I was at a local/un-rated show yesterday where they had a USEF ârâ judging. At one point we all realized we could hear the judge remarking on the competitors in the ring they were judging. We could hear the judge make a small gasp or exclamation when the rider missed a distance and negative commentary throughout the riderâs course. Someone finally turned the mic off but eek 
how would you feel if you could hear what the judge was thinking?
Iâd personally pay to attend a show where I could hear the judges feedback and would certainly attend as a rider.
Thatâs provided it was productive feedback and not just mean for the sake of it.
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Potentially embarrassing for judge and riderâŠbut my one rule when riding: donât make the judge (or trainer) gasp. When I was learning to judge, sitting with judges (not trying for licensing, just learning for the schooling show level) all of the lovely judges-- several R or r ones, said just that about making the judge gasp or exclaim, itâs what we remember. This made me such a better competitor, knowing the judgeâs perspective, what the highest scoring riders are doing or not doing, how the horse should go, what is rewarded or not, what each mistake means in the grand scheme. So valuable!
I realize that mistakes happen, but hearing the judgeâs commentary would be so beneficial to learning how and why hunters are judged the way they are. I enjoy auditing Julie Winkel clinics for just that reason. She will run a clinic with her judgeâs eye, telling riders exactly what she, the judge, is thinking, looking for, noticing, not seeing, and how points are given (or not). So educational! Iâd love to see this happen with volunteer riders as shows for everyoneâs education.
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Iâm a starter and Iâm lucky to work with some great judges. At the end of the day at a local show, the judge and I were both getting a little punchy, and the walkie-talkie was squirrelly- the button needed to be held down for a solid 10-20 seconds before it would communicate. The judge ended up just leaving it on so she didnât have to fuss with it. So I got treated to her âoh nooooooooâ when a good trip biffed a change or missed to the last jump, an âoh I donât like thatâ when a pony dropped his shoulder and his child, and her âYAAAAAAAAAY!â when someone really laid it down in the last class. It was delightful.
As long as I donât make the judge gasp or reprimand me for swearing in the show ring I figure Iâm good.
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Words to live by. Literally! Lol.
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I wouldnât mind one but as long as the judge was being professional and not being catty or mean spirited
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They held a schooling show at foxcroft (only for the foxcroft riders) recently where the judge was kind enough to tell everyone what she thought afterwards. It was very illuminating for sure. But I think if it was unintentional, the judge wouldnât get to choose what they communicated, so it would potentially be very awkward for all involved.
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I got picked out of a class once when a judge did a class critique at the end, it was not fun. Not so much the critique, but the absolutely nasty, mean-spirited way he phrased it. It did not go unnoticed by others. I made damned sure he didnât know it got under my skin and THAT made him mad.
There is a judge here that judges small, local shows and Iâd love to here him on a hot mic, heâs very upbeat and has a keen sense of humor, not mean just fun.
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UDJC!!! Literally itâs so amazing.
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In the dressage world, we pay to hear exactly that. Comments are written on our tests, and we submit videos to get audio commentary by a judge.
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Since my two are currently (probably forever 
) unrideable, I find myself announcing at many of the local H/J shows, and scribing at the dressage shows. It is amazing what you learn from the judge(s)!
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One disastrous show. There was a weird course. With an oddly placed diagonal line beside the outside line. The outside line was directly in front of the judge. On that day my lovely horse was being quite spry. And I lost my sense of direction. And jumped the outside line. BACKWARDS. No flowers. As I rounded the corner swinging wide I realized I should be doing the weird diagonal to the finish. Instead. Right down the judges line. It was a good combo. But when you yell God Damnitt in the airâŠ. Iâm sure the judge had thoughts. Would have loved to hear them. Probably would have sounded like WTAF
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My first year showing we did show clinics where after the class was judged, everyone came back in and the judge explained her thought process which helped me a ton. Now, as adult, I would love to just have a judge with a mic and 3 glasses of wine to get the true unfiltered opinion.
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Not a hot mic, but after one schooling show the judgeâs cards were left out in the office. The comments were quite nasty. A bunch of the in-group teenagers read them aloud to their mutual amusement. I (adult rider) took a lot of abuse, but hey, Iâve been bit by bigger dogs. However, I ended up consoling a couple of the out-group teenagers, who were devastated.
I let the BO know what happened. He was not pleased, either with the judge or with the read-aloud.
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See, a judge should never be nasty. Honest and accurate, yes, but not mean or degrading. My cards donât include much beyond marks of my own design to show how each fence went (short, long, chip, hang a leg, too fast, too slow, missed change, etc.) and a numerical score. I might indicate color of horse or distinguishing mark to separate the billion bays.
I wish hunters were a bit more like dressage where each movement is scored with a comment (which of course requires a scribe and more time). ButâŠwe really do know what goes wrong on course, right??
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This is so important. Judges only exist by the grace of competitors. And people show up as competitors to test their skills, to improve themselves and their horses, and to have fun. Itâs vulnerable to show up as a competitor. Many competitors are kids, busy adults, people early in their riding career, or people who have a deep love of the sport but donât have the $$$ to buy a made horse or a fancy horse.
Itâs unprofessional for a judge to be gasping at competitors (unless something truly dangerous happens like a horse rearing or rider falling). Negative commentary should be made factually and respectfully, without insult or scorn. A good judge should be rooting for all the rider and horse combinations.
I love getting feedback from judges (although it happens rarely). It can be really helpful to hear what they noticed, liked, and didnât like about a round.
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To be fair, I always took the gasping to be involuntary not like gasping at a wrong posting diagonal or something. Iâve taken some fliers in my day that have 100% caused gasps. I wouldnât be upset at a judge for joining in.
But I agree, nothing should be nasty.
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When I say âgaspingâ I mean making the judge (and everyone else) gasp out loud due to a near accident type of riding. Missing because theyâre too fast, too slow, weaving all over the place, the horse hangs a leg, etc. Not simply bad equitation, poorly fitted clothing or helmet, missed change. Weâve all had a ride with an error that could result in a gasp.
Iâve noted a poorly fitted helmet on my card, however (it was too small or there was too much hair up in it making it sit like a cartoon bowler on the girlâs headâdangerous!). Iâve also called the steward over to have a helmet buckled correctly (it was so loose!).
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Spoken like someone who doesnât judge small, local schooling shows. 
Youâd be amazed at the things Iâve seen in the show ring, and, yes, there have been many involuntary gasps involved! But also lots of quiet celebrating when a beginner or a rider on a very difficult/green horse has been struggling all day and finally nails a course.
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Oh gosh yes! It such a pleasure watching kids or adults âget itâ over the course of a show. I distinctly remember a larger early twenties rider on an average small horse absolutely lay down lovely, balanced, quiet rounds despite neither of them âlooking the partâ if you will. I think everyone was a bit surprised. I talked with her at lunch (she was done in my ring) and complimented her on how balanced and thoughtful her rides were. She said she was quite self conscious of her weight and wasnât sure how sheâd do against all the kids. I assured her that her excellent riding was all anyone saw.
Schooling shows can be a circus but also a place where, with good judging and potential feedback from trainers, lots of growth can happen.
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