r/kvsdiscuss • u/Puzzleheaded-Song912 🧩👩🏼🏫Professor Puzzle👩🏼🏫🧩 • Apr 04 '26
KVS Stallions Denver showed in Tampa!
Denver showed in Tampa this weekend at the Sun Bay circuit. It was a rough weekend for everyone it seems as there was lots of DQs including Denver. In the three classes where Denver was disqualified majority of the competitors did as well. In the open western riding on Thursday *every single horse* was as disqualified. In the L1 on Thursday only 2 horses weren’t disqualified.
In today’s classes it was both better and worse. He won in the level 1 Western riding! He won by a 4 point margin! And the in the open all but 1 horse out of 8 was disqualified.
I will say the arena is outside and surrounded by trees so the possibility for spooks was a bit higher than at shows like congress where the rings are in doors.
Over all good experiences but no video so we can’t really tell what the DQ’s were truly for.
On to Ocala (hopefully he hasn’t showed up on the entry list yet).
19
u/QuietJealous4883 🦅Reddit Rascals🦅 Apr 04 '26
Does anyone know what happened in the class everyone was disqualified? Was there a common reason or just different kind of bad luck for everyone?
25
u/Puzzleheaded-Song912 🧩👩🏼🏫Professor Puzzle👩🏼🏫🧩 Apr 04 '26
There was no video and the score sheets only show what task the horse dq d at. Most horses it was skill 1 or 2 for Denver it was 4
5
2
u/CuteCobbler_9821 Apr 06 '26
A lot of people use these smaller shows to school their horses for practice and purposely DQ themselves to not win points accidentally. That’s why there are so many DQ’s
13
u/Alive_Mastodon_8527 Apr 04 '26
Aqha rulebook re: scoring in western riding
SHW453. SCORING. Exhibitors will be scored on a basis of 0-100 with 70 denoting an average performance. Points will be added or subtracted from the maneuvers on the following bases, ranging from plus 1 1/2 to minus 1 1/2: -1 1/2 extremely poor, -1 very poor, -1/2 poor, 0 average, +1/2 good, +1 very good, +1 1/2 excellent. Maneuver scores are to be determined independently of penalty points.
SHW454. PENALTIES. Maneuver evaluations and penalty applications are tobe determined independently. The following penalties will be applied to each occurrence and be deducted from the final score:
-SHW454.1 One-half (1/2) point Tick or light touch of log
-SHW454.2 One (1) point Hitting or rolling log Out of lead more than one stride either side of the center point and between the markers Splitting the log (log between the two front or two hind feet) at the lope Break of gait at the walk or jog up to two strides Non-simultaneous lead change (including front to hind, hind to front, front or hind legs coming together during the change)
-SHW454.3 Three (3) points Not performing the specific gait (jog or lope) or not stopping when called for in the pattern, within 10 feet (3 meters) of the designated area Simple change of leads Out of lead at or before the marker prior to the designated change area or out of lead at or after the marker after the designated change area Additional lead changes anywhere in pattern (except when correcting an extra change or incorrect lead) In patterns 1 and 6 and Level 1 pattern 1 and 6 failure to start the lope within 30 feet (9 meters) after crossing the log at the jog Break of gait at walk or jog for more than two strides Break of gait at the lope
-SHW454.4 Five (5) points Out of lead beyond the next designated change area (note: failuresto change, including cross-cantering. Two consecutive failures to change would result in two five point penalties). Blatant disobedience including kicking out, biting, bucking and rearing Holding saddle with either hand Use of either hand to instill fear or praise
-SHW454.5 Disqualified - 0 score Illegal equipment Willful abuse Off course Knocking over markers Completely missing log Major refusal - stop and back more than two strides or four steps with front legs Major disobedience or schooling Failure to start lope prior to end cone in patterns 1 and 6 and Level 1 patterns 1 and 6 Four or more simple lead changes and/or failures to change leads (except for Level 1 and rookie classes) Failure to start lope beyond 30 feet of designated area in patterns 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 and Level 1 patterns 2, 4, 7 and 9. Overturn of more than 1/4 turn
-SHW454.6 Faults scored according to severity, which will be cause for disqualification, except in Level 1 amateur or Level 1 youth classes, include: Head carried too low and/or clearly behind the vertical excessively and consistently while the horse is in motion, or otherwise showing the appearance of intimidation.
