As most of you undoubtedly know, judges have to attend clinics every certain number of years, depending on the discipline. Since I am an S-rated (standing for senior, a term I loathe, sounds like senior citizen!) judge, this year was my turn. I am also an R-rated (or Registered) judge in the hunter and equitation world. Both dressage and hunter/ equitation disciplines had clinics within three days of each other in California in February: a dressage clinic held at the U.S. Freestyle championships and a hunter/equitation clinic held on a schooling day during the HITS Desert Circuit in Indio.

 

Both of them were “live,” meaning with real, breathing horses and riders, as compared to the antiquated ones with videotapes, always taken from a different angle than where the judges were sitting. Some of the old ones had demonstrators that were live, but none of the clinicians in either world wanted to hurt the riders’ feelings, so most of the pertinent information went unsaid.

 

The new format is infinitely better and instead of just showing up and spending lots of money and time for very little helpful knowledge, both clinics were most educational.

 

The staff at both of these clinics, headed by Sally Davenport, assistant director of continuing education for USA Equestrian, was phenomenal. Sally is truly a dynamo of perpetual energy, always smiling and with all the answers. I only hope the USAEq leaders realize what a wonderful “secret weapon” they possess with Sally and her affable group.

 

What was unique was that I was the only person, to the best of my knowledge, who attended both the dressage and the hunter/equitation clinic. And I find it funny, as the years go by, how separated these two disciplines have become. It’s also very sad, as good riding is good riding, and a nice horse is a nice horse, no matter what saddle is on it.

 

As I was growing up, many people judged both disciplines, and we were all the better for it. Lots of these judges were ex-military, men like J. Tupper Cole, Jack Burton, Jack Fritz, and Donald Thackeray. They were all excellent horsemen, had been through the cavalry school at Ft. Riley (Kan.), and most had represented our country at the Olympics or abroad. There were many others as well, and as I ponder the reason why there are now so few crossovers, I believe specialization is the culprit.

 

I’m glad there are still a few of us who work both sides of the fence. Even though the dressage riders refer to us behind our backs as “those damn hunter people” and the hunter snobs have lumped all dressage riders into the “D.Q.” category, I only wish they could pick my brain. Both sides would be astonished by the people I’ve known and/or worked with, who were pillars of both disciplines way back when everyone worked together.

 

Now, on to the clinics. How fortunate we were to have the CDI show made available to us. To see so many nice horses doing all levels of FEI-level tests was eye-opening for many, especially those who are geographically limited to judging only one or two levels at a show. I heard many, many comments about how appreciative they were to be given this opportunity to see a range of levels and talent.

 

A clinic can only be as good as its panelists and participants, and our panelists were a joy. All were very candid and made us aware of their love of the sport and of the horses.

 

Axel Steiner, one of our country’s two O-rated (Olympic) judges, gave us his wisdom and knowledge with a smile. Anne Gribbons, who also wrote about this clinic in her column last week (April 26, p. 32) , was a sheer delight with her wit and her insight. I hope it’s not long before she becomes an O-rated judge because she deserves it. Linda Zang, our country’s other O-rated judge, was officiating at the show but took time, as she always does, to speak with us.

 

The third panelist was Terri Ciatto Gallo, a freestyle designer who spoke on music suitability and freestyle composition. Her contributions were wonderful, and her work on the first day with the demonstration riders was used as reference for the remainder of the forum.

 

Using the headsets and listening to Axel, Anne and the others who spoke as the various rides were going on was so refreshing and such a wonderful experience for the younger or less experienced judges.

 

One insight for me included how much the level of the horses and the quality of performance have improved. There were still too many horses with short, cramped necks’not allowed, or unable to demonstrate self-carriage’but the majority of the rides were good, well-schooled horses.

 

Another, which took me a week to analyze, is that the number 7, as a score, is being used on a much looser scale than it used to be; hence higher scores and happier competitors. But beware of over-rewarding when not deserved, or an 8 will soon be given for fairly good, instead of good, and our system will suffer.

 

On to Indio and a whole set of new faces and animals. Sally Davenport had everything in order here as well, and it ran equally as smoothly. A different format, but just as interesting. The many competitors and trainers who donated their horses and pupils deserve to be thanked profusely.

 

The four panelists here were equally as interesting, and they made themselves available to answer a myriad of questions. Californians Nick Karazissis and Penny Carpenter put things together very well, and the two other panelists who are legends in their own time were Linda Andrisani and Jimmy Lee. They were both very good speakers and their knowledge was easily passed from them to us, their students.

 

They made me realize how beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, and how it is possible for the same class to be pinned quite differently, depending on the judge and his or her own priorities.

 

Watching 15 to 20 hunters, then discussing the trips and trying to place them, was an invaluable learning tool, especially for the less experienced r-rated judges. To be privy to these discussions made them realize priorities they may have never thought about.

 

Having so many judges, this exercise also brought home the importance of where a judge sits. Each judge has a different perspective and sees different things, depending on their location. More exhibitors should be aware of this when their trainers are trying to second-guess at the in-gate. These trainers really must see the rounds from the same vantage point as the judge to really make a sound evaluation.

 

I hear that the live clinic in Florida (see March 15, p. 24) has a waiting list of luminaries who want to be demonstrators. By next year the same will be true out here because it was such a good learning experience for everyone.

 

I had loads of fun at both places, and I’m looking forward to the next clinic. I never used to say that!