Comments for My Blog http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com Confessions of a Horse Show Judge Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:50:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0-beta2 Comment on patterns – before the show? by admin http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5590 admin Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:50:06 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5590 The judge isn't actually responsible for posting the patterns. That's left to the show management. However, as a judge I do ask that show management post them as soon as they can. And most are accomodating. As to the judge telling you the pattern, I can see the benefit for smaller or schooling shows. But for larger shows competitors should know the pattern before they enter the arena. There is a learning curve here. It can take a while to figure out how to remember/learn a pattern. I always walked them on foot, no matter what type of pattern it was. I would spin around on my boot heel to simulate the spins in a reining pattern. I'd lope around to simulate the canter. And I'd back up for the . . . well . . . the back up. Everyone has their own best way to remember, competitors just need to figure out what works best for them. I know someone that brings a notebook with them. They write the pattern over and over until they get it. The only way I discourage my clients from learning patterns is to actually ride the pattern over and over. This leads to a host of other problems. Quite often the horse will learn the pattern before the rider. Then the ride looks really bad. The judge isn’t actually responsible for posting the patterns. That’s left to the show management. However, as a judge I do ask that show management post them as soon as they can. And most are accomodating. As to the judge telling you the pattern, I can see the benefit for smaller or schooling shows. But for larger shows competitors should know the pattern before they enter the arena. There is a learning curve here. It can take a while to figure out how to remember/learn a pattern. I always walked them on foot, no matter what type of pattern it was. I would spin around on my boot heel to simulate the spins in a reining pattern. I’d lope around to simulate the canter. And I’d back up for the . . . well . . . the back up. Everyone has their own best way to remember, competitors just need to figure out what works best for them. I know someone that brings a notebook with them. They write the pattern over and over until they get it.

The only way I discourage my clients from learning patterns is to actually ride the pattern over and over. This leads to a host of other problems. Quite often the horse will learn the pattern before the rider. Then the ride looks really bad.

]]> Comment on patterns – before the show? by admin http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5589 admin Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:45:50 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5589 I don't disagree with you one bit. But keep in mind, knowing so much about various breeds can be difficult. Sure, I know that a draft horse's purpose is to pull, so they should be built to pull. But could I tell you the finer points that would separate one from another? Probably not. Unfortunately, western pleasure and QH type horses are the vast majority of what shows up at the open shows. Because of this, most open show judges lean more toward that. It's what they know and what they're comfortable with, and what they're asked to judge 95% of the time. I find your comment about generic judge's cards very interesting. And it brings me to a special announcement. Very soon there will be a national open show association. It will have an awards component for members. Members will compete with members from across the country. The vast majority of membership fees will go directly to awards. While the final award categories aren't approved yet, there will be at a minimum awards for high points in the major divisions (western, hunt seat, saddle seat, gaited) and of course overall. As the association grows additional divisions will be defined (possibly driving, over fences, games, etc.). Another piece to this organization will be to card open show judges. For a judge to be carded at most of the associations, it can be quite costly. This association will keep that cost down, not require expensive travel, but will still provide testing opportunities to ensure our carded judges are capable. Judges can test in one or all four divisions. Western, Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat, and Gaited. Stay tuned for updates! I don’t disagree with you one bit. But keep in mind, knowing so much about various breeds can be difficult. Sure, I know that a draft horse’s purpose is to pull, so they should be built to pull. But could I tell you the finer points that would separate one from another? Probably not. Unfortunately, western pleasure and QH type horses are the vast majority of what shows up at the open shows. Because of this, most open show judges lean more toward that. It’s what they know and what they’re comfortable with, and what they’re asked to judge 95% of the time.

I find your comment about generic judge’s cards very interesting. And it brings me to a special announcement. Very soon there will be a national open show association. It will have an awards component for members. Members will compete with members from across the country. The vast majority of membership fees will go directly to awards. While the final award categories aren’t approved yet, there will be at a minimum awards for high points in the major divisions (western, hunt seat, saddle seat, gaited) and of course overall. As the association grows additional divisions will be defined (possibly driving, over fences, games, etc.).

