The Devon Dilemma
Last weekend was Dressage at Devon, traditionally one of if not the most well attended show, especially by vendors and spectators. I have competed there for almost 30 years and have wonderful memories of riding down the centre line in the Dixon Arena on many horses.
I also have recollections of standing in the cold with driving rain and water and muck almost up to my knees while warming up students for their classes. Not so fun!
When it comes right down to it, nothing can be done about the weather, since holding a competition the last weeks of September is always going to be frought with the possibility of extremes. On the other hand, what is completely able to control is a show’s footing, regardless of inclement weather. No place on earth can have more rain during a show than Aachen, the greatest competition in the world for the sports of Dressage and Show Jumping, and regardless of how much it just keeps coming down on those arenas, the bases as well as the footing are made to withstand all that and more. I bet a veritable tidal wave could wash over Aachen’s show grounds and have horses compete comfortably 10 minutes later.
And guess what? Aachen is not the exception in European competitions. I would say that most if not all of the major outdoor shows have come to figure out how to ensure safe and excellent footing for the horses, which makes so much sense, since the ground they have to perform such difficult tasks on can be at the very least the cause for defeat and in some cases the cause of dangerous and even life threatening accidents.
Just as with other shows for which I have fond memories as well as friendships with organizers, I want to get defensive for Dressage at Devon, for I really love and admire all those who have continued to bring us our traditional competitions. But, and I’m truly sorry about this “but”, I’ve been chanting for years now that the bar has got to be raised on our shows, from footing to prize money and everything in between. Dressage riders, trainers, and owners need to get together and decide that, even if the managers say they will stop putting on the shows, we will stick together and demand better conditions or boycott until the problems are rectified. Remember this, if we don’t show they’re out of a job altogether.
Do I hate to sound abrasive and adversarial about this? Absolutely! But enough is enough and this kind of stuff has been going on for just too long. Something has got to give and it just cannot be our horses’ legs!
Cheers!
RD
Madeleine — September 29, 2009 @ 10:13 pm
I absolutely concur.
Dressage is still the “poor cousin” of show jumping here in the US. As much as I wish it were otherwise, it isn’t.
As we creep forward toward the sort of respect which our peers enjoy in other countries, our venues need to raise the bar and offer footing which is commensurate with most of the other wonderful international venues.
Dressage at Devon has made an announcement that they will have new footing next year. I hope that that actually transpires.
Christina Jones — September 30, 2009 @ 4:20 am
It’s always amazed me to see pictures of dressage shows in the US with puddles all over the arena & horses splashing down the centre line. In the UK we get a lot of rain & the majority of private arenas hold up well, even the low budget ones. The big show centres who have spent thousands on construction & expensive surfaces are certainly fine.
Is there a big difference in how arenas are constructed? Over here it is normal to put in drainage ditches under the arena, with pipes & gravel, then a layer of crushed rock, then a water permeable membrane & then finally the surface over the top.
Jane Springer — September 30, 2009 @ 7:48 am
Thank you Robert! I choose not to show Talent at Devon this year because it almost always rains, and last year at Devon our ring was 1 huge puddle. The September CDI at Saugerties after heavy rain, the international arena was a mess with puddles and a very dangerous hole filled with water at X. The management also chose not to groom the ring at all between rides with about 18 I1 rides, the footing was terrible! My safety and soundness of my horse should be a priority for all those who we pay to run and manage these venues.
Robyn — September 30, 2009 @ 4:11 pm
I thought I saw somewhere (Dressage Daily?–apologies if not correct), that there is a major footing renovation plan in the works for Devon for 2010. In general, I think those OWNING the equine facilities are not necessarily HORSE people/riders. For instance, here in NC the Hunt Horse Complex (home of the Raleigh CDI) is state owned. They did make major improvements for this year, and have more coming, which is nice, but I think when a facility is not privately owned expensive things like footing and maintenance of said footing is one of the line items in the budget that gets crossed out!
Jackie — October 7, 2009 @ 12:18 pm
I heartily concur. I remember (as a spectator) one of the Thornhill horses actually going down in the Dixon arena during one of last year’s demonstrations. I credit the young rider for picking herself up out of the mud, getting back on her horse, and finishing the demo. But I was not surprised when Courtney King-Dye (who I *really* wanted to see ride) chose to scratch - I was more surprised that more had actually chosen to ride their freestyles in that muck.
Thankfully, this year (at least Saturday) was not as bad. But this is one of the premier dressage shows in the US, it should be the best all around, facilities included!