Prize givings — mounted or unmounted?

[Sarahgorrie]

In between the medal celebrations, there was talk at Windsor European championships over prize givings. In the past, riders have ridden their lap of honour, but after Wednesday's team competition they received their medals and did their lap of honour on foot. Some riders expressed concern about their horses' safety in the atmosphere of the arena with everybody cheering — hence the change of form.

Do you think competitors should be required to ride the traditional lap of honour? Do you think it's important for sponsors to have their sashes displayed on horseback — the images the broader media want to capture? As an audience, would you be disappointed not to be able to cheer the top horses, only their jockeys?

Or is it more important that the riders do not risk getting carted and that the horses don't risk injury, or become so traumatised by the experience that they then do not perform at their best the next day?

[kerilli]

ever since poor Rembrandt got the kick that ended his career at a prize-giving, i've not liked them, tbh. also, King William never really settled in the sj again after a prize-giving.
i think it's fine to have the prize-givings on foot, and if the sponsors and press want pics of horse and rider in sash etc etc, why not take those later when the atmosphere is quieter, that way everyone gets what they want, and the horses don't risk getting traumatised. of course, it depends hugely on the individual horse, many cope absolutely fine with the hullaballo, but it seems a shame to upset those that don't.
FEI Code of Conduct Rule 1 - the horse's welfare should be paramount at all times.

[ester]

I think its a shame when prize givings aren't mounted its not quite the same but can see the arguments against it. But it is often the horses not the jockeys that the owners truly love.

Is it because dressage horses or eventers even do not start getting used to it at a very young age in comparison to the show jumpers?- some of whom I know can't cope with it either but are often quite unfazed by being adorned with wreaths etc (which always surprises me)

could there perhaps be some sort of opt out for horses unable to cope, I know some show jumpers will take in a different horse. We could supply the riders with alternative bombproof horses (now that could be interesting!)

[moogrrr]

Totally agree with what Kerilli says. I saw the eventing and dressage prize givings in Hong Kong and just felt so sorry for the poor horses who had to stand around in that heat and atmosphere for the length of the prize giving (i also felt sorry for the grooms who were trying to cling onto some of the horses !!) Hardly any of the horses looked happy in the atmosphere, surely that should be the most important thing?

[BBH]

I can understand it from both points of view really, but I think I come down on the side of mounted for two reasons,

these horses are really well trained to the highest levels and imo should be able to cope with a bit of cheering, the SJer's do.

secondly it is a real anti climax for the spectator, the best atmosphere is when the prizes have been given and its an opportunity to celebrate success and that success includes the horse.

[bahumbug]

Agree with LHS - it's about partnership and unmounted prizegivings can never successfully celebrate what dressage is all about.

[wizoz]

Having watched the prize giving at Badminton for umpteen years now, I would say that 90% of the horses are used to the crowds cheering by that stage, what upsets them most is when the band start up after the winner has received the trophy, that's when the horses tend to rear up, fall over, have a buck and lash out and it's not surprising really, they are completely startled by it! I have seen a couple of horses rear up and go back over because they were completely startled

There are some horses that just cannot cope with the cheering and in this case, riders tend to swap them for the prize giving.

But my answer is, most definately mounted but if a horse is known to not like crowds, then the rider should be permitted to have a deputy ready.

[SJFAN]

There are some top horses in each discipline who get very upset by the band for some reason, while others remain completely unfazed. Most riders in parades before big classes ride substitute horses, but to me it doesn't seem appropriate to do so for the prize-giving ceremony of a major class. Why not give the riders the option of going in with their medal-winning horse or unmounted? I suppose it might look a bit messy if some have their horses and others don't!

[kerilli]

wizoz, you'd have thought by now that someone horsey could have explained to the band that they need to start up gently and gradually increase the volume, for the sake of the horses! oh, and leave the clashing cymbals out too!

[qwertyuiop]

[ QUOTE ]
Do you think competitors should be required to ride the traditional lap of honour? Do you think it's important for sponsors to have their sashes displayed on horseback — the images the broader media want to capture? As an audience, would you be disappointed not to be able to cheer the top horses, only their jockeys?

[/ QUOTE ]
You cannot require riders to do it. If they refused, would you strip them of their placing and prize?