Rules of horse jumping

There is a local stable that puts on jumping competitions. Everyone gets dressed up in their high boots and stretchy pants and puts a polish on the horse trailer and off they go. Daughter used to compete in these but got a little disillusioned when one person consistently showed up in the winner's circle : the course designer.

The person who designs the course and helps with the construction also competes on that course and consistently places in the highest rankings. WHen all the other riders are walking the course, trying to get a bead on things, this competitor does not walk the course, HE DESIGNED IT!

Is this allowed? Is this fair? What's the deal? This screams to me of conflict of interest! Many, many people are less than impressed but are there any show jumping mafia types who come and enforce fair play or is it normal procedure for the person who designs the course to also compete on said course? I hope someone knows the rules, etiquette that should show up here.

Aaah, human nature at it's best. I have a problem with extremely competitive people. I have all my life, just a little things I have always noticed from being a little kid. Things that make you go hmmm.....how's that song go?

I guess there are two options, actually bring it up to them and say have you ever considered this isn't fair...or stage a mass walkout so no one shows up and they win not because they designed the course, but because they are the only one there.

I personally avoid completely competitive people like the plague and don't involve myself in their drama at all if it can be helped. I guess you could offer to take turns designing the course to "give them a challenge". They may actually go for it as they will want to win that layout too.

I wish you luck, you usually can't win with people like that, literally

It's not so much that this guy is overly competitve. I think there must be a rule book somewhere that lays out who can compete in these moneyed competitions and who can't.

This fellow who builds the course is not one of the local stable people. He is a professional trainer and course designer. He is HIRED by the stable to design a course so the stable can then charge the locals $15 to $20 a class to jump. BUt the man who did the designing and building ALSO competes for the money! This is not allowed anywhere else in the professional world! You see all those contests that companies run where their own employees and thier families are NOT eligible to play...why should this guy be allowed to compete on the course that HE designed! Unfair advantage!

I think if Mr. Stretchy pants wants to compete, then someone else should design the course and if HE designs the course he should bow out of riding it. But nope...he gets paid to build it and then bellies up for the prize money.

And yes, people SHOULD stand up for what's right and have a mass protest. But I find fewer and fewer people willing to stand up and be counted for a damn thing anymore! Problems these days should always be looked after by 'someone else". Sigh...I sound very grumpy today.

Grumpy with a reason, I'd say.

I would think that is playing dirty on their part. As a serious competitor, they should want to win by fair, honest competition. In my opinion, I do not think if he/she designed the course that they should be allowed to ride. I wonder if you took it to the commitee, and asked if their were another person to design the course to make it a little more even ground for everyone. Be polite, but firm in your opinion that the person who designs the course has an unfair advantage over everyone else. I wonder if you searched online if you could find a place who would have the rules and regs for show jumping.

Attend one of the monthly meetings and voice your concerns to the directors.
You'll more than likely get support from other members.
Issues brought up have to be recorded in the minutes, so you will likely see a resolution.