Another piece to this organization will be to card open show judges. For a judge to be carded at most of the associations, it can be quite costly. This association will keep that cost down, not require expensive travel, but will still provide testing opportunities to ensure our carded judges are capable. Judges can test in one or all four divisions. Western, Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat, and Gaited.

Stay tuned for updates!

]]> Comment on excusing jackets by admin http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5588 admin Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:36:02 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5588 I'm with you! I don't like the dickie type "cheating shirts". That's how I think of them. While I'm not fond of the bright colors, I don't dislike them either. As a judge, they can be helpful! If you have 20 tall bay horses trotting around a ring, and 10 of the riders have on navy coats, it can get confusing. The small patch of bright colors can help me keep them straight. :) As long as the color is only on the shirt. A better option for someone wanting to add a little color is to use it in the strip of a shirt. And of course, follow the association rules. I’m with you! I don’t like the dickie type “cheating shirts”. That’s how I think of them. While I’m not fond of the bright colors, I don’t dislike them either. As a judge, they can be helpful! If you have 20 tall bay horses trotting around a ring, and 10 of the riders have on navy coats, it can get confusing. The small patch of bright colors can help me keep them straight. :) As long as the color is only on the shirt. A better option for someone wanting to add a little color is to use it in the strip of a shirt. And of course, follow the association rules.

]]> Comment on excusing jackets by admin http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5587 admin Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:33:47 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5587 It depends on the association. For AQHA, chaps are not required. But everyone wears them. In ApHC, chaps are required. In NRCHA chaps are required. In my opinion, chaps give you a better look. They elongate the leg giving a very good impression. They can hide some physical flaws also. And nowadays many chaps are made with lighter weight materials so they're not as cumbersom. It depends on the association. For AQHA, chaps are not required. But everyone wears them. In ApHC, chaps are required. In NRCHA chaps are required. In my opinion, chaps give you a better look. They elongate the leg giving a very good impression. They can hide some physical flaws also. And nowadays many chaps are made with lighter weight materials so they’re not as cumbersom.

]]> Comment on Did she spin 3 or 4 times? by admin http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=15#comment-5586 admin Fri, 03 Sep 2010 02:32:04 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=15#comment-5586 Not a bad mom at all. Just a human mom! It happens to the best of us. I've seen some of the top trainers run the wrong reining pattern in the NRHA futurity. I've seen top rated jumpers take the wrong fence. It happens. Not a bad mom at all. Just a human mom! It happens to the best of us. I’ve seen some of the top trainers run the wrong reining pattern in the NRHA futurity. I’ve seen top rated jumpers take the wrong fence. It happens.

]]> Comment on patterns – before the show? by Cattypex http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5581 Cattypex Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:25:10 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5581 When I showed over fences, the most stressful part for me was memorizing my course. Even a training level dressage test kind of freaked me out. But it also made the little patterns at open shows seem like a NOT big deal. I think it should be the judge's responsibility to get those patterns posted & printed. Actually, I kind of like going into a class, lining up, and having the judge TELL you the pattern. Then you can ask intelligent questions. When I showed over fences, the most stressful part for me was memorizing my course. Even a training level dressage test kind of freaked me out.

But it also made the little patterns at open shows seem like a NOT big deal.

I think it should be the judge’s responsibility to get those patterns posted & printed. Actually, I kind of like going into a class, lining up, and having the judge TELL you the pattern. Then you can ask intelligent questions.

