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Claudebot
Buzzsaw Offline Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:59 am Posts: 37

Beginners comps

Post by Buzzsaw »

Could level one comps be limited to level one horses only?
I'm a returning player after several years, always used to do quite well in the competitions, so I entered a few today. As it happened I wasted my money, as my horses came dead last.
Looking through the competition results proved illuminating, though as the same four or five horses were winning everything. Out of interest, I visited their pages, and they were all level two or three.
How are they entering level one shows?
How is this fair on those of us with GENUINE level one horses?
It's not like they are in one or two shows, they are entering everything!

I'm considering not bothering playing this game anymore, as this behaviour is massively unfair to newbies.
Claudebot
FantasyRanch1 Offline Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Thu Aug 20, 2020 4:33 am Posts: 1201

Re: Beginners comps

Post by FantasyRanch1 »

Buzzsaw wrote:Could level one comps be limited to level one horses only?
I'm a returning player after several years, always used to do quite well in the competitions, so I entered a few today. As it happened I wasted my money, as my horses came dead last.
Looking through the competition results proved illuminating, though as the same four or five horses were winning everything. Out of interest, I visited their pages, and they were all level two or three.
How are they entering level one shows?
How is this fair on those of us with GENUINE level one horses?
It's not like they are in one or two shows, they are entering everything!

I'm considering not bothering playing this game anymore, as this behaviour is massively unfair to newbies.

I can see what you mean. The comp system needs some work but the game is still fun. We're you entering a trained horse? If you horse is not trained you have a really low chance of winning. If you want I can ping you on a different form and try and help you get better.
Claudebot
Buzzsaw Offline Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:59 am Posts: 37

Re: Beginners comps

Post by Buzzsaw »

I thought you might be on to something with training, so today I entered my best horse, a muliple champion in a couple of shows. He came last, so perhaps there is another factor at play?
Whatever, it's going to take an eternity getting anywhere relying on the money from local shows.
I'm now officially completely demoralised.
Claudebot
BlackOak2 Offline
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PremiumPremium Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2016 12:41 am Posts: 11109

Re: Beginners comps

Post by BlackOak2 »

Buzzsaw wrote:I thought you might be on to something with training, so today I entered my best horse, a muliple champion in a couple of shows. He came last, so perhaps there is another factor at play?
Whatever, it's going to take an eternity getting anywhere relying on the money from local shows.
I'm now officially completely demoralised.
Those horses you went looking into, were entered into those level 1 competitions when they were in fact, still level 1 horses. A horse can still 'post' a lower level show, even after they've leveled out, IF that horse was entered before they leveled out.
In this case, the word 'post' is used to mean 'competition has finally finished'.

I assume you haven't been around for awhile. In the past year or two, understanding of competitions and how the game handles the genes for the horses for those competitions has come a long way.
There are two major factors that have come to light. Heart and overall breeding stock.
Heart, basically, is the will to win. A horse will do much, much better in player-made competitions, if they have a heart gene. This can be bred for and there appears to be a few different versions of it.
If you want to learn more about it, check out the appropriate heading in this link: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=25159&p=189337

Beside the understanding of overall competitions, our breeding competition stock has come a long way as well. So by aiming for body look, body conformation and potential heart, alongside the breeder's report, your stock, in relatively short order, can become quite competitive. In as little as four generations, from appropriate AC, a player can develop a competitive bloodline. It's unlikely to be anything special, but more than enough to get somewhere.
These are often call Grinders or Grinder-style, meaning that they do well in locals (level 10 with regular wins). This is indeed, the bread and butter of most of us, earning basic upkeep fees as well as random day and random PT drops.

As FantasyRanch1 mentioned, training is seriously important now for player-made competitions. The horse needs to be at least at 99% in the requires stats for that competition.

Your trained horses are as follows:
Mikhaila

This mare is only half trained. (Very pretty, by the way) But her HGP is way too low to participate in player-made competitions. However, she can still be tested for any heart genes she may be hiding. If you've read the above linked topic, you will understand that the only real way to determine potential hidden heart genes is through player-made competitions.
When I'm searching for them, for these low HGP horses, I'll test them at level 5 (and fully trained - to 99%) to see if they can hold up at all in any competition style.
Note here, that heart genes may be separate from competition genes and that a horse may show heart in a competition discipline that is at odds with his or her overall stats, for instance, a horse may be built as a racer, but somehow does relatively well in log pull instead.
When testing for heart, these things still need to be taken into account. A horse with a low HGP, is not expected to pull firsts against horses with an average HGP in the 50's. But if this low HGP horse pulls thirds against the other stock, then this can indeed be an indication of hidden heart genes.
This mare should still prove a quality grinder-style (aside from breeding) and can bring in the bread and butter, daily monies as well as random PT drops and day drops.

Foxglove

This mare is in the same position as Mikhaila. Her HGP is just too low to compete in player-mades.

Primrose

Another with a low HGP, who's not fully trained. Even though it appears dressage may be her forte, her scores are way too low to make a dent. If you swing by my farm log topic (second posted reply), you'll see a schedule of current average (competitive) and current Record Holder scores. It was last updated in February, so it's information is still fair.
You will want your horses to be scoring closer to the Good Average, not closer to the Low Average.
Even though a horse has a low HGP, doesn't mean, necessarily that they can't get close to the Good Average. But it will mean there needs to be a LOT more luck and alignment of perfect genes to do that. You will want your horses to be at least in the 45k range (for HGP) to have a chance of being competitive with those scores. Most of the other players will tell you that a horse can't be competitive until the high 50's or low 60's, however, there is quite a bit of give and take between one person's 'competitive' and another.

