Well-stated, Susanne! And I will refrain from comment on the VAST difference between the 'breed show ring' and 'genuine' driving and driving training-except to say that I do NOT worry much about being 'oh-so-diplomatic', as have other posters on this subject--have just lived too long to 'tiptoe' around subjects.
As for the state of the ground surface...for those who've advised that you should 'notify the management'---good luck with that! Sorry, but the realities are that management will VERY seldom be willing, and/or able, to 're-prepare' the ring, especially for fun, practice, or other smaller shows, because of the time factor, and others, such as watering...such preparatory actions can NOT be 'put together' and 'ready to use' On short notice, even IF management was willing to do so. A suitable ground surface is probably the MOST important factor in successfully driving miniatures, yet it is OFTEN overlooked or not considered--yet it can 'make or break' a performance.
Case in point....several years ago, I'd entered several Open Driving classes at our State Fair. I brought my 33 1/2" gelding, and a wooden Meadowbrook. Because I knew the MB was heavier than the average show cart, I'd walked the arena before driving classes began that AM, to determine if it would be OK for my horse (classes were a mix of draft and light horse classes), and though it was 'bumpy' from draft hoofprints, it was firm and, I judged, a reasonable surface for my horse. Sure enough, the rail was OK-not great, but completely drivable. However, they'd run the mule timed events before my driving classes, and inexplicably, then they'd 'run' the tractor and harrow in and OVER and OVER, had 'worked' the center line of the ring--so, when the class lined up in the center, and we were asked to back, my poor horse couldn't even MOVE the cart in the HEAVY ground in the arena center (and this was will full Smuckers' breast collar harness with breeching!) In fact, it scared him, to the point he threatened to rear. Of course, I did not continue to ask him to back, just took the 'hit', and after leaving the arena, went and scratched the rest of that day's classes, for my horse's sake.
After the fair ended, I wrote a letter to the State Fair horse dep't. manager, outlining the problems with the placement of the timed events classes within the day's schedule. I received no written response but did note that the class schedule was altered by the next year, so that the timed events were AFTER all of the day's driving classes--a definite improvement! My point is--it can pay to point out a problem, but NOTHING about the arena ground condition is likely to change right then and there.
Margo
As for the state of the ground surface...for those who've advised that you should 'notify the management'---good luck with that! Sorry, but the realities are that management will VERY seldom be willing, and/or able, to 're-prepare' the ring, especially for fun, practice, or other smaller shows, because of the time factor, and others, such as watering...such preparatory actions can NOT be 'put together' and 'ready to use' On short notice, even IF management was willing to do so. A suitable ground surface is probably the MOST important factor in successfully driving miniatures, yet it is OFTEN overlooked or not considered--yet it can 'make or break' a performance.
Case in point....several years ago, I'd entered several Open Driving classes at our State Fair. I brought my 33 1/2" gelding, and a wooden Meadowbrook. Because I knew the MB was heavier than the average show cart, I'd walked the arena before driving classes began that AM, to determine if it would be OK for my horse (classes were a mix of draft and light horse classes), and though it was 'bumpy' from draft hoofprints, it was firm and, I judged, a reasonable surface for my horse. Sure enough, the rail was OK-not great, but completely drivable. However, they'd run the mule timed events before my driving classes, and inexplicably, then they'd 'run' the tractor and harrow in and OVER and OVER, had 'worked' the center line of the ring--so, when the class lined up in the center, and we were asked to back, my poor horse couldn't even MOVE the cart in the HEAVY ground in the arena center (and this was will full Smuckers' breast collar harness with breeching!) In fact, it scared him, to the point he threatened to rear. Of course, I did not continue to ask him to back, just took the 'hit', and after leaving the arena, went and scratched the rest of that day's classes, for my horse's sake.
After the fair ended, I wrote a letter to the State Fair horse dep't. manager, outlining the problems with the placement of the timed events classes within the day's schedule. I received no written response but did note that the class schedule was altered by the next year, so that the timed events were AFTER all of the day's driving classes--a definite improvement! My point is--it can pay to point out a problem, but NOTHING about the arena ground condition is likely to change right then and there.
Margo
