Dressage Judges Comments,what are the worst you have received!

When I was 17 I took my ex racer to a RC dressage comp and my sheet literally says 'well sat', 'well recovered' all the way through it as horse was a ****** and bronced whilst trying to leave the arena. Judges final comments were 'brave little rider, would do well with a more disciplined horse!' Had to agree with her! Would have stopped for a natter but my dad was vomitting outside!
 
BigBuck's said:
And one that bordered on nasty: "An unconventional partnership who might find their progress limited" when I took my then-yard's Highland out. Technically true - he was never going to get to Grand Prix - but we had done a neat, accurate test with correct bend and no resistance, and it was an unaffiliated Prelim FFS!
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As a highland owner who fully intends to ride them to PSG (though not necessarily competitively ;) ) I'm annoyed by that on your behalf :mad: :D
 
I am lucky, all my judges have been nice.

I think my worst has been, "need to push horse into the bridle more, not hold him back," on my little grey man who was so tightly wound up, the moment it stopped half halting him, he would blow up and try to break the land speed record.

My friend got a 3 for a canter circle as her mare decided to throw in a huge buck a few strides after the upwards transition. It was impressive, Angel took a few strides, jumped double her height into the air, came back down and continued on as if nothing happened... Didin't even break her rhythm :) The comment was "Disobedience... But Spectacular" :)

Nicest Judge ever lol
 
I've had a couple of funny ones:

'Horse thought he was going cross country today' - as George jumped out of the arena and up the bank at the side :eek: she only docked me 2 marks for an error of course and we came 5th!

After I cantered a 20m circle on the wrong leg without realising :o 'You need to learn to which leg you are on for you to have any hope of progressing further' - oops

'Your very attractive horse really didn't want to do dressage today, well done for perservering' - as George went round the arena like a giraffe for the whole test with the bit clamped between his teeth.

But by far my favourite remark was a few years ago, I'd come 7th so pleased with result but disappointed not to get a rosette and the judge put:
'if your horse can show a little more bend and flexion you will both earn the higher marks you so deserve' :):)
 
My old mare used to do a lot of rearing and once we trotted down the centre line and she slammed the breaks on and stood straight up vertical in front of the judges car, all 16.3hh ID that she was!
Needless to say my comments at the bottom read 'very well sat, nice of your horse to give us a wave but airs above the ground are not required at prelim, quietly ridden, well done!' :D :D

Dressage really wasn't her thing, it was a miracle if we got through a test without rearing or treating the white boards like a showjumping course!!! *rolls eyes*
 
Haha some of these are brilliant. My most amusing was probably "nice little horse, however you're both a bit jumbled today" think that was rather accurate after a disastrous test in both of our parts!
 
Isn't it funny how they always say "Nice horse, but..."

My best one was "Rider tried very hard, pony didn't help at all" on a pc team.

Some of these comments are fab, but sooo long - I feel for the writers!
 
Bills said:
My old mare used to do a lot of rearing and once we trotted down the centre line and she slammed the breaks on and stood straight up vertical in front of the judges car, all 16.3hh ID that she was!
Needless to say my comments at the bottom read 'very well sat, nice of your horse to give us a wave but airs above the ground are not required at prelim, quietly ridden, well done!' :D :D

Dressage really wasn't her thing, it was a miracle if we got through a test without rearing or treating the white boards like a showjumping course!!! *rolls eyes*
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Ha, that's a classic! I used to get the usual horse rather tense (yep), horse not listening (yep), circles could be more round (yep), a good try (thank you). My biggest problem was the dressage arena was always placed in the field we did working hunter in - she would warm up beautifully a few yards away but as soon as we went through the gate she would be looking for the jumps. ALL the local judges knew her as "the horse that gallops alot" and we rarely got asked to show gallop in our individual show as she had done the entire course flat out :)
 
Some of these comments are very funny! My friend did prelim 7 a few years ago, and earned herself the now infamous quote of 'vegetated into halt'.

I have had nothing as exciting, although did trot up the centre line with a big smile on my face for the 2nd ever test I did on my 4yo only for him to take a dislike to something and spook to the right leaving me hanging around his neck, and subsequently getting 2/10 for ominously leaving the arena at A, and another 2/10 with the words 'halt not really established. Swung 1/4s to right', when the reality was that he did a good 180 turn and then resolutely stuck his head in the air whilst noisily sucking on the bit. You have to laugh!
 
I think the most upset we got at a dressage judges comment was the one that said "rider getting a little tall for this pony" - 4 foot 8 inches daughter (weighing 4 and a half stone) pony 12.2hh full up new forest chunky native!!!

They've also had a few "very fast, but accurate test" comments too lol!!!!

:-)
 
I recieved two ones regarding my boy. His first trip to a big centre nearby and a certain arena that is well known for being spooky. I headed into it with my boy (before the start of the test even). He took one look and decided that wasn't happening, and promptly reversed about 10 metres back to the exit. Judge wrote 'quickest rein back I've ever seen!'

And then a competition at home. The boy did not cope well with a party at home. We got into the arena, trotted to the top and he took off back to the gate. The test involved undesied cantering, bucking and refusing to walk. Judges comment 'bravely ridden on this naughty chap'

It did make me laugh!
 
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