breed bias + weight bias = interesting show

Lindsayanne · 05-15-2006, 11:06 AM

WOW. I had an interesting show yesterday.

Averaging 10-15 entries in each class it was the biggest show I'd ever been to. It was doubled judged, and boooooooooy were the two judges night and day!

Judge #1. Richard Halbrook (yep, google, eat that.

) saw he was a Bashkir Curly and never looked at us again all day. Didn't even have the professionalism to pretend to evaluate him in "all-breed" halter classes. In classes where Judge #2 placed us second in a class of 21, and first in a class of 10, Mr Halbrook didn't place us at all.

The only time he ever placed Regal was in small classes where other riders made glaring errors.

Judge #2 was smitten with Regal.

Totally made up for #1.

She came up to me in lineup after the first class and just gushed over how nice he was, and a few classes later approached me in lineup and asked if she could work with me after the show and, if it was okay, ride my horse!!!!

Unfortunately the show went late, late, late so I didn't get to clinic with her after all- but she gave me her email address and was really enthusiastic about me emailing her! LOL. What really took me back about her, and yet I appreciated the honesty, is that she told me the number one thing I need to do to do better is loose weight.

I was surprisingly not offended; she said "You're a good rider, but this horse needs and deserves for you to be a better rider"

1 week into dieting for Breyerfest, that was EXACTLY what I needed to hear!

OMG... this post is turning into a book but I just HAVE to post this part: After having three shows of a horse bucking and rearing so bad I couldn't even get in the arena half the time, I was really anxious to see how this show would go. I knew we'd solve the pain component but just wasn't sure.... I totally skipped warmup because it freaks me out, went in to our first class, walking on the rail, asked for a trot- and he REARED!!!!!! My heart sank but I literally growled aloud "HORSE- this is NOT going to happen!" and got him moving forward again! He tried it one more time in the next transition and once he figured out the gig was up he was really quite a gentleman all day. So even though we fudged some leads and broke an extended trot in one class I was just really, really, really, really, really pleased with just being able to show and get through the day!

Got a ribbon of each color. plus some, so am just really happy overall!

I had a girl with me taking pictures... who apparently doesn't know how to take pictures.

So all I got were the ones I took when I was dismounted:

(not me, this was my "horse show mom" for the day

)

Blistering Winds · 05-15-2006, 11:15 AM

Cool horse!

Next time you know for a fact the judge isn't judging you on your horse's criteria, file a complaint against that judge with the show manager. If too many complaints are filed, they won't bring that judge back.

ESPECIALLY the hot shot big wigs. I was told to do this FROM a hot shot big wig AQHA world judge. He flat out said, if you feel the judge is not judging ethically and properly, then complain to the show manager and file a complaint. That is the ONLY way the judge will ever learn, is if the people he judges keep him/her in check.

QHGirl · 05-15-2006, 11:38 AM

Have you thought about lunging him to warm him up then? I don't think mentally it is good to go cold turkey into an arena, even if you have been in it a hundred times. Warm up does just that, allows you both to warm up and get comfortable.

Lindsayanne · 05-15-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QHGirl

Have you thought about lunging him to warm him up then? I don't think mentally it is good to go cold turkey into an arena, even if you have been in it a hundred times. Warm up does just that, allows you both to warm up and get comfortable.

I really don't like lunging (unless he needs it. Hehehe... you know....

) Usually doing halter classes and a short warmup does it. But since I fell off in warm up in IN, warm-up is where I freeze-up

Our first two classes were walk trot so I figured we'd do fine warming up in those. The second class is where we got our 1st place, (!) so I guess it worked for us.

DoWeDance · 05-15-2006, 12:20 PM

Lindsey, it sounds like the show was a sucess overall. I had a similar experience recently when I took a QH I was leasing to a show. We did a Western horsemanship class, and the horse is the perfect example, lookswise, of a hunter QH, but he does great in Western events, too. One judge placed us last, presumably based on his appearance (no one else had a 16.3h horse!), even though we clearly had the best pattern. The other judge placed us first, though. It was almost sweeter that way. I am so glad you had a good time and were able to get through the day. A good judge with constructive advice is often the best payoff at a show.

