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I've done some showing, mostly at barn hosted "schooling shows" where the idea was fun and getting to see other students and different levels ride the same horses. I've also done some fancy pants shows and would agree that everyone treats it differently. I was trained by a very traditional, old school gentleman who believed in taking everything slowly and thoroughly. Riding was done in a plain snaffle. Period. I don't care if it was a youngster, lesson horse, or his stallion we all competed and trained using a simple snaffle, eggbutt or d-ring or something similarly plain. Crops occasionally, but only to reinforce not to beat. No spurs unless required by the show (silly dressage people sometimes). I don't have the heart to compete at the top levels without getting myself into trouble for pulling people off horses either. I hate abuse and harsh training methods and I've been banned from a show for taking a horse away from its trainer who got thrown after spurring the horse till its sides bled. My idea of a show is one with an egg and spoon race or musical horses, not Level 1 dressage. Noone beats a horse for dropping an egg, lol.
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