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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
  
Location: Central Texas | ampratt - 2015-12-01 10:26 AM
CrossCreek - 2015-11-30 10:49 PM
when I am put in the position of running good horses at playdays, because we need a confidence run or whatever, I exhibition. I think it's tacky to come in and take the gamer's prizes. Why would you want t o do that when you can just exhibition? So yeah, it bugs me...I was a playdayer once, and appreciate that kind of thinking.
I think along these lines. I don't understand why some finished barrel racer is going to a playday when exhibitions at jackpots/4D's are available. If I needed to make a practice run on my horse or a horse in training I would seek out those avenues. I wouldn't feel right about coming in on my seasoned barrel horse and doing that to a group of people who are enjoying a different type of horse activity. Of course there's the possiblity they could kick my butt!
THIS was my original response. No where did it state it bugged me to run against tougher competition. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| ampratt - 2015-12-01 2:10 PM
stayceem - 2015-12-01 2:00 PM
ampratt - 2015-12-01 12:58 PM
stayceem - 2015-12-01 12:34 PM
GLP - 2015-12-01 11:38 AM
ampratt - 2015-12-01 11:36 AM
stayceem - 2015-12-01 11:31 AM
I dont get why people care so much about where someone enters their horse?!?! They pay the entry fees and pay for their horse... I guess I am confused by some of the responses... ???
She asked a question and people gave their opinions. Same as being able to decide where you pay your entry fees or run your horse I guess. 
I just dont understand it I guess. I guess I understand people not enjoying being beat but I also dont think its "unfair" for people to enter a good horse at a more local, smaller event. But I guess I was one of them that people werent always nice to due to the horses they rode. I had the privledge of riding nice horses... ones who won big big races (they get all the credit for our success ). However, I showed at a lot of smaller events because I liked to. I also did the bigger shows too (NBHA state finals and barrel bashes ) but I enjoyed the local races and local fun shows. The atmopshere is different but people were sometimes unkindly competitive. I was always ridiculed for riding at those events and people did/said horrible things. I did it because I loved those types of events, not because I wanted to whoop it up at a smaller show.
I just dont understand why it bothers you/anyone... and maybe the "playday" circuit here is much different because it is a pretty hot organization where there are a lot of crossovers from barrels races to these events (lot of the same people do both up here ). I love being challenged at races/events. Some of my favorite days have been when I have brought home lower placings but I also competed against a nice field of horses.
Personally, I think you are reading to much into people's opinions. The OP asked if it bugged anyone, some said no, some said yes. No big deal really. People can run where ever they like, that's the beauty of it. Go run and have fun. Not everyone is going to feel the same way about anything, It doesn't mean either one is right.
I can respect others opinion but I guess I find the fact that it "bugs you" to run against tougher competition kinda childish (my opinion ) and I cant grasp it in my brain because I dont understand it. I like competition. Always have no matter if I was at the top or at the bottom. I also gave the reasons why someone would choose to run at game shows/playdays.
I am done here. I was never ever attacked you in the least and apparently you CAN'T respect my opinion if you are insulting me for having one. Frankly, I could care less who runs where. The OP asked a question, I gave my opinion, end of story. For what it's worth. I never ever said it bugs me to run againsst tougher competition, go back and read my original response to be clear on what I DID say.
Well you responded directly to my opinion... I never did yours. I was referring the comments as a "whole" because I dont understand that type of attitude. You said in your post that you wouldnt bring in your seasoned horse because you may kick their butt or they could kick yours... I dont think I know anyone who targets playdays just so they can win someone else prize. There are multiple reasons someone may compete at a playday.
ETA Moral of my story... I guess I dont see why people care so much what others do. I guess thats my point.
Edited by stayceem 2015-12-01 2:25 PM
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Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| personally and you all know i can not ride anymore but i would be doing the playday or our federation show as i like variation arena texas and i like the
laid back atsmohphere i hate just the barrel shows
just me
and before i got hurt we had some nice horses |
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 Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | It really doesn't bother me. I know that I can always learn something from someone, and by those people entering in small playdays, etc, I would view it as a chance to watch what they are doing and possibly learn something from them too. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| stayceem - 2015-12-01 12:34 PM
GLP - 2015-12-01 11:38 AM
ampratt - 2015-12-01 11:36 AM
stayceem - 2015-12-01 11:31 AM
I dont get why people care so much about where someone enters their horse?!?! They pay the entry fees and pay for their horse... I guess I am confused by some of the responses... ???