Fox Glove · 05-15-2006, 12:38 PM

Oh Lindsayanne, all and all you and Regal won the day!

I'd like to hear what that judge your going to contact
Has to say, when she learns you have only ridden for a year

Good on you and Regal for having a good show..
In spite of a biased Judge,I will goggle him..
I want to see his rating..

Grats!
Paula

Skye · 05-15-2006, 01:14 PM

Pfftt....stupid judge, he should have given you guys first place just because he's a Curly.

Just goes to show some people know nothing these days. Joking!

Overall it sounds like you had a pretty good day,

~ Skye

PS, Did you get my PM? I sent you another one because you hadn't replied, but I guess you didn't see that one either?

Buckshot · 05-15-2006, 01:23 PM

Well, I'm glad you had a good show! Judge #1 sounds really nasty. Hehe, if you lose any weight, can you give it to me? I am underweight...

Slowrider · 05-15-2006, 01:45 PM

I think I'm happier to hear about Regal quitting his foolishness than any of the ribbons you won! Great job! That will go a long way for getting your confidence back. Maybe next time you will feel better about doing a little warm-up.

As for that first Judge. Well, what can you do. Complain, I guess.

Overall, I'd say the whole show was a brilliant success. Glad to hear that things are looking up.

And even though I think it was totally unprofessional for the second Judge to comment on your weight, it probably will help with some motivation, if nothing else. Don't take it to heart.

Fox Glove · 05-15-2006, 01:47 PM

I may not be looking hard enough..
But I can not seem to find that Judge..

May I ask, was the show rated?

Paula

05-15-2006, 12:38 PM	#6
Fox Glove Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Horse Country Posts: 6,772 Images: 88 Blog Entries: 14	Oh Lindsayanne, all and all you and Regal won the day! I'd like to hear what that judge your going to contact Has to say, when she learns you have only ridden for a year Good on you and Regal for having a good show.. In spite of a biased Judge,I will goggle him.. I want to see his rating.. Grats! Paula __________________ Leges sine moribus vanae

05-15-2006, 01:14 PM	#7
Skye Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,727 Images: 34	Pfftt....stupid judge, he should have given you guys first place just because he's a Curly. Just goes to show some people know nothing these days. Joking! Overall it sounds like you had a pretty good day, ~ Skye PS, Did you get my PM? I sent you another one because you hadn't replied, but I guess you didn't see that one either? __________________ A horse is the projection of peoples' dreams about themselves - strong, powerful, beautiful - and it has the capability of giving us escape from our mundane existence.

05-15-2006, 01:47 PM	#10
Fox Glove Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Horse Country Posts: 6,772 Images: 88 Blog Entries: 14	I may not be looking hard enough.. But I can not seem to find that Judge.. May I ask, was the show rated? Paula __________________ Leges sine moribus vanae

