My instructor is the judge. WWYD?

[Deleted member 163966]

I take regular lessons with a very good instructor who is also a dressage judge. Feeling that my riding and general confidence is finally coming together, I decided to take the plunge and enter an unaffiliated dressage event run by a local riding club. It's only a couple of prelim tests, so we're talking quite a basic level of competition, but, none the less, quite a big adventure for me!. My friend is also going to the same event in a couple of weeks time, and has offered me a lift in her box. All's good. I then mentioned this to my instructor at my lesson yesterday, only to discover that she will be judging the event, which I didn't know until after I entered.

My friend is now saying I shouldn't go, as the judge will be "biased in my favour" (her words) and it's not fair to everyone else who is entered. I feel that the judge/my instructor should, and will, judge my performance entirely on its merit - or lack thereof!!! - and score my test accordingly. I think my friend is being a bit unreasonable, not to say a bit insulting to my instructor who is very good at her job and takes her judging responsibilities very seriously and professionally. I have to add/confess, however, that I have booked a lesson immediately before the event to run through the tests . So - should I go or not? All thoughts welcomed. Thank you.

 

[Kaylum]

If she is a dressage judge she has to score fairly. She will probably know and instruct a lot of people. I would still enter.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I wouldn't go. Ask the organisers if you can swop your entries to another event.

You shouldn't compete under someone who has financial gain from you or your animals. It's a standard rule. It is also a conflict of interest.

 

[LEC]

It’s actually likely to be the opposite - she will mark you harshly as knows you can do better. Personally, I would go and see it as a training exercise with added benefits. Your trainer will then be able to pick up all your faults and fix. I just wouldn’t get caught up. It’s an unaff Dr competition and is a test of your training, just go that you are looking to get better and it’s a golden opportunity

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Not sure if it still the ' rule' but you used to have to declare a conflict of interest. Also you weren't allowed to have had a lesson in 3 weeks prior to the comp.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It’s actually likely to be the opposite - she will mark you harshly as knows you can do better. Personally, I would go and see it as a training exercise with added benefits. Your trainer will then be able to pick up all your faults and fix. I just wouldn’t get caught up. It’s an unaff Dr competition and is a test of your training, just go that you are looking to get better and it’s a golden opportunity

I would potentially see it the other way though. The judge may mark higher because she doesn't want her training skills to look bad by ditching one of her pupils on marks.

 

[LEC]

I wouldn't go. Ask the organisers if you can swop your entries to another event.

You shouldn't compete under someone who has financial gain from you or your animals. It's a standard rule. It is also a conflict of interest.

It’s just unaff so no issues. Tbh in dr likely to happen all the time. Most of the unaff judges round me know me pretty well and I just never worry about it. The rules are not as strict as showing.

It’s dressage so you mark what you see, there will be some bias as can never avoid it but until you compete you have no idea which way it will swing.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

If unaffiliated do it. Judges are good enough that they can score fairly. It should make it an easier exercise for you and the feedback you get following it will be really helpful.

 

[humblepie]

You could ask to go hors concours, so you compete and get the experience but would not be placed. Downside means you might miss out on a rosette but will take the pressure off you and your instructor and shouldn't upset anyone.

 

[ITPersonnage]

Have written for judges where this is the case, it's down to the judge to be subjective and fair to all, a lot of the time the judges are not declared ahead of time anyway so it's certainly not down to you to find out before you enter.

 

[WelshD]

I'd go but non competitively so HC

I'm surprised your instructor isn't uncomfortable about it

 

[cauda equina]

If she is a dressage judge she has to score fairly. She will probably know and instruct a lot of people. I would still enter.

This
In my area there's a fairly small pool of judges and they all teach too so it's hard to avoid being judged by your instructor at some point; it never seems to be a problem

 

[ester]

Unaffiliated I don't think it's that unusual a scenario so I wouldn't consider it an issue.

 

[asmp]

You could ask to go hors concours, so you compete and get the experience but would not be placed. Downside means you might miss out on a rosette but will take the pressure off you and your instructor and shouldn't upset anyone.

This is what I was going to say if you feel awkward about it

 

[w1bbler]

It's unaffiliated, just go & enjoy.
At a low level ode my instructor was the dressage judge, she admitted afterwards to being harsh 'as she knew I could do better' it was my first ode & nerves took over a bit
If you are feeling nervous seeing a familiar face may help.
As you enter the arena, sit up look straight at her & smile, enjoy the experience

 

[Boulty]

It’s a local fun unaffiliated. If you’re worried have a chat to your instructor about it but personally I’d still go.