She asked a question and people gave their opinions. Same as being able to decide where you pay your entry fees or run your horse I guess.
I just dont understand it I guess. I guess I understand people not enjoying being beat but I also dont think its "unfair" for people to enter a good horse at a more local, smaller event. But I guess I was one of them that people werent always nice to due to the horses they rode. I had the privledge of riding nice horses... ones who won big big races (they get all the credit for our success ). However, I showed at a lot of smaller events because I liked to. I also did the bigger shows too (NBHA state finals and barrel bashes ) but I enjoyed the local races and local fun shows. The atmopshere is different but people were sometimes unkindly competitive. I was always ridiculed for riding at those events and people did/said horrible things. I did it because I loved those types of events, not because I wanted to whoop it up at a smaller show.
I just dont understand why it bothers you/anyone... and maybe the "playday" circuit here is much different because it is a pretty hot organization where there are a lot of crossovers from barrels races to these events (lot of the same people do both up here ). I love being challenged at races/events. Some of my favorite days have been when I have brought home lower placings but I also competed against a nice field of horses.
It doesn't bother me to run against the tuffs, I've done it all my life. I said when I was a tuff, I didn't like running against and beating the playday people, who in my area were not tuff. I found no pleasure or sense of accomplishment beating people who were not as well mounted as I was. I believe there were quite a few girls who would have been very competitive had they had nice horses. I was taught by one of the greats that a horse has only so many runs in him and so you don't waste them so that you have that run when you need it.
I am not very good anymore so I will go to play days and when the tuffs show up, it will not bother me. I will strive to improve and become a tuff again.
The OP asked for opinions and I gave mine. I don't expect everyone to agree with my opinion. What a boring place this world would be if we all agreed on everything. |
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 Three in a Bikini
Posts: 2035
| I have been thinking about this topic since I read it...
For me, the decision to run has absolutely nothing to do with wanting to whip up on anyone.
It would most likely be for convenience. If there is a playday down the road from my house why travel 3 hours to get to a 4D event? I also work every other weekend so most often my options are limited. There are many reasons why people choose to do what they do. The race is long and in the end it's only with yourself. :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 490
| My husband and I have had this conversation recently.
5 years ago, I had my finished mare, and a 4 year old. The 4yr old wasn't seasoned and the finished mare had been battling injuries. So I hauled to a playday series at a local church. My mare is consistent gritty tough and loves to work. She was a 4-5D at best but could win at playdays because it took consistency. I had one girl tell me she hated me and I needed to take my "pro" horse and go home. I laughed and kept coming back. I couldn't believe the attitudes of some people! I ended up partially retiring that mare in 13. I had to get off of her in order to get with my then 6 yr old. She needed seasoning. We struggled for awhile. I was frustrated, hated not hauling my other mare. It was bad. A year ago, after a disappointing year of inconsistencies, hit barrels and flat out getting down on myself, I was ready to quit. In February, a mare came into my life that has been a Godsend. And my whole outlook has changed. Before, I was happy going to playdays, when I didn't have the fastest horses. Now? Nope. I try to avoid them. Why? Because my horses only have so many runs and then they are done. Im not wasting them at little events for a ribbon. The 2 mares I am currently running are nice. I dont always believe it, but people tell me they are. LOL My goals have changed tremendously. I wont enter a show unless there is added money, its BBR approved or its a rodeo. My husband keeps telling me I finally have horses that can take me somewhere. I agree with him most days. Now that being said, if I need to work on a problem I may enter a weekly jackpot. I dont understand the people that run their nice horses at $25 jackpots but it also makes me ride better knowing their there.
