Dressage Judges Come In All Flavors

Jo McCracken

     Let’s face it, the only totally objective system of judging is the fault system.  So, if we can’t take it, we all need to do jumpers!  I’ve come to the conclusion that if you ride a “different” type horse or an imperfect type in the dressage ring, you need to go in with eyes wide open.  Being the eternal optimist, I’m going to present my thoughts in the most positive way I can.  With all due respect, I KNOW judging is a tough job.  If these people are good trainers and teachers, they could be making 1-2K per day giving a clinic.  Many do the job because they honestly love and want to improve and support the sport, though some make me wonder.  But, if you can only afford to show recognized shows so often, you need to be realistic and know what to avoid.  Let’s do some classification.

     The Pessimist judge:  You know, the one that, instead of starting at a 7 and going up or down, this one starts at zero and says, “Prove it to me!”  This is the judge that can see a lovely extension, with a decent take off and landing, but sees one step of lost balance.  Instead of decreasing the score to a 6, it becomes an instant 3.  You make a great square halt, smoothly in and out and get the remark of, “Square, immobile” with a score of 5!  No complaints, so what does it take to get an 8???  You make a nice 8m circle and the only complaint is, “Could use more cadence” and you receive a 4.  If that’s the only complaint, why is it a 4???

     The Silent But Deadly type judge:  You know, you get a few sevens, lots of fives and sixes and a four or two.  Then, you notice there were two comments on the entire test!!!!!  OK, I understand if you get a seven -- take it and be thrilled.  But anything under requires a comment, I have always been told.  And, if you’re going to slam me with a four, the least you could do is tell me why!  Did you not see it?  Was it so awful that you couldn’t think of anything to say that wouldn’t make me want to give up?  Then, again, I deserve a comment.  That’s all I can say here -- this deserves no more comments!

     The What Good Drugs Did You Do This Morning (and can I have some, please???) type:  Fairness is all we all want.  It is nice to get wonderful scores.  But, when you’re not so perfect horse had to walk on water to get a 55% and your young idiot was on two feet more often than four on his first outing, I don’t care how brilliant his gaits are; they didn’t account for a 70%!  Seems that the submission score isn’t as important when the horse’s gaits take your breath away!  Oh, and by the way, did the judge get to see the fist fight going on with that “brilliant” horse in the warm up while the trainer was trying to get some control while bordering on the fine line between out of control and brilliance? 

     The Fair and Impartial type:  Ahhhhhhh -- This is the list I keep for the shows that I will travel far for!  This type doesn’t care if you are on a mule.  If the training is solid, the riding is kind and good, and the horse is happy and trying his best, you will be judged fairly.  My last show, I had scores from a 3 to a 9 and still ended up with a great score (for this horse) of 61%!  If it’s bad, score it appropriately.  But if it’s good, give me the score to show it!  All any of us wants is a fair score for all the work we do and the effort we give.  We are so proud of our equine partners -- many of them are part of our family.  We don’t want this to become only an elitist sport full of horses that only professionals can ride.  So to this judge I say, “Thank you!!!”

     With all the talk of score requirements and making the judges “tougher,” we have to be realistic, too.  NO rider should ever be abusive to their mount, through skiing on the reins, to pounding on their backs or over whipping them.  But just as abusive are the riders who push their mounts to the line of insanity to show “brilliance” (even though it goes beyond tenseness), just to have the technique rewarded by the judges.  There’s a happy medium here, folks.  We all need to strive to be better riders and horse-people, but it is an art form.  I see just as many “artists” that have special relationships of trust and respect with their horses, without resorting to rough tactics.  These are the real winners, no matter what the score!

Again, Why Did I Want To Show????!?

