[farmeress]

Att. Mods. ...I have permission of the farms/people involved to post pictures and use the barn/coaches names


Over the past several weekends I have been judging shows around Ontario.

The one common trend I see now-a-days is the lack of attention to turnout

This past weekend at a show where several barns/private individuals attended....I again faced the differences in turnout...but the majority...took the time to turn out the horse/themself very well.

Now....let us look at the photo below....who stands out and why??










The first thing I notice is the well turnout with attention to braiding....then I notice the contrast of those who have not.....what horses do you think are most cosmetically pleasing to the judge?

Now....both horse/rider are nice...but who stands out??

This competitor....










Or these ones.....











And if there are two contrasting turnout...who catches the judges' attention....the one dressed for class of course.












Pay attention to details

Have hair in a hair net or neatly contained bun with net.

No large pieces of jewellery.

Gloves/clean jacket/breeches/boots/jophurboots appropriate for age.

The horse should be braided without colour...tails are optional until the Silver/Gold level but are noticed when a job has been done well.

Tack should be clean and bling free with a white fitted saddle pad....leave the coloured ones for Eventing or the JUmper ring.

Turnout....sometimes decides the class....and if your judge is anything like me....it can be the deciding factor in a tie for placing where my opinion is "subjective"

[Huntseat]

Not to put down anyone here, but WHY would anybody feel that it is appropriate to go into a show ring in a polo shirt and schooling tack with an unbraided horse when it is obviously a hunter type class? I just do not get it. If I'm paying big bucks to show my horse, then I want to a) SHOW her off, and b) have a chance before I even get into the ring. If I was ever a judge, I'd have a really hard time pinning a horse/rider with such poor turnout, regardless of how well they did.

The only two I saw turned out appropriately were the grey and the black. Nice looking horses

Here's an example of my turnout - just add the hunt coat before we go into the ring.


and it pays off

[Capilet]

I agree completely. I do love the pony in the middle though. Was a vest only acceptable attire for this class?

The first thing I saw after the little pony was EASILY the pink schooling helmet. It is not expensive to at the very least buy a black or black velvet cover for your helmet.
The others that weren't dressed for it, are not even really dressed for a clinic.

[EVOO]

You know how to fix poor turnout?

Blow 'em up.

Wait, no... that's a poorly running computer.

Nevermind.



Great post, Farmeress!

[Mayelix]

Are these just smaller local shows? I'm wondering if it's not "lack of attention" and rather, perhaps they cannot afford jackets & boots? I had to borrow boots for my last show, because I didn't have any.

The no braids and colored saddle pad does speak to lack of attention, though...

Anyway, it is a good point... the others look very much more "judgeable"

[farmeress]

Originally Posted by Capilet

I agree completely. I do love the pony in the middle though. Was a vest only acceptable attire for this class?

The vest is acceptable because of the childs' age....but....another girl of the same age....wore hers under her coat while another wore a blue vest over her blue coat.

The first thing I saw after the little pony was EASILY the pink schooling helmet. It is not expensive to at the very least buy a black or black velvet cover for your helmet.
The others that weren't dressed for it, are not even really dressed for a clinic.

One of my may peeves as of late

[farmeress]

Originally Posted by Mayelix

Are these just smaller local shows? I'm wondering if it's not "lack of attention" and rather, perhaps they cannot afford jackets & boots? I had to borrow boots for my last show, because I didn't have any.

The no braids and colored saddle pad does speak to lack of attention, though...

Anyway, it is a good point... the others look very much more "judgeable"

Although I am doing some "local" shows....they are all Silver/Gold level barn open shows as well as fairs that are attended by the "A" group (where they know if I am judging....may as well be old George himself...so...I will admit....this group usually turns out very nicely for me).

[Capilet]

Originally Posted by farmeress

One of my may peeves as of late

In my experience you only see a vest under a coat in the hunt field or the saddleseat ring.
A vest OVER a coat? Thats just odd.

[Puddles8]

What a great post! Its always nice to see into the mind of a judge

[Spirits Mom]

I completely agree with you 100%
I judge local and schooling shows in my area...and even at a schooling show level we ask for proper show attire. One thing that I am seeing as a judge is that riders are not wearing gloves anymore...this makes you stick out like a sore thumb...I do make a note on all judging cards about turnout if there is something that caused that rider to loose a couple of points. But I do love to see the little ones wearing their safety vests...even if it is over their coats.
We have a lot of english/western shows where many riders compete in both disciplines...so in this case the manes are banded for the whole day instead of braided for english...I would rather see a banded horse than a free flowing mane. As a judge it really does take away from your horses presentation...it is just messy.
I think all competitors...and even those attending clinics should make the effort to clean up their horses...their tack...and themselves to show respect for the person they are asking to judge/educate them. I have never entered a show ring not looking my best and always turn up for lessons/clinics in my field boots, clean breeches, well fitted polo shirt and vest if it's cold, gloves, helmet with hair tied neatly, clean tack and clean horse for english and for western all the same as above however I substiture the field boots for a clean pair of ropers and clean chaps, and yes I wear my helmet when schooling western. Trust me...you get taken more seriously and the clinician will spend more time with you if you look like your serious.