Most ludicrous comment by show judge

npage123

npage123

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I'm just wondering if it happens very often that riders experience/witness ludicrous comments/placements by show judges?

This weekend at a local show, an absolutely gorgeous and immaculately turned-out pony was only placed 7th. The judge's reasoning behind it? She said that he was a bit overweight for a Connemara.

BUT: He's not even a Connemara - he's a multiple county level show winning HIGHLAND PONY!!

(Needless to say, the owner was fuming. She made a complaint afterwards and got an apology and her entry fee back. Somehow I don't think that pony will be seen at the same show next year...)
 
Well that's what you get when you go local.

Why was a county winning pony at a local show anyway?
 
At my first show with my traditional gypsy cob we entered coloured youngstock. He is piebald and was 2 at the time, fair enough I thought.

I was placed last and judge told me I should have put him in the mountain and moorland class. :-o

Very disheartening, but things have improved since then and we do ok.

I really wish I'd asked her which mountains or moorlands she thought he came from.
 
Gracie21 said:
Every one needs to practise :)

I doubt that judge will be asked to come back next year ;)
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Agreed, but then you go HC

You simply cannot expect a local judge (who volunteers basically for a bottle of wine) to have the same level of competence as a panel judge.
 
Entered a Heinz57 I was schooling at the time in a M&M class, thinking he must at least be a part-bred. We came 3rd, judge said he was a lovely example of his breed. Didn't have the heart to ask which breed that was.:rolleyes:
 
npage123 said:
I'm just wondering if it happens very often that riders experience/witness ludicrous comments/placements by show judges?

This weekend at a local show, an absolutely gorgeous and immaculately turned-out pony was only placed 7th. The judge's reasoning behind it? She said that he was a bit overweight for a Connemara.

BUT: He's not even a Connemara - he's a multiple county level show winning HIGHLAND PONY!!

(Needless to say, the owner was fuming. She made a complaint afterwards and got an apology and her entry fee back. Somehow I don't think that pony will be seen at the same show next year...)
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Doubt the show will care and would rather not have pot hunters anyway, so actually rather a win win.
 
The lady said she entered the show because the pony was semi-retired and also she's never been to that particular show although it's local to her.

So she probably doesn't enter the bigger shows any longer and thought that it would be a great day out for the two of them - not!

As fantastic as the pony looked, his 'personality' and behaviour was even better. I won't ever forget him!
 
npage123 said:
I'm just wondering if it happens very often that riders experience/witness ludicrous comments/placements by show judges?

This weekend at a local show, an absolutely gorgeous and immaculately turned-out pony was only placed 7th. The judge's reasoning behind it? She said that he was a bit overweight for a Connemara.

BUT: He's not even a Connemara - he's a multiple county level show winning HIGHLAND PONY!!

(Needless to say, the owner was fuming. She made a complaint afterwards and got an apology and her entry fee back. Somehow I don't think that pony will be seen at the same show next year...)
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Well firstly I'd suggest you stop trying to pot hunt at a local show with a multiple winning county horse. If you were there for practise then it shouldn't matter you came 7th.

Secondly, if the owners have an overweight horse then they may be well advised to take on board the judges comments before their prize winner gets associated medical conditions with the obesity
 
ihatework said:
Well firstly I'd suggest you stop trying to pot hunt at a local show with a multiple winning county horse. If you were there for practise then it shouldn't matter you came 7th.

Secondly, if the owners have an overweight horse then they may be well advised to take on board the judges comments before their prize winner gets associated medical conditions with the obesity
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But it wasnt a 'fat connemara', it was a Highland (!) whose rib cage as a breed is about twice the size without them being fat (necessarily).......

Now it MIGHT also have been fat as a Highland, but given the judge couldnt tell what breed it was I probably wouldnt choose them first in line to make that call....
 
The judge got the breed wrong, and ok, maybe shouldn't have, but sadly it only seems to be the local shows who have the balls to tell people when their pony is too fat. The county show judges tell people their fat ponies are too thin. Its one of the reasons a lot of county type horses don't do well locally, they are all in 'show condition' ie obese.
 
The only odd comment I've had - in an in hand sports pony youngstock class - was that Val was too small!

