Dressage - why cars?

Overread

Overread

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Elementary question here, but something that caught my eye but I didn't ask at the time (was a while ago now); but when I did a round of shooting at a dressage competition* I noticed that the judges were sitting in cars inside the arena.

Upon reflection this seems rather odd when they could sit upon a normal chair; and with a photographer and audience down on the ground it wouldn't seem to be necessary to "hide" all the people to keep the horse from being distracted.

I've also come to learn that this is not abnormal nor unique - so why do they like sitting in cars? Quick get-away at the end to avoid irate riders who didn't score as high as they wanted; desire to have some protection from the elements (whilst in an indoor arena?)?




*which seriously showed how I need to learn a whole lot more about horse motion and pacing
 
Sometimes they are sat in the 'outdoors' at a table, but I think a car gets them out of the weather (both sun and rain) and is quieter so that the writer can hear what the judge is saying. Also people don't really want to hear what the judge us saying about each competitor's test. Hope that helps
 
I've seen this once on Facebook on Lee Pearson's page and i also assumed it was a safety thing. Say the horse spooked and was tearing around the arena, you'd be a lot safer in a car than on a plastic chair. Other than that, i've no idea.
 
not to mention isolation from the number of lippy competitors and their families/hangers on that seem to be in attendance at competitions these days
 
ready made desk/picnic table :) its a rare day (here at least) when there's not even a breeze to disturb the sheets and waft them down to spook some precious dressage pony ;)

trust me, 6 hours of writing is not made much easier by being in anything-car or picnic chair tbh. A car can be fairly ghastly if very hot tbh but much preferable to a chair if raining or windy.
 
Some venues do have purpose-built judges' huts, so they are not always situated in cars. But you do need something a bit more protected than just a chair whether you are inside or out for many reasons - protection for judge and writer from exuberant horses, protection from dust and wind (even when indoors) and for sound insulating properties etc. Plus adjustable, upholstered car seats are generally more comfortable than the average plastic chair. Plus the judge can use the car horn to start the test, so the organiser doesn't have to provide bells!
 
I can certainly appreciate their appeal as mobile comfort and shelter - didn't think about the dictator and writing affair and certainly can agree that dictation is a nightmare if outside and under wind or just distracting sounds around.

Though now I have this amusing mental image of the car being akin to a fortress against crazed horses and (more importantly) crazed horsey people.


Does seem odd though; must admit never really seen it done with other competitions in other outdoor activities.
 
Overread said:
I can certainly appreciate their appeal as mobile comfort and shelter - didn't think about the dictator and writing affair and certainly can agree that dictation is a nightmare if outside and under wind or just distracting sounds around.

Though now I have this amusing mental image of the car being akin to a fortress against crazed horses and (more importantly) crazed horsey people.


Does seem odd though; must admit never really seen it done with other competitions in other outdoor activities.
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As someone who has done a fair amount of writing for judges over the years I can say:
Privacy no one standing by listening to comments
Weather, rain, wind, hot sun - windscreen wipers, heating, air con
Judge and writer need to communicate and sit comfortably for often quite a long time - 45 competitors in a class!
Sheets need to be kept safe prior to collection, not blowing away for others to see
Storage of sheets in bad weather - not getting wet, or blown away
Somewhere to lodge your coffee and biscuits!
Just off the top of my head
 
Overread said:
Though now I have this amusing mental image of the car being akin to a fortress against crazed horses and (more importantly) crazed horsey people.
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You are probably right! I scribe for dressage, and sometimes I need to check whether the comment the judge utterances are supposed to go on the sheet. 'FFS, if she's let go of its mouth, the poor b00ger could move' Erm, probably not :D.

Privacy is very important. You don't want the mafia associated with a competitor ear wigging every comment or mark the judge gives in real time.

Can you imagine. 'Oh for goodness sake, that is worth more than a 6.0?!!!' wafting across next to the judge's stand?
 
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