If it was affiliated then there may be a potential issue/ you’d likely have to at least declare it to the venue & check the rules.

Not dressage but I’ve done plenty of TREC events where the person I train with is judging / organising & tbh normally 90% of the entrants will also be in the same position as she’s that prolific so not really an issue

 

[bouncing_ball]

think BD rules are that if it happens, you declare the conflict, and there is a note put up in secretary's area informing all that there is a declared conflict of interest and who is impacted, and you can still competed. Ideally you do try and avoid conflicts, but BD recognize sometimes unavoidable.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I'm not sure of the current accepted protocol, but IME of competing in affil dressage back in the day I would get marked more harshly by my trainer as she knew just which weak spots to look for .

Not all trainers are as professional, though.

 

[janei]

It's local unaffiliated, I've been and my instructor has been the judge and did it very fairly. Judges should be scoring on what they see on the day, I think your friend is perhaps reacting a little unfairly. Good luck and enjoy it

 

[eggs]

I also agree that you should go and do your tests. You can go hors concours if you wish so then no-one can complain of any bias.

I also tend to find that when being judged by your instructor that if anything they do tend to be harsher as they know your strengths and weaknesses.

Go and enjoy yourself and ignore your friend.

 

[saddlesore]

Yep just go! It’s unaffiliated so no issues

 

[Deleted member 163966]

Thank you all for your opinions. Some interesting points of view.

I think I am going to go, because I haven't entered an event like this for some considerable time, and this one is being held quite close to home, so it's a good opportunity to get out and about for me and my horse. My instructor hasn't really expressed any issue with it when we chatted yesterday, other than to say "see you there" and let's practice that tricky bit in Test X. I'm certainly not expecting to come home with a rosette unless they give them out for "well at least she tried!!" ........ but it will be a learning experience.

 

[Nicnac]

It's low level unaffiliated not the bloody Olympics! It's not an issue @PinkUnicorn - if you compete locally it's often the case as there's only a small pool of judges to call upon.

Affiliated it's a different ballgame.

Have a good time!

 

[Annagain]

I'm chair of my local riding club so I've been judged by friends, instructors,and people I've given business to via the club - I've even booked the judges for competitions I've competed in. Not once has anybody complained - probably because I never win!. The horsey community is a small world this sort of thing is bound to happen - and does frequently. I went to a dressage comp - my first with my new horse - a few months ago without knowing that quite a good friend (I hadn't discussed it with her) was judging. I felt she marked me very fairly and other than her final comment. "He's lush, you lucky girl" (she hadn't yet seen him) no-one would ever have known she knew me.

I think for our BRC competitions there's a rule about not having a lesson with someone who will judge you for 2 weeks before the competition but for unaffiliated, I wouldn't worry. If you'd feel more comfortable (or it would shut your friend up) you could tell the organiser and then it's up to them what they do but I bet they'll thank you for your honesty and do no more about it.

 

[Red-1]

I wouldn't think twice, it is an unaffiliated dressage so I would go and have fun!

BTW, that's how I got my new dressage trainer, she was a judge and I liked the way she judged... so I asked if she did lessons. I would not dream of now stopping from going to the venues where she judges. I trust that she would be fair.

My first reaction to your OP was that your friend was scared you would beat her LOL, but then I see that others would have an issue too.

As another poster said, often I have no idea who will be judging when I enter.

 

[Cowpony]

think BD rules are that if it happens, you declare the conflict, and there is a note put up in secretary's area informing all that there is a declared conflict of interest and who is impacted, and you can still competed. Ideally you do try and avoid conflicts, but BD recognize sometimes unavoidable.

This is correct. I think it's the judge who has to declare the conflict of interest though, not the competitor

 

[MagicMelon]

Just go, if anything Id worry she would judge me MORE harshly because she knew what I was capable of compared to my usual rubbish dressage performances!

 

[splashgirl45]

I was judged by my trainer who is also a friend and she apologised afterwards as she marked me quite harshly, she was so concerned to not mark me better she went too far the other way . It was unaffiliated so not a problem..

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Have written for judges where this is the case, it's down to the judge to be subjective and fair to all, a lot of the time the judges are not declared ahead of time anyway so it's certainly not down to you to find out before you enter.

The judge should be objective

 

[J&S]

Localised horsey worlds are small. When I used to ride tests regularly my instructor/s very often were the judges, they were club members and happy to help out. Never saw a problem with it! Also, quite nice to have feedback during the next lesson.