Now- if someone better shows up, use it as a way to challenge yourself and ride better. See where your horse runs against some tougher competition. Dont get frustrated, upset or let it bother you. Take every opportunity to better yourself. You cant control what they do. But you can control your reaction to them. Tough lesson for me to learn, but Ive learned it. Its all about attitude. Its anyones game to win on any given day! |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
 
Location: Displaced Iowegian | There are numerous reasons why a person may bring their seasoned horse to a playday….location, giving the horse another event to “play” in (I.E. Poles, Flags, etc), fixing problems with the horse, bringing a horse back from an injury, etc, etc, etc……… IMO, if it bothers you that a barrel racer with a better horse shows up to the “playdays”, you are barrel racing for the WRONG reasons. Yes, it is fun to win but you really need to concentrate on your own runs, how to get better and having fun. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 242
Location: Tennessee | I've spent the last few years in pharmacy school. I've only been able to haul locally to saddle clubs and run due to time constraints and work outside of school. My horses are not in tip top shape and I don't want to pay big entry fees for us to not be on top of our game. Entering saddle clubs allows me to run and have fun with my limited time and money. We usually always take a young horse when we go as well and it's a great way to expose them to all sorts of stuff. I can't wait to have time to ride and get my horses in shape again to go to some actual races, however I'm thankful to have saddle clubs to go to when I can't. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| There's nowhere really "soft" to go to around here - even the playdays are pretty tough. I don't really care who enters but sometimes I do kind of wonder why some people are running their $35,000 + horses at small nickle and dime jackpots consistently. I guess I would rather run where the money is if I had that caliber of horse. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Griz - 2015-12-03 10:13 AM
There's nowhere really "soft" to go to around here - even the playdays are pretty tough. I don't really care who enters but sometimes I do kind of wonder why some people are running their $35,000 + horses at small nickle and dime jackpots consistently. I guess I would rather run where the money is if I had that caliber of horse.
That happens everywhere i think...girls run their "rodeo" horses at a 30$ jackpot and win it...but hey it sure looks good on facebook when they say the won such and such by so much.....but they failed to mention there was ony 20 girls....lol.....m |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 754
Location: Arkansas | mruggles - 2015-12-02 11:17 AM
Griz - 2015-12-03 10:13 AM
There's nowhere really "soft" to go to around here - even the playdays are pretty tough. I don't really care who enters but sometimes I do kind of wonder why some people are running their $35,000 + horses at small nickle and dime jackpots consistently. I guess I would rather run where the money is if I had that caliber of horse.
That happens everywhere i think...girls run their "rodeo" horses at a 30$ jackpot and win it...but hey it sure looks good on facebook when they say the won such and such by so much.....but they failed to mention there was ony 20 girls....lol.....m
I've seen jackpots with 20 in them be tougher than jackpots with 100 in them. It all depends on who the 20 are, lol |
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Expert
Posts: 2122
Location: The Great Northwest | Those who have a need to tune at places are some times not even members. Their placings would not change member placings. |
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 ND Sweetheart
Posts: 3471
Location: In My Own Dream Land | kboltwkreations - 2015-12-01 10:30 AM Silly Filly - 2015-12-01 10:19 AM Yeah, it always amazes me that you have to have a $50,000 horse to win a $15 jackpot................................Personally, I wouldn't run a horse of that caliber, but people do it here all the time. ^^^ I totally agree with this. When I see someone outrunning everyone by 6-7 tenths at a 40-50 person jackpot all I can think is WHYYYYYYY???? This is the only thought that comes to my head....
So what happens when a person runs a super green horse at a $40 jackpot and wins the 1d by them selves? Or when they can win the average at 180 entry state finals by 6 tenths? Are they not suppose to run there either?
How do you know they are running a $50k horse?
If a tough girl shows up somewhere, great. Then you know where you really stand.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Everyone is local somewhere. Some of us do this for fun and may have nice horses they made, but don't have the time or money to travel to the big shows. I see this a lot in my area.
Open shoes are just that- open! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
Location: Windoming | tThompson - 2015-12-02 2:20 PM kboltwkreations - 2015-12-01 10:30 AM Silly Filly - 2015-12-01 10:19 AM Yeah, it always amazes me that you have to have a $50,000 horse to win a $15 jackpot................................Personally, I wouldn't run a horse of that caliber, but people do it here all the time. ^^^ I totally agree with this. When I see someone outrunning everyone by 6-7 tenths at a 40-50 person jackpot all I can think is WHYYYYYYY???? This is the only thought that comes to my head....
How do you know they are running a $50k horse?
If a tough girl shows up somewhere, great. Then you know where you really stand.
UM, because I know the horses..........................Plus, you pretty much changed all of the original post, was talking about a $15 jackpot, not a finals or anything else....
Edited by Silly Filly 2015-12-02 3:42 PM
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Location: NE Texas | I'm a year getting back into horses from a long hiatus. I started the year joining a couple of Saddle Clubs for their playdays so that I could get back into the swing of things, meet horse people and season my young mare. While I am doing this I also hit up local Barrel Races and run exhibition and/or even jackpot if it's not too expensive so i now I most likely won't get my money back. ha!
I disagree that Playday grounds are generally bad. 99% of the Playdays I attend also have jackpots and rodeos, etc., now there are some that are less than desirable, especially if your horse is working hard.
