Spinoff: Why do you scribe?

[KyrieNZ]

We call it ‘writing’ in New Zealand. I think Australians refer to it as ‘pencilling’.

I am a writer convenor for a few dressage groups/venues in New Zealand (so much so that I have a dedicated writerconvenor email).

I LOVE writing. You get to see so much that the judge gets to see. Back in the day when scorers worked out results with pen, paper, and calculators you would hear riders exclaim “why is there such a difference in my scores between judges?!” when standing at the scoreboards. Sit at E/B or M/H and oh-my-gosh what a different perspective!!

Shows can’t go ahead without volunteers (we do get a wee $ contribution, fed and watered) so why not put something back into the sport? I have a ‘how to’ that I send to new writers.

Please just ask your show secretary/event manager how to write, even just for an hour at a local day, they’ll love you for it!

[SillyHorse]

Our GMO offers a “shadow scribe” position for every judge at our schooling show series. People who sign up to be shadow scribes sit behind the judge and scribe with test sheets and pens, and have a go at scribing to get comfortable with it, without any pressure. They also find out whether they enjoy it and want to do it for real.

We also offer scribing clinics with one of our local judges. It’s a fun, informal introduction to scribing.

[Djones]

I learn what the most common errors are in a given level and/or test because I scribe the same things all day.

When I hear a pleased tone, I glance up for a snapshot of what is pleasing this judge. Sometimes I’m seeing a lot (good freewalk) or just a smidgen (halt and reinback).

If rider ABC has a great first test, I will find a way to see more of their subsequent tests that day.

I know what the tests look like from C. Serpentines that aren’t ever straightened in the middle strides are easy to see, dead easy. The distinction between riding a corner vs riding a 20m circle at A or C, super easy to see.

Those are some of the things I learned

[netg]

@Feathered_Feet

I’m so impressed by the folks saying they learn stuff. How do y’all have time to watch the rides in order to see what the judge is saying? I’m always too busy writing to watch anything.

There’s value in giving back, for sure, but how do I also benefit from the learning opportunity? Am I just slow?

I see patterns. For example, with the r candidate I scribed for who was a very experienced trainer, if he made comments on contact early on, we later had transition and lateral work issues, as well as lack of hind end engagement which started coming along. He systematically identified when horses were pulled into a downhill frame, then as the test went along got more into how that affected the rest of the body. If horses were hollow and above the bit, he systematically went through that as well. Judges are NOT allowed to instruct and can only observe what they see that day. Systematically working through the way he did in the comments helps build a big picture image for the riders - but even more for me as scribe, because I saw patterns. It helps identify the faults which will develop if you skip basics - though most tests I end up scribing are lower levels, so no basics have necessarily been skipped, they aren’t developed yet is all.

I also agree about getting to see patterns in movement weaknesses. Second level canter transitions leading into a corner are almost always late, for example. I don’t remember which test it is, but the walk-canter heading toward a corner. I saw video of myself, and sure enough I also was late. I don’t know why that specific transition is usually late, but I now prepare early and try to be in a good canter at the letter so the canter is well established by the corner. It gets marked down more if you’re late since the corner bend helps you get the lead if you’re late.

[Djones]

I also learn from the gritted teeth and under the breath mutterings of dismay.

You know what to write down, and what not to

[SolarFlare]

@dotneko

I am always happy to answer questions if time allows. I will occasionally tell the scribe to glance up at a movement if they have asked me a question about an extension for example to let them see what i mean by ‘more up front than behind’. Or stepping out in a TOH. There is usually plenty of time if the scribes are experienced.

I went down to Florida on vacation and scribed at the Horse Park (eventing) a few years ago. I was lucky enough to be paired up with a judge who had been active for 40 years one day, and another for 30 years the next day of the show. Both were great - once they realized I knew what I was doing, they also opened up a lot and pointed certain things out, or answered a question between tests.

I particularly remember saying (between tests) that I’d never written “lateral walk” so many times ever in my years of scribing. We talked a bit about that, and then the next time it happened the judge told me to stop writing and look up so I could watch the free walk in front of us (that was lateral).

[HorsesinHaiti]

SolarFlare,I hear you. Apparently “final halt not held long enough” is another one that gets written frequently?

[SolarFlare]

Oh man, 2 years ago up here in Ontario I needed that on a rubber stamp! I told my coach to make sure she was reminding her students to hold immobility at the end of the test. I myself count to 3 before I salute to be sure it’s long enough.

Every show there seems to be something that stands out… I’m sure it’s also because after a few people have the same comment, it becomes even more apparent and the judge is looking for it the rest of the day!

