Largo race preliminary poll - horse behavior

[motorgypsy]

please choose 1

[Heidi]

At the discretion of the judges, any behavior causing danger to horses/riders should be DQd. Balking, bucking, kicking and rearing. Should probably also include skittering sideways uncontrollably, too.

[motorgypsy]

And this would include biting, "tail gaiting", forcing a horse into the center or rail or any rider or horse misbehavior.

[CarolU]

If you have a rule that only says bucking, then what do you do about rearing, kicking, or running away??? Just leave it up to the judges. A little misbehavior is going to happen whenever you stop a horse while others are zipping around them. It's a problem when it's dangerous. The judges and steward know this.

[Mrs. E.]

Just an idea, If your horse breaks gait you would be required to slow horse down and back into gait while letting other horses pass. After last horse is past you may continue your race to the wire. Hoping you can still pass some and win. :smile:

[motorgypsy]

That can work but if you have one horse who is much slower as in the case of our two horses this year who got lapped it would be too great a penalty. In previous years they had horses who totally balked also and would not proceed at all. This is why the five second penalty was imposed rather than allowing everyone to pass. If any balking horses or lapped horses are DQ'd it would work reasonably well but but if the poor person who is lapped is staying in gait and doing the best they can, why DQ them?? :( :( Now balking and bucking I can see a DQ for.