[tn walker]

I am also a judge (unliscensed at the moment, but not for long!). Everything BW said is absolutely correct. Most rules depend on what breed you are showing. BW's advice is pretty standard, although it focuses on the stock type breeds. If you are showing arabs, morgans, tb's, other hunter type horses, gaited horses, etc. the ideals are going to vary ever so slightly.

[minnie_mouse]

Originally Posted by shell

I have been a jump judge for cross country. It was very fun!!

ooooo me 2, me 2!!! that is fun isnt it! lol i got the bogie fencw everybody was having trouble with so all the more better for me!

[Lou3]

OK a couple of people PM'd me saying they would be interested in hearing about the "novelty" classes i judge. Please bear in mind that these classes are usually only seen at local shows and neither myself nor any other judge is "qualified" to judge them, generally the show holder will just ask someone with a lot of experience with horses and what the individual looks for can differ as there are no set guidelines.

Pony Club Pony
A true pony club pony should do what its told, when its told with whoever you decide to put on its back. They should be able to take a leadrein rider one day and the next day compete at pony club area level in any discipline.
I look for a pony that is well-mannered, forward going without being strong, that jumps willingly with good form (ie doesnt flatten, get under the jump, overjump) and without hesitation. If the rider is experienced i would look for the horse to have correct impulsion and some level of engagement and correct headset. With a very young or obviously novice rider i would look for the horse to be smooth and quiet and not be taking advantage (ie cutting corners). Tack wise i look for a snaffle mouth and no martingale. I would also mark down a pony being ridden in spurs. A small jump over a single plain fence is required.

Best combination
This is basically a class to see which combination of horse and rider works together the best. Generally split into age groups or junior/senior. I look for a rider that looks the right size on their horse, i mark down riders whose feet hang more than an inch below the elbow and those whose feet are more than two inches above the elbow. How comfortable the horse and rider look together is also observed, does the rider look scared of the horse, are they riding with a short rein on a horse with a fussy mouth etc etc, finally i look at the rider's position and competance and the horse's way of going. A correct headset is not important to me in this class, i prefer to see a horse going forwards with lots of impulsion and a smooth, even, regular stride, tracking up properly than a horse with a fixed headset. No jump is required in this class, although if the standard is high i sometimes ask for a rein-back. Turnout is also important, if a pelham is used i mark down those not using double reins, horses should be braided and feathers neatly trimmed. I prefer not to see a martingale although will not necessarily mark down for this unless it is incorrectly fitted (ie too tight and obviously altering the horse's normal way of going) as long as the numnah and girth match i am not fussy about colour.

Best Rider,
Exactly as the title states, i look at the rider's position, how well they read the horse, extra marks may be obtained by a rider with a difficult horse, the horse is taken into account only by gauging how good the results a rider obtains with their aids are in order to gauge the effectiveness of the rider. I often ask riders to swap horses in order to see how they cope with a different horse. This also shows up which riders are dealing with a difficult horse and making it look very easy. If it is a junior class (under 16) a rider would be marked down for using spurs. The riders turnout is also important.

Family horse/pony
Two riders must ride this horse, usually i ask that one is under 12 and the other over 18. I look for a horse that is smallish but well built so small enough for the younger rider to control easily but strong enough to carry the older rider. the horse must be quiet, willing and well-mannered both when ridden and on the ground. I usually ask for a small jump which i set at about 18ins for the young rider and about 2ft 3 for the older rider. The horse should clear both cleanly and easily without over jumping. The younger rider should not be on the lead rein in order that i can make a proper assessment and i will deduct marks if a lead rein is used.

[Dancinglite]

Sorry I only judge dressage shows.

[Sandra-A1]

The Arabian and Andalusian Rule Book are online as well as several other Breeds and are free to look at.
Arabian & Andalusian Rule Books Link
In those two breeds the order of emphasis is important. Each class has a list of what the Judge is to judge the class on and the order that those items are listed is usually the guide the Judge will use as to how much emphasis is to be placed on those particular requirements.
Here is a list of what a few of the different OPEN classes in the Arabian shows have listed that the class is to be Judged on:

Park: To be judged on brilliant performance, presence, quality, manners and conformation.

