Local Shows & Judges - Workers - Opinions pls

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Eccles

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I have to admit that it is years since I have been showing but just wondered what your more experienced thoughts were with this. My 4yo went to his first ever show last weekend and did the novice working hunter. I am sure he is pretty true to type, big ISH (though as only 4yrs obviously still a bit weak) but works nice and round with a fab jump (and it did say NOVICE on the schedule!!) I intend to event him next year when he turns 5. Anyways, we jump a clear round, (but its quite small), then go in with around 10 others (all shapes and sizes, some cobs, a few hack types as well). Anyway, said 4 year old is a saint, works nicely, forward but round, doesn't put a foot wrong. In the first line up, a v lightweight hack type gets pulled in first, then a lovely school-master sort (not plaited, in a GAG!!?) then me. Hack-type does nice show, but doesn't really show a gallop, non-plaited- nice-horse-in-gag does rubbish show, rider all over the place, no gallop, forgets show and gives up, mine surprises me and is great, really thought he should get pulled up to 2nd but doesn't move in line up. Judge appeared to know gag-non-plaited-horse's rider v well. Nice true hunter types that I would have put further up line up where miles out. Gag horse ran out in its jumping!!?? Is this just sour grapes or is this normal for local showing??? grrrrr now I know why i prefer eventing and dressage. Opinions pls. If I am being mean and unsporting - say!
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If all the horses at the top of the line had done a clear round then our local WH classes would place based on a combination of quality, turnout, conformation and correct performance in the individual show...our classes are usually qualifiers for larger shows like Ponies UK and the committees find listed, respected judges who are asked to judge at a number of local shows (ie their results are respected). If the show was not to this standard and the judge was just someone local then I would expect a more variable standard! It sounds as if your chap was really well behaved and performed well, he doesn't know that the judge needed to visit the opticians! Hope you get a better judge next time....
 
The judge was a young girl (maybe 19 or 20) - brilliantly turned out herself but hopeless! Heard a few dodgy comments about her judging - including in-hand classes! But how much does turnout/correct dress/tack matter? Surely its a hunter and it has to jump first and foremost, it has to gallop, be sane and be true to hunter type. Thing is, it kind of wetted my appetite!
 
Most local show i have been to have bad or biased or completely clueless judges (I am not having a go) and sometimes you wonder what is the point but when you do get a real judge who comments your horse tells you where to improve, asks the right questions and runs the class in an orderly fashion you change your mind abd set out to improv. I obviously cant comment on your class having not seen your horse or the ocompetition but i dont like gags in showing nd lightweight hacks arent for working hunter but this is what you get at locals. It gets better when you get to county but since it was your horses first sho you did very well and only being four!! I see potential!!
Well done and never mind and to me turnout is just as important as everything else!!! It shows respect to the judges and organisers of the show even if the judging is cr*p!!
 
Sounds like you were a reciepient of some dodgy judging but unfortunately that is the problem when it is someones opinion. The gag would have been fine as WH classes any bits are allowed even at novice unless snaffle only is stated. As for being unplaited its a tricky one - if that horse performed really well and had good conformation which was better than others then its very hard under the marks you give to drop them down the line.
 
sounds like rubbish judging to me, quite common at local level I think, and the reason I've only done one showing class in the last 8 years! I think at least half of the marks in workers classes are for the jumping, so a horse that did a clear round and a nice show should be placed higher than a horse that didn't go clear and did a nice show. At local level pretty much anything goesas far as tack and turnout are concerned, and you can pretty much enter any horse in anything! Don't be disheartened, sounds like your horse did very well, and another judge would have placed differently
 
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Thing is, it kind of wetted my appetite!

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I always thought jumping was very important and unless there were very few, only the clear rounds got pulled back in?

As it sounds like you did enjoy it (despite the judging) and your boy behaved himself, is it worth looking into affiliated showing? I show jump so have no idea of who you'd have to register with but I know "novice" WH classes exist as shows such as Edenbridge & Oxted.
 
Grrr, sadly a lot of the time that's just the way it goes at locals!
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It makes me cross though because it doesn't help anyone; its not fair on those that are unable to compete at a higher level and is unhelpful for those that aspire to go higher as they can't learn what will be expected: if they do things wrong and still do well then it reinforces bad habits and if they're good and placed lower then they may not dare move up!!!
Its very frustrating but best to look on it as good experience for your horse - he sounds to have done very well!
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I believe that manners learnt in the showring are invaluable in any sphere of competition so do give it another go and pray to get a decent judge next time!
 
My daughter used to do working hunter on a friends pony and you never knew what the judges wanted. One was happy to place ponies who knocked down fences because in his view it didn't matter out hunting as long as they kept going! Our pony used to do well under the old school type of judge as he was a real mini hunter, not showy, and jumped round at a good hunting pace (usually out of control if the truth was known!). I can understand op being annoyed but at least your lad went well and you were pleased with him. Unfortunately when you enter showing classes you are entering for the judges opinion, even if they don't know what they are doing!
 
Thanks for all your replies!
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Maybe I just take these things too seriously and I'm way too competitive about these things. BTW the girl that was pulled in 4th events her horse to novice level and jumps 1.40 BSJA but I spose in the local showing world that is still classed as a Novice Worker??!!
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The class was busy with not-so-novice horses as a few other competitors told me they couldn't be bothered to wait another hour or so for the open class! Perhaps I should have done that one instead!
Said 4 year old was a saint and judge was shocked when I told her he was only 4! snigger snigger
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Sadly that is local showing. I hate bad sports but was very tempted to leave a ring on Sunday. Apparently badly turned out and fat and unfit cobs who can just about move are better then well mannered fit and healthy ones that enjoy their jobs. But it is the judge on the day, if any other judge was there it would have ended up totally differently. I have been placed better this season against better horses then what I was against Sunday. But don't let it put you off too much, it could all work out well next time. Good luck!!!
 
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