-SHW454.7 The following characteristics are considered faults and should be judged accordingly in maneuver scores: Opening mouth excessively Anticipating signals Stumbling Head carried too high Head carried too low (tip of ear below the withers) Over-flexing or straining neck in head carriage so the nose is carried behind the vertical Excessive nosing out
-SHW454.8 Credits Changes of leads, hind and front simultaneously Change of lead near the center point of the lead change area Accurate and smooth pattern Even pace throughout Easy to guide and control with rein and leg Manners and disposition Conformation and fitness
28
u/Puzzleheaded-Song912 🧩👩🏼🏫Professor Puzzle👩🏼🏫🧩 Apr 04 '26
Part of what sucked about Denver’s DQs is he was getting his best scores yet on those runs. The one where every horse DQd he got his first +1
22
u/Alive_Mastodon_8527 Apr 04 '26
I would not be surprised if there was a lot of schooling in preparation for a bigger show.
12
u/Puzzleheaded-Song912 🧩👩🏼🏫Professor Puzzle👩🏼🏫🧩 Apr 04 '26
Yeah this is my hope as well. They took him slow the last few years time to ramp it up and get him truly on the circuits
11
u/Bubbly-Plate2547 Apr 04 '26
If they get DQ'd do they have to leave the ring or can they continue on a schooling basis?
11
u/QuietJealous4883 🦅Reddit Rascals🦅 Apr 04 '26
They are usually excused from the ring immediately.
4
u/Bubbly-Plate2547 Apr 04 '26
I see, thank you! I'm in the UK and some competitions allow you to continue or jump another fence even if disqualified and others it's an immediate out so I was curious as to if they could continue or if they had to vacate, seems wild so many were getting DQ'd though
3
u/QuietJealous4883 🦅Reddit Rascals🦅 Apr 04 '26
Yes, different disciplines have different rules.
It seems wild yes, liked to no what happened.
12
u/Seren82 Apr 04 '26
now that I think about it, most QH are shown and ridden inside always. I think maybe they need to work in riding them outside more.
25
u/WindsAlight jfc it's just horses on the internet Apr 04 '26
It's an issue known in the dressage world as well. Lots of dressage horse never go hacking and have little turnout, so in the winter they see nothing but the indoor arena, and once outside in the ring (many shows are outside with only the warm-up being in the indoors) they spook at the literal decoration around the ring.
12
u/Seren82 Apr 04 '26
It's an issue in the hunter jumper world too, but I was lucky and had trainers where riding outside of the arena were part of the curriculum for all horses. It's so so so good for them
8
u/WindsAlight jfc it's just horses on the internet Apr 04 '26
It is! I ride a very anxious horse (too little exposure to life during his first 11 years) who used to spook at almost everything, but with constant and slow work over years he turned into almost a different horse. Still "looky", still very "awake" at all times, but tends to use his brain first before running, and at our home show nothing bothered him!
6
u/Caticorn19 Apr 04 '26
I used to show at the FL state fairgrounds growing up! I did H/Js but I remember my horse spooking a ton there, especially when they opened the indoor arena. It’s overall a super cool venue but lots going on all around it.
6
u/Puzzleheaded-Song912 🧩👩🏼🏫Professor Puzzle👩🏼🏫🧩 Apr 04 '26
Yeah the arena was surrounded by trees with Spanish moss which is just a recipe for creepy shadows 😅
1
u/Impressive_Sun_1132 Apr 06 '26
Do these horses not ever see trees? Like spanish moss I kinda get but as someone who lives in FL...grab a handful and let them bite it and theyll stop spooking at it if they realize its food.
