As judges, we are officials. We’re no different than umpires in baseball or referees in basketball. Most judges enjoy watching good horses and riders. We give our honest opinion of the competition we are watching. We have been accredited by our national organization, the U.S. Equestrian Federation, with continuing education clinics routinely scheduled. We also log many hours judging throughout the country, and we estimated we judge roughly 12,000 rounds each per year. 

We make decisions based on our professional opinions as officials, formed by our experience judging as well as our expertise as horsemen. All of us are a little different in our opinions, because all of us are vastly different in our lifetime experiences. No two judges will pin every class the same way. That is why hunter judges are rotated week to week, to specifically give new opinions each week. Exhibitors and trainers must make their own decisions on when and where to show, depending on their own opinions of the judging panel each week. Show managers work very hard to offer a fair judging panel. 

Taking The Job Seriously

As judges, we all try to do a professional job we can be proud of. There are far more good horsemen and horsewomen that are judges than bad. We may not agree with every judge we sit with, but we respect their opinion enough that they can make the call as they see fit. When collaborating on a score together, we may come to a compromise of our two opinions, and we feel that is a fair and justified opinion. 

Like any umpire or referee of a sport, we are all human beings, with the same flaws all of us have. We may have to write on our card, or blink at the most inopportune moment and miss a critical snapshot of someone’s performance. It’s no different than an umpire missing a strike and calling it a ball. In our opinion, those advantages or disadvantages a competitor may gain or lose even out over a career of competing. We don’t feel judges cheat or favor any contestant over another competitor. If anything, we think we’re harder on our friends. 

We believe all judges gravitate toward the style of horse or performance each of us appreciate. Most judges seek out the better athlete, the more attractive horse, or the higher quality mover, because they display a talent many of the horses don’t have. In equitation, judges recognize the quality of a precise ride and know how rare they are. We all appreciate the “good guy” types of horses, and how well suited they may be for certain riders. But we are looking for the exceptional horse or performance because we watch so many more average or bad rounds than good. 

We usually judge from the most advantageous position to see the whole ring. Nowhere is immune from having an island decoration, shrubbery or another jump block a moment during each contestant’s round. But all of the contestants have the same advantage. It’s a level playing field. We can only score what we see, from where we see it. Sitting on the other side of the arena may give you a different perspective. Seeing it from the in-gate may give you a third opinion. We do not have the advantage of going to the videotape replay. We “make the call” as we see it. 

Questioning A Score

Scores are now used to evaluate performances, and very few exhibitors watch an entire class to know how their score fits into a class. They are not able to compare the mistakes of others, as well as their own, and where on a stagger of contestants their performance may stack up. 

The judge’s score is the only feedback a contestant may receive. No two scores of 84 are exactly the same. Contestants may get their feelings hurt with a lower score when an entire judge’s stagger may be lower than normal, but it is far more important that the order is correct, not necessarily the actual score. We all know it is also hard for contestants to be objective of their own performances. That’s why we have impartial judges. 

In the past, when an exhibitor had a question with a judge’s decision, they went to the steward to seek clarification. The judge was then informed of the inquiry. The judge would normally want to go back and refresh their memory about the class by looking at the card and informing the steward why they made the call they did. They may also decide to speak with the exhibitor in the presence of the steward, time permitting, about it. We feel this is the best way for an exhibitor to find out why a judge made the decision that they did. A judge can give extra feedback beyond the score but cannot discuss or critique other contestants’ performances with you. This meeting was both respectful and informative. Sometimes, we may all have to agree to disagree. 

Now, most exhibitors know that there is a QR code that they can scan at the back gate that is linked to a judge’s evaluation form sent to the USEF. We do not believe this is good for our sport. Do other sports leagues ask players immediately after competing in a game to critique referees, especially immediately after having a call not go their way? Of course not. Given time to reflect, most competitors would choose their words differently than immediately after the event. We all work hard at our sport and spend hours of time and huge sums of money competing to the best of our ability. That fire and passion come out of us in different ways, but most of us would benefit by taking a breath before we speak. If you insist on critiquing us from the gate, let us critique you on your sportsmanship at the same time. 

That brings us to our final thought: As judges we feel it is uncalled for when we hear of the entirely inappropriate bashing of officials by someone who didn’t win. Nobody wins them all. Let us repeat that: Nobody wins them all. Many individuals that complain are respected competitors at our most prestigious events. They are the “leaders” of our industry, and our younger exhibitors, professionals down to children, look up to them. We expect them to set a good example. These role models make themselves look childish when they complain so vehemently. It shows a lack of respect for the judges. More importantly, it shows a lack of respect for our sport. It should not be tolerated. 

Many years ago, when we were junior riders, we remember the awe we felt when a judge walked up and spoke to us personally about our round. When they spoke, we listened. They deserved our respect. While all judges today may not be icons of the industry, they are all due our respect too. 

Mike Rosser is based in Southern Pines, North Carolina, and has been in the horse business for 45 years. He has judged many prestigious shows such as Devon (Pennsylvania), the Royal Winter Fair (Ontario), the USHJA International Hunter Derby Championship (Kentucky), the Pennsylvania National, the Washington International and Menlo Charity (California). He also continues to compete and coach students, and he serves on several U.S. Hunter Jumper Association committees. 

Steve Wall was a stable owner and trainer of Harmony Farms, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, for 35 years. Today he lives in Pinehurst, North Carolina, where he helps manage Sedgefield At The Park horse shows. He also judges 25 weeks a year and has judged at such shows as Devon (Pennsylvania), the Pennsylvania National, Washington International, the Royal Winter Fair (Ontario), the Winter Equestrian Festival (Florida), Thunderbird (British Columbia), the Desert Circuit (California) and the World Equestrian Center (Ohio and Florida). 

This article originally appeared in the February 2024, issue of The Chronicle of the Horse. You can subscribe and get online access to a digital version and then enjoy a year of The Chronicle of the Horse and our lifestyle publication, Untacked. If you’re just following COTH online, you’re missing so much great unique content. Each print issue of the Chronicle is full of in-depth competition news, fascinating features, probing looks at issues within the sports of hunter/jumper, eventing and dressage, and stunning photography.