Jo McCracken

In yet another attempt to see the glass as half full, I am hoping to give us all some encouragement when it comes to showing (again).  These days, with so many catastrophes happening all over the world, it is nice to have some little relief in our own, which is what this recreation called dressage is supposed to be.  It is supposed to be a little sanity and relaxation that we do to unwind and keep perspective of things.  This can be quite difficult sometimes, between blown tires, crazy weather, expenses that just get higher, and the subjective crap-shoot that constitutes judging.  A good friend, Carol Bulmer, sat me down a couple of years ago and told me I needed to honestly figure out what I wanted to accomplish with showing -- what was I after.  I think after a couple years, and some gelding, that I’m finally getting a grip on it.  Showing can be a fun, social event, wherein you get to visit and hang out with your friends, play with your four-legged kids and push yourself to learn and improve.  I have SO many incredible people I’ve met and become close with that I would never have had the opportunity to see, had I not shown. 

So, let’s make a survival kit for showing.  I completely understand the people who opt not to show.  Sometimes, it feels much more rewarding to put that money into clinics!!!  Showing can be a roller coaster of emotions and struggles.  If you decide to show, surround yourself with friends who are positive and supportive.  Plan to spend some time with them between classes and for dinner.  Vent, if you need to, with people you can trust and get advice from those you trust even more!  Get your rides video taped and study them afterwards with your trainer.  Many times, I’ve been shown why I got the score I did and sometimes I get the, “OK -- I just don’t get that!” which can feel good, when you need it!  If everything falls apart and you can’t cope, don’t feel bad about leaving.  Maybe you need to get a fresh start another time. 

Trailer-pool, share hotel rooms, stay with friends, and find little ways to make it financially easier to show.  We can all help each other out in so many little ways.  One of the most important things to remember is that you genuinely be happy for those friends who do well.  Don’t surround yourself with super competitive people that can only be happy if they win.  We all just want fair treatment and should all celebrate when one of us succeeds.  One day it might be us!

Take time to volunteer, if you can. You will often gain good experience and great friendships by helping your local clubs.  Just remember, no good deed goes unpunished!!  I volunteer for a local club that has begun putting on a recognized show once per year and already, I have garnished complaints.  My work is purely unpaid legwork (labels, phone calls, obtaining sponsorships, etc.) to help the management.  I get asked by several clubs about advice choosing judges, because in my shop (I’m a vendor at all the shows), I hear a LOT.  So, because I gave suggestions, some folks complained.  I never sent contracts or paid anyone; I only made suggestions and phone calls, if asked to.  So remember, when you volunteer, someone will find something to complain about.  It’s always worth it in the end, though!

Lastly, keep everything in perspective.  One friend of mine said, “At the end of the day, it’s just one person’s opinion.”  Unfortunately, it’s not like the dog shows, where judges are taught what constitutes quality and correctness as it relates to individual breeds.  There are those exceptional judges that do it well.  But if you have a horse that is not the typical dressage type, be ready to deal with it (I know -- I need to practice what I preach).  Or at least, get over it quickly.  I always laugh when I get to ride a super fancy mover and they sometimes get away with murder (it hasn’t happened often, but I’ve experienced it and I’ve certainly seen it).  Then an off-breed has to work 200% harder to get an acceptable mark.  You also wonder if scores are affected by regions of the country.  Maybe we should all move to Alaska to compete!  Just remember, everything is relative and no one is perfect -- no horse and no rider.  We all have flaws, so we need to support and help each other out through this crazy journey we call dressage!

Do You Always Get What You Pay For?

Jo McCracken

     We have always heard the expression, “You get what you pay for.”  As we get older, we come to question this old adage, at times.  I believe that, in most cases, this holds true.  As both a retailer and a breeder, it gets frustrating when I watch the trend of "cheaper is always better" taking over this country. 

