Sally O'Conner comments...

[alibi_18]

@hoopoe

so,
it is still worthy of discussion, not the judge mentioned per se but the topic of judges comments

No doubts, but people easily get confused… :lol:

Why not starting a new thread unrelated to Sally O’Connor?

It’s always interesting to hear what people think their comments meant.

[Belowthesalt]

@shawneeAcres

Well YEARS ago I rode a young horse in a Sally O’Connor clinic. This was a gangly 4 yr old who literally had difficulty even STAYING in a canter lead. I was a young rider, 14 yrs old I think and was DEVASTATED when Sally said the mare would “never amount to much”! Of course, that made me work THAT MUCH HARDER and the little mare went onto event thru training with me. I was “self made” at that time just a few clinics here and there in dressage but no real lessons and NO idea of how to event! I sold her when she was a 9 yr old (had owned her since she was a yearling) and she went on to be Pony Club National Champion at 2nd level, and then MANY MANY years later (1989) I found out she was still going strong as a “schoolmaster” in SC for an older lady. Should would have been around 17 yrs old at that point. So no, Sally isnt going to stroke even a “little girls” ego! But she was DEAD WRONG on that horse!

I rode before her on a horse of a color breed that had basically T B conformation. Second level, super obedient and correct, but not a fancy mover and obviously not WB. We did not place and got a low score with minimal, not particularly helpful comments. A lovely WB under a notable trainer had a total meltdown in The class. Rearing, bucking. Going backwards in the halt, trotting when it should be cantering and vice versa. O’Connor gave her a 73% And she won the class. The trainer, to her credit, asked that her ride be termed hors de concour and gave back the ribbon. After that, I’ve had little regard for Mrs. O’Connor’s supposedly “tough and honest” remarks and prefer not to show before her. FWIW, at the same show, same day, the other judge - an S judge - gave my ride, about the same quality as the earlier ride, a 64% (3rd of 7 in the class.).

[alicen]

@jenm

I was told by a judge that they are instructed to always put some sort of positive comment at the end of the test no matter how bad the ride.

I wonder if such is the case in Europe …

[16_Hands]

I was at an event a few years ago and the judge’s comment was “elegant pair.” I was on my chubby, chunky mustang who is as far from elegant as you can get. It still makes me chuckle when I think of it. I’ve had other tests with no comments at all too.

[alibi_18]

@alicen

I wonder if such is the case in Europe …

For having scribed with a lot of foreign judges, there seem to be a trend to be more positive in the comments.
For certain, it goes as far putting : « More this or that » instead of « lacking this or that ».
Subtle.

I can’t say if any of them were instructed do to so, but I’ll ask Linda Zang when I see her next weekend.

[alibi_18]

@16 Hands

I was at an event a few years ago and the judge’s comment was “elegant pair.” I was on my chubby, chunky mustang who is as far from elegant as you can get. It still makes me chuckle when I think of it. I’ve had other tests with no comments at all too.

But you see, it still made you feel good.
You remember it and you enjoy your dressage journey.

Maybe the judge saw something, the bond within the two of you, maybe you both had that « all business » or « we’re rockin’ this with a smile » look on your faces or something as it wasn’t just about the horse, « elegant pair » means both of you!

[mellsmom]

@FlightCheck

Sally O’connor does NOT “just say things”. If she bothered to say it, she meant it. Believe me, she is not a “coddler” of rider’s feelings. This is why I so enjoy listening to her!

Sally is super tough but fair. I love listening to her critique a ride. She likes a CORRECT ride. I always look at the scores for the whole group not just mine. Maybe that 60% was the second highest score of 10 rides. I WANT to see comments and suggestions for improvement.

[mellsmom]

Belwothesalt… that is dissappointing to hear. I have seen similar things before, but glad to hear the rider returned the ribbon.

[alicen]

@alibi_18

For having scribed with a lot of foreign judges, there seem to be a trend to be more positive in the comments.
For certain, it goes as far putting : « More this or that » instead of « lacking this or that ».
Subtle.

Ah, constructive criticism.

[BigMama1]

@alibi_18

For having scribed with a lot of foreign judges, there seem to be a trend to be more positive in the comments.
For certain, it goes as far putting : « More this or that » instead of « lacking this or that ».
Subtle.

I can’t say if any of them were instructed do to so, but I’ll ask Linda Zang when I see her next weekend.

A judge friend once told me that they are taught to use “today” when making a somewhat negative comment. As in: “horse was not meeting the requirements of the level today,” for a really bad test, or for a very disobedient horse, “horse was not cooperative today.” It gives the rider the benefit of the doubt - at least that how I’ve felt when I received such comments.

[alicen]

@BigMama1

A judge friend once told me that they are taught to use “today” when making a somewhat negative comment. As in: “horse was not meeting the requirements of the level today,” for a really bad test, or for a very disobedient horse, “horse was not cooperative today.”

In which case, one can only hope that the horse will take the comments to heart.