Most playdays have several speeds events at a Playday show. Personally, doesn't both me one bit if someone brings their open horse and just spanks everyone's tails. I will take every opportunity to watch and learn from them - that's how I learned to ride as a kid - from watching people I admired and respected. With that said, these open horses are most likely not going to be running in the other speed/agility events - if they do, the riders generally take them slow since they don't know what the heck they are doing so it's doubtful they will "sweep" all events. But if they do, that just gives me a higher bar to shoot for! Make friends with them and get advice on how you can improve, etc. On that flip side of that, I think it gets very boring at Playdays once you've reached a level where you're winning every single show - time to move up or get a project horse! JMHO. |
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| It wouldn't bother me one bit. I started out doing the play day type shows (and still do on occasion if I have a free weekend).
When I started it was intimidating to be around those caliber horses and riders, but looking back they were the people I would watch the most. At the time I didn't consider them role models, but I sure do now. I think any time you have a chance to walk up to the fence and watch someone who you think you might learn something from, you should do it. I am willing to bet they got the same start as most of us - starting out little and growing to be more competitive.
I like going to those kind of shows because they are cheap and good for seasoning and exposing horses. I also don't ever want to feel "too good" to be there. Thats where I startred and that is where I consider my roots - one of my favorite things to remember is not to forget your roots. If I had a 1D horse that could win anywhere I definitely would leave that one at home, because I believe we are only given X amount of runs on them - but I guess as long as they are paying the same entry fees as I, they are entitled to be there.
Edited by WrapN3MN 2015-12-02 3:50 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1037
| tThompson - 2015-12-02 3:20 PM
kboltwkreations - 2015-12-01 10:30 AM Silly Filly - 2015-12-01 10:19 AM Yeah, it always amazes me that you have to have a $50,000 horse to win a $15 jackpot................................Personally, I wouldn't run a horse of that caliber, but people do it here all the time. ^^^ I totally agree with this. When I see someone outrunning everyone by 6-7 tenths at a 40-50 person jackpot all I can think is WHYYYYYYY???? This is the only thought that comes to my head....
How do you know they are running a $50k horse? Â
If a tough girl shows up somewhere, great. Then you know where you really stand. Â
Pretty sure I didn't say anything about winning a "state finals" or "180 entry finals" by 6 tenths...that would be PROVING your horse. Im talking about WASTING A RUN at 'joe bobs backyard playday' on your horse that has been there done that, and has the ability to compete at big races. Not green horses, not young colts. And yes I can tell the difference between a seasoned $50K+ horse and not.
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | RacingTheArabian - 2015-12-01 12:27 PM I really love all the opinions on here about this. I really don't care who wins or loses or if I do. I know my horses aren't ready for the big dogs and thats the only reason I go to the playdays and small things right now, but I plan to next year after getting then ridden and going super well to *hopefully* enter up and start running seriously. The only thing that got to me was how more then a few people who run NBHA, jackpots etc. Would come to these little playdays and blow everyone out of the water. But as others have said it is their right, if they are paying the fee to enter then they have ever right to be there. I just don't understand when you have a horse you know could win. Why would you bring them to a dinky playday or whatever?? If you've got a horse that wins and can run. Its not exactly promoting them or doing them justice bringing the to small things, when you could prove them else where running with the big dogs. A friend of mine used to bring her daughter to playdays and stuff. But once she got in touch with Tana Poppino at a clinic earlier this year. Tana told her it seriously wasn't doing the horse or her daughter any justice and if she wanted to rodeo and play with the big dogs, to actually run with them and not do smaller events.
I think maybe you should take this advice aswell
If your "good" horse is getting good enough to atleast be a 5D horse, why not? You could run the other mare at playdays and the better one in some jackpots. The horse might not be trying as hard because she knows/you know it's not a big deal.
I use to be the same as you and only did playdays. I was very invested in my playday series lol but it took a 20 second pole run to win poles so it was pretty tough. I ran my first 21 at a playday and cried I was so happy but I didn't even get a ribbon for that run. When you're young or just starting sometimes it doesn't make sense. Now that I've been to the biggest races you can go to, I know that some of those "playday" runs that somehow didn't even get me ribbons, were still legit runs. They may not have won the whole thing but that doesn't mean that would have held up in the 2D or 3D or at a high school rodeo. It costs me $30 to enter all the events at a playday, it also costs me $30 to go enter a 5D jackpot where I can possibly win my money back.
I would find some 5D jackpots and try it out, you might like it, and you won't know if you're ready until you try! |
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