]]> Comment on patterns – before the show? by Cattypex http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5580 Cattypex Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:21:56 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=8#comment-5580 When I did Horse & Pony Judging in 4H, we went to a LOT of different breed farms - from Arabs to Clydesdales, with of course a lot of AQHA thrown in. It was really helpful, and it's stuck with me through the years. I think it's incumbent on the judge to at least know some basics - like, this horse is bred for driving, and then keep in mind that it's being shown shown hunter halter, so... does it work for you as a hunt seat horse? If it's being shown just "halter," is it a good representative of its breed? It drives me CRAZY that so many open shows hire judges that are AQHA or APHA, and don't know a THING about other breeds or disciplines. Watching a saddleseat class get judged at one of our local shows is pretty painful. I think it's the mark of a true horseman to know at least SOMETHING about other breeds & disciplines than the ones you are personally involved in. I kind of wish that there were generic judges cards that actually MEANT something, so that we'd stop getting judges who only know Western Pleasure & Quarter Horses. When I did Horse & Pony Judging in 4H, we went to a LOT of different breed farms – from Arabs to Clydesdales, with of course a lot of AQHA thrown in. It was really helpful, and it’s stuck with me through the years. I think it’s incumbent on the judge to at least know some basics – like, this horse is bred for driving, and then keep in mind that it’s being shown shown hunter halter, so… does it work for you as a hunt seat horse? If it’s being shown just “halter,” is it a good representative of its breed?

It drives me CRAZY that so many open shows hire judges that are AQHA or APHA, and don’t know a THING about other breeds or disciplines. Watching a saddleseat class get judged at one of our local shows is pretty painful. I think it’s the mark of a true horseman to know at least SOMETHING about other breeds & disciplines than the ones you are personally involved in. I kind of wish that there were generic judges cards that actually MEANT something, so that we’d stop getting judges who only know Western Pleasure & Quarter Horses.

]]> Comment on excusing jackets by Cattypex http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5578 Cattypex Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:06:04 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5578 I used to have 2 ratcatchers: 1 sleeveless, 1 with long sleeves. The white sleeveless I wore under jackets most shows, and the long sleeved one was a lovely cream with a tone-on-tone stripe. It was great for showing on cold days, AND as an alternative to jackets on hot days (it was 100% cotton). I always felt weird wearing short sleeves - or NO sleeves - in the ring. It looks like those "dickie" things are veeeerrrrry popular amongst the AQHA/APHA crowd around here, no matter how big the show. I saw a girl with an ORANGE one with BRIGHT WHITE LACE (yes it was that loud) under a gray jacket this summer. I don't like those things. Too many little ways for it to go wrong, and it will ALWAYS look kinda fake. Give me a nice ratcatcher-type shirt under a well-tailored jacket any day of the week, and I'll forgive many colors. I used to have 2 ratcatchers: 1 sleeveless, 1 with long sleeves.

The white sleeveless I wore under jackets most shows, and the long sleeved one was a lovely cream with a tone-on-tone stripe. It was great for showing on cold days, AND as an alternative to jackets on hot days (it was 100% cotton). I always felt weird wearing short sleeves – or NO sleeves – in the ring.

It looks like those “dickie” things are veeeerrrrry popular amongst the AQHA/APHA crowd around here, no matter how big the show. I saw a girl with an ORANGE one with BRIGHT WHITE LACE (yes it was that loud) under a gray jacket this summer.

I don’t like those things. Too many little ways for it to go wrong, and it will ALWAYS look kinda fake. Give me a nice ratcatcher-type shirt under a well-tailored jacket any day of the week, and I’ll forgive many colors.

]]> Comment on excusing jackets by Ronda http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5572 Ronda Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:29:40 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=17#comment-5572 What about chaps? It used to be that they were only required for equitation classes. Do you know when this changed? Why all of a sudden they are worn for every class? Is this a rule or just a fad? What about chaps? It used to be that they were only required for equitation classes. Do you know when this changed? Why all of a sudden they are worn for every class? Is this a rule or just a fad?

]]> Comment on Did she spin 3 or 4 times? by Clydesdale Nation http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=15#comment-5563 Clydesdale Nation Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:24:03 +0000 http://www.confessionsofahorseshowjudge.com/?p=15#comment-5563 HUMAN?? WHAT?? ;) Parents are human also... I told my boy it was a 45 degree spin and it was 450... Bad mom HUMAN?? WHAT?? ;)

Parents are human also… I told my boy it was a 45 degree spin and it was 450…

Bad mom

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