question fore fellow judges

[suneanarab]

i had a very enjoyable day judging ridden classes all day on the bank holiday monday. as usual it was a very busy show with alot of great horses to judge.

for me as a judge i always assess the horse for conformation, movement, type to class (so riding horse type or m+m and so on) personal show, and overal appearence. as one horse comes out and does it's show it goes in to first place, them the next comes and i place it accordingly and so on.

now for me personally as a competitor i have been extremely peeved when a horse on the same par as mine has been put above me even though my horse did a better ride (baring in mind that my horse is also an open horse and often ridden by judges so i understand that a horse can give a better feel than another, but i didn't ride these horses).

i will not place a horse who gives a bad ridden show above one who went foot perfect for me but one competitor expected me to do so. the horse wasn't correct behind which did interfere with it's movement and it didn't give a good show in either class it came in.

so, would you place a horse up in the same cercumstances?

[Gothika]

Well I've never judged, but I know that my welsh cob who does very well in-hand and fits her breed criteria to the letter, and has very impressive action and the look-at-me factor always comes last in ridden showing because she gets very over-excited therefore does an awful show. Not saying she shouldn't come last as she should, but she is improving so one day she might not come last. xD

[StormyJ]

Never judged either, but I get annoyed when my Welsh Cob is placed below others for simply being in a working condition, and not fattened up to the eyeballs for showing. In my opinion it is a greater art to keep a horse slim and fit than to get a horse fat.

I don't think my mare really has the "look at me" factor so we are usually last or close to it. Hopefully as she matures and becomes better schooled (she's 8 but was an orphan and wasn't conditioned early on) we may enjoy a bit of success but I don't hold out much hope. She has a divine extended trot but she will only do it when out in the field :rolleyes: She doesn't seem to think I could possibly want her to do it under saddle or inhand! :p

[Daffy Dilly]

i will not place a horse who gives a bad ridden show above one who went foot perfect for me but one competitor expected me to do so. the horse wasn't correct behind which did interfere with it's movement and it didn't give a good show in either class it came in.

so, would you place a horse up in the same cercumstances?

I don't quite understand the circumstances. Are you saying the foot perfect one had poor conformation, but the bad ride had good conformation, or that the bad ride had the poor conformation? If the former, then I expect it would depend on the severity of each, and of course the class. If you mean the latter, then of course the foot perfect one should win.

[suneanarab]

the foot perfect horse was wonderfull in every way and went on to be overall reserve show champion judged by 3 of us. the other horse didn't have the best conformation behind and didn't have good action behind either. it's a shame really as the horse was lovely in front and did have alot of presence, just (imo) not the rest to back it up.

suzanne

[teabiscuit]

i don't understand your problem then :confused:

[Iron Maiden]

What training & competency do you need to be a judge? Serious question - having been baffled on some occasions by the apparently obtuse workings of their brains! Maybe someone can enlighten me?

[Daffy Dilly]

It depends. Glider on here is a ride judge I think? With a lot of showing (and other) experience at all levels.

Others on here, I'm thinking EML and Wally off the top of my head, may not be registered judges with a particular society, but IMO they certainly have enough experience and knowledge to judge and judge well.

At local level, anything can go. I've been judged by a 19yo lad who knew sod all, a 16yo girl who liked the "pretty" ones (the latter at a fun show) and also by some panel judges, or just generally experienced women.

At agricultural, or any P(UK) etc qualifiers, I would expect the judges to be registered. What it actually takes to become registered I couldn't say.

[Glider]

Yes Daffy Dilly is right - I'm an affiliated ride judge and judge both ride at conformation at unafilliated shows.

I'm afraid I don't understand what you had difficulty with either Suneanarab - it sounds like you are confident of your decision, which was then backed up by others in the supreme, is that right? Ofcourse you'll always ponder those decisions that are more difficult after the class is over though, I think most judges do.

For me type is a major consideration, as is way of going and conformation, particularly limbs. However every judge has things they will tolerate and things they won't - while one judge may excuse a small buck of exuberance (particularly in a novice class) another may put it to the bottom of the line, and some will put a curb straight to last place and others won't even look for curbs.

In reply to Iron Maiden, at local level you don't need any qualifications to judge. Many shows will go for instructors, hunting people, riding school owners etc (where it can be pot luck how much they know about show horses/ponies), while others will go for panel judges or people who've come highly reccomended. At affiliated shows the judge has to have passed an asessment by the society the class is under. This usually involves an interview, questioning about the rules of the society, assessment of competence of judging conformation and way of going and also assessment of riding ability if that is required.

[suneanarab]

the question wasn't really about my own choices. i sometimes find judging to be a very thankless job (though i do enjoy it or i wouldn't do it) where the only person who agrees with you is the one placed first. i have no problems with my own abilities as a judge, i just wondered what stance other judges take. and yes my decision was backed up by the others.

as said some will accept certain things where others won't.

i am one for analising everything afterwards if i think someone hasn't been happy with my choice. but i have to say that i have never doubted a choice i just go over why i made it.

i have been approached to be a listed judge for the ahs. but as i compete within the society and alot of my friends, as well as horses that i train, come from this section i turned it down. i compete at county level and above and have produced my horses to this level myself. i'm qualified to bhsii and train other peoples horses for them to the same level that i compete at. i've been round horses all my life and worked with many breeds, worked in riding schools/livery yards and studs.

thanks for the input!