As a retailer, I try to carry products that I believe are a good value.  Value can mean innovative or production quality or longevity.  Unfortunately, we are blasted daily with “We’re cheaper, so we’re better” messages everywhere in media.  The trickle down effect is that now, certain brand names have outsourced manufacturing to lower their prices, then slapped their name on the product and consumers are none the wiser.  It’s like ice cream; certain products that come from the same manufacturer with different labels can cost very differently.  It’s my job to steer my customer to what I believe is a fair price for the particular item.  What’s sad is that nowadays, not many people care.  It all comes down to what’s the cheapest.  I still think service should matter and that my research and time are worth a little.  I will bend over backwards to help a client, but will walk away when I learn they try my items, just to shop then for the cheapest price.  Just a thought.

     What about horseflesh, then?  Well, it’s a lot the same there.  Value can mean training, rideability, talent, potential, soundness, etc., etc.  How can a horse really be worth a ton of money if the person buying it has very little chance of ever being able to ride it?  I go to shows and see several riders each time that are gingerly walking their fancy mounts around, scared to death -- I can’t tell whose eye whites I see the most, the horse’s or the rider’s!  Life’s too short!  Not every horse if for every rider.  What’s perfect for one rider may terrify or bore another.  So what’s a horse worth?

     If you are a professional who is highly skilled and talented and fearless, you rarely have to pay retail for talent.  You guys are the ones who make the extravagant movers and “electric” performers look incredible!  There are those horses that are breath-taking to watch but not easy to ride.  If you like to be an owner and be able to say, “That’s my horse” as your trainer brings along your steed, these horses are worth a lot of money, because they are world-class competitors.  If you’re an amateur that wants to learn to ride and wants to bond and love on a pet, these horses aren’t worth so much.

     If you are an amateur with decent skills, a good trainer and not much of a budget, find a nice young

 horse with 3 basically good gaits and an amazing mind.  It really is fun to bring along your own horse!  Get lots of help (invest your money here) and enjoy your new partner.  Take the horse to shows and clinics, walk around with your pet, smile and have a blast.  Let the whites of your eyes relax!  This type is worth some money.  A trained horse with good mind and lots of knowledge but may have some (serviceable) issues can be another wise investment.  Be smart about these decisions.

     What about babies?  Yes, you can buy a baby cheap from a huge breeder.  That same baby may have rarely been handled, rarely had any behavioral treatment or much human interaction.  How much is that worth?  If I sell a yearling, you can bet it stands on cross-ties, has had its feet trimmed at least once a month, clips, trailers, leads, blankets and has been handled daily and been taught manners.  You may not think that’s worth much until you get a one or two year old who hasn’t had that training!  For the record, I also only breed my best mares to the best suited stallions for them.  Both parents have show records and all babies are inspected.

     All I’m saying is that cheaper is not always better.  You can overpay in any situation.  But if you’re smart, take some time and do some research.  You can end up with a product that you will enjoy and have years of fun with.  Those of us who have the luxury of owning our own horses are LUCKY in this day and age.  For as much as we put into it we NEED to be having a good time!  OK, off my soapbox again!

     Happy riding

Kiss Your Show Manager!

Jo McCracken

     I am a member of the Silver Sands Bridle Club and was asked to hire someone to put on a recognized dressage show recently.  We had a wonderful time and most everyone seemed pleased, but, boy, did I learn a thing or two!!!!!  When deciding on whom to hire as a show manager, I wanted to find someone local who had nerves of steel, while maintaining a great attitude.  I asked Gayle Witty to do the job and, if I may say so myself, I hired the perfect manager!  I did a lot of sponsorship/advertising/volunteer work for the show, but was privied to all the goings-on behind the scene of such a production.  I really had no idea how difficult putting on a “real” show could be!

     First of all, the government has nothing on the red tape required to fulfill the requirements of the powers-that-be for these shows.  Talk about jumping through hoops!!  And, no matter how careful you are, you will have made more than a few mistakes in their watchful eyes.  Then, they put the fear of God in you about being fined for ANY infraction.  I understand doing this if you are obviously causing harm or problems for the rider, but, as in our show, sometimes those computer gremlins are working overtime and stuff happens. 