When asked what height he should make we said between 14 and 14.1hh, to be told "that's a bit on the small side" :confused:
 
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I can't say that I think a local judge, there for no pay except maybe her mileage, if that, can really be criticised for not being able to tell a fat grey Highland pony from a fat grey Connemara pony. The class presumably was for best Mountain and Moorland type, as opposed to being best Mountain and Moorland for its type, a totally different thing and unreasonable to expect at a little local show where most ponies are Heinz 57, sorry :(
 
LOL hilarious!!!

I wouldn't have asked for my money back for that, especially if I was only practising... some people need to learn to lose gracefully :)

Local shows are the result of hard work by just a handful of people and they are traditionally a "practice ground" for people in all walks of life, with all sorts of horses.

Judges get a sandwich and a cup of tea if they are lucky, stewards are even less thought about. They stand from 9am 'til whenever it finishes in sun, wind & rain.

If we didn't have them, where would we go? How would we get to county level if there are no local qualifiers? Give these people some credit where it is due.

If you take your prizewinner to local shows, expect to be treated like anyone else.
 
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they do make some odd decision

once in a best t/o class I was the only one with sewn in plaits and a properly clean horse, I was placed below someone with a dirty pony and dirty jods, messy banded plaits.
when I asked why I was told 'overall look' so I said you mean because I am overweight, 'hmm well yes' was his reply.

I wouldn't mind but at size 14/16 and riding a big hunter type I didn't see the problem :p
 
soulfull said:
they do make some odd decision

once in a best t/o class I was the only one with sewn in plaits and a properly clean horse, I was placed below someone with a dirty pony and dirty jods, messy banded plaits.
when I asked why I was told 'overall look' so I said you mean because I am overweight, 'hmm well yes' was his reply.

I wouldn't mind but at size 14/16 and riding a big hunter type I didn't see the problem :p
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How very rude. Unbelievably so, now I would have complained after a comment like that.
 
I would be concerned if a judge could not discern whether the beast was a highland or a connie fat or otherwise..

All local shows I have competed or stewarded at have judged each M+M entry against its breed type so def best M+M for its type rather than best M+M type.

I do remember a few interesting conversations with judges in the past with regards to connie/newfie or fell/dales though.. and even hho called a shettie an exmoor last week.. :p
 
It is something you accept when you take county standard ponies to local shows.

I've taken plenty in the past, purely for schooling etc or babies under saddle (who might have been big winners in the young-stock classes in previous years). Each animal has different needs & often is only when you are in the ring that you can really get the fine tuning done (particularly with ponies)

I've had Exmoors called Dartmoors or New Forests, Fells called Dales or Welsh C or D, been sent out with a section B because the judge really thought it was not a native, let alone registered. (yes, it was a bit light compared to some in there, but it was a top-end WHP & also ran in open 13hh whp too - it needed some schooling to behave with others in the go-round)

Its one of those things you HAVE to accept.

The local judges are doing it for free (usually) they might have knowledge about some of the breeds, but not all. They have not usually done any probationary training for judging for each and every breed.

Anyone who takes a county standard animal to a local show is not usually pot-hunting, but going for schooling - and MUST take 'amusing' comments from judges gracefully. (by all means stomp & throw toys out of the pram if its a panel judge tho! :D )
 
I saww a class where a filthy boy on a scruffy pony got the cup because the judge wanted to 'encourage' boys who tried showing. All I can see that he learnt was he got a cup for not making an effort so why bother trying in the future.:confused:
 
A judge once told me I had to come last because my horse was on his forehand. Fair enough, he was on his forehand, he was only young at the time and was doing quite well considering. Did feel a bit bad that I was beaten by a horse who kept repeatedly rearing up, couldn't canter on the correct lead leg on either rein and almost trampled the judge, and another that was only in the ring for 5 minutes before leaving to compete in another class that they had entered that clashed. Surely we must have done something more serious than being a little on the forehand?! :confused:
 
soulfull said:
they do make some odd decision

once in a best t/o class I was the only one with sewn in plaits and a properly clean horse, I was placed below someone with a dirty pony and dirty jods, messy banded plaits.
when I asked why I was told 'overall look' so I said you mean because I am overweight, 'hmm well yes' was his reply.

I wouldn't mind but at size 14/16 and riding a big hunter type I didn't see the problem :p
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LOL, Were we in the same class?

