Showing
Lynn Russell
“Much of showing has become pressured and bitchy, but this reminded me it
can be fun”
AS lockdown restrictions ease, competitions are making a cautious return. The logistics of keeping everyone safe are more complicated in showing, as you have a class of riders occupying the same ring as opposed to individuals performing dressage tests and showjumping rounds. I’ve always loved showing’s traditions, but we need a new way of doing things, whether on a short- or long-term basis.
Showing organisations are working out blueprints, so I decided to try to bridge the gap in a small way by organising my first show (27–28 June) in line with Government guidelines with the principles of safety and fun at the forefront. I wasn’t sure what the reaction would be, but the positivity was overwhelming. We had horses on one day and ponies the next, totalling 68 combinations.
LEARNING TO ADAPT
SAFETY was paramount, with one-way systems for everything from parking to the collecting ring system. Classes were split into groups, with a maximum of four in each group. There was no galloping, no cantering after placings were announced and everyone had to leave the ring at walk.
Competitors knew in advance that there were no toilets or refreshments available and cheerfully coped accordingly. They even made and brought their own back numbers, so there was no need to visit a secretary’s tent.
One of the biggest headaches was how to format the classes. I don’t like marks systems, but there was no other way. Following the principle of
“my show, my way”, I asked judges to allocate maximums of 20 for the go-round, 40 for the individual display and 40 for conformation.
I appreciate that marks are not normally allocated for the go-round, but it gave judges a chance to reward a horse or pony that caught their eye as show animals. The competitors I’d envisaged for this show were novice combinations or novice horses from professional yards ridden by non-professional riders – not seasoned exhibitors bringing their top horses out for a spin.
This allowed true show animals to shine rather than being dropped in favour of clockwork mice. Judges would have penalised bad manners, but small class sizes and a calm atmosphere paid dividends and everyone stayed smiling.
TEAM EFFORT
NOW I need to make an Oscar acceptance speech here, because although I came up with the idea when I was fed up with everyone moaning about having no shows to go to, the generosity of those who gave their knowledge and time — and were willing to try something new — made it happen. Lisa Potter judged the horses on the first day, Tony Naldrett sorted the ponies on the second and Carole West’s organisational skills pulled it all together.
The goodwill factor went off the scale; everyone wanted to enjoy themselves while realising that we had to stick to Government guidelines. Allowing only one person to accompany each entry made social distancing easier and as there were no championships for competitors to wait for, we had only 10 vehicles in the parking area at any time.
The atmosphere was fabulous. Over the past few years, much of showing has become pressured and bitchy, but this reminded us – me included – that it can be fun. Fun doesn’t have to be unprofessional, but it does have to be friendly. The standard of horses, ponies and turnout was exceptional and I spotted several potential county level animals.
Hopefully, other organisers are rolling out their plans.
We all want to see the county circuit, Royal International and Horse of the Year Show back in action, but that can only happen further down the road and into next year. Let’s hope that the fun factor from small, friendly shows stays with us as we start the journey back.
Lynn is a leading show horse producer who is known for her achievements with cobs. She trains under the banner Top Cobs at her yard in Surrey and is known for finding young horses in the raw and producing them into champions.
What do you think about the restart of showing? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com