Negative Comments!

showpony said:
I have to say I enjoy the critique! Means I know exactly what I need to improve on etc... Having someone video from ground is also beneficial as a lot if the time tests can feel better than they look. . in our last test my made decided she was at a pony party and threw a mahoosuve buck at first canter transition and struck off on wrong leg... We got a 4 and a " very disobedient" comment which I will admit did make me smile.
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Me to! I am more annoyed if there is nothing written at all. At least if I'm told something no matter how negative it is to me it's a positive thing to work on.

I used to write for a lady known for her harsh comments. Yet there were many riders who loved competing in her ring, because she marked fairly and would give 9's and 10's when deserved. The comments are additional extras, often left blank when there is nothing to really say. The marks reflect the quality of the movement shown.

If you feel that you rode like a numpty but you felt the horse went OK for his level of schooling then ignore the comments made by a judge, who no doubt at Intro A has seen many numpty riders ride bad tests and is probably wondering why she gave up her day to judge.

I'm sorry but I can't get my head around people's desire to have something nice said to them when they've not met the grade. It's like consolation races where every participant gets a ribbon - even if they came last. That's for little kids.

If my marks are low and comments harsh then I buck up my ideas and go home and work harder. Is this just me or is it because I was raised in an era where this was the norm.
 
I was out with my instructor this weekend at BD doing a prelim on my young and backwards horse. Now i know we are not ready...but i have the transport, so i go out and ride a test with a good judge and dont pay for the fuel. Works well. This horse will be nice once forwards is established, but its a long painful WIP as my normal (hairy pony!) is off games. New ride is a coloured 15.3 WB x. Now i was finished with my test, untacked and covered in waterproof clothing and as my instructor came back after her second test she was chatting to another competitor who said 'Oh, you've brought a companion pony.' Good job i was left speachless!!!!

Test was terrible, but the comments were fair.
 
First of all I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to reply, even if I do not agree with you it was nice you took the time. I am currently working on my Christmas stock so have been off line all day and have yet to wade my way through all the replies. As the OP I can see from some of the more recent replies that some people have not read the whole thread or have decided I am some needy person who needs nice things said about them. I can quite assure you that as a teacher of excluded children I am quite used to verbal and physical abuse on a daily bases . What I was questioning was the balance of feedback given on the test sheet at a local unaffiliated dressage show. I have a wonderful thick skin, I am called every name under the sun at least once a day at work and still carry on teaching them. My horses and shows are my relaxation, my downtime. I am a full time teacher and a working ceramic artist so I am a weekend rider and I know it, as I said before I have no argument with the scores and no problem with any of the comments themselves, my problem was that the judge took no lnerest in what we did right. The judge also seems to have missed part of the test or in hind sight was commenting on my horses long tail, take your pick.
Thank you to those who have shared your judging nightmares I am pleased that most of you carried on as I will be doing next weekend, hopefully I will not ride like a total numpty this time, how ever I will not be going on my own this time either!

I have not shared the test sheet as I do not want to give away the venue, the show or the judge. The comments were the usual given for any young horse I sm sure you know them all.
I will be putting the test up on my facebook if you want a laugh any views you have you are welcome too. I am completely aware that I rode like a rabbit in the headlights, I have been out of the ring for a while. I am also aware that my little horse is not to everyones tastes, he was plucked from a gypsy field.
Lets move on now....onwards and upwards............well maybe head down at least.
Thank you again
sorry about any typing errors....tablet playing up
 
I've seen a few threads along these lines in here, some things to bear in mind:

Judges will not typically know:

The age of your horse.
How much schooling or not you've done with it.
If it's your or your horses 1st or 101st competition.
If you've been ill or injured.
If your horse is coming back from injury.
If you and your horse are a new partnership or one that's been together for years.

They can only mark what they see in front of them at the time, if the horse is poking it's nose, it's poking it's nose, if you ride a squaricle, you've not ridden a circle, if the horse isn't bending, it's not bending, the how's, whys and wherefores are irrelevant really.

Onwards and upwards OP, take it on the chin, work with your instructor to remedy weaknesses which have been highlighted.
 
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