comments by dressage judges that made you cross (just for fun.)

First ever dressage test for loan horse and I. The judge opened her car window at the end and said "please go away and learn to ride." We had gone for the learning experience, I burst into tears and her owner was that fuming she went and had stern words with the judge! It destroyed my confidence :(

"Lovely mare. Shame about the situation, very well ridden!"
We were lead into the indoor arena, where she span round and nearly deposited me in the corner, stood up and waved at the judge before snorting and cavorting when they shut the door. I had to raise my hand before even starting and told them to get the door open ASAP whilst feeling like a rag doll and her stable mate had to come in to the arena and stand in the corner and I did the test HC. Little madam got 64%!

A judge opened his car door, and in a very chirpy tone said "Well executed flying changes, however not required at prelim" for the first test and for the second "staying in the boards is advisable, nice jump though" from the same judge on the same day. Made all of us crack up! :D
 
The worst I've ever had, which I and everybody watching though was very undeserved was with my share horse. He's very obedient, has lovely paces and scores in the 70s nearly every time at prelim and high 60s at novice. Jusges often comment that he could do with a bit more engagement but are usually positive. I was doing two prelim tests, the first, I thought, went well. We only scored 57% but won the class and the judge's only comment was "obedient". I wasn't too bothered as thought judge must either be a tough marker or having a bad day.

We did our second test (same judge) and I felt it went a lot better, a few people watching said it was the best test we'd done. We scored 48% and her only comment was "lazy". I thought "Yes, you are!"

I wouldn't have minded too much but I got 47% on my horse in the same test and he reared twice, spooked constantly and pulled my arms out for the whole test. Her comment for that one was "active paces". Poor old M deserved at least 15% more than A!
 
I had "unbalanced at A", which was an understatement because there was a lake at A, in torrential rain, and my mare had completely underestimated how deep it was and literally lurched through it!
 
I was doing a test on my very tense, potentially explosive TB at a summer show once, lots going on around the arena and he spooked as he went into canter and shot forwards. I'm a nervous rider and it took a huge amount of courage to continue to canter the circle (albeit a hectic and wonky one) rather than pull him up. I got a 0 for the move and the comment "no circle shown", which upset me as that circle was a real mind over matter moment for me. Best judges comment was at a similar show, where he was better behaved but still tense: "Very tactfully ridden" :)
 
I once got a rollocking from a judge verbally when I retired after my horse had fallen on a cow pat (test on grass in the 'good ole days') and was lame.. apparently I should have been a good sport and finished.
 
My little welsh cob mare had a very fast canter , although never really out of control it did look like she was running away with me at times. I attempted a novice test on her! Judges comments were " fast", " faster still!" Give and retake the reins at canter " very brave!". When I left the arena the judge and writer were collapsed in laughter as I had also had to do an emergency stop at x as my saddle was slipping. Judge said to me as I left the arena " Did you complete all the movements as you were so fast I lost track" I didn't mind as we were regulars at the venue and my pony's canter was a standing joke!
 
I've had so many wry comments over the years, quite a lot I've chosen to forget.... But I remember when starting out years ago, I turned up at a show with my new and fabulous horse, feeling far too full of myself and overconfident ,and got beaten by a horse called Grotty...... Giving me a much needed lesson in humility. They are great levellers, horses, aren't they!
 
shugmx said:
I have just been reading comments on master dressage fb page, people getting hot under the collar with comments they have received at dressage competions. My daughter who had just turned 12 at the time and moved on to a larger pony had her first prelim with him. Things went wrong and my daughter got snatchy with the reins. The judge told her off which would made her think twice on doing it again. Fair enough and we went home and practiced hard for the next two weeks. When we arrived back i was standing beside the stuart and the judge of the week. The stuart spotted my daughter in the ring and began to tell the judge about her poor riding the week before, they didnt know who i was and i just walked away and my daughter went in on her old faithful pony. Who she often gets 75 to 80 % on. Well she came out with 59% and comment stated that rider has to stop snatching the rein on the pony to give a better picture. Which she didnt do once, but he had been influnced by his earlier conversation. Cross to say the least. My daughter learnt her lesson though good riding often gets forgot about, but a mistake will follow you around for a while.
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How awful OP. Unfortunately a lot of it is very bias and "who you know" not "what you know" (well I find that's what happens around me!) :(
Mine was at a dressage comp a few months back and getting a low mark for "not a square halt" when look back on pics and vids I think it was the best square halt my boy has done ever lol! So that got under my skin a little!

Hopefully your next outing will be a successful one :D
 
As a dressage competitor, competition organiser (helper) and now trainee judge, some of these have made me laugh, some of them I am truly horrified by (and I believe competitors should make more complaints so horrible (and I mean truly horrible not honest) judges do not get hired again by venues but I also want to put a judges side across :)
I have about 3-4 minutes during which I have to
1) Check you over and make sure you are riding in correct tack (whilst probably writing the collective comments for the previous competitor).
2) Choose an appropriate moment to ding the bell/buzzer so as not to panic horse or rider
3) Make a judgement on about 20 odd movements to include in my decision whether it has been executed accurately, with impulsion, with submission (appropriate to the level), how good it's paces are including often a comment in order to help you know what is being looked for
4) Decide what collective marks you get, during which I agonized over whether it was the rider or the horse that caused the overall issue preventing marks form being higher and which section should be marked down or up
5)Think of a constructive comment to make in line with my training, your test and the marks given above (bearing in mind all the things that make you all cross! ;))

So may I ask on behalf of all good judges who make mistakes or upset you unintentionally for a little understanding of the difficult job we do as volunteers to enable you to compete at this fantastic sport. Also read the BD rule book and description of movements (the amount of times I see an incorrect Give and Retake is getting ridiculous!)