     OK, so you get through all the pre-show jitters, you have everything beautifully organized and laid out perfectly so that when the day arrives things can’t help but run smoothly.  It’s never that easy.  I also have to mention one of our judges (both were WONDERFUL, by the way).  During one of a few fourth level tests, the scribe noticed about 4-5 movements’ worth in the middle of the test sheet hadn’t printed!!!  Charlotte Trentleman and her scribe, Carol Rushing, never missed a beat.  Carol became speed writer extraordinaire and wrote in the sections and comments!  Talk about nerves of steel -- the movements in that level come pretty fast and furious!  The tests had been downloaded directly, so we still can’t figure out how it happened.  Those darned gremlins!!!

     The new, expensive, state-of-the-art computer program purchased and designed specifically for dressage shows had more than a few hiccups of its own, too.  Besides some creative ride-time assignments, which proved later on to overlap each other (yikes!) and a few other burps, the program was finally laid to rest and Gayle did most everything the second day by hand.  LaCarter, Gayle and myself all stayed up till around 10:30 each night re-moving papers and rechecking everything the “super program” did.  That was money well spent (the computer Ogre in me is coming out!).  We then collapsed in our RV’s and set multiple alarm clocks for early morning.

     So, kiddies, the moral to this tale is this:  Kiss your show manager!!!  Understand that they perform a very tough job.  They deal with very happy or very unhappy riders, the somewhat difficult red tape of governing bodies (I didn’t say Nazi), and wonderful beasts lurking in the computer systems.  Please tell them that you appreciate all their hard work!  I know I have a new found appreciation for show management staff!!!

     Happy riding!

Unsung Heroes

By Jo McCracken

      We all excel in some areas more than others.  There are very few “Jack of all Trades” that truly exist.  While many trainers are excellent in all areas of horse development, there are a special few that excel with the youngsters.  These trainers, to me, are the real “unsung heroes.”  It is not only true of human development, but also very apparent that the first few years of training can easily make or break a horse.  It is the time when fundamentals are best learned and habits are most created. 

     My good friend, Bo Jena, was just here from Sweden and told me that the Flyinge now has a new specialty course for their students; that of training the young horse.  Please don’t get me wrong -- many trainers do a wonderful job working with the average youngster.  But a special few really excel at dealing with them, especially the challenging ones.  Often, the “challenge” is that of an incredibly smart animal that needs to handled carefully.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that not everyone can start a horse well.  I’m here to tell you that you have options and you should research who you send your baby to, as it really will affect much of their future career.

     Good trainers know the attention span of each horse and how far to push without creating too much stress and anxiety.  They know how to create confidence in their equine partners, while challenging them to learn and experience new things.  Not everyone has the patience for this.  Remember, the horse has an incredible memory!!!  Be open to ideas you may not have considered, too.  For instance, I send my babies for 2-3 months of driving training with a local trainer who not only shows and trains in dressage, but also competes at driving.  Let me tell you, after a few months of trotting in front of a cart through neighborhoods and woods, riding is pretty easy (thanks, Jean Thornton -- you do wonders!).

     You also owe it to whomever you send your youngster to, to have done your homework ahead of time.  Otherwise, you are spending money for simple training that should have been done at home.  I like to have my horses able to cross-tie, wear a bridle and saddle, and in my case, lunge and long-line.  Remember, too, that there is no time line.  Each horse is different.  You HAVE to learn how to listen to what they tell you.  Know the difference between genuine fear of something and stubbornness.  Be able to give the trainer a good base of information with which to start.  And, for God’s sake, if you’re not experienced starting 3 year-olds, GET HELP.

     It comes back to the old statement, “Pay me now or pay me later.”  It is wise to seek help from a competent trainer when starting your baby.  You will also, then, have someone to get advice from in the future, who knows the horse.  At the shows, it is obvious which horses had the best foundations.  You want to be the proud parent of one of these!!

