To Judge or not to Judge

17.2 and still growing!

I have made a decision. I am going to become a judge! I have struggled slightly with the move from British Dressage to the scene in Ireland because there was more...emm...structure shall we say to the dressage world in the UK. So how best to adapt well to these differences than by immersing myself into this new, slightly less shiny, slightly less scary, Irish Dressage world. Sure, it’s more half chaps than Konigs. And yes it’s more Clover Hill than Donnerhall. But in fact the horses I have seen would definitely hold their own at a dressage competition in the UK.

And it’s definitely less of a fashion show over here. Canary breeches...FINE! Rubber boots...AOK! Scull caps...COME ON IN! But I actually enjoy the fashion of dressage. It’s historically been such a fuddy duddy sport so if we get to put a little personality into it, then why not? It neither changes the way a horse performs nor how a rider rides so why not make it as fun and encouraging as possible? I won’t go into detail about a little incident which involved my brand new patent leather black boots, a judges bell, a red faced Victoria and a LOT of complaints. Apparently my boots were too distracting. Black. Patent. Boots. *insert eyes up to heaven emoji*. But, my thoughts were that either I accept it (this was never going to happen) or I try to do something about it. So I did. And I am proud to say that they have amended the wording, albeit modestly, which now allows me to wear my boots, so long as they are not distracting to the judge *there is not an emoji good enough for this emotion...turd emoji perhaps?*

So after that, I was a bit disheartened. But then I decided to really try hard to help bring Dressage Ireland in line with it’s fellow European counterparties…at least operationally. If Dressage Ireland is Santa and I am a small child, I am 100% on the naughty list and Santa rolls his eyes BIG TIME when he receives a letter from me. I know I am constantly sending in suggestions and ideas (yes, sometimes complaints...don’t hate me DI!) but it’s only because I care. Massively. I want to change things for the better and one thing I have learnt about Ireland is that she doesn’t always like change. The majority of my suggestions go unanswered; I’m sure there is a sub folder in their suggestion box on the website where all my emails are automatically filtered and then get burned at the stake. But if I Just. Keep. Sending. In. Complaints...some elf will listen to me, right?

Further down the line I would like to perhaps join the committee as a voice of the people (I’m a right aul Eva Peron, me) because as it stands, I see rules being changed left right and centre and no one on the committee seems to reach out to see what would actually work for it’s members. Unless they are sending out some private messages and due to being on the aforementioned naughty list I haven’t been invited to the party. But until then I want to become more involved somehow and judging, which is always something I have been interested in, seems to fit the bill perfectly.

This weekend I had my first experience writing for a List 2 judge. I wrote for classes ranging from Novice up to PSG. Some things to note:

1. Seriously. Learn how to spell before going in to write for a judge Victoria. Sheesh. I had to scramble around on the floor for my phone, pretending I was checking the running time, to Google the word 'rhythm'. Yes, I am hanging my head in shame.
2. Eat before you start. Your stomach making noises akin to a sound effect from Game of Thrones during a FEI pony class does NOT a good impression make. I would also like to point out that in an effort to make said good impression / be a lick arse, I didn’t get out of the car for nearly the whole day. The judge, however, had curry chips and ate them in the car.
3. Judges are not scary people and are in fact incredibly nice, down to earth and helpful. I learnt a lot from my experience and even sparked up a possible new friendship. One of the judges was riding in the AM class and she was just as nervous and tense as the rest of us would be. They are human. Although I would like to point out that a young child asked me if I was the judge and I nearly bent over so he could kiss my head.

Red rossies all round!



Romy has had some time off from schooling after he was approved at elementary level. We have competed in three shows gaining up to 70% (before I was deducted 4 marks for going the wrong way.....twice...) so until we’re back to full work in the summer I’m going to focus on getting as much judge training in as possible. I’ve just sent through my application to become a trainee judge and unless the application gets sent into the sub-folder-of-death I’m hoping I can stay on track to take my first exams before the end of the year...although that may be a little ambitious. Keep your fingers, toes and rubber boots crossed for me y’all!

 

Victoria xo