I write better than I ride 
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Then why keep complaining about my path? (and I dont pay all that money for ribbons. I usually dont get one unless the class is small. After all, with my median score hovering around 63%, I am hardly up there with the blue ribbon winners… )
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Hey, a skill is a skill! We probably all have our riding struggles! But… if I could write like you, (pointedly, without any condescension- humorously, without any person being the “butt of the joke,” thoughtfully, providing an opinion worth reading …etc, etc) - I’d have myself quite the parade! :-))
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I think you are over-simplifying people’s concerns here. This post proves it.
It’s great that you have a ride-a-test at your barn. Not everyone does. Sure, I’ve ridden tests with S and I judges but it’s not the same in my home arena. The issues aren’t about ribbons, but relative placements and scores. Sure, they leads to ribbons but please stop over-simplifying that it is all about the ribbons for some. That’s inaccurate and a bit obtuse.
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I just got myself a world’s Okayest horse rider sweatshirt, and I love it.
I do nothing for accolades, I just do what I like, and try to enjoy myself! I don’t know why people keep doing this if they aren’t really enjoying it.
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I believe our horse’s first championship cooler cost about $50,000 only to become our dog’s favorite for to sleep on
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I did say I don’t understand the issue, so please help me see what I’m missing. If the concern is solely about placement relative to other riders, then how is that different than a concern about ribbons / winning?
If the concern is solely about scores, then it doesn’t matter who you are competing against. Your score is your score.
Again, isn’t that the whole point of dressage? You can control (to a certain extent lol) how well you and your horse perform your test. You have the power to influence your score.
It’s totally out of your control who you are competing against on any given day. You have no power to influence whether they all have terrible rides, placing you at the top of the class, or they all have better rides, fancier horses, and more training time than you, placing you at the bottom. So why waste energy fretting about something completely out of your control?
In both scenarios, you ride your test the same and your score doesn’t change more than a point or two each way, depending on how much “room” the judge likes to leave themselves when scoring the first couple of rides. Judges really do have a good idea in their heads of what an 8 or a 7 or a 5 looks like at each level and they really do judge to that standard.
I apologize that I don’t understand why some are so concerned about how other people ride and score when that has little to no bearing on your own scores.
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Where?? Sounds like something I must purchase! Although “okayest” is a stretch for someone like me who still struggles with sitting trot lol
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Stop complaining that this is about ribbons and winning. It’s not. So obtuse and short sighted.
Yes, your score can be very influenced by who is in the class. I’m not fretting, I’m making an observation. Please stop trivializing peoples’ input if you can. Yes, your score does change as the judge often judges you against the others in your class. No, judges do not have a constant scale in their heads, esp with collective marks. I’ve done enough clinics and socialized with S and I judges to make this statement.
You seem to boil this down to something as simple as people being “so concerned about how other people ride and score”. I’m sure that’s how you mentally wrap up the whole argument. You don’t seem to be very apologetic about your seemingly fixed mindset despite your words. I’m sure in your mind, it’s all about the ribbons.
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Etsy, my friend, land of magical comedic sweatshirts 
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? I don’t complain about your path, you always take the blame and tell me that I am wrong… I am not interested in your path of riding… I saw you once riding and thought it looked competent.
the only thing I am worried about it your uncritical love for the organisation… And it’s not your uncritical love for the organisation per se, That’s your personal thing…
But that you are representing other members as well… I would think if you represent other people, you should at least try to accept that they feel different… When I was still member and had to choice to pick my representative I never picked you because I would like to be represented by somebody who tries to represent me…
But that’s only stupid me… I am gone now and wish you well for your path…
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Great post!!! Of course it’s about the ribbons!! But nobody would ever admit it!!
and BTW I am riding for ribbons as well!! Of course getting one is nice… but the tougher the competition, the nicer it is to get it…
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I suspect you misunderstood my post. I said it is not all about the ribbons but the score depends upon who is in the class. I’m all about placement and why, which is not the same as getting a ribbon.
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Ooh, I found one that ships here at a very reasonable rate. Also tempted by the mug…
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We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one. This has not been my experience as a scribe or as a participant in “through the judge’s eye” clinics.
What changes do you suggest that would level the playing field in your opinion?
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not in Dressage but we have old style Morgans that are shown, there are some judges who prefer the new style (more Saddlebred) and will place those over the older styles (Lippitt based) even though the old style reflects the breed standard.
When we were very actively showing we kept a record of the judges’ preferences and would not attend events judged by those who held a preference for the new style as we knew our horses would not be tied very high.
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Lol . Reminds me of when I was resistant to registering with another, smaller, local show association in addition to the state one we already belonged to. It was going to be big $$$$ as many of the smaller association’s shows were not mutually sanctioned by the state association. A friend urged me, saying: “They’ve got great prizes! Sarah won a $150 gift card to Dover Saddlery.” Me: “Sure. But how much did you spend for Sarah to win that $150 gift card?”
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For goodness sake; just enjoy your horses.
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A knowledgeable and effect judge will assess each individual combination using the scales of training as a framework. Dressage is not a comparison with other horses performance because it is not a beauty pagent. Winners happen because the cumulative total for all their marked movements in the test, judged against the scales of training, comes to the highest total. The subjective element is how the individual judge understands the scales of training - and that is where the education of judges is so important.
A good trot, one that is rhythmical, relaxed, with the horse showing acceptence of the bit and acceptence of the aids, a trot that has impulsion and suppleness, where the horse is straight and, the icing on the cake, can demonstrate increased collection and engagement, by working over it’s back and producing lightness of forehand and increased self carriage, is the trot movement going to get the highest test score because it demonstrates greatest achievement on the scales of training. By contrast, a trot that shuffles through the dust of the arena, with no cadence, rhythmn or impulsion because the horse is heavy on it’s forehand and rigid with tension because it’s rider has hands like bricks will be marked down - even if the horse is a WB with spider legs and a pricetag the equivalent a small nation -because that trot demonstrates lesser achievement on the scale of training.
A well trained, well ridden average horse performing a correct, accurate test should place higher than a well trained, poorly ridden if expensive horse producing an incorrect, inaccurate test. Welsh Cobs win national titles against dressage bred WB.
Educated judges make better riders.
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