How to judge children's novelty classes?

[Welshie95]

I've been asked to judge the children's novelty class at a local show, nothing fancy, very relaxed. Problem is I'm not sure what I should be asking them to do in the ring!? It's all the best mane and tail, fluffiest ears, handsome gelding/pretty mare etc so I wasn't planning to ask for individual shows, more of a group walk and trot on both reins and then speak to each child (what's your/ponys name, how old, how long have you had them, who's helping you today type stuff to get them chatting) to get up close and actually see the ponies before deciding on placing. Does this seem fair or would you do something different?

 

[Orangehorse]

I think you have it about right. If it was a Fancy Dress competition they would just parade round, so it is the same sort of thing.

You could find out who did the grooming - the rider or Mum!

It would be the sort of class that absolutely anyone could enter with the chance of a rosette. Make a hasty exit after the class!

 

[paddi22]

we take a friends kid to similar shows, and the ones we do they do group walk. and then a small individual trot. they dont tent to trot them all together if they are very wobbly kids. then the judge has a quick chat about the pony. they tend to just ask name, ponies name, and then praise one thing a lot and move on. at the end every kid gets a rosette and a little bag of sweets. from the kids point of view it just all seems to be about the rosette, regardless of placings.

the judge seems to scan the entries beforehand and dole out the placings evenly between the kids, as most kids do a few classes, so if they win in one, they place lower in the rest.

 

[Welshie95]

Thank you! Yes fancy dress will be there too so I can ask them questions about that too I'm glad it's this class an not the one which counts towards the end of day trophy and championship!!

 

[Goldenstar]

Three stiff gins that's the way to do it .

 

[minesadouble]

Usually classes such as prettiest mare etc. are judged in hand rather than ridden. At our shows they usually just walk round as group, lined up, judge looks at each pony, they are sent back out to walk round again then final pull.

 

[Shay]

Keep an eye on who has won loads of classes already and try to aim for someone who hasn't won anything yet. (Unless completely horrible..) If you are judging more than one avoid placing the same child twice if you can.

And make a quick exit....

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We were judging similar classes last Sunday. We had everyone walk round on both reins, line up, bring pony out individually stand up square, walk away from judge, turn, trot towards and past judge, walk back, thank judge, go back into line up.
As this was a RC show for novices, we used it as a training session, reminding child handlers to keep a horse length distance from the horse in front, turn with pony between handler and judge, etc. We did 'juggle' a few of the rosettes to ensure a motivating distribution across the classes, no-one was either first or last in every class they entered.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I always want to give a prize to the child who never gets one otherwise ....... just do it......

 

[honetpot]

Keep an eye on who has won loads of classes already and try to aim for someone who hasn't won anything yet. (Unless completely horrible..) If you are judging more than one avoid placing the same child twice if you can.

And make a quick exit....

I agree with this.

They are often young so I get them to walk round a couple of times, pull them in the order they are in, saves confusion. Then I walk down the line and talk to each child and look at the pony. Make sure the line up faces the people watching so family can take snaps. Then I pull them out in the order I want. You could walk them round again but it depends on time and weather.
I try and remember who got what and make sure everyone gets a rosette. The ugliest pony with the worst confirmation, gets the pony I would like to take home red, they are usually the best behaved.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Three stiff gins that's the way to do it .

only the 3!

 

[Welshie95]

I survived! It was brilliant! Granted three of the same family entered everything on their ponies plus a couple of others but it was soooo lovely to see them have fun and chat away when I asked questions (yes I did get asked if I was really going to take their pony home)! Each were wobbly off the rein riders so we just walked and they trotted a lap of honour at the end but as suggested we used it as training e.g hand position, straight lines, change of rein etc and it was so lovely seeing some really nice and quiet riders. Everyone got a rosette and even mums at the end got highly commendeds for all their hard work and dedication to run a marathon around the ring with each child