British Dressage dropped a big bombshell yesterday by announcing rule changes for 2012. The one causing the biggest stir is the hat rule! According to BD we are not responsible enough to make our own decisions on head gear in dressage! Having been asked our thoughts on wearing skid lids (crash hats) they went ahead with the minority and have made the ruling that up to advanced all riders must wear one! Now I am not generally one for breaking rules but I do object to the way this was done and how quickly it has been introduced. Firstly having been 'consulted' and having chosen the FEI ruling: for young horse classes and young rider classes crash hats should be worn. 24% of members chose this option.
This was added to those who wanted these hats across the board which gave a majority (even though we were not voting merely consulting).This is my grouse as this is manipulation of figures and not a true picture at all. Even though I am happy to wear a skid lid when riding unknown or young horses and wear a beagler competing my older horse and a top hat when riding in advanced classes, I would like the freedom of choice. All riders at advanced and above may wear their top hats in the arena, so does that mean they are incapable of falling of in the arena? We have had no statistics relating to head injuries during dressage competitions in the last ten years ( I doubt there are any)so what is this ruling about? It has also been introduced very quickly leaving many poorer riders having to find funds for a new hat, many who have already just purchased at great expense a made to measure Patey.
Obviously if one wishes to compete then the new hats must be worn, however, if examples are to be set I would like to see all trainers wearing them at demos and at home and insisting that clients wear them when having a lesson. You cannot have a safety rule at competitions that does not follow suit at home, in my opinion, as if your head is at risk at competition then it surely is more so at home. Lets not forget that 99% of accidents happen at home!So no double standards please!
The forum is a place for opinions so all should be able to have one! I cannot understand why those who are against the rule or against the way it was brought in are being shouted down by those for the rule, after all they have got what they want. Seemingly it has been noticed that before the rule was announced several pros suddenly started wearing the skid lid, so were they privy to the information before the rest of us? Were they asked to wear the hats as an example? I don't have anything against that but do think it was suspicious. Shouting me down on a forum does nothing for credibility but talking over a coffee may earn respect.
The FEI talk about 'transparancy' in judging, shouldn't every thing to do with rules have the same?
Anyway I will be wearing the 'mushroom' that makes me totally deaf, so no callers for tests will be able to get through, perhaps the powers that be will allow radio mikes to be inserted into the new hat so that we can hear? We could also tune into FM radio whilst working in or phone a friend.
But what about the spectators, surely they should be protected from rampaging loose horses? Whilst doing a prize giving at the Area Festivals several over horsed ladies jumped off because they could not control their excited mounts. Unfortunately for the rest of us they were more incapable of controlling them from the ground! Which beggars the question that Dane Rawlings brought up, shouldn't we be looking at developing better seats so that these ladies don't fall on their pretty heads? Sadly over horsed riders are quite common because they think that it is big paces that will win. Some do of course, if correctly trained, but so do horses with lesser movement and better temperaments. First point of training: the horse must respect you on the ground.
Thats all I have to say on the matter. The subject is now closed and has been fiesty to say the least. I am off to Tescos to look at their skid lids and hope that those businesses that have had inside information and ordered in their very expensive hats manage to profit greatly from the new rule.
Happy hat hunting!
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