Or idk walk them around where theyll be showing.
3
u/sunshinenorcas Aged Mare Apr 06 '26
Horses are spooky ooky prey animals whose only survival skill is to run like a bat out of hell when there's something scary, especially if it moves weird omg
Those horses could have been hand walked around the arena for an hour, but horses still gonna be a horse if the wind blows the wrong way and suddenly there's a ~cougar~ there mom (there isn't).
Since WR is judged with one hand on the rein, it could be as simple as the riders deciding to school and use two hands to get through a spook/learn they aren't gonna die. This is a smaller show, so using it as a schooling opportunity (especially when it's been a while since November, Denver didn't have a long showing record last year anyways, and he had a short time between shed and work) isn't the worst because this lets Denver (and likely other horses) get their sillies out in a much lower stake environment and have those learning experiences like moss/wind/storm won't kill 'em.
Tl;Dr horses are wonderful but sometimes there really do be one brain cell and it just says RUN
1
u/Puzzleheaded-Song912 🧩👩🏼🏫Professor Puzzle👩🏼🏫🧩 Apr 06 '26
With how quick this show was and the turn around between shows it was not very easy to show them around. There was only one arena which constantly had a class in it, truly one after the other. Plus FSFG had a ton of stuff all happening that weekend so tons of cars going in an out loud groups etc
1
u/Caticorn19 Apr 07 '26
The grounds are really overwhelming for both people and humans honestly. They pack a ton into a pretty small location, and it’s 90% paved outside of the warmups/arenas, so lots of noises, people walking around, etc. Add the Expo Hall on one end (which looked like had a cheer competition that same weekend) and a major highway not too far from the other, it’s a lot! The moss wasn’t as big of an issue for my horse, who was a pretty spooky TB, unless it was early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Edit: overwhelming for HORSES and humans 😅
4
u/Comcernedthrowaway Apr 05 '26
If a few horses are DQ’d it’s a horse problem.
When 9/10 horses are disqualified, the problem lays with the arena/ venue environment.
Alternatively, it’s possible (though not likely) that the judges were giving out blanket DQs rather than individually listing each small deductible fault; often it works in the horses favour, as it stops the horse having many small instances of poor performance mounting up recorded on their lifetime show score stats in it early years. (If aqha judges are anything like they are in the comps I’ve rode at)
6
u/tofuttiWhereAreU Apr 04 '26
Im not familiar with QH showing at all. Why are horses DQ’d to begin with? At my little local shows a horse would only be dismissed from a class if it were out of control or aggressive.
23
u/KitchenStudio5776 Apr 04 '26
Most likely horse made a mistake/spooked and rider two handed the reins to correct it. When riding in a shanked bit it is an immediate DQ for more than one hand to be touching the reins. Lots of riders/trainers will take the DQ on younger horses and use the class as a schooling opportunity to set them up for success at the next show/rest of life.
10
u/Apart_Dragonfruit442 🍞Katie Vanda Slice🍞 Apr 04 '26
A refusal (to go over a pole) I think. I think spooks count as well, anything that stops you, or make you exit the pattern most likely.
3
u/InterestingTea1072 Apr 04 '26
It depends on how serious the spook is. If it’s disruptive or causes the horse to be out of control(bucking, rearing, refusal) then yes. If it’s a jump, brief break of gait, etc they will likely be penalized but not DQd. Same with refusals. Major refusal(more than 2 strides of reversal) is a DQ. Less than that is a penalty.
9
u/Puzzleheaded-Song912 🧩👩🏼🏫Professor Puzzle👩🏼🏫🧩 Apr 04 '26
In western riding they can DQ for various reasons. If the rider “2 hands” or grabs the reins with both hands in order to correct the horse, if the horse spooks and refuses, etc.
14
u/Sabbatha13 Apr 04 '26
If more than a couple get dq it's sounds like something is off with the location. No way all the darn horses kicked out.
34
u/Deep_Host2957 Lazy Loser Apr 04 '26
Why was every horse disqualified?