Most ludicrous comment by show judge

I love showing, always have done and always will do. It amuses me however on some judges behaviour and or comments... This season at a county show, 'naughty' ex-racer kicked out of class before even doing a full lap of walk... Admittedly he was jig jogging but by no means causing mischief or upsetting anything else, horse in front reared, was allowed to carry on. We left the ring slightly miffed (even Lady on the gate apologised!) on closer inspection, he was the only hunter type there, he's a big, strapping, MW type, plenty of bone, everything else was hack/riding horse type-we believe judge was looking for an excuse. Same horse won both classes following week with same behaviour (he settles after 2 minutes-1st season, lightly shown true novice) and went on to be placed in the finals at the Championships, the week after that, in excellent company. You win some, you lose some :) judging at local level a few years ago, I did a bit of a blooper myself (we are only human after all!) coloured warmblood in M&M class... I popped it bottom of the line up because, well it wasn't a M&M, gave Rossette out, woman asks why she was there when she was the only coloured and she should have won for this reason, I patiently explained... Turns out she was in the wrong class, supposed to be coloured class and I'd got her number wrong. Ooops
 
Pulled in third in coloured in hand, behind a horse the owner couldnt get into trot at all and a girl with no hat, gloves and a dressage whip (again dragging it across the ring), to be told the reason for our placing was the horses chestnuts were too big.:rolleyes:
 
Why would a pony that competes and wins at County Level be at a local show?

Having said that, you would hope a judge could tell a Connie from an Highland :eek:
 
My last pony was very often mistaken for a welsh. She was a fully reg, forest bred New Forest pony !
First ever show, Mixed M&M in hand, she wasn't placed at all. I didn't mind though as my 3 year old had behaved impeccably at her first ever show. It was a local show, held every year to raise money for our local RDA group. The judge did look pretty confused..as if she didn't know what breed my pony was, and the girl who won later asked me..."what section (as in Welsh) is she ?" She had a very nice Section D. I explained that she was a reg NF, born and lived on the forest before I bought her. "Oh !", she said, "She's very pretty."
Next show, a week later, my pony was placed 2nd, again in a Mixed M&M in hand. She went on to get placed 3rd and 4th (NPS panel judge) at 2 other shows in Mixed M&M in hand...no strange judge comments though.

The pony I have now I bought in May 2011, again, a straight off the forest reg New Forest filly. Did our local RC show 3 months later (4 months since she was living "wild"). We did the in hand turnout as her first ever class. Again, we didn't get placed but the judge came down the line and gave everyone advice on how to improve. My pony, I'd shown in a white rope halter which is correct for her breed. Judge said, "lovely pony but it's difficult to judge them in those halters." She also said that it was a hard class to judge as everyone was immaculate...."but your pony's tail is a bit thin." Cue me explaining..."She's a forest bred NF who has lived on the forest since she was born. Her tail is thin at the bottom because, as she was living on the forest, she was tail marked at the last drift. She only came off the forest 4 months ago."
Next class was Mixed M&M in hand...FULL of Welshies...and my pony...Same judge !
1st was a very nice Welsh D, 2nd..was a FAT..Welsh A, 3rd...my friend with her yearling Welsh C, 4th.....ME and my NF filly ! So, all bar one, my pony was placed above the rest of the Welsh D's..5 of them.
The Judge....NPS Panel, owns a nearby stud and has bred and shown TB's, Arabs, Anglo Arabs, PBA's, Welsh B's and PB Welsh. She's a very nice lady, but hopefully (with my "assistance" in the turnout class), next time she comes across a NF pony with a "thin" tail, she will remember what I said and know that it has most likely been a forest running NF that has been "tail marked." ;)
A couple of weeks ago, this pony won 2 classes and was 2nd in 2 classes. Again, at a local show but not a panel judge. But the judge did keep saying.."WHAT a STUNNING pony !" :D.
Next show, and our last this year, is an agricultural show on 8th September.
 
A few years ago I went with friends to view a pony for their daughter. Seller was a judge/producer. Child was 11 but big and pony was too small - all quite amicable.

A year later she was showing under this guy on her stunning & successful pony. He placed her down the line - it was bizarre judging. She came out and said that as he gave her the special rosette he said: "I bet you wish you'd bought that pony from me now!"
 
Showing-local or otherwise-is all about the judge. I think its good judging when you can see why the judge has made their decisions even if you don't agree. My daughter was at a very local show recently, pulled in first, then her pony spooked at the start of her show (a train went by right next to the showfield). His show was otherwise lovely. The next rider kicked and flapped and cantered round on the wrong leg. The pony had a plaited tail and a loose mane. The other two riders both managed better shows though their ponies were not as nice as ours, and were not as well ridden. Anyway the one who cantered on the wrong leg was first. My daughter was second. I was so surpised at the order she had placed them in that I approached her and asked why she had chosen the only pony which had cantered incorrectly to win. She said that my pony had spooked and wasn't suitable for a child, and that it was a local show and it wasn't a showing class! Then the results came out in the local paper and yes it referred to the "showing classes." So if my pony was so unsuitable why didn't she place it last then?
 
pintoarabian said:
This one put me off showing completely. We took one of our coloured yearling fillies to a large national show. She had been Champion the week previously. The judge, a well-known show producer with a dubious reputation, placed her last in a class of 18. The 17th placed competitor asked him why she had been placed 17th. He told her that her horse was lame on 3 legs. Naturally, I was astounded that I had been placed below a horse that was lame on 3 legs so I asked him, fearing that I hadn't noticed my filly's leg had fallen off. He told me that my (yearling) filly was showing signs of wear and tear in her joints. The filly went on to be Champion again the following week. She was also graded First Premium at her grading and now jumps successfully BS, winning more often than not. She is now 9 and has never had a day of lameness or stiffness in her life.
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Ah yes. Pretty sure I know who you mean. I've heard the comments too, and I was pretty shocked (they weren't all about horses...)! The same judge told me my 5 year old wasn't extending enough - well, sorry, he's 5, and he's simply too young and unbalanced. Yes, I could produce a 5 year old to extend and go in a false outline, but I'd rather have him properly schooled and balanced first.

Scotland is awful for showing. I've pretty much given up too. You get no allowance for a well behaved but naturally immature young horse in a novice class against 8 - 12 year olds who are naturally more advanced. Unless you get an English or Irish judge. Hence I now only enter if its the latter. And a lot of people seem to feel the same way as me - the big shows this year have had only 3 or 4 entries in many of the Hunter classes.

I think at the Royal Dublin Show, they only allow young horses in the showing classes, or have higher prize money or something, and IMHO thats they way it should be, in the sports horse/hunters, showing should primarily be a marketplace and schooling ground for the young horses who will hopefully go onto success in one of the proper disciplines of dressage, jumping or eventing, or at least make good hunters.

Another favourite comment, this time on my 17.1 middleweight from a working hunter judge (male) about to ride him: "He's very big", said in quavering voice. What do you expect in a hunter class?!?
 
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