Writing for the judge

[Stella2]

I have agreed to write for the judge in affiliated dressage on Sunday. Could someone tell me what is involved? Should I worry about the weight of responsibility? :confused:

If it just involves the obvious, please humour me, I just don't want to overlook something!

[Zingy]

Literally you write what the judge tells you to! But, there are tricks ;) Especially useful if you don't write very quickly - the judge will comment as they see things, so you will find you'll have times when 4 or 5 comments come really quickly, then you always get a bit of a chance to catch up in the walk bit :D It does take a few horses for each test until you get to grips with it. I tend to write as little as I need to to remember what to fill in when I get chance. Important bit is the marks as they are said to you - far easier to remember what the comments are when you've half put them in than trying to remember if it was a 5 or a 6 for something.

Abbreviate everything possible though. For example, circle - draw a small circle. Square halt is draw a square or shorten to sq, then write halt. Forehand is 4hand. As long as it will be clear to the reader (and they know the kind of comments to expect), it doesn't need to be perfect english.

Also, don't be nervous! Most judges I've written for have been great. Tell them you're new to it and they'll tend to give you hints and suggest shorthand for you (and apologise when they forget you're trying to keep up with them :D ). It is great fun - in my experience the judges are normally interested in saying why they give the marks they do (within reason when there's time and it's much more so at lower grade tests) so it can be very educational.

Oh, and learn how to spell things like exuberant ;) Some judges seem to have favourite words they can't spell :D

[carthorse]

Stella2 don't worry about it - it's not difficult & a lot of fun! Hopefully the judge will tell you if she gives a comment then mark (normal way when I've written) or vice versa but if she doesn't say then ask her.

My only tip is to take a couple of spare pens in case one fails part way through a test.

Relax & enjoy it, if you're interested in dressage then you can learn a lot :)

[lizzy]

My friend always likes to have a copy of the test to study beforehand, so she has an idea of where she is up to, I never have though.

Most important, check out how to spell rythm, rythym - not sure how it's spelt:D Saves you panicking on the day.

[Stella2]

Thanks guys, all useful stuff :)

Very useful tip on rythm (?), it always stumps me too :o Will check with super spelling OH!

[poohsmate]

i agree with zingy, after a while you you abbreviate everything, i use a circle with a line through the middle for the centre line etc;)

i wrote at the national championships at addington once at it was a prix-st-george test :eek:
the sheet was about the size of a table:D :D and i never took my eyes of the sheet for the first couple of riders;) but after that it was great you can learn so much from writing:) you will be fine:D

[Lgd]

Have fun, great learning experience for riders as you get to see what the judge is looking for (and what they can't see :D )

We're off to Blackdyke on Sunday for a medium and advanced medium with Tavia and 2 novices with Rolo.

How are the facilities coming on at Leamside?

[Stella2]

LGD - will pm you

[magicmouse]

Rhythm:).

Sarah

[Stella2]

Rhythm:).

Sarah

Thanks :o

[msp]

Its quite easy and can be interesting/fun.

A few hints:-

1) Read the test and work out where it goes, that way it is easier to be sure you are putting the comments in the correct boxes. Sometimes there will be a tricky part where you get a few marks in quick succesion.

2) If it goes wrong, don't panic. Just say so and KEEP WRITING - you can't stop the test so typically leave a gap and the judge will tell you what should have been there at the end!

3) The way it works is that the judge will comment on the current movement, but can only give a score at the very end of the movement. This is often later than people expect - for example "20m circle at B" movement does not end until the first letter of the following movement which might be A... It also feels odd when there is a caller - the caller calls the movement before it starts, the rider rides it and judge comments, and then the score comes at the very end.

4) Lastly the judge will often want you to help out a bit inbetween horses by checking the following horse is the correct number, and has no obvious tack violations (ie. no boots, tail bandage, bit guards, or martingale. A breast plate is allowed but rare. Neck straps are allowed in prelim classes). Meanwhile the judge will be writing the summary comments and collective marks for the previous horse.

Lastly most judges are quite nice to their writers (I try to be) and will help/explain anything you are unsure about if you ask, when they have a spare moment.

Lastly, have fun!

PS> If the judge is any good, you will also see they are trying quite hard to find/comment on good as well as bad things!

[msp]

Hi Stella, just wondering how it went?!

[MeMe]

Hope it went well :)

Where do you judge MSP? wondering if we've come across/likely to come across you.

[Stella2]

Well, best laid plans and all that :rolleyes: I arrived raring to go, only to discover that the judge had just arrived with a writer in tow - someone waiting to take her judges exams and needed the experience. No doubt there will be a next and I'll use all the tips and good advice then :)

[MeMe]

Thats a shame and inconsiderate of them really.

But Im sure there will be another time, put your name down at the local RC's and stuff, I do alot for the RC's they always need writers.