first time ride judge!

[missdee]

Basically I've been asked to ride judge this weekend but I've never done it before! What do I do? Wear? Everything?! I'm from a showjumping back ground so showing is new ground to me. Hope someone can help x

 

[ajn1610]

Basically I've been asked to ride judge this weekend but I've never done it before! What do I do? Wear? Everything?! I'm from a showjumping back ground so showing is new ground to me. Hope someone can help x

Ohh fun! I've not done any showing for a loooong time but when I did the ride judge dressed as a competitor would - boots, pale johds, tweed, shirt and tie etc. They mount up did a standard show pattern (walk, trot and canter both reins, maybe some extension or a gallop depending on class). You are basically there to give feed back on the feel of the horse, is it on the aids, does it give a nice light contact, go, stop, turn as you'd expect. You can speed up the process if you have large classes by taking two pairs of stirrup irons and leathers adjusted to your length. You are riding in one pair whilst the second pair are fitted to the next horse in the line by the steward. It sounds daft but you'll save a lot of time faffing adjusting stirrups if you have a full day of large classes.

 

[Doormouse]

It is great fun and sometimes you get to ride some lovely horses. You will also get some dodgy ones though! Never be ashamed or afraid to say you would prefer not to ride something, you are not there to school someone else's horse for them and if they have been misbehaving during the go round and seem wound up and tetchy then just say politely that you will not be riding the horse today. You should have a senior judge with you who will explain why etc to the owner / rider.

Work out where you will be going when you ride them, do this before you get on the first horse. I would suggest you ride out of the line, walk to the left corner, trot as you reach it, trot round the arena to the next corner, canter, canter down the long side and round the right hand end, change the rein in front of the line on the diagonal, straight back into canter and then gallop along the front long side. ~This is quick in case you are tight for time with lots of entries but gives you time to assess each horse. Also remember that the first few you ride at the top of line might be heavenly and you could ride them all day but whatever you do with the first horse you must do with the others and by the time you get to the not so nice ones near the bottom of the line you might regret having to be on them too long!!!!

Don't try too hard, relax, be polite to the horse but don't try and produce an amazing ride from them, if they are well schooled they will carry you without too much effort involved.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[cundlegreen]

It is great fun and sometimes you get to ride some lovely horses. You will also get some dodgy ones though! Never be ashamed or afraid to say you would prefer not to ride something, you are not there to school someone else's horse for them and if they have been misbehaving during the go round and seem wound up and tetchy then just say politely that you will not be riding the horse today. You should have a senior judge with you who will explain why etc to the owner / rider.

Work out where you will be going when you ride them, do this before you get on the first horse. I would suggest you ride out of the line, walk to the left corner, trot as you reach it, trot round the arena to the next corner, canter, canter down the long side and round the right hand end, change the rein in front of the line on the diagonal, straight back into canter and then gallop along the front long side. ~This is quick in case you are tight for time with lots of entries but gives you time to assess each horse. Also remember that the first few you ride at the top of line might be heavenly and you could ride them all day but whatever you do with the first horse you must do with the others and by the time you get to the not so nice ones near the bottom of the line you might regret having to be on them too long!!!!

Don't try too hard, relax, be polite to the horse but don't try and produce an amazing ride from them, if they are well schooled they will carry you without too much effort involved.

Good luck and have fun.

Agree with this, but in my experience,most have no brakes when galloping/extending. Do be a little cautious as its not funny being carted around the ring! Also, you are not there to school the horse, if it doesn't give you correct lead canter move on, as you may have a lot to get through My record is 92 horses in a full days judging.Mind you, in those days I was a lot fitter! Also try to find something positive to say to everybody, especially in a local show. Most people appreciate some constructive remarks.

 

[missdee]

Thank you so much for all the advice! Very much appreciated. Looking forward to it now (despite the fact there is heavy rain forecast all day!) x