English Pleasure: To be judged on manners, performance, attitude, quality and conformation.

Country Pleasure: To be Judged on Attitude, manners, performance, quality and conformation in that order.

Hunter Pleasure: To be judged on manners, performance, suitability as a Hunter, quality and conformation.

Mounted Native Costume: To be judged 75% on performance and manners; 25% on appointments

Western Pleasure: To be judged on substance, quality, performance and manners.

As you can see in some classes MANNERS is listed first and in others it is even listed last. In the Park class the most important thing is the BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE...in Country Pleasure ATTITUDE is most important.
The Open Country Pleasure class even specifies IN THAT ORDER taking away the Judges ability to choose for themselves.

So you can see, that depending on the class, a horse can win in spite of a mistake or acting up a bit simply because in that particular class manners or even performance did not count as much.
While I know it can sometimes be difficult to understand why a Judge place a class as they did, now you can see why it is important to read and know the rules for the classes you are competing in because it is things like the order of emphasis are the reason a horse with no breaks in gait or similar mistakes can lose to one that did.

[gingersnaps2002]

OK,in halter for western horses is conformation the major thing? My cousin shows with me and her horse has cow hocks and is usually the shortest one in the class.Does that keep her from placing? It is just open shows. I also always place third in halter,what are some things to work on in that? I move around for the judge,set the horse up quickly and smoothly,do the pattern right.?? Any tips on getting a horse to lower the head and keep it down.Also the horse doesnt stay on the correct lead.And the canter is fast,not slow like it should be.

[Blistering Winds]

In Halter, the judges only judge what is there in front of them. So if one horse is cow hocked, yet another has Severe issues in other ways, then the cow hock will place higher. It is all on what is there. A **** can win against the other dinks. Just what is available. There are one or two judges that will refuse to give a first place out because the whole class is a bunch of dinks. Is it right? not in my opinion, but it IS their perogative.

Nothing much to "work" on in halter, as conformation is perminant. Just make sure you are doing things right, muscle them up, and hope that everyone else brings dinks to the show.

What do you mean by pattern? There is no pattern in Halter. ARe you meaning showmanship? Which it doesnt matter on the horse, but how you present a horse. The ugliest **** can win against the World class halter horses, if the handler is excellent. That is all on the "presentation" of the horse and the training/handling it has.

As for not staying on the correct lead, that is training and rider position. Some horses will fall out of lead cause the rider is off balance, accidently cues for the lead, etc. Watch what you are doing at the time the hrose falls out and make sure it is you and not the horse.

[gingersnaps2002]

OK,well,no,it is halter,and we have a pattern we do. Each judge has his own preferred pattern I guess. But basically we walk out,stop at the judge,trot on then line up. There is a little variation in the patterns though. I noticed last time I cantered her,I was looser,not as stiff so she moved better.So,it is probably my position. I use just a plain snaffle on her since she hates curbs.I thought about getting a Billy Cook somekinda bit. It has the snaffle mouth,but shanks with a chain that go behind and kinda under the chin,like a slobber bar i guess. It has a copper roller. What can I do to get her to lower her head?

[Blistering Winds]

Do WHAT?

Ok, that isn't a "pattern". Pattern is when you go, do a pivot, walk, trot, etc.

That is just the "tracking" part of halter when you walk and trot them for the judge. They are ensuring soundness and conformation based upon skeletal structure, as tracking rarely ever lies.

As for cantering, I think you are talking about a riding class. Can you clarify that some? Because in the States, you don't show Halter in a Bit of any kind.

Chains/LEather that goes under the chin are what are known as Chin straps. They are to apply pressure to the chin and poll. Properly used with Shanked bits. Some people (like me) Put them on the snaffles as keepers. Just keeps the rings from flayling all over the place or pulling through the mouth.

Bits wont' help you lower her head. Training with draw reins might help, but honestly, if you don't know what you are doing, don' tuse them.

Save some money, get you a trainer to help. That is my advice to you personally.

[CANDYGIRL]

I am a judge, but it is no use to you, English classes, BW is your girl.

I judge our Mountain and Moorland Native classes, Mainly Welsh, in hand and ridden.

Sorry

You go BW