Study asks – Do horse show judges favour fatter ponies?
Seems there’s a link between higher scores on the horse show judge’s card with higher scores on the Equine Body Condition Scale (the horse equivalent of the bathroom scale).
horse show
When things go wrong in the horse show ring. Part 1
If you plan to step into the competition arena, expect the unexpected. Few sports have more variables than riding. What might you expect to go wrong in the horse show ring? In this issue, I’ll put on my judge’s hat and share common mistakes. So common, in fact, that every horse show score sheet has a menu of mishaps and a box to record their numerical deductions.
Riding the rail: winning tips for horse show flat classes. Part 4
Do judge’s care if…? Do judges prefer…? Horse show judging has taught me that the pressure to sort through a group of moving horses in a limited time doesn’t leave room for pet preferences. Without a good mover and correct leads, bling and brand names won’t land anyone in the ribbons for flat and rail classes.
Riding the rail: winning tips for horse show flat classes. Part 3
First impressions are lasting impressions in horse show flat classes. Enter the show ring with confidence – in show mode, not training mode. Though judges aren’t yet officially scoring, they’re forming opinions as they organize bookwork and check tack. Get in there promptly. Don’t dilly-dally and contribute to a delay. That’s irritating to a horse show judge – the judge you’re hoping to impress. As a bonus, making an early entrance into the show ring carves out extra warm up time while the judge is recording numbers…and waiting for the tardy entries.
Riding the rail: winning tips for horse show flat classes. Part 1
Flat classes are the most subjectively judged of horse show events. Without the numerical scoring systems of other disciplines, a horse show judge has more latitude for his preferences. Still, there’s more to the sorting process than “The judge just didn’t like my horse”.
Whose voices am I listening to? Life lessons learned from horses.
Whose voices are you listening to? Speaking to a group of students last month about the influence of our media choices,I used a Life Lesson Learned from Horses. horse show I judged –a speed event horse, so distracted in the show ring by the calls of his stable mates that he crashed into the first barrel on course! Are the voices coming from our screens, song lyrics, celebrities and social media, steering us off-course?
Good Friday lessons learned from horse show rules.
As a kid, I never knew what Good Friday was all about. Overshadowed by Easter Bunny anticipation, I knew it had something to do with Jesus and a cross. An analogy’s found in crossing the horse show rules and finding the horse shows judge’s amazing grace.
At the horse show in-gate of the new year.
At the gate of a new year – it’s like approaching the horse show ring, walking up the chute, through the in-gate… and into the unknown – do you feel your heart pounding?? As I wonder what the coming year will bring, this quote stills those butterflies-mixed-with- anticipation…
Horses and the homing instinct
Anyone who’s prodded and zig-zagged their horse away from the barn, only to beeline back on the return trip;
anyone who’s ridden an egg-shaped circle, bulging as though magnetized toward the arena entrance
or anyone who’s earned a break-of-gait penalty at the show ring in-gate knows…Horses have a “homing” instinct.
When things go wrong in the horse show ring. Part 3
WHAT might you expect to go wrong in the show ring? I’ll put on my judge’s hat and share common mistakes. So common, in fact, that every score sheet has a menu of these mishaps and space to record their numerical deductions.
WHY do these things happen? Here, I’ll wear my hat as a specialist in horse behaviour (and generally curious person ). Uncover the source and the symptom begins to fade away. Here are the final 3 common show ring “suddenly moments “ and how to make the best of them!