Happy riding!

Variety Makes the World Go Round

Jo McCracken, November 12, 2006

     Do you ever feel like you learn everything the hard way?  The old saying, “Youth is wasted on the young” makes more and more sense to me as I get older.  If I had only known then…  I’m sure we all go through this, so I’d like to share some recent “awakenings” today.  My horses are my children and I’m fiercely protective of them, especially my pony, because she has taken some punches from the judges.  I recently took her to an inspection so her forthcoming foal can be registered by a certain association and learned some things I should have realized already.  When it comes to ponies, dressage judges want to see the movement of a horse.  She received great conformation scores, but not so great gait scores.  Under saddle, though, after several years of very hard work, she can move more like a horse.  This got my little mind-gears spinning.

     Most people can learn to ride a made horse.  They can learn how to ride movements correctly and how to feel collection, extension, etc.  I feel very fortunate because I’ve learned how to create some of these things on some wonderful horses who didn’t come by these feats naturally.  My pony is a case in point.  The idea of collection, when first introduced, was very insulting to her.  It has taken a couple years of patience and creative exercises to make her comfortable with it.  Now that she is understanding of the concept and no longer defensive, she shows off and is stronger than ever.  But more than anything, she has taught me invaluable lessons in technique.

     Don’t get me wrong -- schoolmasters are an amazing tool.  We should all be so fortunate to ride them.  But don’t get discouraged because your non-perfect horse has trouble figuring something out.  Just because a horse doesn’t move “like a dressage horse” doesn’t mean they shouldn’t set foot in a dressage ring.  Here comes the soap box again!  If the gaits are correct and the mind is willing, the horse belongs. A trainer told me a long time ago, “You have to learn how to ride without emotion.”  As usual, it has taken a while to get this through my head, but I don’t take things nearly as personal as I used to.  Horses learn by association; it is our job to stay steady and rational; not reactive. There are lots of wonderful “average” horses that belong in the ring; they can teach us all a thing or two!

       In my case, I learned that my little pony, with the show record she has, the incredible mind she has and the basic good conformation she has, is excellent breeding stock for making the kinds of “miniature horses” the judges like to see in the show ring. 

Happy riding!

In a Perfect World…

Jo McCracken, August 1, 2005

     For those of us who love this sport, this cliché means way too much!  One would like to think that if you train your horse as correctly as possible and have a happy, healthy competitor, you will eventually hold your own in the show ring.  I am a breeder.  I have studied lines and watched some of the really successful breeders and I like to follow some of the spectacular offspring they produce.  A friend of mine, who is also a trainer and judge, clued me in to a trend that is occurring that I am watching play out and I find very interesting.  I appreciate the theory behind the young horse testing and am intrigued by what I see.  It appears that the horses who are the most highly rewarded are those who are often described as “freakishly extravagant” movers.  As a breeder, I understand the down side to some of these horses.  One is that, often, the horses who have this type of movement and brilliance also have a temperament that only a professional should and can ride.  If the temperament is good and the horse has this brilliance, often the amateur has a very difficult time riding the gaits.  I totally understand why the judges so enjoy seeing this kind of horse in the ring.  It is amazing to watch and competitive on an international scale.

     OK -- so here’s the dilemma.  If these horses are so incredible, which they are, why aren’t they scoring in the high seventies or even in the eighties?  Instead, they are often the new low seventies scorers.  So what does that say to those of us with normal horses that are correctly trained?  Guess what that does to our scores?  At the same time, the minimum qualifying scores get raised, as they probably should, with the progression of the sport.  Something is out of whack here.  If we keep on this track, we will successfully make this into an elitist sport and push the backyard warriors, who, by the way, pay a majority of fees at these shows, right out of it.

