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May Questions & Answers |
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Susan Asks:
I have a 17 year old daughter
that is very interested in becoming a judge. She has
participated in judging programs through 4-H but we seem
to be at a loss as how to continue her education.
Are there any books or tapes available you would recommend
that are geared to judging? Also is it out of line for
her to call local judges and ask if they would allow her
to act as a learner judge?
Thanks in advance to any help you can give us.
Susan
Judge Bullock's Response:
Your daughter certainly has a
great foundation for her judging career by being
involved with the 4-H judging program. I am assuming
that your daughter is currently active in the horse
industry - as a large part of her education will be from
her daily experiences with her horses, interaction with
other equestrians, attending all clinics in every
discipline and of course any judging clinics, taking
lessons and working horses as much as possible. You must
be a horseman in order to have the necessary skills to
evaluate horses. Any books or tapes that give you
knowledge about any type of conformation, discipline,
equitation will help prepare you for judging - they
don't have to specifically be written about judging. I
don't think that it is out of line to ask about learner
judging at local shows but I must warn you - It isn't
always a good idea to learner judge people and horses
that you know closely as they will probably interrogate
you about what the judge said about them - and that is
something you can never discuss outside of the showring.
That has happened to me at rated shows where my learner
judge spoke to exhibitors about what I had discussed
with them and I promptly did not give them a good
recommendation as what is said in center ring between a
judge and learner judge should never be repeated. Good
luck to your daughter in the future with her judging
endeavors.
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Mindy Asks:
I have owned and shown Arabian horses in both halter
and performance for 25+ years. In that period of time
I'm not aware of any official changes made to the breed
standard yet the once "classic Arabian" seemed to be
consistently bypassed in halter. Shorter horses also
seem to be overlooked in performance classes.
Judge Bullock's Response:
You have asked the million dollar question with as many
opinions and answers as there are insects on this earth!
I have also owned Arabians for 30+ years and there is
definitely a different type of Arabian present today
that didn't exist then. Is that such a bad thing? I too,
fell in love with my first Arabian which was a small
Crabbett bred stallion that was absolutely beautiful.
But I have to admit that I personally would not breed my
horses today to be like him. I feel that the art of
breeding is to evolve a particular breed to maintain its
strong points and improve its weaknesses. In our judges
seminar recently we were given the Gladys Brown Edwards
painting of the classic Arabian horse - did this horse
exist? No, but that was her interpretation of what the
classic Arabian should most resemble. As breeders we
should strive to breed that type of horse - which will
take a very long time and theories of breeding to do so.
I feel that the Arabian bred today and winning in the
show ring are much better athletes than 30 years ago. Of
course there are exceptions and always will be but I
can't wait until we have the extreme athletes combined
with the classic type of the Egyptian and Crabbett type
horses of long ago in our showring. I agree that the
shorter horses "seem " to be overlooked in performance
classes but I think any judge will reward the shorter
horse for a great performance as well as the taller ones
but in some divisions it will be very hard for the
shorter horse to perform at the level of the taller ones
- it would be like me (5'6" )trying to play in the NBA
.
Is it out of whack? I personally don't think so - I think
that we are constantly evolving as a breed with many
phases and types throughout our journey to breeding the
"perfect Arabian." |
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Diane Asks:
What is your favorite class to judge?
What is your least favorite class to judge?
Judge Bullock's Response:
I really don't have a particular type class that I
prefer or dislike. My favorite class to judge is one
that has outstanding competitors that are fully prepared
and present themselves and their horses at a level of
excellence. My least favorite class to judge is one that
has a lot of unprepared exhibitors or poor sportsmanship
exhibited during a class. I am not saying that I think
that all competitors should be upper level horsemen and
horsewomen but it amazes me how many equestrians compete
at shows and have never read the specifications of the
class, enter the ring with illegal equipment and attire
and then are furious with the judges placing of the
class.
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April Questions & Answers |
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Joyce Asks:
How important is to you as a judge that competitors wear
the latest show fashions and have their horses outfitted in
the newest style of tack?
Judge Bullock's Response:
Hi Joyce
Personally it doesn't matter to me at all whether or not a
competitor has the latest show fashions or newest style of
tack as long as it is acceptable by USAE rules and
regulations. I also take into account that most people are
not wealthy in this industry (like myself) and as long as
the clothes and tack are safe and legal then I really don't
get concerned with it at all, I would rather put my energy
into judging the horses performance rather than whether or
not a competitor has the newest and greatest attire and
tack.
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Samantha Asks:
I was once told that judges tend to eliminate horses
from the minute they enter the ring. Is this standard
practice with judges?
Judge Bullock's Response:
Hi Samantha
If that is standard practice
with any judge then they should not be judging. When I
observe a class entering the ring, I am trying to get in
perspective the depth of quality of the class and a quick
look for illegal appointments.
Numerous times I have been judging and a horse has entered
the class, really didn't impress me but ended up being the
winner of the class. Judging does not begin until the gate
is closed and at that point the process of judging should
begin and continue until the end of the class.
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Lauren Asks:
Hi, My name is
Lauren and I am 14 years old and I live in Toronto. I owned
a 12 year old purebred Arabian gelding and I sold him
recently. I
competed on him in 13 and under classes and now am in 14-17.
I was wondering what you would look for in a hunter pleasure
horse in the 14-17 divisions and also I have a lime green
western outfit which I competed in 13 and under with.
I don’t know if that would be suitable for a 14-17
group? What
would you suggest as far as if it would look too much like a
kids outfit and what style do you like?
Judge Bullock's Response:
Hello Lauren
I can start out with your
question by stating that the specifications that Hunter
Pleasure are judged on does not change with the 13 and under
or 14 – 17. The
specifications are as follows – Manners, Performance,
Suitability as a Hunter, Quality and conformation. The
rule book states that “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 horse should be in a generally longer frame than that of
the English Pleasure, Country Pleasure, or Show Hack horse.
High headed horses and horses behind the vertical must be
penalized.”
Now, with all that said, I will briefly tell you some
things that I personally look for when judging and applying
them to the specifications stated earlier. I started my
horse education competing with my Hunter Pony and then later
on competing in the Open Working Hunter Division as well as
also did some Fox-Hunting.
From that experience I know that a Hunter Pleasure horse
should be very athletic – Suitability as a Hunter –
therefore I look for a horse to be a good mover, one that
can collect and give me the appearance if I were to ask that
horse to make a jump he would actually be able to perform
that task. Extremely low headed horses that appear
unathletic and lethargic are totally opposite of what I look
for in a good Hunter Pleasure horse. They should possess
impeccable manners and display a great attitude. It is just
awesome to see a junior rider coming down the rail on their
hunter pleasure horse that is happy, moving along as if they
could do that all day knowing that this horse and rider
could handle situation that an actual Hunter might
encounter. Good luck in your new age division
To address your question about the lime green outfit is
pretty easy.
If the outfit is legal according to USAE standards then your
grandmother could wear the lime green outfit if she wanted
without any problem. As long as an outfit meets the criteria
as stated in your rule book for whatever division you are
competing in then it is perfectly okay. I personally prefer
a conservative approach to attire when competing. I feel
that sometimes attire can reach the “costume look” level and
that subtracts from the overall picture of quality. I have
seen western riders with long fringe on their vests or
jackets and since they are riding horses that are a little
rough riding they actually accent the fact that this horse
is rough riding thus reducing their chances of winning. But
plain and simple – If its legal then a judge cannot penalize
you for your attire.
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QUESTIONS JUNE - NOVEMBER
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