I’ve been writing a monthly newsletter for the barn where I board. I’ve also scribed over 4,000 tests with about 18 judges (2 “O”). This past fall, I wrote the following for the barn kids who were about to start their interscholastic show season. It’s just stuff I’ve observed and learned from scribing. I hope it may be of some value to you, too.
Advice from a scribe
• When riding past the judge before entering the arena, politely greet the judge by saying “good morning” and “my number is __”. This gives the rider an air of confidence and maturity, indicating that he/she has experience and makes the judge appear less scary to the rider. It also helps the scribe who needs to verify the rider’s number.
• When practicing your tests, be sure to start them from outside the arena and not always from inside. Also, practice entering from both the right and left sides as you do not know where you will be outside the arena when the judge whistles for you to enter. It is obvious when a rider only practices an entry from one side or doesn’t practice it at all. The result is usually overshooting the center line meaning that your very first movement is not accurate. While it may be easier to begin your practice tests from inside, the extra effort will pay off through the judge’s first impression.
• Remember the “geometry” of your tests, meaning to be precise about the size and shape of your movements. A circle should be completely round. A line should be straight. Riders often throw away points due to sloppy geometry.
• The speed of your movements is another place where riders give away points. Work with your trainer to ensure you are going neither too fast nor too slow.
• While we may not agree with every score we get, it is important to remember that the only people who see the test from the judge’s perspective are the judge and scribe. I can personally state that I cannot determine the true accuracy of a test when watching one from any point on the ground. The view from the judge’s box is unique.
• Be sure to fully read and understand the purpose of each test as noted on it. You may expertly execute a movement that is not the focus of the test, but that does not really help your score. Focus on the purpose of the test as that is what the judge is focusing on.
• I have not personally witnessed any judge make a negative comment about a particular breed, nor a tendency to favor one over another. It is obvious that some individual horses as well as breeds, lend themselves to greater success in dressage. Thus, their natural ability to perform a movement is better.
• Don’t try to advance to test levels for which you and/or your horse are not ready. This is not about the ego of riding this level or that level. It is about systematic training that builds your horse’s muscles (and your skills) in the manner needed to perform the movements. This is the only thing that I have ever seen make a rider look foolish. Skipping levels means that you are skipping essential training for your horse and setting up yourself (and horse) for failure and injury. I have witnessed judges who made pointed comments to riders and their trainers for allowing this to happen. This and abusing a horse are the two things I’ve seen visibly anger judges.
• While this will not directly impact your scores, it is important to always behave in a reasonable, mature manner as you never know who may witness poor behavior and how it can affect other’s opinions of you. Being known for your maturity will only win respect for you, no matter your scores, as you advance your riding and showing skills. During breaks in judging, they are very much aware of what’s happening in the warm-up arena and surroundng areas. They are aware of a rider’s position from a distance, if draw/side reins are used on a horse for a false head position, if a horse is being overworked, who is actually warming up the horse, etc. I have personally seen riders at shows hold on to the edge of a ribbon (other than blue) as if the ribbon were infested with disgusting insects then toss the ribbon in the trash. Not quite the behavior of a mature rider! Also, voices can carry quite a distance outdoors. It’s quite amazing what can be heard in a judges booth by those speaking quite a distance away.
• Learn your test so you don’t have to depend on a reader. Riders, who primarily depend on readers, often “mis-hear” the movement being read due to all the background noises, resulting in an error on the test. Know your test and use a reader for back-up only.
• Speaking of errors during a test, see the following and preceding bullets.
• If something bad happens, take it in stride and don’t stress over it! It’s just one test on one day in a lifetime of dressage tests to be ridden! Sooner or later it happens to everyone. At shows I have witnessed the following interfere with rides-- a sudden cloudburst of rain, a squawking parrot at a neighboring house, a bike being thrown over a fence, bikers/walkers/riders coming through the fence, trucks driving by, children screaming, loose horses or dogs, bags/paper blowing across the arena, the scribe having a coughing attack (oooppppsssss… that was me :eek:), a horse suddenly shying at the immobile judges booth he passed by five other times… This list could go on, so just remember that one day something will happen to you and take it all in stride (just like your horse!).
• If the absolute worst happens and you fall, don’t be embarrassed. The biggest concerns are for your safety, followed by that of your horse. Sure, it happened in front of strangers and not in the comfort of your home stable, but NO ONE thinks any less of you for it happening, especially the judge. There are so many variables at a show that even the most solid, steady horse can get spooked.