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05-15-2006, 11:06 AM	#1
Lindsayanne Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 10,550 Images: 465	breed bias + weight bias = interesting show WOW. I had an interesting show yesterday. Averaging 10-15 entries in each class it was the biggest show I'd ever been to. It was doubled judged, and boooooooooy were the two judges night and day! Judge #1. Richard Halbrook (yep, google, eat that. ) saw he was a Bashkir Curly and never looked at us again all day. Didn't even have the professionalism to pretend to evaluate him in "all-breed" halter classes. In classes where Judge #2 placed us second in a class of 21, and first in a class of 10, Mr Halbrook didn't place us at all. The only time he ever placed Regal was in small classes where other riders made glaring errors. Judge #2 was smitten with Regal. Totally made up for #1. She came up to me in lineup after the first class and just gushed over how nice he was, and a few classes later approached me in lineup and asked if she could work with me after the show and, if it was okay, ride my horse!!!! Unfortunately the show went late, late, late so I didn't get to clinic with her after all- but she gave me her email address and was really enthusiastic about me emailing her! LOL. What really took me back about her, and yet I appreciated the honesty, is that she told me the number one thing I need to do to do better is loose weight. I was surprisingly not offended; she said "You're a good rider, but this horse needs and deserves for you to be a better rider" 1 week into dieting for Breyerfest, that was EXACTLY what I needed to hear! OMG... this post is turning into a book but I just HAVE to post this part: After having three shows of a horse bucking and rearing so bad I couldn't even get in the arena half the time, I was really anxious to see how this show would go. I knew we'd solve the pain component but just wasn't sure.... I totally skipped warmup because it freaks me out, went in to our first class, walking on the rail, asked for a trot- and he REARED!!!!!! My heart sank but I literally growled aloud "HORSE- this is NOT going to happen!" and got him moving forward again! He tried it one more time in the next transition and once he figured out the gig was up he was really quite a gentleman all day. So even though we fudged some leads and broke an extended trot in one class I was just really, really, really, really, really pleased with just being able to show and get through the day! Got a ribbon of each color. plus some, so am just really happy overall! I had a girl with me taking pictures... who apparently doesn't know how to take pictures. So all I got were the ones I took when I was dismounted: (not me, this was my "horse show mom" for the day ) __________________ Bashkir Curly Poster Child *NE Prime Time Regal - 2006 ABCR National Champion & 2008 Breyerfest Demo Horse

05-15-2006, 11:15 AM	#2
Blistering Winds Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Augusta, Kansas Posts: 32,425 Images: 864 Blog Entries: 18	Cool horse! Next time you know for a fact the judge isn't judging you on your horse's criteria, file a complaint against that judge with the show manager. If too many complaints are filed, they won't bring that judge back. ESPECIALLY the hot shot big wigs. I was told to do this FROM a hot shot big wig AQHA world judge. He flat out said, if you feel the judge is not judging ethically and properly, then complain to the show manager and file a complaint. That is the ONLY way the judge will ever learn, is if the people he judges keep him/her in check. __________________ Can I have a midlife crisis now?

05-15-2006, 11:38 AM	#3
QHGirl Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 7,704 Images: 368	Have you thought about lunging him to warm him up then? I don't think mentally it is good to go cold turkey into an arena, even if you have been in it a hundred times. Warm up does just that, allows you both to warm up and get comfortable.

05-15-2006, 12:20 PM	#5
DoWeDance Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,920 Images: 75	Lindsey, it sounds like the show was a sucess overall. I had a similar experience recently when I took a QH I was leasing to a show. We did a Western horsemanship class, and the horse is the perfect example, lookswise, of a hunter QH, but he does great in Western events, too. One judge placed us last, presumably based on his appearance (no one else had a 16.3h horse!), even though we clearly had the best pattern. The other judge placed us first, though. It was almost sweeter that way. I am so glad you had a good time and were able to get through the day. A good judge with constructive advice is often the best payoff at a show.

05-15-2006, 01:23 PM	#8
Buckshot Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Michiana Posts: 7,194 Images: 43 Blog Entries: 19	Well, I'm glad you had a good show! Judge #1 sounds really nasty. Hehe, if you lose any weight, can you give it to me? I am underweight...

05-15-2006, 01:45 PM	#9
Slowrider Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 1,989 Images: 116	I think I'm happier to hear about Regal quitting his foolishness than any of the ribbons you won! Great job! That will go a long way for getting your confidence back. Maybe next time you will feel better about doing a little warm-up. As for that first Judge. Well, what can you do. Complain, I guess. Overall, I'd say the whole show was a brilliant success. Glad to hear that things are looking up. And even though I think it was totally unprofessional for the second Judge to comment on your weight, it probably will help with some motivation, if nothing else. Don't take it to heart.