Firstly ,I know Flavio well as a friend and occasional photographic,and as a M/Sports enthusiast,mainly Rallies and Hill-climbs,shoot for myself and for fun.
Through Flavio ,I went to a few Equine Events and joined British Eventing ,and used my camera on several events,finding the experience very enjoyable.
There are often Event Photographers at Rallies,but there are also serious amounts of Togs there,such as myself.Few make much money out of m/sport.
Equine Events have few serious amateurs,and there in lies the rub,as the regulars feel very threatened at the site of a big 2.8 lens and any new photographers on there turf,so to speak.
I too have tried to be very pleasant to any togs I have met ,but truthfully ,the hostility and ignorance sometimes is hard to fathom.
Flavio is one of the most polite guys you will ever meet,and goes out of his way to avoid confrontation despite being very big and confidant,and is a very talented,well equipped photographer ,living and breathing it ,always ready to help anyone who asks.
So ,despite the majority of you trying to roast him ,I can assure you the women was bang out of order and has a reputation for being vile,arrogant and totally ignorant.
A pro tog who specialises in Equestrian stuff says he no longer goes there as a result of her confirmed this to me.
The truth is that Horses are big business,and the inner sanctum of togs make some very decent money out of it and any new kids on the block with a DSLR will get a hard time and cold shoulder very soon.
Do rally togs go running to event togs for permission ?,well considering they are the vast majority of paying spectators they dont.
Digital has changed every area of photography and has brought it to the masses,but has been a bit slow reaching the horses thus far........................
Pons