"Observations" on dressage sheets

[Just a thought]

This is my first post on here and was just looking for opinions. (Basically trying to establish if I'm being a diva or not!!) When it comes to filling in "observations" on a test sheet am I the only one that becomes a little disheartened when the judges comments are all negative? It does stay "observations" not "critcisms" Last week I did an intro unaffiliated dressage test on my little horse. Now we are never going to the next Olympics or even area festivals but we enjoy what we do. I am not criticising any comments the judge made of our test because all of her points where 100% valid HOWEVER I left the arena feeling proud of my little mount, by the time I got my test sheet I felt like crying. There was not one positive comment on the sheet. Even a clutching at straws for something positive to write such as pretty horse comment would have done. I fail to see at some stage in the test she could not have seen something that she thought oh that was good. The horse in question did a fair test. Yes she is inconsistent to the contact. It's intro level. Yes she struggles with left bend. It's intro level. But she maintains a nice rhythm, she works accurately and she's obedient. My point is if this was my first time doing dressage I would never bother again. Surely this is not the point of intro level tests. Surely they are there to establish the basic level of training for the horse and to encourage people to have a go. Constructive criticism is great. A positive comment inspires people to try again. Pure negativity is not helpful. Thoughts please. Am I being a diva?

 

[PorkChop]

I agree that observations should be constructive.

Lots of judges have the ability to word it in a positive way.

I wouldn't take it to heart tbh, also if you get the opportunity to write for a judge you will understand how difficult it is with the time constraints.

I am sure that the comments were not meant to upset, if you were pleased with your horse then that is all that matters

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Not being a diva no, but I fear this is what unaff can do as the judges do not have to be listed or as beholden to the training and practises of listed judges. Last weekend (aff BD) I got some pretty (justified) negative comments, but on the upside the box where the judge writes the comments they also popped some encouraging ones in so that brightened me back up.

I get frustrated with overly negative sheets too, but then I think, I've paid for their opinion and I do generally agree with the comments given, so then I need to man up, grow a thicker skin and work on the issues highlighted rather than weep about the uselessness of it all .

I think it's PaddyMonty on here has as his sig at the bottom 'Dressage the only sport where you pay to be told how rubbish you are', or something of the same ilk. It can be down heartening but try and work it round to take that that is what you need to work on, as after all the judge has no idea of your back story or how far you've come, they can only say what they see.

 

[be positive]

I think the judges do sometimes forget they are not at the Olympics and that grassroots riders do need some positive comments, I do find that most put in something nice in the collectives but for the rest of the test the comments are there to reflect the mark given there is no time to write much so if they have given a 5 they need to justify it by adding an appropriate comment such as "could show more bend" or "inattentive" , if the movement is fairly good, 7, then the mark shows what the judge thinks so they have little reason to comment other than to give the rider feedback, which they may not feel they need to.

You must try and remember the judge is there to judge what you do not to give a lesson, your trainer will be the one to look at the test sheets and give constructive advice, whereas the judge is not best placed to be really constructive unless something is really dreadful when they probably can say something as anything may be useful.

The tests are not there to establish a level of training, that is done during your work at home, they are to assess whether you are working to the standard and following the scales of training, don't get too frustrated, if you don't already have a trainer then find someone who knows what the judges are looking for who can help you become more established and give you tips on how to ride a test really well, it is far more difficult in a test situation than it is at home.

 

[Orangehorse]

We do dressage, but we are always going to be disappointed as we can never have a 100% "clear round." Why do we do it?

Some dressage judges are cows, frankly. Some are really nice and give some helpful constructive remarks at the end. This is one competition, don't take it to heart, but do take note of the general gist of things over a few competitions. Have you done any dressage writing? If not, I would suggest that you offer your services as it is very, very interesting and you will learn lots. You will also learn what the test looks like from the judge's point of view and it will be very helpful to you so you will know what to avoid, at least. (Those nodding heads, moving hands, inconsistant contact, wobbling centre lines, etc. etc.) That is supposing you don't get a judge who likes an essay on every movement!

If you find that the judges are making the same remarks every time, then it is obviously something that you can work on to improve. They don't know your history or your horse's history, all they are looking at is what you are doing at that moment in the arena.

Honestly, don't take it too much to heart, onwards and upwards!

 

[Shay]

The points made above are valid of course - but there is a flip side to this. However badly expressed at least the judge saw potential in your test so as to make comments even if they were negative. For me... the one thing I really don't want to see on a test sheet is something banal like "...pretty horse". If that is all the judge can find to offer me on our performance that would really be a waste of time!

Orangehorse is right about volunteering to dressage write. That makes massive difference in how the process is viewed and understood.

 

[Batgirl]

You have given little information about the score, the kinds of comments or marks. I can only speculate and give you a point of view from a trainee judge who does a lot of intro judging - there is a big difficulty for judges at Intro level - it is not really a true BD level, it is an intro. If we marked and judged as a proper judge many would end crying, if we are too positive you end up with a false impression and end crying when you go somewhere else. It is a delicate balance that is hard to strike, and we are volunteers who see 40-50 horses a day and we make mistakes.

I am there to judge you, that is the whole point and if I am seeing issues I am commenting on them, we comment on what stands out good or bad, perhaps nothing particularly good stood out, perhaps you had a particularly negative judge. That said I have rarely struggled to make a positive comment in the collectives be it about accuracy, rhythm or partnership.

 

[wench]

I had one judge at a BE event that wrote so small to fit in all the vile comments she wanted to say in the box at the bottom.

I showed the sheet to my dressage trainer (trainee judge), and said it was bang out of order.

Made a formal complaint to BE about it, and I hope the judge was pulled up on it.

 

[WandaMare]

I have written for the judges on quite a few occasions and unfortunately I would say that some of them are just quite miserable people who do seem to focus on the negative in life. I actually felt uncomfortable with some of the discouraging things that were written, which is why I stopped doing it in the end. That said, I did meet some very positive and encouraging ones too who did seem to appreciate the effort people were putting in, even if things didn't go perfectly. I think sometimes you just get unlucky and get a miserable one, don't let it put you off though, as long as you were happy with your horse and feel you are progressing then really that's the only thing which really matters.

 

[spacefaer]

As an judge (admittedly unaffiliated) I always try to write positive comments at the end - sometimes I have to rack my brains to find something appropriate.

I understand that what I see as a 50% test (& not overly impressive! ) might be a pb for the horse/rider combination.
Or it might be a dreadful day for a combination who usually get 70% - both results would need a bit of constructive feedback !