Maine Horse Association/ NHHJA

[blackcat95]

I've showed both circuits and they're both a bit different. The NHHJA circuit is more competitive and more "A" circuit-type, but the MHA circuit is way more friendly.

I've noticed 2 things about the NHHJA circuit: 1) it's really political and 2) if you don't ride with one of 3 or 4 trainers, you're automatically going to place lower than their riders. Has anyone else noticed this?

A couple of things about the MHA: 1) More people have been crossing over from the NHHJA shows. Wondering why... 2) Downeast Medal- seems to be attracting a lot less people than the old Maine Medals did.

Kind of a vent, but also questions. Anyone have answers?

[kdriding]

I know we didn't even consider doing the Downeast Medal because the final was being held so far away for us. It just wasn't worth it. We have not shown at any MHA shows but have done plenty of NHHJA shows. Every one was very well run and the people we met there were very friendly. Politics are everywhere in the horse show world, so I was not surprised to see some there. I have yet to attend a horse show where the politics didn't exist to some degree. However, we didn't train with any of the 3 or 4trainers I know you are talking about and my daughter did very well. We did have some shows were the pinning was off, but that can happen anywhere.

[blackcat95]

Thanks for responding. I know that politics is unavoidable, and it seems that at least in the NHHJA hunters it was especially noticeable. I remember at the first Summer Festival the horse that won one of the classics was lame (like so lame you could see it pretty well). I think it won just because the trainer who was riding it knew the judge/ everyone knew the trainer (she's one of the 3-4). It seems that that type of thing only shows up at the bigger NHHJA shows- I've been to the smaller ones like Winning Ways that were totally non-political.

[goldponies]

I agree with most of your posts. NHHJA is very well run but look at the Board of directors, and that's your top ribbons. We have some good ribbons at NH but sometimes it's a joke. I remember the lame horse :( But the footing is good, jumps are nice, parking great and if your horse really shines you can beat the top trainers & students.

Maine...yawn...None are well run, jumps poor, one time at a show they had a jump backwards and noone could have cared less. I complained and it was fixed but . Another show, one of the riders was on a mare with a foal and they LET THE FOAL FOLLOW the mare around the course. This show had Maine Medal classes. Come on, have some respect for the sport. Drives me nuts.

Much rather drive to Evenstride, Senator Bell or even GMHA

[blackcat95]

i agree about the NH circuit, but i've showed more on the maine one and it really depends on the show. the ones at new boston farm and highview are really well run, with everything as good quality as the NH shows. i know the barn you're talking about with the foal in the ring... don't judge the maine circuit by that barn/ trainer, she's crazy and her horses are neglected about half the time. not naming names or accusing, that's just what i've seen from various trips to her barn/ leasing horses from her.

[goldponies]

I hate New Boston, owner yells all the time, muddy and that was the place with the backward fence... Will not show at her place anymore. Find my points at farms that are nice. Just hard in Maine.
Highview is nice and Winning Ways is beautiful and a really nice show. It's for sale so I hope they keep shows.

[kimball1]

Gretchen Anderson is not a member of the NHHJA board and wins all the time. Top trainers are just that-top trainers. They get to be "top trainers" because they win, and usually have alot of horses- and they attract clients trying to get to the next level. I ride with what would be considered a "top trainer" at NH shows. We usually bring 15-20 horses to a NH show, with 20-25 riders. With all of those people you are bound to get a few good ribbons! The quality and the quantity of the entries at the NH shows has grown incredibly over the past few years. The trainers involved have raised the bar. Summer Festival had 300+ entries, including trainers like Frank Perla and Mitch Steege. The shows have entry fees that are reasonable, no usef fees, good prizes, and decent showgrounds with competent help! Is the judging sometimes off? Yes, but that happens at any show. There was a rider who completely missed a fence at Summer Festival, and won the class out of about 25. The judge was a well-known "AA" rated judge. Obviously something distracted them, and the rest of the round was very nice, but people make mistakes. That is why we have instant replay now in sports. I think "politics" is sometimes a convenient excuse for poor turnout, riding or preparation. And sometimes there are just some better quality horses in the ring. I would be naive to think relationships between judges and exhibitors don't occasionally influence pinnings, but I think that has a lot less to do with that than who is really riding well. And trust me, with those 15-20 horses we bring to each NH show, there are always some who go home with nothing.

