Whats The Worst Comment A Judge Has Ever Made To You In A Showing Class?

M

Mithras

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 July 2006
Messages
7,116
Location
The Brompton Road
Visit site
Sometimes wonder why I bother do showing - at last week's local county show, I had my hunter in the Novice Rideen Middleweight/Heavyweight Hunter class. He is a bit forward going but never spooks or shies, it was a big ring held next to a main airport and he was taking a bit of a hold but I was able to hold him fine and get some collection. There were only 8 of us in a massive ring and two of the other horses had major spooks with spinning etc, almost having their riders off along the far side, however the judge was only looking at the other side which was slightly downhill. So, coming into it in canter, my horse slips really badly in the corner, his hindlegs went out from him entirely and he did incredibly well not to fall. I am guessing the judge didn't see all of this but as I passed him he called out to me in a snooty voice "If you can't control your horse, you're going to have to leave the ring".

I rode round for another circuit feeling really embarassed and wondering whether he was indeed asking me to leave, so I just left when we passed the entrance next time. His comment really got me down because I do all the preperation myself, I'd just had mild concussion from a fall and I'd nearly had a bad fall in the bloomin'r ring there and then which my horse had done well to stand up from!
 
Miserable git (him not you that is). If I were you I'd watch out for his name and avoid classes he's judging in future!
 
Well at my first (and probably only) showing class on my new ned, I was pulled in 2nd out of about 20. Everything was fine till the judge rode and said my horse

“she looked amazing with me on her but went somewhat like a giraffe with him”

And then referred to ‘her’ as a mare for the rest of the judging, even saying what a pretty mare ‘she’ was.

I didn’t have the heart to point out she is a he...but did question whether a judge should be able to tell a mare from a gelding.

:D

I had to agree with the giraffe comment so wasn’t that upset, and still finished 4th!
 
Its annoying that they only see some things and others get away with alsorts! I have to say I hated showing, its who you know and who your horse is by that usually gets you a red one. I only did it for an education for my horses, its amazing what goes on in the ring behind the judges back. Did the steward not notice the other horses?
I admit today is the first time I have asked who is judging before entering a dressage test. I have one judge that does not like my horse, even if he goes well. I have been marked by 3 judges at one time and it proved how she marks me down. Therefore I have not entered the show. She is doing both tests I wanted to do.
If you are into your showing I would keep an eye out for who is judgeing and avoid this judge. Some people chase judges round if they like their horses, to the extent of up and down the country!
 
It was like he deliberately only looked at one side of the ring where the other competitors managed to get their horses going well. They were up to all sorts on the other three sides, which the judge chose to ignore. It was a novice class though! He had just judged a massive lightweight novice class so was maybe feeling a bit fraught though, but I thought he was terribly rude! What price do manners and consideration cost? I mainly do BSJA but this horse is such a handsome beast I thought I'd give it a go. I won't bother next year. And he is so "out of control" he has been placed at all 3 of his BSJA shows he's been to!
 
Most of the comments from judges have been fair enough - actually, they've been exceedingly polite given what happened!

I did have one upset me by telling me she couldn't place him because he was obviously still lame (we had been discussing his old injury which formed a prominant scar). We didn't think so, and neither did his vet!
s035.gif
 
I have a forest bred New Forest pony, she is branded with the letter B in a circle on her saddle area, she has been placed in hand at county level and Ponies UK numerous times so one would think she is a fairly reasonable example of the breed. I took her to a smaller show a few years ago, took her in in hand M+M large breeds...judge said to me that pony shouldn't be in this class...I'm thinking wtf...try to politely explain that although she is only 13.2hh and so can look like a bit of a tiddler stood next to an up to height Sec D or whatever she is in fact a reg New Forest pony which is a large breed...Judge says to me no thats not a New Forest pony thats a Welsh sec B, thats what that letter on her back means, I should know, I breed sec B's...errrm okaaaayyyy :o :o I offered to get her passport from the trailer to show him but he just wandered off muttering about Sec B's to himself...needless to say we were at the bottom of the line up :D
 
That reminds me of the county judge who said to a friend "Nice example of the section C"

It went on to come quite highly in the class.

Despite the fact it was a strapping 14.2hh NF stallion... :D

Most judges we encountered couldn't tell what a NF was. We were forever shoved in large breed classes against flashy welshies and dales, and didn't stand a chance, especially when the judges thought they were just 'standard welsies' :rolleyes: so when we got a win, it was a REAL memorable day.

Although there are hundreds of wonderful judges out there, I've found the majority haven't the foggiest what they're talking about. Okay, they might breed welsh ponies, does that then qualify them to judge another breed that they know nothing about?
 
baileymoo said:
"He's a bit too lightly built for a highland.."

She is a coloured ISH. No bloody wonder.
Click to expand...

Ha ha thats so funny!

Mine was "Sorry I just cant place a chestnut mare, I'm sure you understand"

No I bloody well didnt (although I didnt say anything). My mare had behaved impeccably too, bless her (for once :) )
 
Ive had mostly good comments during our first season. Most judges have been very helpful and polite even though he did headbut one of them...


I did have a judge place us last in a foreign breeds as he was too "floaty" ... he is an arab?

Oh yes and I overheard a little girl at a local show last weekend telling her mam that she liked an arab that was trotting around the warm up. The mother then told her not to be so silly, because arabs couldnt jump and are impossible to ride as they all buck and rear.
I often hear comments like that, mainly people saying "ooh he looks flighty" etc. He isnt honestly!

