| Author | Message | ||
     Guest |
I agree that the backsteppers/grooms should be recognised. If you are in the ribbons at an event organised by the Lincolnshire Area of the BDS, both Whip and Groom get a rosette. It's surprising how many smiles and cheers a 50p rosette can bring to the prize giving. | ||
| Janet Pilling |
I agree with this sentiment. My (employed groom and) backstep works really hard for me on the carriage - she always makes sure she is in the right place at the right time, she learns the routes and navigates properly for me and she is very concientious about getting the carriage ready and cooling the pony off - and if we do well (or even sometimes win) she claps very hard for me when I go up to collect my rosette. And I feel guilty that there aren't two rosettes as we work very much as a team. Maybe we as drivers should make more of a point of taking our backsteps up with us to collect awards, then the rosette would be awarded to the team rather than the individual - what do others think? I have often considered passing the rosette on to my groom but feel that would be just a little bit patronising. I remember however at one event when I backstepped for a friend I got a big bar of chocolate when he got his rosette and I was dead chuffed with that. As far as training goes, my b/s is involved in every session I have with my trainer (through circumstances, however I have always done that) and we know exactly how my pony works - she will often say to me on a marathon - he's being polite today! or - Slow him down a bit, he looks as if he's pulling like a train  Now I have trained each of my backsteps to my ways but they could go on the back of anyone and do a very decent job. If however I was to find myself in a situation where I needed someone to step in at the last minute I would panic! Spare well trained, experienced backsteppers are like hen's teeth and we really need to get our thinking caps on to see what we can do to encourage more people to get involved in this - and if they're not on the back of a carriage maybe they will offer to steward at an event to enjoy the involvement. Worth thinking about. | ||
| Mike Watts |
Julie, A few years ago Eacdg did a grooms training course and I produced a guide "Better Than a Sack of Potatoes" which I've kept updated - in case it's any help, it's downloadable as http://www.mikewatts.com/hdt/grooms2007.doc | ||
| Julie Arvidson |
I thoroughly agree with the points everyone have made and particularly the point made by Wendy about backstepper training. I would love to backstep for someone but I have no experience to offer. I would like to find some training sessions that would teach me more, and my partner John feels the same way. | ||
| Chris Atkins |
At Hopetoun a rosette is awarded to the groom of each class winning turnout 2 in the case of teams. This is given by one of our sponsors. When the National Championships were held at St Fort, some years ago, a small gift was give to each groom, again donated by a sponsor. Both were/are appreciated. | ||
| IHDTC office |
Some regions of Indoor HDT give rosettes (sponsored)to backsteppers of the first six placed, also at Brighton & Normanhurst, yes it costs a bit but the backsteppers smile says it all. Why don't more clubs and events follow our lead in this subject as many have in other things connected to HDT type events. | ||
| Julie Hoskyns |
Thank you for starting this thread. If there is anyone out there who would donate eight engraved glasses/goblets or something similar so the backsteppers going to the world combined pony championships have a memento to keep please get in touch. Let Mike Wattts know and I am sure he will put us in touch with each other. | ||
| Kerry Bowness |
In H&H we have been including backsteppers' and navigators' names, as well as horses'/ponies' names, in results for about a year now. Unfortunately, reporters can't always find out at events, or they are simply aren't sent in with results from other competitions. We do try though, running up and down the line up during the final presentation, finding out who's been doing what! They often get a mention in the reports themselves, too. However, if you have been placed in the top three at an event, and nobody's been to ask your backsteppers' or horses' names for results, or you think the results will be sent in for publication, I am more than happy for you to email me the details kerry_bowness@ipcmedia.com or call me with them 02031484551 preferably on the Monday following the event due to press deadlines. Kerry Bowness Horse & Hound | ||
| Dawn Emmerson |
I have been sayign this fro a afew years, without a groom we can't compete and teh groom also pays a big part in preperation of the event.Helping set up, feed and care for the horses, getting the carriage all ready and then doing their share on the carriage. I know some grooms are employed but many are partners or friends helping out. Yep all grooms should be mentioned when awards are given out and in magazine articles. | ||
| Wendy Wyatt |
Why is there no recognition for back steppers? Often drivers struggle to get good back steppers, even unable to compete due to the lack of them, but we give them no recognition, not even mentioning their names when giving out awards. In motorbike sidecars, they are mentioned as teams. Although we like to think glory is all ours!!! We need to encourage backsteppers. We thank the stewards, judges, and organisers. Why not show a little appreciation for back Steppers. Its easy to charge around, but would we like to be on the back of our turnouts without holding reins???? I wonder??? Not much training for them either. |