[x]

There's a new farm Brookfield Corner, in Brookfield, NH which is actually just north of Rochester, NH and across from Acton, ME that was trying to put on some shows this past year. The two they did were NEHC-rated, and the facility and jumps were quite nice. Looks like it will be a nice place to show if they continue doing shows. I'm hoping that they will!

[touchstone-]

This post is really only marginally on topic, but I wanted to take this opportunity to commend the old Maine Medal Finals management for doing a great job. I think they ran one of the best local medal finals in the region--which is saying something in New England, where there is tons of competition. It was a really well-run show with great courses, friendly show management, wonderful prizes and just a general sense of "special." It was clear to me that the management worked really hard to do it right. I was sad when I learned that they were unable to keep running the show.

I haven't been to the new Downeast final, but I suspect that the numbers were low because the management ran it against the NH finals. Since the two shows used to have so much overlap in entries, I would think the show would attract more entries if they scheduled it for a different date.

[Dapple Dawn Farm]

I'm new to the Main hunter circuit...any advice which shows to take my greenie to or ones to avoid (like mare and foal going around togeter). PM me if needed...

[goldponies]

Ohh please Gretchen was on the board for years. Everyone knows what blackcats point is.

Go to show that have the judges that you support being fair. That seems to be the best way.

Dapple, hey the show with the mare & foal...You really get your horse over his green-ness by having a foal bombing by you at the ingate!

[kimball1]

Downeast Medal was also all the way up in Skowhegan Maine. For years the Maine Medal was closer to NH-one year they even ran at Winning Ways. Skowhegan is really far for alot of the farms that used to go. There is no way I would go to Skowhegan, even if it wasn't the same weekend as NHHJA.

[Hunterlover17]

Goldponies and Blackcat95,

I'm a little offended by your views of NHHJA. I have shown (in my younger years) under one of the 3-4 trainers you mentioned. After a 15 year competition pause, I'm a re-rider adult under one trainer who isn't considered in the 3-4 trainers. I'm not treated differently at the shows due to showing under a different farm. In fact, I did extremely well this year...won at finals and did well in year-end points.

A top trainer will find your faults and help you fix them. It doesn't matter if they are on any type of board or who they know in the industry. If the trainer is good, their following of students/horses will also be good. Lack of preparation, experience, and/or ability will place you lower in the class...not who is coaching you at the in-gate.

[goldponies]

So you think that only in the small pond of NHHJA that politics don't rule? Ohh please. This is not about who the top trainers are or are not it's about the politics that most shows have. period.

[PlantersPunch]

Is it just me, or has this thread just turned into something that is going to scare people away from what is largely a well-run, affordable, and competitive local circuit?

Everything in the horse world is going to have its politics, I've been to shows where the judge has placed first the riders from the host farm (much to the host trainer's chagrin). I would hope that everyone has the sense to realize that this is difficult to avoid and when it is avoidable, every attempt is taken to do so.

As for my opinion on NHHJA - obviously it's a good one. I think it's a great place for beginner riders and green horses to get some experience before moving up to the A shows, and I great place for those who don't compete in the As to have some challenging competition.

But then again, I happen to ride for a top trainer, so I must only like it because I get to come home with boatloads of 43 cent ribbons.

[blackcat95]

ok, ok. i see everyone's point, and i'm sorry it's looking like people are taking sides more so than needed. I was just wondering if anyone had noticed the same things i had. obviously some have and some haven't. i still like the NH circuit, i just don't show it as much because it's more expensive than the maine one and the few NHHJA shows i did go to were very political. could have just been the shows... just stop bickering! they're both good circuits in different ways, and both are worth going to for anyone who's interested. :)