How about more comments from judges?
Has Linda Allen seen it yet? 
Jane Ervin and Merry are judge trainees, what are your opinions? 
Now that is a wonderful example of exactly what we should be seeing: Flat back, head up, lovely leg position and a flowing automatic release … I’d love it if someday I can look half that capable
I went back into the vault that is my scrapbook, and sure enough, 90% of all my over fences photos from my youth and younger amateur days (i.e. the black and white photos) show me gleefully jumping using an automatic release. That’s simply the way we were taught, regardless of whether it was an eq or a hunter round.
As for when the “crest release” came into vogue, I can recall riding in a GM clinic about '79 or '80 and he had us working on them then. Yet the whole idea has become so misconstrued, that I’ll bet at his clinics out here in December, he’ll be harping on automatic releases. Everything old is new again, eh?
“Charter Member of the Baby Greenie Support Group of North America”
When I was a junior, I rode 6 days a week, as did my friends, and practically lived at the barn. I know I can say the same for bumpkin as well!! I had taken lessons for 4 years before I ever set foot in a showring, so I had a very solid foundation, and was able to go directly into the junior hunters and 'big eq" in my first year of showing, and compete successfully. I used an automatic release right from the beginning of my show career, and as I got older, I also competed successfully in the green and open working divisions as a junior. (Back when they were truly open divisions, rather than basically limited to the pros).
M. O’Connor, thanks for your response. Glad to see I wasn’t the only one rather shocked and dismayed by Paige’s statements!
And welcome back, Nancy. I was glad to see your post, and of course your lovely automatic release!
As a judge, I would love your opinions on this topic – what do you see when you are judging?
“Of course, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.” - Dennis Miller
