sport, it is labelled an argument. Thanks Rita we started our pony off indoors, and know many others who have also followed that introductory route. Great experience for them. | ||
| Rita Bundock Member Username: Roanmare Post Number: 55 Registered: 11-2007 |
Christine you are right, a novice horse needs educating the same as a young child. Going to novice/club events introduces the youngster to competition with no pressure on winning. Eventually it will win IF educated properly and is of the nature and type to go eventing/showing. There is a fairly safe way to introduce the young horse to competition - go Indoors for the winter season. It is laid back and was designed for the young horse/ novice horse and novice or young drivers, also the older or disabled competitor can compete on equal terms. Check out www.indoordriving.co.uk for full details and list of events in your area - there are twenty areas to choose from. | ||
| Christine Twigg Member Username: Rosibob Post Number: 175 Registered: 02-2008 |
I don't really get this argument. I am an open driver with a very novice horse so I will drive her HC in novice and then intermediate club classes until I feel ready for the open classes. At national/regional level I can drive Intermediate but not qualify for the championships. So what am I missing? Well I can't have my name on a list of prize winners and I can't get a rosette. I'm certainly not missing out on prize money!! I am, however, giving my horse the best education I can. As for not being able to qualify, I do not believe any genuinely novice horse should be driven at that level anyway. If we go down the route suggested then it must also be the case that novice drivers will not be able to drive experienced horses in novice classes because the horse would have to be in the open class. | ||
| Ian Priestley Member Username: Ipriestley Post Number: 8 Registered: 04-2008 |
quite right Brian. The system of educating young horses in the UK is of no benefit to the horse. For years we have struggled to bring on a novice pony in Open pony classes. Why are the classes in the UK based on the driver experience and not on the education of the horse? | ||
| Brian Cairns Member Username: Brianc Post Number: 19 Registered: 01-2008 |
Anonymous donation? my giddy aunt! Now that the dust has settled, is it not time there was a complete shakeup at British Carriage Driving? everything should be transparent, no hiding or passing the buck.If the sport is to progress there needs to be a complete change of the competition structure.Our horses will never be world class until the training and the competitions allow the natural progression of the horse. |