I am taking him XC next weekend, I wonder what comments we will get there since arabs cant jump ;)
 
0ldmare said:
Mine was "Sorry I just cant place a chestnut mare, I'm sure you understand"
) )
Click to expand...


thats actually shocking!

(eta; unless you were accidentaly in a class for coloured cobs of course ;))

did anybody complain about these inept judges and if so what was said?
 
thats a big horse for a little lady...

horse 16.3
me 5"1

what a stupid comment from an older judge at COUNTY level. grrr
 
A long suffering 'In your own time' as Beau paused to perform the longest pee in the world before going back into the line up and a horrified look as I told her he was rising 7 but had never been to a show before, hence his extremely nervous behaviour. :D
 
We went to try a horse advertised by a 'producer'. It was very ordinary, and way too small for us. It was all quite amicable & we were all in agreement that it was too small.
We then bought an outstanding horse elsewhere.

A few months later the girl (13) was showing under this same guy as judge, he placed her down the line to the bemusement of the spectators as the horse was head and shoulders above the rest. When he went to present her with a rosette he said:

"I bet you wish you'd bought that horse from me now don't you!!!"
 
At a small local show when class finishes judge says to steward

" I dont really like any of them "

This was while everyone was still in the ring and heard what he said!
 
after my sec D being placed at the bottom of the line in a mixed m&m class only to be told by the judge...sorry i just prefer small breeds...dont judge mixed classes then!!

I also had a judge ride my cob in a working hunter class, after he had flew clear and went fantastic for me only for her to get off and say...mmmm that was disapointing haha i had to tell her that he doesnt respond to being wellied in the belly!
 
I was in the youngstock class, the horse was 3 years old and was a gangly 16hh.
I just said well funny that, I never knew my horse had a penis. Bit immature of me but I couldnt stop myself! Same judge told my friend her horse should be plaited even though that actually WAS a highland with a 16inch long mane, just cant pick them can you :)
 
I am quite shocked that any of these people are even allowed to judge! Sound like complete numptys to me, and precisely the reason i dont show.

I went to my first show with my horse a few weeks ago and the only words the judge said to me were "how old is it?" and i was quite shocked by that to be honest!
 
One judge said to me, "I used to have a Connemara that looked just like yours". Which would have been ok if I hadn't been showing a Highland at the time :rolleyes:
 
Genuine best amzingly dim comment from a judge was;

'Do you think I should place this mare as she is suppossed to be welsh but has a lot of white on her face and legs'

Me slightly suprised to be asked opinion by judge of another competitiors horse in the same class as the one I was at the same time competing in ;

'well a lot of welsh D's have a lot of high white markings'

judge looked unconvinced and turned to the spectators and started canvassing them for their opinions!!!
 
Sorry about the rant!! Lot's of cream buns for people who read this!! :)
As everyone knows who shows and people who don't even show will know that you aren't aloud to show in Dutch Gags, Only brown saddle pads not bright red!! and you shouldn't have a martingale or flash on your horse/pony and you should have a cane not jumping whip!!!I went to a show the other weekend and did Best Turned Out with my boy. The class was split on to Lead Rein and Ridden there were 7 in the ridden and i was placed LAST!!! I asked the judge where i went wrong and he said "Your plaits are different sizes" where they went smaller down the mane which is the same with most horses/ponies i was slightly annoyed because the girl who won had a bright red saddle pad and there was a girl who's ponies plaits had all come undone!! Well the day went on and the worst it got. My farrier, instructor, and many more people have been telling me how great my boy is looking his weight not overweight and not underweight. So i thought i would have a great chance in the Best Mare or Gelding Condition there were 6 in the class and i got placed LAST again!!! I thought obviously the judge doesn't like me or my horse :( well i asked him where i had gone wrong and he turned round to me and said "your horse has fat pockets all down his back" well me being an emotional person burst out crying :o how dare he tell me my horse is covered in fat pockets!!! After that when i got home when i saw people i asked them if he had fat pockets and everyone said no!!! I am never going to be judged by him again and my mum is going to make a complaint about him as he has been rude to other people too!!
Rant over :D
 
What a horrible judge!!

My bad comment experience was this: It was my first ridden hunter class with my one eyed tb and he was rather excited. I had no problem controlling him but the judge never really got him up together. Needless to say, I was pulled in rather far down the line :p As the judge was leaving he was talking to some rather holier than thou members of his hunt. He was talking about the winner saying that "he knew straight away that he was the winner. Excellently schooled and a lovely ride. But as for THAT one (points in my direction with a dirty look) I never got him under control." Unfortunately my unhorsey father was standing right by him and said: "Well my daughter didn't seem to have any trouble!"

I have never loved my dad so much! Or my horse for that matter. He refused to stop cantering with the judge and kept just going round and round and round the ring :D

The judge's comments weren't necessarily that rude, but he certainly wasn't polite and made me feel really bad so I know how you feel. Thank God I have never seen that judge again ;)
 
I'm afraid if you go local showing and enter things like Best Turned Out then you have to be prepared for iffy judging, as they often get people who don't really have any idea what they're looking for. Local shows are a total law in themselves.

The one comment I was most annoyed about once was, after being placed last, "I don't approve of geldings" - well surely you'd prefer everyone to geld their horses than have thousands of ill bred and worthless youngstock going about :confused: Judge for the black book I think!
 
Mithras I thought it is pretty standard for the judge to predominantly watch one side of the ring, just unfortunate for you that is where you had your problem.

some of these have made me giggle though :D I dont think I have any really, I have stewarded locally for some very nice judges who do their best..... mini shetties are always fun as those that normally judge m and m end up with them and tend to fully admit they have no idea what they are looking at! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top