Posted by Linda L. Henson
on 7/29/2005, 12:43 am
216.193.162.91
Some background--I'd like to pursue judging at small local schooling shows. I'm an educator by trade and am currently working towards a Masters Degree and investigating the pursuit of my Therapeutic Riding Instructor Certification. I am currently between horses as school has put horse buying on a back burner for the present. I have ridden competitively for 30 yrs from 4-H to A-rated. I have also been show secretary for some local small to medium-sized shows so I can appreciate showing perspectives from both inside rings AND announcers booths. I am reading up and looking for clinics to attend to "fine tune" myself in the interest of putting my best foot forward for competitors who I will be judging.
When I was a junior, it was not all that uncommon for judges to have competitors "switch horses" (usually in pleasure or equit on the flat). As I now observe at shows, I see more & more riders 'placed' in saddles with "generous" knee rolls, riding horses that are so well schooled they could get around courses with their eyes closed, with perfect approaches to every fence. (What's a tight spot?) In the schooling ring I too often hear trainers yelling "just sit there, don't do a thing, he knows his job!" Fine, but just what exactly is that rider learning? Coming from a perspective driven by education/teaching, I would like to have riders change horses in various flat classes (of course, depending on riding abilities, time frames & class size). I would also like to ask simple riding/horse/equipment questions of competitors as they're lined up, as opposed to using the overused (in my opinion) "please back your horse." Are these things done anymore? Are there any legal reprocussions for have riders switch mounts (as directed by the judge)? Thanks very much for your attention to my "long-winded" question. I appreciate this opportunity! Sincerely, Linda
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