A reporter once flashed a shot at my dog as she was approaching a jump in the ring in utility, she had not flunked once in her 38 times in the ring career to that point, she didn't startle easy at all but the flash distracted her as she reached the jump, she stopped and stood there staring at him...and we flunked. Flash is not good for horse shows either for the same reason. You can get lynched at a show for less LOL.

Yes, screw up someone's sport and you will be lynched!!! I don't know many sports, human or animal that allow flash.

The second day of that show I had kids coming up saying PLEASE don't point a flash at my horse, he is scared of them!!! The shutter sound scares him! Well, I made a point of being there EARLY and having a pocket full of treats. I also showed the kids my camera doesn't have a flash at all, so, there was no way for me to use one. Then I sat with the shutter in motor drive and the horse sat there not flinching. I then asked if they heard my shutter(gotta love the E-1's QUIET shutter) Made life easier for all

I don't point my lens at a horse coming down a line if it is a spooker.

Lots of unwritten etiquette rules you BETTER know in the dog and horse show rings