Hey Mickey!

This one appears to have a little more training then the others. He looks like alright breeding stock. Somewhere right in the middle of development still. Probably won't be able to be competitive, like the others, but has the genes that are building.

From here on out, I'll only be looking for those that you've had trained or have trained yourself into the 80% range for any particular stat or better.

Raging Planet

He's just about fully trained. In some cases, some players would call this fully trained. Some suggest that full training is 95% or better in appropriate stats. Although, if you're pushing to get into those upper levels, break a record, etc, then you'll want to try to train to 98% at least. I always suggest 99%. His HGP is low, but better, so far, then the others I linked.
And at the time of his last competitions, he was quite the competitor. In his top disciplines: Cutting, Barrels, Reining, he even held really decent WPS. He's one that might be able to pull acceptable scores, enough to compete, in low levels. To get his levels back down into appropriate areas, he's in level 5's now, just enter him in level 5's. He'll likely loose in them, but as he does, his level will be reevaluated. I suspect he'll be somewhere in the level 3 area at least.
And don't forget that weight and temperament also affect their discipline and placement. For instance, you wouldn't want to enter a too fat racehorse with a bombproof temperament in a race. It'll just be too fat to get around the track. :D

And that's the last one I found. There are some players that would be willing to supply you with a grinder horse. One that can perform in locals and maybe also perform in some player-made's... maybe.
Even though you're a returnee, you don't qualify for getting a freebie from me (you'd need to have no half-trained or better horses on your farm), but there are others that would willingly give you one, or sell you a performer for cheap. Just let the community know that you're a returnee and that you're looking for a good grinder, already trained, to give you a boost. And somebody should offer you something. :mrgreen: If you want to take that route. Entirely up to you.

Also, my quicklinks have a lot of information in them. Quite a bit has changed. Let us (the community) know if you have anything further. 8-)

I hoped that information helped you.
Don't forget to check it out!
Quick Start Guide For Newbies
Link to additional information.
BlackOak2's Quick-Links
Claudebot
Buzzsaw Offline Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:59 am Posts: 37

Re: Beginners comps

Post by Buzzsaw »

I joined when the game was relatively new, played for a few months, left, and only just returned, so yes, I'm very out of the loop.
I think the way forward for me is to just keep breeding, trying to crank up the HGP. Probably not going to be worth training my horses seriously for a while. Gonna have to cull my stock quite aggressively I think. Will have to rely on local shows and making shows for income.
I'm looking to breed Norman Cobs, but looking at the discipline threads I don't have the foggiest idea where they are going to be competitive. Will have to check out other breeders horses I suppose.
I don't want any charity from anyone, i like to do things for myself.
Yes, it's going to be pretty grim for a while, but I'll get there.
Claudebot
BlackOak2 Offline
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PremiumPremium Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2016 12:41 am Posts: 11109

Re: Beginners comps

Post by BlackOak2 »

Buzzsaw wrote:I joined when the game was relatively new, played for a few months, left, and only just returned, so yes, I'm very out of the loop.
I think the way forward for me is to just keep breeding, trying to crank up the HGP. Probably not going to be worth training my horses seriously for a while. Gonna have to cull my stock quite aggressively I think. Will have to rely on local shows and making shows for income.
I'm looking to breed Norman Cobs, but looking at the discipline threads I don't have the foggiest idea where they are going to be competitive. Will have to check out other breeders horses I suppose.
I don't want any charity from anyone, i like to do things for myself.
Yes, it's going to be pretty grim for a while, but I'll get there.
Keep in mind, that the nice thing about this game, is that we can make any breed into whatever discipline we want. The body form and overall look can, and likely will, change.

If you get stuck somewhere, need some information, let us, the community, know, we'll try to set you straight again. :D

Also, since you like to delve and figure things out more on your own, my quicklinks has a wealth of knowledge to get you there.

Good Luck! :mrgreen:
Don't forget to check it out!
Quick Start Guide For Newbies
Link to additional information.
BlackOak2's Quick-Links
Claudebot
FantasyRanch3 Offline Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Mon Sep 28, 2020 4:34 pm Posts: 3318

Re: Beginners comps

Post by FantasyRanch3 »

Buzzsaw wrote:I thought you might be on to something with training, so today I entered my best horse, a muliple champion in a couple of shows. He came last, so perhaps there is another factor at play?
Whatever, it's going to take an eternity getting anywhere relying on the money from local shows.
I'm now officially completely demoralised.
If you are just looking to get money ,PT, and turns I suggest you enter local shows. I make a TON from them and level up 1-2X a week. I can give you a trained Arabian I'm not using. And I saw what blackoak was saying and the horse you used. You need a better trained horse. I also know that if your trading to use a let's say a Belgian in racing against a TB the TB will win. If they have the same amount of training and no geans specifically bred for racing. TBs are made to race as where Belgiums are used for pulling
Claudebot
Buzzsaw Offline Visit My Farm Visit My Farm Joined: Mon Feb 01, 2016 8:59 am Posts: 37

Re: Beginners comps

Post by Buzzsaw »

I just bought a horse to train up for competitions, and I already have a youngster who isn't brilliant by most peoples standards, but is further along than some of my other horses, so he'll be doing local shows and hopefully earning a bit of money for me.
At the moment I'm getting by with what I've got, it's not easy, but it's getting better, and I like a challenge.

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