I've also been beaten by horses with pelhams on upside down, lovely blingy white dressage squares, riders with their skull cap on backwards because it 'fits better'. brightly coloured numnahs. And when the judge is adjusting the fit of the tack of the prize winnners..... sigh.

I must point out, that me and 2 other ladies were sat on the back row, correctly turned out and attired, no bling present, clean, polished boots.....sigh

I gave up doing Tack and turnout after 2 attempts. Obviously, I do it wrong. :D
 
Among the thousands of shows held each year for fun, I do think you will come across some things that make you want to hurl your rosette back at the judge. Especially when you know you are correct compared to the girl with 6 inches of make-up on and not a hairnet in sight with a horse as fat as a picnic table and plaits that look like birds nests. (I am not bitter)

Just smile, walk away, and carry on to the next one. Support another show next year.
 
That's local showing for you! :)

My best one was when I took my welsh D yearling to her very first show. It was a very small local event and tbh, it was totally for experience as I wanted her first outing to go without a hitch.

There was only one other in the youngstock, a very nice welsh D, but a colt. He was extremely naughty (though admittedly beautiful!) and was rearing up constantly whilst screaming his head off and 'boxing' at his handler!! My little filly just stood and watched him rolling her eyes as if to say 'bloody drama queen!' lol

She behaved impeccably and did a beautiful trot up and stood stock still throughout. When the judge pulled the other in first, I didn't mind - he was lovely, if a little monkey. When presenting me with our second place rosette she said she'd given it to the colt based on his trot down the hill?!!

I was just so pleased my filly have behaved but friend was furious and wanted to go and have a word with the judge. Wasn't helped that when stood outside the ring making a fuss of my filly, the judge and other competitor walked passed us discussing where they were going to go for tea that night! haha!

Like I say though - that's local shows for you and i was just pleased my girl was such a little star at her first outing!


Last week, another friend went to a RC show and it was pouring with rain. The judge turned up an hour and a half late, pushing back all the classes and proceeded to sit in her car to 'judge'! My firned said she even saw her on the phone at one point! I thought that was a little naughty, afterall, the poor competitors had already been stood around for their classes and paid money to enter. The least they could have done was stand in the rain for a while (and yes, I have been a steward at a local show and stood out in all weathers!)
 
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Sorry but I agree with the OP, that sort of judging is dire.

I would never dream of putting myself forward to judge. But I do know the M&M breeds, could probably just about tell the difference between a hack/hunter/riding horse & show and traditional cob. I know how a family or childs pony should behave and can tell when a horse is correctly turned out and even sound (wouldn't promise to pick up slight problems)

And if you dont they surely you would do a bit of research, before you show yourself up like that in the ring. I completely understand with the part breds, I would expect the judge to ask what cross they were.

Local shows are where people learn how to improve, or should be, of course judges make mistakes, but a basic level of competence, come on.

And as long as they pay their entry fees and its not against the rules, why shouldn't people with better ponies enter. We used to think it was great if we beat a county standard pony when we were starting out, but on merit.
 
Tried one outing with my girl at an arab c show, so expect good judge. Know judge very high up in breed so do not question she knows more than me. What I objected to is in this class there are strict rules (such as no long whips or standing horse up in extended pose as is usual in arab classes), which several competitors broke, & got placed. We came last, fine, but I didn't understand as girlie far from a moose, behaved impeccably, did everything when asked, stood when asked. We even got placed behind one that even refused to trot up & was dragged around the arena in walk poking his nose out to avoid going faster. Was my girl really that abhorrant??
 
But why was she on a multiple county winning pony at local level? :confused: Thats the sort of pot hunting that annoys people and she obviously expected to win or she wouldnt have been so outraged at the comment. If she was only there for experiance then she should have gone HC and the jugdes comments wouldnt have mattered any way.

I'd love judges that dont like fat ponies in the ring, I might be willing to take it a bit further if I knew I wasnt going to be penalised for having the pony fit.
 
The first show my sister did was a local family pony class. While he isn't really a typical family pony he was pretty well behaved for his first show - did the occasional whinny to his friends but otherwise didnt put a foot wrong.

He came last, after a pony who had bucked its rider off half way through the class.

People tend to either love or hate him & I think this judge was in the second category. Just made us giggle though.
 
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