Maximising your chances in a saddle class (and a riding comp): A judge's perspective
by Leigh Dunstan
Chaff Chat - September 2006

Firstly, a few preliminaries to consider. Always be on time for your class and have your horse warmed up. Even if the ring steward allows you to come into the ring late, you minimise your chances by being late for a class. Walk, trot and canter briefly in the ring prior to the class commencing if you have time and the opportunity to do so.
Sometimes there are a dozen other horses in the ring with you, so space yourself so that you can be seen and use all of the space available to you. Imagine that you are driving in traffic- avoid traffic jams and collisions by thinking ahead.

The walk should be ground covering, forward, relaxed but active. Many riders underestimate the importance of a good walk in a saddle class (or a riding comp). It's worth remembering that a judge is already assessing their potential finalists at the walk and if a horse possesses a natural presence- an eye catching quality- the judge will discover this immediately, during the walk.

The trot should be light, active, ground covering and rhythmic. In a riding comp it is important to see all competitors at both rising and sitting trot and the regularity of the trot should be effortlessly maintained by the rider when asked to do either. The quickest way to sort out a riding class is to leave the riders on the circle in sitting trot for a few minutes to determine which riders have a true independent seat and a confidence in their abilities.

The canter should show a light, active spring to it. It should not be flat, drawn out, heavy or unbalanced. In this pace, most of all, the rider should display lightness in the horse's forehand, self-carriage and softness in the contact (if the horse is capable of this). Unfortunately, what I see often in horse classes, at the canter, is a tension in the horses, which destroys everything a rider should be attempting to achieve in canter.

I do think it is important to see your class briefly on both reins, prior to calling in finalists. If you are called in first off the circle, you can be confident that the judge would like you to win the class. It's important, therefore, that as the first person to do the workout, you are totally clear about what you are expected to do. A judge always like his first choice to get the workout right- if only to give the other finalists a clear example of what is required. Use what space is available to you, don't rush your workout, show balanced paces and smooth transitions. If you are asked to lengthen your trot or canter, balanced, controlled, well-defined work always looks better than extravagant extended paces that lack control in the transition back to the working pace. Don't rush your halts. This will show relaxation and obedience. And circles should be round and straight lines, straight. Sounds so basic doesn't it? However, I'm constantly disappointed by the number of competitors that have trouble with the simplest workouts. I would much rather see competitors do a simple workout well than see half the finalists struggle with a workout that is beyond their capabilities. This is where sound dressage principles become vital if you are to succeed in showing, particularly in riding comps.

If I can digress, it's good to remember that judging is about assessment; it's not about punishing horses for minor hic-ups in a horses' work or obsessing about minor defects in conformation. It's about weighing up what you like about a horse compared to anything you don't like- because I can tell you with certainty that even in a line up for Champion Hack at a Royal Show or a HOTY Show, I'm yet to see the faultless horse. Remember too, that a saddle class is not JUST about the work. You are still judging a horse's type, conformation, condition and even presentation as well as his manners and paces.

With riding comps, it is a source of annoyance to me when I hear people say "She rides like a dressage rider" or "He rides dressage like a show rider". There should be no difference. Correct classical riding principles have not changed a whole lot in 400 years and in Australia we are very fortunate that our first Olympic coach (Franz Mairinger) trained for many years at the Spanish Riding School. So, this fundamental knowledge filtered down, not only through the Pony Club movement in this country but throughout all Australian equestrian sport.

Over the years we have many examples of top show riders excelling in other disciplines. Helen Heagney and Maree Tomkinson are riders that come immediately to mind but even Andrew Hoy, as a teenager, was a Champion Boy Rider at Melbourne Royal and was touted as a future Olympian even then. In show riding, form and function should mesh together. Your position should be pleasing to the eye, because it is correct and not vice versa.

So, a top show rider should simply be a correct, effective rider with the ability to produce smooth, correct work from his mount. It should not be a process that is contorted and tampered with according to whim or trends until it becomes removed from the classical riding principles which encompass all disciplines.

A well educated horse is a distinct advantage in a riding comp as long as the rider is knowledgeable enough to know how to ride an educated horse. Reliable work presents a pleasant picture and the manner in which your horse works is a reflection of your riding abilities. You and your horse are a team, but of course, you are the team captain.

Next time I will touch on necessary tasks prior to a show and assessing your priorities when competing. Until then, happy and successful showing!

Leigh

The trot should be light, active, ground covering and rhythmic.

The canter should show a light, active spring to it. It should not be flat, drawn out, heavy or unbalanced.

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