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

TelH said:
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
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it must be something about foresters i get the same comment about mine. i even had someone tell me there friend breed my pony, don't think she like it when i replied don't think so 1} she is a new forest 2} i bought her over 200 miles away from were i live
 
I 'think' Kerry Bog Ponies are in the same boat too. Just wish judges could be more flexable in this situation regarding 'unusual breeds'.
 
Amaziong how many horses are sound, beautifully schooled, perfect examples of the class type, perfectly and correctly turned out on this thread :P
 
Laura2408 said:
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 ;)
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Is it an arab thing with judges? Daughter has a 20 yo arab x show pony, so you can imagine he is well muscled and a nice slim build, in fact her instructor who hasn't seen him for 4 weeks said tonight he was looking well ie slightly on the tubby side for him as you can't see his ribs at the moment. She entered a veteran class recently, and was told 'he needs more weight on', the other veterans were either cobby or well built hunter types (all I would say on the plump side of just right) or quite fat little ponies. Any more weight on him, and I'll be putting him on a diet.
 
Showing in hand is pretty subjective tbh. I think most judges have picked their winners in the first few minutes.Then they just go through the motions.How often do you see changes after the first line up? Not often. maybe one or two but nothing major.

Mixed Mountain and moorland have to be the worst!
 
Many years ago , at a local show I entered my 24 year old in a veteran class, only to be told by the judge that I needed to be over 18, after alot of disscusion and a chat with the show organisers, the judge excepted that it was the pony and not me that had to be over 18! my old boy was placed last. :)
 
i was competing in Search for a Star which supposedly had competent judges so when the 1st place horse had bucked, bolted and knocked the jump i couldnt beleive it, the 2nd placed horse had been foot perfect, and was pretty awesome alround and totally deserved to win also said by audience, we came in 3rd which was a great placing and very pleased as shed been a great great girl but we didnt qualify :( . To top it all the horse then was spooking so badly when brought into the line up the rider had to get off to leave the ring, to top it all the judge and rider knew each other by name so obviously that wasnt an influence :P
 
In a local small hunter class being told that my mare with perfect hocks had a massive curb, that I had put in too many plaits and being stood second to a horse that was bridle lame and wouldn't come out of trot in its' show.
 
Mithras said:
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!
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Actually it is fairly common for a judge to just look at one part of the ring, that way you can be sure to see all of the horses. However, I do tend to watch one side and then turn around to cement my impression. Although you left the ring, the judge did not actually tell you to leave so you could have stayed and proved him wrong. Having said that don't let one experience put you off if you really want to show your chap.
 
Doncella said:
In a local small hunter class being told that my mare with perfect hocks had a massive curb, that I had put in too many plaits and being stood second to a horse that was bridle lame and wouldn't come out of trot in its' show.
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Son of above mare in another local hunter class at his first show put third below a cow and a camel in black tack and a red saddle cloth. Judge (with whome I don't get on and would have withdrawn if I'd have known she was judging) said "I couldn't put him first because I hate you" only joking, she said "I couldn't put him first because he looked as if he might buck".
He didn't buck and the insult of standing down to the aforementioned was insult enough.
Having won the Ladies Mount earlier (horse suitable to be ridden by a lady and without bucking) she didn't place me in the ridden championship either.
 
Many judges watch one side of the ring rather than try to 'follow' the class around the ring. The flip side is that as a competitor you 'know' where you need to show you horse off well, if that means a minor tussle to rebalance when nobody is looking....

The worst comment I received was 'would look better with a petite rider', as was on a big IDx you can imagine my thoughts at the time!
 
Hi don't understand showing either! Took my 17.1hh grey gelding to a county show recently just to see how he would stand upto the "big boys".

Had been told that the gallop is really important in the show hunter classes so made sure I really kicked on and went faster then anyone else.

We were pulled second to last which surprised me as he had also done his best extended trot past the judge on the rein change ( we normally do dressage). When the judge came to rid he rudely asked me "how old?" - what the hell has that got to do with anything??

I told him he was 12 and a novice ( after all he has not done any showing) and he just stared at me. Anyway he got on and boy was my lad keen! He jogged across the arena and then went into a very bouncy canter - he slipped a few times as of course he is barefoot as we are usually in an arena. I know he is well balanced because my barefoot farrier told me so ( and he has been on a 3 day course), so if he was slipping it must have been down to the rider.

Anyway the judge came to gallop and I was so proud that my boy did not let me down! He went around 3 times in gallop and when the judges bowler shot off and landed on his bum he did not even buck! When the judge brought him back he rudely just threw the reins at me and said his brakes need sorting.

I had thought his brakes were rather good as when the judge pulled him up he stopped dead - so much so that the judge crashed into his neck he was so taken by surprise!

Anyway in the trot up I did as I was told and having been to a show clinic knew that you almost have to "run the judge down" so that they can see them straight on. Did this rather well but my boy dishes a bit and as we went past the judge ( who had quickly jumped out of the way) he caught him on his knee, so the judge did not see us trot away as he was bent over rubbing his knee. He did not ask me to go again which proves that he did not judge them all fairly.