[SolarFlare]

I sit mainly with judges who know me well enough to know they don’t have to tell me what not to write any more We only have so many eventing judges here so I think I’ve sat with almost all of them at this point. It’s funny the first time though when you get the “don’t write that!”

[dotneko]

@HorsesinHaiti

SolarFlare,I hear you. Apparently “final halt not held long enough” is another one that gets written frequently?

I use ‘halt not convincing’

[BigMama1]

We should write a cheat sheet of most frequent comments.

Turn / entry on centre line: overshot centre line
Halt: not immobile
Free walk / extended walk: needs to stretch more forward & down with more overstep
Half pass: more bend
Extensions & transitions: show more difference
Changes on the diagonal: Do not change in corner
Canter pirouette: (at PSG): Not a pirouette
Walk pirouette: Stuck / stepped out

[DLee1]

Volunteers are essential and it’s the best volunteer job imo!
I do love it when I have a great judge, not too wordy, sense of humor etc. It can be downright fun.
Sometimes not quite so much but still never “bad”.
I’ve told fellow competitors that if they want guaranteed “gimme” points just for the love of god get a great free walk. Even a good one. Anyone can do it if they practice and judges get so excited on the rare occurrence it happens!

[dotneko]

@BigMama1

We should write a cheat sheet of most frequent comments.

Turn / entry on centre line: overshot centre line
Halt: not immobile
Free walk / extended walk: needs to stretch more forward & down with more overstep
Half pass: more bend
Extensions & transitions: show more difference
Changes on the diagonal: Do not change in corner
Canter pirouette: (at PSG): Not a pirouette
Walk pirouette: Stuck / stepped out

Take more weight
Cover more ground
More up front than behind
Earthbound
Stretch out and down (and underline out and down) in free walk
I recently had a new scribe cry out to me ‘I cant find NOT ROUND’ in the directives to circle - it made me change the way i said that to ‘not quite round’

Ive spent a lot of my testings having my husband scribe for me - Ive learned to be a person of fewer, more pithy phrases

[SillyHorse]

@dotneko

Ive spent a lot of my testings having my husband scribe for me - Ive learned to be a person of fewer, more pithy phrases

LOL I rode in front of you once; your comments and scores were spot on.

[dotneko]

@SillyHorse

@dotneko

Ive spent a lot of my testings having my husband scribe for me - Ive learned to be a person of fewer, more pithy phrases

LOL I rode in front of you once; your comments and scores were spot on.

Thank you! Always nice to hear.

[lorilu]

Good list. I’d add “Not square behind” and/or “resting hind foot”.
And of course for those 20M circles at B/E - “Circle not round”.

[lorilu]

@DLee1

Anyone can do it if they practice and judges get so excited on the rare occurrence it happens!

Not if you have a horse who doesnt overtrack, or, in my case, AT BEST, Bravo gets a half hoof.
One reason I bought my new guy is that he ahs a great walk with real overtrack as a PRE!

[DLee1]

Trust me, if a rider has a horse that truly lowers his head, puts his nose in front of the vertical and extends his walk steps AT ALL they are ahead of the majority and will be rewarded for it, even without a big overstep.

[sparkygrace]

While I no longer scribe due to a hearing loss, I did for years as a way to support our local shows and learn. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to see (if I could peek) the tests and hear the judges comments, which helped me ride my tests better. I count myself lucky to have scribed for some of the top “I” judges as well as local judges just getting their start. Most of the “I” judges were happy to answer questions or point out things to me even though I didn’t ask. A few well-known judges were a little gruff and I tended to not speak unless spoken to, so it went just fine. Other judges were quite talkative and a little gossipy, which was very entertaining.

Now, more than ever, shows need scribes. I encourage anyone who wants to learn more about dressage to volunteer.

[Silverbridge]

This is just completely not true where I show and volunteer (Arizona, California, and scribing the NAYC in Michigan). Also not what’s taught in the L program.

Here for example are the directives from First Level test 3, where the walks are double coefficients. A walk that doesn’t overstep is generally a 5 or 5.5 so a lateral tendency makes a big difference. Quality of the gait = tracking up so overstep is the primary thing they look for. In the L program it’s taught as looking for the “V.” The nose and head position and extension of steps are secondary to scoring the quality of walk which is significantly based on overtrack.

And I type this as someone who just closed a deal on a horse whose walk is his weakness. But I prioritized an easy 3-beat canter & natural uphill balance this time around, and my budget really didn’t allow for all three gaits to be natural eights.