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October - November Questions & Answers
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Lisa Perez
Asks:
Judge Bullock, I have a question about what judges
usually like to see in huntseat pleasure and huntseat
equitation classes. I have a National Show Horse gelding
who is 8 years old. I have gone to one other show with
him, an EMAA(Eastern Michigan Arabian Association. We
did good for our first show and placed(1st and 3rd).
This is larger show though, The MHSA Youth Show in
Michigan. I am nervous about going to a big show, and I
would like to be well prepared when I go in the ring.
His canter isnt as slow as it should be, would that make
a large difference in these classes?
Thank you so much and I am sorry for the long question.
Judge Bullock's Response:
The first place to start to answer your questions begins
with the USEF rulebook. Every exhibitor must read the
specifications of the classes that they are competing
in. The rulebook states the specifications that judges
must utilize when they are adjudicating each class. I
will start out by stating the description in the rule
book as to the performance of a hunter pleasure horse.
"It is imperative that the horse give the distinct
appearance of being a pleasure to ride and display a
pleasurable and relaxed attitude. The neck should be
carried lower, and the head should be carried in a more
relaxed manner with less bend at the poll, and the horse
should be in a generally longer frame than that of the
English Pleasure, Country English Pleasure, or Show Hack
horse. High headed horses and horses behind the vertical
must be penalized." The specifications for your JOTR and
JTR classes are evaluated in the following order,
Manners, Performance, Suitability as a Hunter, Quality
and Conformation. Now with stating all of that, you must
remember that in each class at each show - you are being
evaluated in comparison to the horses that are competing
against you and your horse at that particular
competition. In huntseat equitation, the performance of
the horse per say is not evaluated but the rider is, but
a poor performing horse reflects on the horsemanship of
the rider thus will limit your ability to excel in
equitation.
It is hard for me to answer your question as to the fact
that your horses canter isn't as slow as it should be.
Once again, his canter will be evaluated in relation to
the performance of the other horses competing against
you. I will refer you back to the specifications - if
his canter does not give the distinct appearance of
being a pleasure to ride or the appearance of an
unrelaxed attitude, this will affect your placings in
your classes. Good luck with your horse this next show
season.
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Elaine Neal
Asks:
Question: Hello, Judge Bullock.
What kind of bit do you want to see used in Arabian
Hunter Pleasure? Would you count off if a kimberwicke or
pelham was used instead of a snaffle?
Thank you for your time!
Judge Bullock's Response:
I personally do not care whether a hunter pleasure horse
is shown in a kimberwicke, pelham or snaffle. As long as
the horse performs the specifications of hunter pleasure
as outlined in your USEF rulebook then the type of bit
does not matter as long as it is a legal bit. The three
bits that you have questioned are all legal. I will make
my own personal observation that will probably come back
to haunt me, but I will go out on a limb and tell you
that during my tenure as a judge, I have judged more bad
performing hunter pleasure horses in kimberwicke bits
than I have in snaffles. I personally think that many
exhibitors try to rush the training process and put
horses in kimberwicke bits before they are physically or
mentally ready to be shown in them.
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Cynthia
Asks:
Why do some judges look at one horse at the beginning
of a show and never look at them again?
Judge Bullock's Response:
You have a very good question that I cannot answer. But,
as with everything else you must remember that each
judge is an individual. We all do not have the exact
same opinions, judging style and of course all judges
cannot be as good looking as me. Just kidding!
Exhibitors must keep things in perspective, as long as a
judge is adjudicating within the specifications of any
given class, our style of judging, our opinions and
placings can always be different. If we were all clones
then we could just have one horse show, place it and be
done for the year.
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July - August Questions & Answers
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Lauren Turk Asks:
Hi, I am in the process of
looking for an Arabian and a Half-Arabian to purchase. I
am debating weather or not I would like to go with a
country horse who could do show hack. Or a hunter horse
that could do western too. When you look at a horse that
is in a hunter class and back in the ring in a western
class do you think that horse is going to have a harder
time placing if it is doing two things?
Judge Bullock's Response:
I would honestly have to tell you that some horses are
very capable of competing in two divisions and excel in
both. it definitely depends on your horse and how he
adapts to the two divisions. The biggest thing that i
see at shows are those exhibitors that show in numerous
divisions have a hard time placing because each time
they come into the ring the horse shows more fatigue as
the day goes on and i think you lose your edge of
competitiveness when your horse is not fresh. Good luck
on your horse buying endeavor.