Anyway obviously a well known professional won with lots of other producers all at the top of the line, just shows how bent showing is, they were all chatting to one another and to the judge when he was handing out the rosettes.

We were pulled last and as we were leaving the ring I asked the judge for a comment - "I would forget showing if I were you" - well I did not need telling that!

Last time in the ring for me!!!
 
Swayback said:
Hi don't understand showing either! Took my 17.1hh grey gelding to a county show recently just to see how he would stand upto the "big boys".

Had been told that the gallop is really important in the show hunter classes so made sure I really kicked on and went faster then anyone else.

We were pulled second to last which surprised me as he had also done his best extended trot past the judge on the rein change ( we normally do dressage). When the judge came to rid he rudely asked me "how old?" - what the hell has that got to do with anything??

I told him he was 12 and a novice ( after all he has not done any showing) and he just stared at me. Anyway he got on and boy was my lad keen! He jogged across the arena and then went into a very bouncy canter - he slipped a few times as of course he is barefoot as we are usually in an arena. I know he is well balanced because my barefoot farrier told me so ( and he has been on a 3 day course), so if he was slipping it must have been down to the rider.

Anyway the judge came to gallop and I was so proud that my boy did not let me down! He went around 3 times in gallop and when the judges bowler shot off and landed on his bum he did not even buck! When the judge brought him back he rudely just threw the reins at me and said his brakes need sorting.

I had thought his brakes were rather good as when the judge pulled him up he stopped dead - so much so that the judge crashed into his neck he was so taken by surprise!

Anyway in the trot up I did as I was told and having been to a show clinic knew that you almost have to "run the judge down" so that they can see them straight on. Did this rather well but my boy dishes a bit and as we went past the judge ( who had quickly jumped out of the way) he caught him on his knee, so the judge did not see us trot away as he was bent over rubbing his knee. He did not ask me to go again which proves that he did not judge them all fairly.

Anyway obviously a well known professional won with lots of other producers all at the top of the line, just shows how bent showing is, they were all chatting to one another and to the judge when he was handing out the rosettes.

We were pulled last and as we were leaving the ring I asked the judge for a comment - "I would forget showing if I were you" - well I did not need telling that!

Last time in the ring for me!!!
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PMSL! There is just a little too much truth in there :D
 
Swayback said:
Hi don't understand showing either! Took my 17.1hh grey gelding to a county show recently just to see how he would stand upto the "big boys".

Had been told that the gallop is really important in the show hunter classes so made sure I really kicked on and went faster then anyone else.

We were pulled second to last which surprised me as he had also done his best extended trot past the judge on the rein change ( we normally do dressage). When the judge came to rid he rudely asked me "how old?" - what the hell has that got to do with anything??

I told him he was 12 and a novice ( after all he has not done any showing) and he just stared at me. Anyway he got on and boy was my lad keen! He jogged across the arena and then went into a very bouncy canter - he slipped a few times as of course he is barefoot as we are usually in an arena. I know he is well balanced because my barefoot farrier told me so ( and he has been on a 3 day course), so if he was slipping it must have been down to the rider.

Anyway the judge came to gallop and I was so proud that my boy did not let me down! He went around 3 times in gallop and when the judges bowler shot off and landed on his bum he did not even buck! When the judge brought him back he rudely just threw the reins at me and said his brakes need sorting.

I had thought his brakes were rather good as when the judge pulled him up he stopped dead - so much so that the judge crashed into his neck he was so taken by surprise!

Anyway in the trot up I did as I was told and having been to a show clinic knew that you almost have to "run the judge down" so that they can see them straight on. Did this rather well but my boy dishes a bit and as we went past the judge ( who had quickly jumped out of the way) he caught him on his knee, so the judge did not see us trot away as he was bent over rubbing his knee. He did not ask me to go again which proves that he did not judge them all fairly.

Anyway obviously a well known professional won with lots of other producers all at the top of the line, just shows how bent showing is, they were all chatting to one another and to the judge when he was handing out the rosettes.

We were pulled last and as we were leaving the ring I asked the judge for a comment - "I would forget showing if I were you" - well I did not need telling that!

Last time in the ring for me!!!
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Hilarious! What a rude judge though, you should go to a different show with a better judge and I'm sure you'd be placed. What about "nicest tail"?
 
there are some awful judges about but on the same token there are some dreadful competitors as well!i was stewarding for a well known judge at a county show in an exracers class.lovely well mannered horse beautifully ridden won.last in the line up was a very badly turned out and badly ridden horse.when the judge went to her to give her a few tips how to improve she just went in a rage and screamed at him.her oh ran into the ring and started screaming at the judge as well.they were told to leave the ring and from the outside started yelling at the poor girl that won.this pair have been banned now from this show but i have heard that they have created at other events.its not always the judge that is an idiot!
 
After a very early start and with my daughter and her horse looking absolutely immaculate we set off for the local riding show. The horse did a beautiful show-piece and I was feeling so proud. My daughter got placed last. Why? Because the judge told her that she should have been wearing long brown boots to match her saddle and not black!

