This is video of a beautiful dressage test at New England.   This is Rosevale Leggo owned by Bill Broe.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/nxu5KnZMXcM" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Here is video of the 2 year old Park Harness Stake.  Thanks to the viewers who gave it to me!

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/TP6BNsAkZfA" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

The Morgan Medallion Classic has designated the Ladies English Pleasure Championship on Saturday morning (8/16) as the UPHA Pink Ribbon Class for the show.  The show has proudly joined together with the UPHA to use the opportunity to raise awareness of (and hopefully some $$ for) breast cancer research.  We look forward to seeing the entrants in the class wearing something “pretty in pink”.  Please contact Kate Brownie cjsmum@sbcglobal.net for sponsorship information.   See you in Santa Barbara!

There has been a lot of discussion about not only the judging at New England this year, but about how deplorable horse show judging is in general.  Complaining about the judging has probably been going on since the very first horse show.  However, I have seen very few suggestions for improvement or change.  What are YOU willing to do to affect positive change?  Are you willing to pay more into the judges’ education fund that we pay at all of the Regional shows?  Are you willing to spend the time and money to educate yourself and practice making decisions in order to become a judge?  Are you willing to use your vacation time to spend 12 – 14 hour days judging shows for minimal compensation?

There are good, honest people in AMHA who are attempting to make improvements to the judges’ pool.  But let’s face it, they are facing an uphill battle and perhaps they could use some help.  We can’t expect them to find the time to wade through all of the chatter to pick out the pearls.

I would like to see the AboveLevel community become a force for positive change.  Let’s generate suggestions for improving and increasing the judges’ pool and then discuss the pros and cons of each suggestion.  I will volunteer to consolidate the suggestions, along with the pros and cons of each idea, into a letter to the AMHA Board of Directors, the AMHA Professional Committee, and the Judges’ School for them to consider.  I will post the letter for everyone to review before sending it to the Board.  I would like to have this done before it’s time to leave home for OKC.  Are you in?

While we’re on the topic of judges, I was curious to find out how many exhibitors actually keep a list of bad judges they would not consider spending their money to receive opinions from…  Many of us are not showing 4-H here and have to spend considerable amounts of capital to take our horses to A-rated shows.  Do any of you refuse to spend money for a particular show based on who the judge is?  Does anyone keep score of the bad judges?

Yes, I do believe we need to expand the judges pool, but I don’ think making professional horseman all apply for thier judges card is the answer.   Some of the professionals may be successful with the morgan show horse, but does everyone have what it takes to place a given class from first to last.  Some of the best veteran judges get lost sometimes.  

Judges need to know how to deal with the public.   Courtesy goes a long way.  An effort to make the audience and the exhibitors feel valued is crucial.  Judges who are observed by the audience with pure bordem should not be tolerated by the show committee.  A thank you from a judge to an exhibitor or a wallking of the line is something that seems to be done less frequently.  What has happened to the entertainment the judge is supposed to provide?  It is a horse show, show some excitement judges.

New England is one of the most expensive horse shows in the country, s0 as an exhibitor, I want to get my monies worth.  The whole show is controlled by the men and women in the middle of the ring.  So with that in mind, it’s time to get the show committee to realize that one judges’ opinion is not enough at this highly competitive show.  A three judge panel is needed badly.

I bought a hunter this year…and haven’t ridden hunt since I was 13 yrs old. Back then, I was able to braid my own horse (yarn braids), but have long forgotten how. Heck, sometimes I have a hard time remembering my kids names…and let’s not even talk about where I put the car keys!

My trainer said that some people “sew” hunter braids with thread (not the yarn ones), and it is very nice looking.

Does anyone know how to do this, or knows someone who does? I’d like see if I can learn how to do it.

I’ll be at Jubilee and OKC, and would love to just watch it being done.

Due to the early morning hour (or my just being just plain dumb) I accidentally erased my video from Gold Cup on YouTube.  The post are still on the blog but when the video is clicked on, it says the video is no longer available.  I will try to get as many back up as I can.  Please bear with me as it is a long process.

Sorry guys!

Here are the results for the Blue Ridge Classic, Ashville, NC.  Thanks to the Show Committee for allowing me to post the Morgan Division Class results.

Morgan Judge: Kathryn Schwartz, Troy, Ohio
Morgan English Pleasure Adult Amateur
 1 CN A Touch Better (Jason Harrell, rider; Jason Harrell, owner)
 2 Claridge Freedom’s Spirit (Natalie Tetterton, rider; Connie Marshburn NatalieTetterto, owner)
 
Morgan Classic Pleasure Driving – Junior/Novice Horse
 1 Dragonsmeade Andante (Sarah Gallant, rider; Sarah Gallant, owner)
 
Morgan Park Saddle Open
 1 HVK Noble Flame (Ariana Varveris, rider; Blanche&Nicolett Bauer, owner)
 2 Springmill Navigator (Brooke Simpson, rider; Brooke Simpson, owner)
 3 JW Authority (Alyssa Johnson, rider; Barbara & John Goda, owner)
 
Read the rest of this entry

I have been reading all the responses and discussion regarding the judging at NE last week.  Many people on the blog were very disappointed and frustrated with the class results, even the point of wanting to write to the show committee to voice their concerns (See “Trainers Who Judge” and “New England…Good Show?”).  While I think that is a good idea (it is always a good idea to discuss problems in an effort to find solutions), there is one thing that committees can’t do a whole lot about: There aren’t very many of Judges out there willing to put their lives and businesses on hold to judge many shows, especially long ones like NE and OKC.  The pay isn’t good and there aren’t many “perks” to the job (not counting political perks), even though it is a vital part of showing.  You can’t have a horse show without exhibitors, but, in turn, you also can’t have a show with out a judge.  Asking for better judging is important, however, I think it is often times very hard to find a judge willing to take the job. 

One way to possibly increase the judging pool is to have all trainers be required to also attend judges school, get their judges card and be required to judge “x” number of shows in a 3-5 year period in order to keep their professional status.  That would greatly increase the judges pool and give some new blood and new eyes to the show world.   I know there are a lot of problems with this idea but I thought that maybe by throwing it out there it would generate some more constructive ideas on how to renovate the judging (or lack thereof) in the Morgan Show World.

 So, hit me people…positives and negatives!