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Joyce Asks:
Do you do any types of
clinics? If so where are they held?
Judge Bullock's Response:
Due to my work, home and judging schedule I do not have
time to do any clinics. Occasionally another judge from
my area, Judy Warner, and I will do a judging clinic for
our local Arabian youth club.
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Margaret Asks:
Quite a few years ago I used
to look forward to viewing the Get of Sire and Produce
of Dam classes. It was a great opportunity to see the
foals by some of the stallions I was interested in
breeding my mares to. Why do so few shows have these
classes today.
Judge Bullock's Response:
From the show management perspective I can just say that
if you continue to not get enough entries in a class or
division to support the expenses then it will usually be
dropped just because of simple business practices. Since
I breed to many different stallions it would take some
coordination with other breeders for us to be able to
compete in these classes. I think it was a much easier
class to participate in when the breeders usually bred
to mostly local stallions and could show together but
since the arrival of AI and breeders choosing stallions
from across the country it is more difficult to fill
these classes. |
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Beth Asks:
What are your feelings about
judging halter classes in the European system where
three judges are used and evaluate the horses on a point
system?
Judge Bullock's Response:
I personally have not judged utilizing the European
system. I personally do not see how it would be better
than any other multi-judge system. Especially when other
judges have told me they are told you just don't give a
horribly low score - like a horse with terrible legs
(major conformational faults) you should give at least a
five - well if its a 1 then it should be a 1. Remember
all systems just reflect judging opinions. Maybe after I
utilize the system I would be better informed and be
able to render an opinion. |
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Carol Asks:
We bought our first horse, a
Purebred Arabian mare, for my 14 year old daughter about
18 months ago. My daughter showed the mare for the 1st
time in a class A show last month in halter and hunter
pleasure. During the Hunter Pleasure class my daughter
had the horse on the rail on the long side of the arena
when another girl came up behind her very quickly and
started yelling rail. My daughter didn't really didn't
know what to do so she stayed where she was. What is the
proper action to take if this should occur again?
Judge Bullock's Response:
If your daughter was not completely on the rail and a
horse comes from behind on the rail, and the rider said
rail, your daughter should have moved a little further
towards the center so the other exhibitor could pass on
the outside safely. |
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June Questions & Answers |
Jim Asks:
I am hoping you can answer a
question I have about judging halter classes.
There are a number of people that feel the pose that is
struck by today's halter horses hides a number of faults
and makes it difficult for a judge to see a true
picture. Before a judge has to evaluate the horse in a
posed position they have had the opportunity to see the
horse at a trot and a walk. As far as I know a judge can
also ask you to relax a horse. My question is how much
does the halter pose itself really influence a judges
decision?
Judge Bullock's Response:
In the halter classes today, it is mandatory that a horse
enter the ring at a walk, pick up the trot and proceed
to their spot on the rail. Once the entire class is in
the ring all horses must walk in both directions past
the judge- "in a relaxed manner on a loose lead with the
handler at the side of their horse, whips down. The
leadline must maintain a clearly discernible drape,
i.e., the handler must not place their hand on the chain
or close enough to in any way restrict natural head and
neck motion." Since this procedure was implemented, as a
judge I have found this to be very beneficial for the
judging process.
It is definitely possible to cover up faults with how a
horse is posed and shown - but that's what you pay the
trainer for - to show your horse. Major faults are not
going to be hidden by a pose and if the horse is shown
relaxed at the initial walk most faults will be seen at
the beginning of the class.
I have to chuckle, since I also work a lot of horse shows
other than just judging, I hear professional trainers
complaining that their horse should have won because it
had the best show of all the other horses - not
mentioning anything about the comparisons of the other
horses type, conformation, quality, movement, substance,
manners and presence or suitability as a breeding
animal.
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Lisa Asks:
Dear Judge Bullock:
When judging an A-rated or above Arabian show how would
you rate the quality of the average horse presented to
you today versus the average horse of 15-20 years ago?
Judge Bullock's Response:
As I stated in an earlier question, I feel that the
quality of the average horse today versus the horse
15-20 years ago is slightly higher.
I think breeders have been breeding for a more athletic
horse and that is evident in the show arena today. Don't
get me wrong - 15 or 20 years ago there were some
phenomenal Arabians competing but I think you see a much
better "average" Arabian in today's competitions.
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QUESTIONS APRIL - MAY
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ASK THE JUDGE
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