Featured Article (February 2007)

Seven Judges' Tips to Improve Your 2007 Show Season

Have you ever had what you thought was the perfect trip only to find that you didn’t even get a "jog?" Often a judge’s decision seems shrouded in mystery. The VHSA’s 2007 Judges Forum was designed to give the attendees the opportunity to see a class through the eyes of a very distinguished panel of judges.

The panel included: Betty Oare, a well known competitor in the amateur owner division, an avid fox hunter and very busy judge.

Meredith McLaughlin, who has been involved in all aspects of the hunter/jumper business for over 30 years and has a busy judging schedule.

Tracy Mullen, a professional rider originally from Long Island, NY who has trained both her daughters Kelly Mullen and Jonelle Mullen-Stern in the Mclay, Medal and USET finals in their junior years. Her business TuDane Farm has been inexistence (now in Warrenton, VA) for 35 years. Tracy judges many of the intercollegiate competitions, associate shows and rated shows when there is no conflict with her daughters or her daughters’ students.

Jimmy Lee, former president of the VHSA, a respected professional who has judged nationally as well as internationally at such shows as the Dublin Horse Show in Ireland.

This very distinguished group shared their insights on the state of horsemanship and horse showing today to a sold out crowd at the Deep Run Hunt Club in Manakin-Sabot, VA.

DVD Presentation Revealed Some Interesting "Mistakes"

The morning session began with a selected number of rounds from the 2006 Palm Beach Hunter Classic. All rounds were in a DVD format projected onto a large screen hung from the clubhouse wall. Each round was repeated with comments from the panel and a lively discussion with the participants. Tracy Mullen reminded the group that they were "judging" some of the top horses in the country which in a way made their job easy.

All the horses were beautifully ridden by amateurs as well as professionals. There was still some interesting critiques of even the best competitors that we all need to remember. One in particular was the observation that a rider must remember to ride the last fence with eyes up and not just collapse over the last fence as it may cause the horse to land in a bit of a heap. This will be the judge’s last impression of the horse.

It was interesting to note that even with the best horses in the country; the horse that had a beautiful relaxed even stride and had a lovely

expression was the most appealing. The point was made by the panel that there is no substitute for the horse that is the natural athlete with beautiful self carriage. This is the ideal hunter.

The afternoon session was devoted to the rider using rounds from the Washington International Horse Show Equitation 2006 finals. The commentary of the second phase of the finals, the jumper phase, focused on the complexities of a jumper course with lots of turns and questions raised as to striding choices. As Jimmy Lee said, "This is all about the basics of good horsemanship."

Seven Tips You Need to Know to Improve Your 2007 Show Season

• It was stressed repeatedly that one should not enter the ring at a sitting trot unless one sits absolutely perfectly. One should come into the ring with purpose and a plan and get to work. One must always remember that this is a horse SHOW and be prepared to show off everything one does well! When the course is completed in an equitation class one should finish the course (on the correct lead of course) circle and hold the reins, exiting with the same discipline as one entered. You can give your horse a pat when you have left the ring.

• Refrain from any actions showing disappointment with your performance until you are well out of the ring. You never know. What might have seemed awful to you may not have looked that bad to the judge. Besides it’s always relative to what goes on in the rest of the class.

• In the line up of a flat phase be sure to maintain your position as the judge might be making a last minute evaluation. You would not want to have dropped your reins, a hand on your hip with a rounded back and have the judge take one more look at you in that position!! If you should strike off on the wrong lead, the consensus was to do a flying change to get on the correct lead. This is "your moment in the sun" so use that time to your advantage. Remember it’s a horse SHOW!!

•There was a lengthy discussion of the use of the numerical score. The panel felt that they’ve had to adjust to whatever scoring system is in use at a horse show. However, they all felt that using their symbols as a guide line without having to give a numerical value enabled them to do a better job. For example a competitor what might have gotten an 84 in the earlier part of the class. As the class progressed what might have been an 84 earlier might now have to be an 81.

• It was also interesting to hear how important it is to take into consideration one’s vantage point while watching a round. Often where the judge is sitting may cause him to score a fence differently than a judge who is seated at another point in the ring. A round watched from the in-gate may look different from a round watch from the long side of the ring.

• Judging at the local level presents different challenges. Often these are the competitors who are just getting started in their horse show careers. Here is where safety is the most important element. The rider who is scaring the judge but making all the distances will probably not be the winner over the rider who is perhaps adding strides in the line but getting around safely.

• Horse showing, perhaps like figure skating, is a sport that isn’t totally quantifiable. There are always those "shades of gray." One judge may value certain aspects of a performance more than others. However there is no deviating from the importance of a strong foundation in good horsemanship for the rider and a well balanced horse that has a lovely attitude and is a great athlete.

We thank our attendees for supporting this event and for our panel of judges for giving so generously of their time. We hope that next time your number is called for a jog you’ll have a better understanding as to why you ended up where you did. Have a wonderful 2007 show season!