[Mike Matson]

Looks like the day may be coming when Hal 9000 will be judging your freestyle.

EQ Musync To Improve the Judging of the Kur to Music

http://www.eurodressage.com/news/dre.../2010/eqm.html

EQ-Musync is an 'all in one' software and hardware system that provides required information in REAL TIME during a 6-minute long dressage freestyle. EQM will generate a 100% objective analysis of the music used and a percentage of synchronisation between the music and the horse in all the performed gaits and transitions.

Judges will receive the EQM horse data analysis (HDA) and musical data analysis (MDA) reports immediately after the test, including the score in percentages. It will give them an exact idea of how synchronized a freestyle was. Judges can now concentrate more on the combination and assess a kur more accurately.

See the online EQM-video presentation by requesting a password at video@eqmusync.com

[Equibrit]

Computers do not have judgement.
Competitors are to be JUDGED.

judgment noun (DECIDE)

(also judgement


) /ˈdʒʌdʒ.mənt/ n

•
[U] the ability to form valuable opinions and make good decisions
to show good/sound/poor judgment
I don't think you have the right to pass judgment (on others) (= to say whether you think other people are good or bad).
I'm going to reserve judgment (on the decision) (= not say whether I think it is good or bad) for the time being.



•
[C] a decision or opinion about someone or something that you form after thinking carefully
It proved difficult to come to/form/make a judgment about how well the school was performing.



in sb's judgment



according to someone's opinion
In my judgment, we should let the solicitor deal with this.

[Zevida]

I was just reading the article in Dressage Today about taking a mathematical approach to the difficulty score. While it was an interesting exercise, I would hate for dressage scores to come down to mathematical equations. I wouldn't mind if it was taught to judges as a guideline they could use if they want to, but I hope things like this never make it to the rule book or become mandatory for judges.

[Mike Matson]

Computers do not have judgement.

That's the point. Totally objective. Coming to an arena near you.

(Computer voice)
"The horse is 5mm behind the vertical. Minus 2 points."

[Equa]

I have judged with, scribed for and ridden under numerous dedicated, educated, supposed freestyle expert judges, who could not hear one iota of tempo or rhythm. As for "seeing" light and shade, or texture in musical passages....let's not even go there. Some of them get it sooooooooo wrong, a computer could do it way better.

Let the judges judge the technical and most of the artistic, but do a trial, and see if they "hear" what the computer "sees".....

[fiona]

who could not hear one iota of tempo or rhythm. As for "seeing" light and shade, or texture in musical passages....let's not even go there.

How do you learn to do that?

[Coppers mom]

How do you learn to do that?

I'm not sure if you can. Go to a bar, and look at all the white people trying to dance.

[Bluey]

How about a steward plastering many points of a horse's body with dots at the ingate and let computers judge it all?
Program them with parameters for each movement.

[Equa]

Like Coppers Mom said....!!!

It's not that hard to learn about the basics of music. Unfortunately, listening to music from an early age (as most humans do) means we are all "experts", and very very partial to our own favourite brands.

That's why the European riders went through a phase (might well still be in it) where many of them consistently used music that sounded like the score for a laundry detergent commercial aimed at Hausfraus in regional Deutschland, while Americans used big anthems and show tunes - (judges are happier with muzak they can sing along to...if they don't recognise the music, they struggle.)

Kyra Kirklund repeatedly does very clever stuff - musically - that isn't always rewarded. More recently, Imke Bartels' music has been the only one that really measures up to MY personal test of music quality - and one which CAN'T be replicated by a computer, as yet - the hairs on the arms test....

[eurodressage]

It's a pity you don't seem to get what this program can do!!!! This is not at all a means to replace the judges but a helpful tool.

How often has it been proven that judges have no clue about music and are TOTALLY off the scale in the artistic column? They are too busy to watch for technical mistakes that they are not hearing the music.

It is a helping hand, a tool.. You should watch the video presentation before you "judge" this and have opinions on it.

[Mike Matson]

Personally I'd rather see judges split into those who judge the artistic portion of the freestyle and those who judge the technical. With appropriate training of course.

And how are regional shows supposed to afford this equipment?

[eurodressage]

HI Mike,

they are going to split the panel in "technical" and "artistic" judges. It's a big step forward, as well as Wust's plan of "Degree of Difficulty". All these rules have been accepted and will be adapted in the near future.

But the even more accurate the program could help. Especially at the highest level, the smallest difference can make or break the deal. I think it could be applied from the top down.. Same as the Hawk Eye system for tennis. It's only used at major competitions, not the smaller regional shows.

[Sandy M]

A computer is going to judge the artistry of a musical selection?? I can see it now. Someone will use some Mozart and the computer will determine, like the Emperor in "Amadeus," that there are "too many notes." LOL......Sigh.

I do think bring in someone - even a non-horseperson - from the artistic/musical community to judge the artistic portion would be more effective, and certainly more objective. Whatever.

The way freestyle competition is going, there's no way I'm every going to be able to AFFORD to do one except, perhaps, at the most basic level.

[Bluey]

A computer is going to judge the artistry of a musical selection?? I can see it now. Someone will use some Mozart and the computer will determine, like the Emperor in "Amadeus," that there are "too many notes." LOL......Sigh.

I do think bring in someone - even a non-horseperson - from the artistic/musical community to judge the artistic portion would be more effective, and certainly more objective. Whatever.

The way freestyle competition is going, there's no way I'm every going to be able to AFFORD to do one except, perhaps, at the most basic level.

Well, freestyle used to be difficult, just not because of the music.

"Too many notes..."

[Boomer]

"Too many notes..."

Maybe I will have to reconsider doing my freestyle (when I get to that point!) to heavy metal!

[eurodressage]

the program doesn't "judge" the music, it assesses how synchronized the horse moves to the music. If the horse moves to the BEAT of the music. it can be measuerd.

It's so easy to understand if you open your mind and actually see the video demonstration.

[Equibrit]

Are we to assume that all horses hear the music in the same way that we do ? Depending on how they hear music, are you measuring their natural inclination to move with the music, or are you measuring riding skill. If they don't hear it like us, would you be riding against their natural inclination.

[fiona]

Originally Posted by fiona
How do you learn to do that?
I'm not sure if you can. Go to a bar, and look at all the white people trying to dance.

That's kinda my point! Most of the people in the sport are white - how do they do it?!!

[Bluey]

I think that music is a language depending on some specific sensory abilities you can train so much, but basically you need to have a talent to understand it past some basics.

Similar to seeing colors as humans do, or not and being color blind, which some humans also are, there are people that can hear music to it's full extent, which includes an emotional content, as well as most can see colors and other people that, being musically "color" blind, are hearing music with poor color definition in some hues.
Seems that freestyles any more are not just about drawing lines, but using the whole color palette of music.
That will leave those less musically talented searching for help of the more musically able.

Heavy metal, indeed.

[Coppers mom]

That's kinda my point! Most of the people in the sport are white - how do they do it?!!

Well, after spending umpteen years in band, I believe a good majority don't, lol!

So how do we fix these musically challenged judges? I suppose we could send them all off and force them to learn to play. Unrealistic, but they'd sure quit giving such outstanding scores.

I agree with another poster though, bringing someone outside the horse world with a more extensive knowledge of music would probably be best.