     Now, I don’t mean to say all judging is this way.  I understand the need to develop a thick skin when showing (which doesn’t mean I’ve been able to do it!).  As a breeder, my goals are to bring my mares along between babies and make sure they are trainable and have show records as much as the stallions they breed to.  I often get nailed because I’m not “suitable” for some of my mounts.  But they are all happy, healthy mares who are trained correctly and will make great show horses for their new owners after their breeding careers (references available upon request!).  What I AM saying is that something has to give.  None of this is solving world peace and the negativity of some judging and the future of the young horse program needs to be thought through a little more carefully, in my opinion.  I may not be a judge or official, but I study the sport just has hard, pay LOTS of dues and memberships, and, so, my ideas should count; at least, in a perfect world!!!

A Matter of Priorities

Jo McCracken, August 1, 2005

     In my continual quest to see the glass as half full, I’ve decided that getting older really has brought some gained wisdom along with it.  In regards to the daily training of the young horses, it has especially come in handy.  After all those years of multiple instructors’ pounding many of the same ideas into my head, I think some of them have begun to stick!  One way to REALLY figure out the meaning of priorities is bringing along a young stallion.  The person who helped me the most with mine was Jean Thornton.  Until you have a mind that strong to deal with (the stud, I mean!), you may find it easy to skip over little details because with many horses, you can.  But they always find a way of finding you later and biting you in the butt!!

     So this little ditty is to encourage us all about the joys created by sticking to our priorities.  With age, comes patience.  With patience, comes the ability to think of our training more logically.  With a young horse, we’re happy to aim from point A to point B and actually get there-together.  But after the initial stage of stop, go and turn, we need to pay much more attention to basic concepts.  I say this, because I ride in a lot of schooling shows during the summer and I think these ideas could make quite a few rides happier :).

     Jean finally got through to me how important it was to keep my basic priorities in line.  They may change from minute to minute, but they have to be known.  Say you’re working on shoulder fore and the trot is becoming more like a jog, and the little instructor on your shoulder reminds you that forward is more important at the moment.  Or when the horse starts having a brain-fry.  Just because you may be “that close” to getting what you want, your priority needs to be keeping the horse sane and wanting to work.  FIND ANOTHER WAY or give them something easier for a minute, then regroup.  Even when it comes to disobedience, priorities are vital.  The horse sucks back; your priority is GO FORWARD (doesn’t have to be on the bit, soft, or through-just GO).

     It never ceases to amaze me how quickly even a trained horse can fall apart when the basics are forgotten.  This concept isn’t always rewarded in the show ring, though.  Now days, with specialized breeding, some horses have such incredible movement and athletic ability, that whatever mistakes they may make, they’re pretty hard to compete with.  OK, here comes my pep talk.  (At least, it SHOULD be that) correctness still gets the score.  Even if you’re not riding a 100K horse, a movement done correctly deserves the same or better score than a not-so-correct flamboyant counterpart.  No matter what the reality is, keep that thought close to your heart!  Our goal should be to have happy, healthy, correct horses that are willing to give 150%, no matter their limitations.  Keeping your priorities straight when training makes a BIG difference towards this end!

     Happy riding!

Ode To Learning the Hard Way

Jo McCracken, May 18, 2005

     This little ditty is to expel the joys of learning things the hard way.  Also, learning things from imperfect horses.  It’s wonderful to be able to start out with a schoolmaster, and in a perfect world, we all could.  But for those of us who muddle through and learn as we go, this anthem is for us.  You really need to keep the big picture in mind as you work in your back yard.  If you’ve ridden enough different horses with enough different issues, it is easy to do.  You hit a spot and say to yourself, “Oh!  I remember so-and-so going through this phase.” and you relax and realize it’s not the end of the world, or of the training!  There’s a lot to be said for discovering a million ways to achieve the same result.  The more horses you ride, the more paths you find to reach a certain end. 

