Maybe their intent is to have so many riders asking so many questions about what is tasteful or not, or subtle or loud, that everyone will beg for the rulemakers to return to the traditional black-and-white* uniform rules that have worked so well for so long.
*Or beige in the case of jods/breeches at lower levels.
Sounds lovely. The rider with the questioned saddle pad had a lovely pale green pad with silver piping and a darker green coat. Ear net matched the pad. The stupid size of the piping had us looking harder at the rule.
As a judge, and my scribes have agreed, the small changeable numbers that are pinned to the pad are hard to read. The plastic cover reflects the sun and the numbers are too small imo. More often than not we had to ask the rider their number to confirm.
what size was the piping? (how thick)
Like 6 inches or a bit more. Generous to call it piping…more of a stripe. Wish I had a picture.
I just want to know if anybody will really show in the wonder woman boots. 
At all of the shows I regularly attend, we have the same horsey volunteers year after year. It’s not a “no experience required!” kind of thing, same with scribing or working in the office. They know their stuff. Ring stewards are responsible for tack check. You can divert to a TD with questions.
Was this at Texas Rose, perhaps?
You are lucky! Shows here do have some experienced regulars who volunteer (scribes and test scorers), but there is always a last minute scramble to fill other spots.
I think that is how it is most places.
It’s been a real challenge to attract volunteers. Our group has come up with a number of incentives to reward volunteers who work during the show. For example, they can get a free meal ticket for a Saturday night dinner or enter a raffle for prizes. It may get to the point where a smaller pool of volunteers will need to be paid.
No, either WI or OH - they are beginning to blend together lol. Im judging 11 of 12 weekends. Then a little break then a few more.
I feel like at this point it would just be easier to allow any color of jacket/breeches/pad, including patterns. Maybe limit the amount of surface area that can be covered in rhinestones, but it seems like a stripe on a saddle pad isn’t worth spending time agonizing over, particularly when the Wonder Woman boots are legal … you can’t go claiming it’s to avoid distracting the judge from the horse’s performance and then allow those!
Yahbut, in the sun, that plastic is reflective. And stand back 10 feet or so. We really couldnt read them.
Does no one introduce themselves to scribe + judge anymore?
I was always taught by my trainers that when you do your tour of the outside a quick, hello/good morning/good afternoon we are number XYZ is best practice.
I was told this, but I was also told to never interrupt the judge/scribe while they are working. I have always found those two pieces of advice to be in conflict because while I ride around the outside the judge and scribe are finishing up the scores for the rider before me so I do not want to interrupt and introduce myself.
I have only done non-rated very beginner level stuff, just to give you a reference point.
Even if the judge is writing, it is absolutely appropriate to announce to the scribe that you are rider number 101, doing third level test 2. Many times an error in test filing is caught by that simple act. Just last weekend, a rider said im doing first level 3 and we had first level 2 in the program and on the test sheets. A simple call to the office straightened it out and prevented the kerfuffel of entry and then error and discussion. Saved time all around.
We had several who decided to hang out at A prior to the bell. They never even came up to the box before the test. That means we have to think to double check the number during the test.
As a scribe, I’m usually busy looking at the next test (and trying to read the riders number 
) while the judge is finishing their remarks on the previous ride so the scribe is not being interrupted. As a rider, I always give number and test I want to ride to make sure the scribe has the correct test in front of them.
You should introduce yourself. If they are looking down you can wait a moment. If you can’t introduce yourself/horse being silly, PLEASE make sure you ride by with your bridle number facing the judge/scribe. So many times I am squinting at the horse in the ring trying to make out the bridle number because rider did not introduce themselves and their bridle number was on the opposite side. I really do think it’s just that people forget, usually the upper level riders, I know from experience there are more than enough things happening in your head before your upper level test.
This scribe agrees about the numbers. They may be “tall”, but they are not “thick”, and hard to read.
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