LIMES FARM FOLKESTONE N38 RATHER HARSH JUDGING

onemoretime

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Did anyone go to the above dressage on Sunday. There appeared to be rather harsh judging of N 38. Slamming horses with a 5 for being slightly off the marker and for quarters slightly in - not very encouraging I have to say - it is only Novice after all. Apparently she doesn't have a very good reputation from what I hear.

N22 was judged correctly and accurately as usual by Mrs Johnson who always gives good constructive comments and advice perhaps others need to take heed.
 
Who was it judgeing? i went on a riding holiday there a few years ago, they mostly seemed okay, more into their jumping than dressage though
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I always feel that as long as the judging in consistent through out the whole class then there is no problem. Also I would rather get a 5 for not being on the marker than a 6 or 7 - what are you going to get when you get better - it really irritates me when you have improved 100% yet barely get a better mark as they have been giving you encoraging marks before hand.....
 
But the trouble is, no two judges are the same, and it's tricky enough to find people who are willing to judge without having to stipulate that they must all be generous in their marking.

If everyone has been marked the same, the result will be the same, just the percentage will be lower.

And I agree with the post above - 5 is sufficient, 6 is satisfactory, so if quarters are in and/or a marker is missed it isn't satisfactory, so I would give a 5 at novice level.
 
I presume Nov 38 was used as a qualifier?

I'm sorry but you have to expect to be penalised more in a qualifier - horses that qualify should be accurate and straight.

At the regionals you expect to drop around 5-6% off yor usual mark and there is no way three judges will allow you to get away with inaccurate riding or quarters being in novice class or not.

It is harsh sometimes but even I have to admit there is no joy in getting 70% when you know you didn't deserve it! Much better to get 64% in a tough marking class and know you damn well earned it.
 
Well I know who judged that test and I can assure you she is usually spot on with the marks and she would not give a 5 just because someone was "slightly off the marker". There will have been other factors affecting the mark!!

Her reputation is actually that of being fair and consistant and she has recently passed an individual assessment, as part of the exam system to upgrade to the next level, with flying colours.

She is also a regular (and successful) competitor herself and like all of us who judge and compete is only too aware of what it feels like to be judged unfairly.

N22 is a much easier test than N38 and therefore you would expect the marks for many competitors to be lower in the 38.

Usually in cases like this the fact of the matter is that the riders are unaware of the underlying issues in the test that are apparent to the judge.
 
I'm not a judge, but quarters in and off the line would, in my mind, be a 5 fair and square. Just a bit off the line would be a 6, but the quarters in is more serious and indicates a loss of straightness, and probably acceptance of the bridle and aids. Would be reflected in the collectives too.

Sorry! But I guess this is why I'm not a judge LOL
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Yes i was there watching on Sunday and also thought the marking was bizarre for the N38. Which horse were you riding?
 
Glad somebody was actually there are saw the test and the way of marking. I understand that there has been a number of complaints about this particular judge!
 
I was also there on Sunday, and I completely agree with you. I’m no expert but IMO (I ride Novice) some very random low marks and judging. The wonderful world of dressage hey!
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I would have to say quarters in should be penalised in a novice qualifier, not so much at prelim but a horse competiting novice is supposed to be working towards elementary. I think i know the judge you mean but i am sure as some others a voiced there are other reasons behind it, maybe as the judge next time for feedback to improve your marks at the level etc?
 
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Glad somebody was actually there are saw the test and the way of marking. I understand that there has been a number of complaints about this particular judge!

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Well I know for a fact that there have been NO official complaints about this judge!!

Also if organisers get complaints on a regular basis (even unofficial ones) they tend to stop inviting that judge back to the venue.

As anyone who knows who we are talking about and competes regularly will know, she is invited back again and again to ALL our local affiliated venues and she is particularly popular with the unaffiliated competitors as well (and they are usually the worst complainers).

If you had that much of a problem with your marks why did you not speak to her after the class ended. She is very approachable (as JoBo knows) and only too happy to discuss the test if she has time.

Many prefer to scarper as quickly as poss at the end of the class to avoid having to speak to the competitors.
 
Opps, there goes mine and Bodey’s dressage marks, just joking! Yes the judge is a very approachable, nice person. Just saying what I saw on Sunday though, but then I’m no expert!
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i think the main problem is that the leter C was the wrong way round and the letters on the one side where a good 6ft away from the arena! you cannot be acurate in that situation so just put it down to experience. The judg should have corrected this and i'm sure BD will have been informed by many parties about the way the arena was set up!
 
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