     Each horse teaches you something.  OK, each horse teaches you LOTS, if you let it.  We won’t always get along with every horse and this is not to say you should keep at it when things get unsafe or too frustrating, especially to the horse.  You won’t conquer every task you take on, but with the right attitude, you will become a better rider.  You also need to find the help that works best for you.  In Orlando, we are so fortunate to have so many wonderful and qualified instructors, and I take advantage of them as much as possible.  Schooling shows can also be great tools for learning. 

     Showing, in general, can be very depressing, if you get a hateful or demeaning judge.  If you are just starting out, consult with others and find shows that are known to harbor good atmospheres and helpful judges.  Be objective when reading your test; it really isn’t an attack on you (even though sometimes it feels like it).  A good judge will give an appropriate score and when needed, will describe why the score was given.  Have a friend videotape you.  This is intimidating, for sure, but a great learning tool.  The right attitude for showing means you are there to learn and to show off your work!  Hopefully, it is also because you love your mount and are proud of their work.  Most horses really try for us and a show is not the place to lose our patience with them.  If you’ve done your homework, you’ll be fine.  You can’t learn new things before riding a test at a show.  You CAN learn after having ridden it.

     I know, I’m rambling, but I see so many frustrated riders and I think they lose sight of the big picture.  Dressage is a mental challenge.  You never stop learning and you have to be open to that learning process; even when things get tough.  There are definitely days you need to just give it a rest.  I ride primarily mares, so on certain days, I’m happy to get the basics established and leave it at that.  I hope you all work hard this summer and I hope to see you at lots of shows!!!!

     PS -- I showed last weekend at the facility in Jacksonville where the regionals will be held and it is GREAT!  Good footing, lots of room, lots of stalls -- pretty fancy, in general! 

Keeping Perspective

(aka Learning to Survive Recognized Shows)

Jo McCracken

There are those of us amateurs who simply love our horses, lesson as much as possible and enjoy showing for several reasons. These usually include being proud of our "kids," enjoying the company of great friends we've met at the shows and really learning every time we go. I, personally, breed on a small scale and feel since the mare is at least as important as the stallion in the breeding equation, that my mares should be progressing and showing between babies. My friends all call me a profession "student,' because I work with some of the wonderful trainers we have locally at least once a week. The reason I'm prefacing this because my proverbial soap box is sitting in the corner CALLING me! Maybe it's because of the 3 hurricanes we were hit with this year or just because they reminded me of what's important. I think we all need to keep perspective while showing.

Let me say first, that this is spoken with all due respect to the judges out there. I simply do not think it is appropriate for a judge to "attach" a rider in his/her comments. For those of us with inconsistent horses (try riding only mares!) or those who are learning, there are ways to give the scores deserved, good or bad, without making the rider want to quit trying altogether. I also have a tack store at the shows, so I hear LOTS. I know how misery loves company, but sometimes, remarks made are cruel. I showed a very hot, very much not pregnant mare recently and had an interesting test (with appropriate results). At the end of the test the judge wrote, "Quiet rider." That made my day and gave me a glimmer of hope to keep trying.

I swore I would never pick and choose my judges, but I've learned that I don't need to pay that much money to feel that badly. I have scored from the 40's to the 70's on everything from ponies to warmbloods. When it comes down to it, we amateurs really help support the sport. We are the ones who buy the made horses brought along by those phenomenal riders that some judges would prefer to see and we fill the classes that make the show possible to make profits. We also pay for all those lessons from the great riders and most of us really try to continue to improve and progress.

I am not trying to put anyone on the defensive. I just think the atmosphere at the recognized show could be so much fun if we all kept our priorities straight. (Most of us) really love our horses, love the sport and admire and learn from the best representatives of it. Don't get discouraged -- keep it all in perspective and surround yourself with good friends. We won't create world peace by winning a class and we won't condemn the world by losing one either. So, the moral of this little ditty is: Everyone loosen up and enjoy the shows! I can now put my soap box away again. I hope I haven't offended anyone.