My instructor is the judge. WWYD?

[Ossy2]

I will caveat this by saying I don’t know about riding club rules but if BD recognise that this situation can and does happen and can be managed through the conflict of interest process then I don’t see why you should have to withdraw. Under BD it should be the judges responsibility to check the entry list and declare any conflicts so would assume it’s the same the judge should check the entry list and declare to organisers. If you didn’t speak to the trainer about this entry you would be non the wiser currently, the onus should be on the judge to pick up.

 

[ycbm]

I would be surprised if any judges who are also a trainers don't regularly judge people who they train.

I was once judged by my trainer and won. Somebody complained and I heard her explain to them that since my horse was going in the way she trained me to have him going, because that was how she liked to see horses going, then he was bound to score well.

I thought it was a fair argument.
.

 

[little_critter]

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.

Especially as it’s pretty rare to know who the judge will be until you go down the CL.

 

[McFluff]

I’m amazed that people know who’s judging before they get their sheet. That’s usually when I find out!
The trainer and judge pool is so small that total avoidance must be almost impossible.
I‘d expect to be judged fairly, perhaps on the harsher side, so I think your friend is over-reacting. Go and enjoy.