I scribed for a judge not too long ago who used the term “softness over the back” instead of “roundness” because she didn’t want people see-sawing their horses heads down. “Needs more softness over the back” in a lower level test is far more accurate and helpful, imho.
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I’m aware. I was describing the pony’s way of going.
I’d say that it was met maybe 65% of the time. Nothing about that kid’s trip deserved a 5. The kid was the lowest scored by FAR, when others were a far worse ride than hers.
That’s why it stood out to me. Note that I don’t know ANYone I show with by name. I board at a non-showing barn and I don’t have a trainer. I show up alone, not knowing anyone I show against. The only reason this came to light to me is because the kid was sobbing and I heard people talking and the test being passed around. I had watched her ride earlier because I was in the same class.
Between that and the ringing me out (which was promptly overturned by a real vet who watched me ride before sending me back in), he’s a no-go for me if I can avoid it.
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Not sure why you’re responding as you hate me so much, but that’s not what’s being discussed here.
I love that!
I was replying to and agreeing with Sillyhorse…
My coach tells me that standing square, all four feet, is not something a judge can see from their perspective.
She says they can see if a horse isn’t even (ie not parallel to the wall) and they can see hind legs when that is so, but if a horse is level to the ring walls they only can see front feet. If hind feet are standing such that one foot is forward, you do not get a deduction for that.
I have quite a bit of trouble without asking…to tell is my horse is square in her hind feet when we stop. She ALMOST gets there, and occasionally makes a tiny adjust TO get square, but usually is off a few inches.
Coach isn’t as into me fixing this as she is many other things, but i can’t get it out of my head …it is just SUCH A COOL thing to see, and i want it.
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When your horse is connected from back to front and you ride forward into the halt, the squareness will come naturally 
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well then, maybe my coach is right! lololol
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Are you a judge?
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Were you there?
ETA: I’m not the only one who feels this way about this particular judge. It just took me longer to see it because I’m not well connected “in the show world”.
I think that’s exactly what you are saying the judge should have taken into consideration. You are advocating for leniency because it’s a cute kid on a cute pony.
How is the judge to know whether this is a pair’s first outing or its 21st?
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ahhahaha
You got this! You’ll be getting 9s on those halts in no time!
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No, and that has absolutely nothing to do with it.
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“This unique series of tests provides an opportunity for the horse and/or rider new to dressage to demonstrate elementary skills”.
That’s the very first line.
Outside of not performing the movement, what could possibly have happened during that ride to warrant a 4? or a 3?
At a schooling show?
In the intro level?
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And whether or not I’m a judge has nothing to do with what we’re discussing either.
I’m not on this kid’s team.
I don’t know her from adam. She was on a grey pony, and she cries really loud when she’s upset.
Are these schooling show judges at least L grads?
This guy is, but only in the last few years - he’s been judging for far longer than that.
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I was watching a clinic session with Debbie McDonald a few weeks ago. She was teaching a rider with a 5 year old horse. I won’t quote her exactly but she did say something to the effect of never get too picky about the halt on a green/young horse. Immobile, into the hand and relatively square is good enough. But to try and get perfection too early can cause a halt to be stressful on the young horse.
I’m no trainer and I’m no judge but that just stood out to me. Not saying it’s not something to work on but just carefully, according to her.
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Of course it does. You are saying what you think the scores should have been. If you’re not a trained judge, your opinion in that area isn’t relevant.
Not performing the movement gets you a 0. You don’t seem to have a good grasp of how movements are scored.
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yes, and often competitors or friends don’t see what the judge sees. My mom has judged many shows and one instance a rider had an absolute fit over her score. There was a loop to X in the test and the rider only rode about 2 feet from x, so she got a 5. Well, she went absolutely postal over it. “I know I rode over X, I know I did”. Wouldn’t shut up about it for hours LOL I asked my mom about it and she said no, she wasn’t anywhere near X and thats why the comment was “Not to X”.
LOL
I have thought things about my tests at a show and then gone back and watched the video and then agreed with the judge lol
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