We have some of those types here on the forums, which, I think, is partly why you're not getting a lot of answers to your suppling question.

At clinics/lessons in my arena, or clinics/lessons which I'm teaching elsewhere, anyone who indulges in anything other than reasonable questions is asked to leave. When my coaches come from Europe we charge an auditing fee, as most of the busybody critical types won't pay to sit and criticize.

At shows, however, your best bet is probably to either (a) sit back, listen, and giggle to yourself (publicly displayed ignorance can be pretty funny), or (b) find another seat. I've heard some truly AMAZING things sitting in the stands, and my friends and I have laughed ourselves silly recounting them over a glass of wine in the evenings. If the commentary is really obtrusive, then we find somewhere else from which to observe...

All of that is true, Shairabs.  I think what Laura was referring to are the railbirds who sit and criticize with no intention whatsoever of putting themselves on the line.  That's a different circumstance from someone who's genuinely trying to learn.

As I said in my previous post, reasonable queries are usually reasonably answered...

I think it's all in the tone and the phrasing!

I might ask them on what level they are riding and how long it took them to get there.

But most of the time I ignore them because I can't be bothered to put energy in that kind of people.

I look at other people and look at what they do wrong but I do not say anything aloud because I know it is very hard to ride well. But I learn from criticizing other riders.

I cant say Ive had much experience with this, probably because most of the shows I go to watch have much better riders and much more experienced horses than myself and Lorenzo, so who am i to judge!

(althought i will have the odd mutter about how riders TREAT their horses at shows...really, you'd think they just didnt give a damn abou their mounts, jagging them in the mouths, smacking them with crops etc)

But i suppose its the same as most social situations - just ignore it. Or if you cant, ask them to keep it to themselves.

If I don't know the people I ignore them. However if it is one of my students doing the criticizing I remind them about being a good sport and competitor. If they are asking questions trying to learn I don't mind answering, but perfer to do that a bit more privately. You don't want to hurt anyone's feelings by one of your comments, and you should keep in mind that many times you don't know the rider or the horse or their circumstances.

Remember when you talk about someone else there is always someone talking about you, and you want them to have only nice things to say.