May I also ask all competitors who have had a judge get out of the car to make a comment (this is expressly forbidden), written something wholly rude or inappropriate to complain to the venue so they know and if you are doing Affiliated, complain to BD, we can't fix things if we don't know.
 
My OH was doing his first dressage test and his horse was a bit sluggish, judge noted "ran out of petrol" then after a few movement "found another quarter" :D not really cross about that, just funny really.
 
hi bat girl, sorry if this upset you. But the same world over there is so many nice people and just now and again some one pops up who can be rude or unsympathetic or as simple as a bee in their bonnet. I have come across many many lovely judges who have always helped and encouraged. Thank you for giving your time up and being part of our sport. We are just having a giggle.
 
littleshetland said:
I've had so many wry comments over the years, quite a lot I've chosen to forget.... But I remember when starting out years ago, I turned up at a show with my new and fabulous horse, feeling far too full of myself and overconfident ,and got beaten by a horse called Grotty...... Giving me a much needed lesson in humility. They are great levellers, horses, aren't they!
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Someone I know has a grotty, she is grotbags in full. Chestnut mare, TB. Wonder if its the same one?
 
shugmx said:
hi bat girl, sorry if this upset you. But the same world over there is so many nice people and just now and again some one pops up who can be rude or unsympathetic or as simple as a bee in their bonnet. I have come across many many lovely judges who have always helped and encouraged. Thank you for giving your time up and being part of our sport. We are just having a giggle.
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Not upset at all (I tried to put lots of smiley faces in!)
It is a fun thread but genuinely want to encourage people to make a stink if not treated fairly, It really gets my goat!
Also why silly things do get written :)

Worst thing written on my sheet (for my 21 yo ex Novice Eventer) Lovely young horse that when more settled and experienced will be super!
 
After one prelim test on my lovely boy (RIP) I had "you deserve 10/10 for bravery"! What is it about welshies and dressage!
 
Batgirl, there's no way you'd only have 3 minutes with mine. Short legs would give you a leisurely 5 minutes to cogitate on his training and consider his marks. Perhaps this is why our marks aren't always top notch :p

Deltaflyer said:
I used to have a chestnut Arab X mare. She was almost pure Arab and had very typically Arab paces. I used to do the odd unaffiliated dressage with her as that was what my friends at the yard were in to. Most of the time I got nice comments about her accuracy and obedience - she wouldn't go in much of an outline but she was very obedient in other ways and her transitions were always spot on and we were only doing Prelims anyway. However, on one occasion the judge was a crusty old Colonel something or other. Not only did he give us the lowest marks we'd ever been given despite the fact that Moon had behaved impeccably but he didn't write a single comment, not even in the box at the bottom. The low marks I could have accepted if there'd been a bit of constructive commenting to go with them. Clearly he considered an Arab not worthy of his precious attention. I gave up doing dressage with her after that unless I was doing a One Day Event.
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Strange, I always thought the Delta Flyer would be my first choice of "mount" for space dressage. Manoeuvrable, nippy and responsive, with plenty of "feel" to the pilot :p
 
JFTD said:
Batgirl, there's no way you'd only have 3 minutes with mine. Short legs would give you a leisurely 5 minutes to cogitate on his training and consider his marks. Perhaps this is why our marks aren't always top notch :p
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LOL! Do come and compete in front of me :)
 
I had a very opinionated Connie when I was younger, before I bought him he had done advanced medium. I was doing novice level tests and he was bored so sometimes decided to make his own entertainment,
Had a few comments along the lines of "airs above the ground not required at this level" "well sat" "lovely circle but would have been better at the canter" (he had bucked his way round the entire circle)
Had one memorable one when he decided to show off his tempi changes down the centre line (supposed to be trot) judges comment was "stunning changes, would have scored a 9 if required in this test" along side a mark of 2, I suppose the straight line was straight!
 
It used to really upset me when I got "he tried really hard for you" or similar remarks like "really honest horse" followed by a load of negative comments about every aspect of my riding, they may well have just put "what a terrible rider you are, poor horse". Balanced criticism or constructive criticism is the key, not a slating, no-one starts out brilliant and faultless and if you don't get anything positive or any form of encouragement you'll jack it in, which is exactly what I did!!

On the brighter side though, one of my old boys never looked his age, I always used to get "what a lovely young lad" or "incredible test for such a green horse", once I was even allowed to continue in a 1 day event dressage test after he had repeately jumped out of the arena and kicked the boards down due to him exploding, in the comments box was written "Isn't he excited! Well done for continuing, we feel he deserves the chance to complete as he shows such promise", he was 16 years old damnit but people seemed to put him at 4 years old! :D
 
I have to say ive never had any comments that have made me annoyed!! I do get annoyed if I get lots marks with no comments beside them they are normally a 7/8 but it would be nice to know sometimes why it wasnt and 8/9

I competed at the weekend and the judge was amazing! It was at a venue we had never been to before and horse was very on edge as soon as we entered arena ( think rearing spinning spooking) Judge calls over to my caller to come and help so we walked round the edge once together then she rang the bell. At the end i went and thanked her and she was really nice and told horse he was a naughty boy haha! :D Lovely day
 
BobbyMondeo said:
I have to say ive never had any comments that have made me annoyed!! I do get annoyed if I get lots marks with no comments beside them they are normally a 7/8 but it would be nice to know sometimes why it wasnt and 8/9

I competed at the weekend and the judge was amazing! It was at a venue we had never been to before and horse was very on edge as soon as we entered arena ( think rearing spinning spooking) Judge calls over to my caller to come and help so we walked round the edge once together then she rang the bell. At the end i went and thanked her and she was really nice and told horse he was a naughty boy haha! :D Lovely day
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wow, that's nice. I like that she told him off, did he listen or just investigate her pockets?!
 
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