Wheel-types & breed shows

[War_Admiral]

[QUOTE=HighFlyinBey+;2479998]
The judge we’ve hired is “R” in all 3 breeds, but does that translate into the ability to judge driving well?[/QUOTE]

Well, your judge will most certainly be able to judge all 3 breeds to their respective breed standards in any type of driving each breed offers, which is the most important thing, in your situation. If you end up putting a carriage driving class in, it may have to be non-rated unless your judge is licensed or can get (I think it’s called?) a guest card for that.

It’s soooooooooo complicated! :lol:

[HighFlyinBey1]

I think “guest card” is correct.

Now that you mention it, there was a carriage pleasure driving class at one point. I can’t remember why it got put in or why we took it out.

In any case, this has all been a very informative discussion. I should print it out for future reference or for other non-drivers that work on this show.

Thanks much!!

[Drive_NJ]

OK WA… don’t hit me, but a LOT of ADS judges and TDs were dropped from USEF cards as they hadn’t been hired to judge at USEF shows for 2 years. Boom… you need to apply all over again. Most said - not worth it and walked away.

Its also a problem for CDEs offering FEI level - First they need FEI judges, which are mostly European (so judges with ADS and USEF cards at advanced level aren’t working (2 yrs and you are out) Also makes it hard for US judges to become FEI judges because they lack experience. Its an unfortunate Catch 22

I know one solution proposed was to encourage some events to run non FEI allowing US judges to gain experience and hopefully go on to an FEI card.

It would probably be helpful if USEF would allow shows offering one class in a discipline to run under some sort of exemption so the show didn’t have to pay for a guest card and another judge salary for a small division.

I know USEF fees used to kill our Junior to Drive Class and Ladies/Gentlemen to drive class at a show I used to work with. The folks entering were often only interested in that on class and all the fees put the price way out of reach

[War_Admiral]

LOL, not going to hit you, that’s not surprising at all… But it is one of the Catch-22’s which (IMHO) is preventing the Open Carriage Driving division from taking off… The shows can’t get the judges b/c there aren’t many who are rated for Breed A or B or C and carriage driving, and in turn the judges can’t get enough carriage driving work under USEF rules to stay USEF judges!

I agree there does seem to be a need for some variety of workaround to “grow” the division - maybe a complimentary guest card for those USEF judges in the breeds who are also ADS judges, or something like that…??