perfect centre line

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sista_act

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say if a horse trots up the centre line at the start of the test, head still, stays straight, nice turn at C, basically everything hunkydory...
why do some judges only mark this as a 6 and some give it a 8?!
i mean what is a perfect centre line?!
has anybody ever received a 10, or do judges not like giving really high marks at the start of a test?!

ps. just a mere wondering
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Assuming this is a prelim test they will be looking for - straightness of whole horse (ie back legs following the front), moving forwards from leg to hand, steady head as you say. A decent turn on and off centre line (balanced, bend through body not too much flexion), rhythym of paces, submission/relaxation of back, engagement of hindquarters....etc.
They are looking for more than just a straight line.
But of course what one judge would mark very highly another judge may not mark so highly.....that's just the way it is.
 
Mickey has totally summed it up. Some judges will watch you warming up before the bell goes and perhaps if they have any doubts about the horse, will mark with a safe '6'. If they have written 'Good entry', they have to give an 8 in line with the scales of training. If not an 8, they must give a reason, e.g. 'Good straight line but wobbled, tension, halt not square' etc.
 
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Assuming this is a prelim test

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well i mean any test really!
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straightness of whole horse (ie back legs following the front), moving forwards from leg to hand, steady head as you say. A decent turn on and off centre line (balanced, bend through body not too much flexion), rhythym of paces, submission/relaxation of back, engagement of hindquarters....etc.
They are looking for more than just a straight line.

do the judges know when they see all this though?! (Not questionning judges ability) but wondering whether they have ever seen a perfect 10 centre line and a chief person has said to them this is a 10!
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obviously i must be a very nice judge and have actually given a 10!
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It was at a one day event only intro but the horse and rider came down the center line staight , rhythmical active trot in a lovely connection .The question to myself is what more could i expect at this level and that was the answer, it is not about 'perfection' it is about exellence and for that level it was exellent.
Admited the same test then had some problems with tension in the canter but i think thats where a judge should have the courage to use the scale of the marks and give the marks if deserved and take them down if it is not.
so i do think that judges do see these things but are unsure whether to give the mark. I think if they realised it is'nt perfect, that is required then more would find the courage to mark higher.
 
The thing is that different levels of dressage are looking for horse/rider to achieve differing degrees of correctness (even when it is the same movement). For example, as you move up the levels they want to see MORE engagement of hindquarters, a GREATER degree of submission and lightness of the forehand. They will be more forgiving at the lower levels. You'd need to look at all the stages from prelim upwards to distinguish how what they are looking for varies.

I am sure a 10 will have been given for a centre line in the past. But you'd have to ask a judge under what circumstances they would apply that mark.
 
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.The question to myself is what more could i expect at this level and that was the answer, it is not about 'perfection' it is about exellence and for that level it was exellent.
i think thats where a judge should have the courage to use the scale of the marks and give the marks if deserved and take them down if it is not.


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it must be difficult being a judge and making these decisions and considering all the factors as Mikey said.
however, its great when a judge such as yourself has the 'courage' to mark higher. (i bet the person who acheived the 10 was really happy) when some judges just stick to a 'safe' 6/7 when in actual fact maybe more could be awarded, especially at lower levels where less is expected!

ahwell i suppose thats why HHO's call it 'stressage' lol
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I was a trainee judge for a while and sat in with many listed judges right up to List 2.

It is amazing that what the rider thinks was perfect is complety different when viewed from the box. You may think your straight but the judge sees you on 3 tracks and the quarters trailing...

I have also had listed judges tell me that they will never give a 10 no matter what...

Also one reason why judges give varying marks from each other is because they are seated at different areas of the arena C, B and E and and see different things.

Such as for a judge at B or E the entry looks perfectly straight but the judge have a straight on view at C can see if the head is tilted more etc. and visa versa, The Judge at C may think the horse is going forward with good strides and the judges at B or E can see the horse is not tracking up etc

I think it was a unfair of the judge not give you even 5 minutes of her time. After all, her help could assist you in getting better marks in the future. Did she not write any coments relating to the entry at the bottom of the page?
 
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If they have written 'Good entry', they have to give an 8 in line with the scales of training. If not an 8, they must give a reason, e.g. 'Good straight line but wobbled, tension, halt not square' etc.

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You see this is where I am getting miffed with some of my entry marks as I am regularly getting comments such as very straight centre line. My horse is forward and in a good outline but I can't seem to get above a 7 and sometimes only getting a 6. I have no idea where I am losing the marks as the judges never say but only thing I can think of is maybe the turn at then end of the centre line. (this is prelim level)

I did get a 9 once for my halt in an intro test, i was beaming!!
 
I got a 9 once too for my halt! I would recommend anyone speak to the judge afterwards and ask how you could improve your marks. Most judges are only too pleased to help.
 
Yes , the 5 year old bay in siggie got a 10 but it was for final centre line and halt in his Spillers comb.training qualifier.He was still only 4 at the time,nearly passed out with surprise, he regularly gets 8 or 9.
He is a little star
 
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