I don't take this showing lark at all seriously but my daughter was so upset. Last time we'll ever be going there.
 
Oliver12 said:
After a very early start and with my daughter and her horse looking absolutely immaculate we set off for the local riding show. The horse did a beautiful show-piece and I was feeling so proud. My daughter got placed last. Why? Because the judge told her that she should have been wearing long brown boots to match her saddle and not black!

I don't take this showing lark at all seriously but my daughter was so upset. Last time we'll ever be going there.
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I always thought that black boots were more correct when showing?? Humm...maybe i was wrong all this time..
 
There seem to be quite a few posts on here almost bragging about how their horses bounced around the arena with the judge, and how they could control them when the judge couldn't. In ridden hunter classes, the horse is meant to be well mannered for the judge. The judge shouldn't have to fight to control them, and would be quite right to mark them down and comment on the brakes. As for parents sniping at judges that their kid is a better rider than the judge!!! How rude. I'd be mortified if my parents had ever done that, not proud.

HC is HC. You shouldn't be in laps of honour nor receive rosettes, or else you are cheating the real competitors. If you enter HC you should be aware that you are not going to win - its your choice to pay your money and enter.

Having said all that, there are some very funny comments on here re judges mistakes.

Showing is, to a large extent, someone's personal choice. If you don't like that (and I don't!) you should enter classes that are more fairly marked ie, show jumping or eventing.
 
I took my old girl in a Hunter class. She was clearly one of the few that had ever seen hounds. She behaved brilliantly. Was pulled in about 4th. But when the judge rode her she about pulled her back teeth out with the curb rein, so my poor mare about ad her nose on her chest.
when she came back her comment was
"She's rather a bone shaker!"
Not surprising when the poor mare could hardly move! We were bumped down the line & i was very pee'd off!
 
I was told by one judge that my Coloured isnt a real coloured as doesnt have enough white yet the next time i did a show with a diff judge he came first in the coloured class and then over all champion!!
 
Some of these are priceless ...

Not a bad judge story, but a competitor - I took my friend's gypsy mare into "in-hand or ridden coloured, dun, spotted or palomino horse or pony" (yeah, I know). We were showing in hand and came 4th, the winner was a stunning ridden coloured, and I think one of the duns was second. The woman with the big palomino that didn't place said, loud enough for us all to hear, "Well, you can tell *she* likes her coloureds!" then proceeded to tell the judge that she should have been placed because her horse was much better than the others ... sorry, love, probably had something to do with him trotting round at high speed with his head twisted sideways and almost running over you any time you tried to turn him!
 
before i went to a show i was told by an incredibly ignorant woman 'your horse is good but i hope you dont come up against a stallion as a mare or gelding will never be placed above one'... well no stallions in my class but in the championship there was and it got nowhere and i got reserve lol. This woman apparently wants to start judgeing... god help us :D
 
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Wasn't to me but to my friend. Wed entered a Foreign Breeds class me with my Anglo Arab (France) and my friend with her haflinger (Austria) and the judge asked her what breed he was. I think he looked like a typical haffie, but who am I to say?!
 
when i was about 20ish i took my holstein mare in to tack and turnout, came 4th well pleased till judge said to me "you would of been placed higher but you look like a pea on a mountain, have to admit i did giggle as i am 5ft 7 and about 8 stone when wet and my horse is 16'2" solid built mare, but so easy to do and for a change was very well behaved in the class.
Still to this day i just dont understand what relevance my size to my horses have to tack and turn out
 
BobbyMondeo said:
I always thought that black boots were more correct when showing?? Humm...maybe i was wrong all this time..
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Well, exactly. Not used to showing I'd done my homework and dutifully went off and purchased the items. I wouldn't have minded if the standards were good but one horse wouldn't even canter. Would have thought she'd have overlooked the boots EVEN if they were incorrect
 
some of these are hilariouse

nothing very bad said about me and math in the handfull of times we have actually shown *phew* usally its ''well sat'' ''needs more control''
normally hes bucking and bolting around the ring =] bless last show was a wh and judge realllllllly liked him =]

have had bad experiances with others though
took a young girl in a lead rein as her mum had slipped down the ramp bringing and hurt her ankle so we went in she did fantastic her ''up downs'' were great and the pony who can be excited went like a dream we were placed last bit confused as what to me seemed like a perfect show judge came up i asked for advice and he said '' little girl struggled with trot and looked very unbalance and then proceeded to say in front of the little girl the pony was rather ugly ect ...'' the little girl came out crying her eyes out a few people from the class came up to us later on and said they had left a comment about him.
rode a frieshan (sp) for a friend at a local show ... judge's comments '' he lifts his legs to high and his head is too big for my liking '' brb while i shrink it
my friend was the best took one of her foals in a class quite a big show and was told he was far to gangly
a judge at local show was heard telling the first riden class to canter on .. he was swiftly told to stop them
 
Nothing too awful, three of us friends in a veterans class, welsh cob, arab andstandard bred, all pushed to the end of the line and told our horses were too lively for veterans. The standardbred came first in vets class at a big show the following week.
 
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