haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 17, 2015 10:27:13 GMT
Is it just where i live or are they almost becoming a thing of the past?
There are two riding clubs nearish me (within half an hour drive) that still hold a handful of traditional shows during the summer and i know of 2/3 in the Sheffield area still going but on the whole it seems gone are the days of being able to hack to a show every Sunday in summer...which i spent my childhood doing.
One of those clubs seems very small and the show i attended last week, although well run was pretty poorly attended (it was peeing it down most of time but still it wasn't first thing) by the numbers that would attend back when i last competed (about 15 years ago now) when most classes had 10 to 15 (or more) entries and the jumping double or even triple that.
Does everyone, who wants to show, just show at county level now or at least at agricultural shows?
On the other hoof, if i wanted to do dressage or jumping i could be out several times a week, without traveling very far at all, so i guess the popularity of these events has risen considerably. The most local riding club to me only holds these type of events. I suppose you don't need as much arena space (or people) to run a single themed event maybe?
On an aside note Zara, is the Worrall Riding Club no more? I was looking to see what events were in sheffield and couldn't find them, they always had a couple of bigger shows in the park.
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Post by fleabitten on Jul 17, 2015 21:56:58 GMT
Not sure. Most riding clubs round here will run an annual summer show every year (showjumping, working hunter and show classes). If they dont they will run dressage and jumping leagues. Attendance is normally pretty good but nothing on the scale of agricultural shows of course. In fact theres quite a few equestrian centres now running summer shows with show classes, working hunter, showjumping etc. Then you get all the usual showjumping, derby/ jump cross leagues, go as you please, dressage days, 2 phases, the very odd unaffiliated ODE (suppose even harder to run one of these) - youd get more 2 phases than ODEs here, but its mostly derbies (either arena based or arena and then jump out onto XC). Some centres will do fun days/silver shows which is more like just a day of showjumping and you win trophies and prizes, sometimes they will have some show classes or handy hunter/obstacle type things in the schedule too.
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Post by solomon on Jul 18, 2015 6:10:56 GMT
It just depends where in the country you are and what discipline you do. I have a huge equestrian centre on the doorstep that does something every weekend including some showing. My friend Becca loves eventing and she lives in Lincolnshire. She seems to be at an event every weekend. She is happy to travel though. I would love to get into endurance but pete will never be up to it but there is very little of that round here.
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 18, 2015 12:54:30 GMT
It just depends where in the country you are and what discipline you do. I have a huge equestrian centre on the doorstep that does something every weekend including some showing. My friend Becca loves eventing and she lives in Lincolnshire. She seems to be at an event every weekend. She is happy to travel though. I would love to get into endurance but pete will never be up to it but there is very little of that round here. Yes your probably right there. I have found a couple more RC's about 20 miles north of us but their shows seem to be members only so looks like you have to join a dozen RC's round here if you want 'traditional' type shows. I had to be a 'day member' at the one last week. We have two (3 if you include parklands as it's not a million miles away) yards with big indoor arenas very close, hence lots of SJ/dressage happening and of course it's Endurance country too! Hopefully next year we won't have so many setbacks and get out sooner, and maybe under saddle so more options.
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Post by zara on Jul 19, 2015 13:53:47 GMT
Haffy as far as I know Worral RC is no more and has been for quite some time There are some local "clubs" and the most prolific would seem to be LegUp Equestrian, WPW dressage, Penistone and District RC and Hallamhsire RC. Leg Up hold quite a few shows and training events both at Bromley and in Penistone. Like you I remember hacking to loads of show in the Summer x
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haffyfan
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 19, 2015 18:43:59 GMT
Thanks Zara. I noticed Ecclesfield riding Society (as it was) still runs in some form too although it's changed venue it seems since i was a member. Couldn't find a schedule for it but they have an open show in August so might be nice to go maybe and see if anyone i knew still goes!
I just looked up the LegUp one and i vaguely recall the person that runs it...well the name and one of her old horses names was familiar is more like it...must have competed against her in the past. Thanks for that one, looks like it could be worth a day out at some point!
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Post by ernieburt on Jul 21, 2015 10:52:22 GMT
I have certainly noticed a decline in RC shows, when I had my pony (30 years ago) I could hack to 4-5 RC's that held regular shows throughout the year and there is now 1, although that is in hacking distance I wouldn't ride there as traffic has increased during this time as well. Reasons given when these RC's closed down was lack of support/help on the day so maybe we are also to blame (well me anyway). Luckily with transport there is still plenty within easy traveling distance for us when he is well enough although we do lack affiliated BD venues which is making think twice about joining when the time comes.
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Post by pboy on Jul 22, 2015 9:10:20 GMT
I noticed a massive change in shows / competitions from selling my old horse in 1998 and getting Pocholo in 2010. Like you, I used to spend the summers going to local shows (ours were village shows rather than run by RCs - usually set up by local communities and held on the village green and they'd have a mix of showing, gymkhana, show jumping and occasionally some dressage. My friends and I would talk in awe of anyone who decided to 'go affiliated' instead of doing the local shows! On returning to horse ownership, it seems that the village shows have disappeared and competition centres have taken over. Around here it's mostly dressage / SJ / eventing but then I don't tend to look for showing shows so I may have not noticed them! I suppose it's good in a way - there are more competitions year-round, they're usually on a surface (or at least on ground that isn't pock-marked from cattle hooves!) and generally more professionally run. I do miss the little local shows though as they had a great community feel
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haffyfan
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is pressing random buttons...sorry guys
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Post by haffyfan on Jul 23, 2015 8:51:07 GMT
I have certainly noticed a decline in RC shows, when I had my pony (30 years ago) Reasons given when these RC's closed down was lack of support/help on the day so maybe we are also to blame (well me anyway). Yes i'd be guilty of that too, when my work meant i couldn't go the RC lessons on an evening anymore, as i didn't finish till six and it started at half past, i just stopped going. In hindsight i should have joined the committee and helped out. I obviously need to take up dressage if i want to compete!
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