Horse Show Judging by Bethany White

I still have a few shows to judge this year and a number of online shows over the winter.
Also, 1 more clinic this year, but I will not be judging or doing live clinics over the winter.
Unless I am requested to fly south for a clinic or show. I would entertain that.
My schedule is getting full for next year, so please schedule as soon as possible. Also booking 2026.

2025 dates are going!
Booking Clinics and Judging.
Also booking 2026!

Want to hear directly from a Horse Show Judge?
Tomorrow night I will talking about Open Horse Shows including rules, tack, apparel, scoring and what the judge is and is not looking for.
I will also touch on dressage and western dressage since they are gaining popularity in online open shows.
You also get to ask questions!
As the presenter, I hold 6 judges cards, have judged approximately 250 shows from the local to national and world levels.
This is your chance to get a winning edge with knowledge!

My 2024 dates are going.
Please schedule soon for Clinics or Judging.
Carded POAC, OHSA 3, NE 4-H, IMTCA, AMA.
Licenced NE 4-H Steward.
Will also announce.

I am not going to book as much this year to spend more time with my family, so please book soon.
Thank you!!

Current Cards held:
POAC, OHSA 3, NE 4-H, IMTCA, AMA.

It is with sadness to learn of the passing of Ellen DiBella. She was the founder of WDAA.
I met Ellen at the very first WDAA Judge's Seminar in Tulsa, OK in 2014. She was kind and very passionate. Over the years we have exchanged emails, and she was immediately receptive when I asked her if WDAA would add tests for disabled riders. She asked me what I thought was needed, and shortly after the Exceptional Rider tests came out.
Ellen has created a legacy. She has touched countless lives and inspired us. I will be forever grateful.
To the person that encouraged us to enjoy the journey, fly high Ellen. ❤️

With show season upon us, it is very important to bring up rules.
It is the rider's job to know the rules. Look at what rule book is being used at the show you are attending to see what is legal and not for your division and classes.
Show Managers, it is a must to let your judges and competitors know what rules you are using, ahead of time.
Here are some examples of some incorrect tack that we see while judging:
If you generally ride in dressage shows, but are going to an "Open" show, make sure you look up the legality of your tack. The show may or may not allow dressage saddles, but flash nosebands, etc are not going to be legal. If you generally show in western dressage and are used to using 2 hands on a shanked bit, and are going to an Open show, make sure you are proficient at neck reining and holding the reins correctly in 1 hand. If you generally ride Huntseat and you're riding in a slow twist for example, you cannot use that bit in a dressage show, even a schooling Dressage show. Also a hackamore you may use for gymkhana is not going to be legal in western classes at an open show.
Just because tack is legal in one discipline or at one kind of show, does not mean it will be legal at another.
Another thing to keep in mind is that RULES CHANGE and each year, we must check out those changes.
Familiarize yourself with the rulebook for each event you attend.
Some commonly used rulebooks in New England/the Northeast are:
USEF
https://www.usef.org/compete/resources-forms/rules-regulations/rulebook

AQHA
https://www.aqha.com/aqha-rulebook

New England 4-H
https://4-h.extension.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3389/2023/01/Horsejudging23PacketFINAL.pdf

New York 4-H
https://cals.cornell.edu/nys-4-h-animal-science-programs/state-events/state-fair/state-fair-youth-livestock-shows-information-rules/nys-4-h-equine-show-rules-classes

USDF
https://www.usdf.org/

WDAA
https://www.westerndressageassociation.org/western-dressage-rules-guidelines

Rulebook The USEF Rule Book is now available for iOS and Android devices Download from the Apple App Store Download from Google Play

I will be posting an updated 2023 schedule soon. Approximately 30 shows to judge this year, as well as clinics, and presenting as a clinician and lecturer at an equine festival. Thank you all for another busy year. I have a few dates still open: Labor Day weekend, and a few weekends in October and November. Otherwise, I am booking 2024. Multi-Carded Judge and NE 4-H Steward.

Photo provided by Christine Geddes

Horse Show Judging. What is it like? How do you get started?
I get asked these questions a lot.
To get started, ask yourself a few questions first. What do I think makes myself qualified to judge? Have I competed for a number of years? Have I learned from competing and worked to better myself? Am I open to learning and to being humbled, but am I also able to hold my convictions and stand by my decisions?
After asking yourself these questions my first advice is to talk to some judges. Ask them how they started.
For me, I was asked to judge a small, very low key 4-H show at the end of a week long clinic. I was very open that I had never judged, but would do my best.
I learned very quickly that day how much I did not know about judging, but was intrigued.
My good friend Linda Voehringer is a multi-carded judge and she took me under her wing. She set me on a course of studying rulebooks, what to wear, what to bring when judging and gave me my first "real" judging job, way up in Lyndonville, VT.
When you are interested in starting a judging career, take a lot of time studying rule books. You will most likely need to know USEF, AQHA, and your local area's 4-H rulebooks. Ask your local 4-H if they have any smaller, low-key shows that you could judge. You may need to volunteer at first and it may be trail, working your way up to the main ring. Keep on mind that trail has a set of rules and score sheets you will need to know well.
I also suggest going to the closest 4-H judge's school to you. They often have different cards based on your experience which may include a learner, or starter card.
Also work on getting your Open Horse Show Association (OHSA) level 1 card. You will need to take tests for these cards and most likely attend a school. It may sound daunting, but it is worth it.
I like taking tests because it keeps you sharp and may bring up things you don't deal with at every show, but if it does come up, you will be grateful you know it!
Things you need to bring and wear when judging: dress professionally. I cannot stress that enough. You need a western hat or a dress hat, depending on the type of show. A nice shirt with blazer, and slacks or jeans. Jeans can be appropriate at western shows, many open shows, ranch shows, but not hunter-jumper, or if a prizelist states that competitors are not allowed to wear jeans. Otherwise, dress slacks can be appropriate at any show. Some judges like to wear dresses, which are more appropriate at breed shows. Some judges also wear nice button down shirts with a collar and a vest over top.
Footwear: boots. Western boots or paddock boots. Please do not wear shorts, flip flops, or Crocs.
My biggest advice, dress as nice as you can and you can even find clothes at thrift shops to keep the budget down.
Things to bring: you will need a bag to carry your supplies. Try to have something that looks nice, not a plastic bag from a store. You will need at least one clipboard. I personally like the ones with storge inside to keep patterns, extra cards, pens, etc inside. It is easy for a clipboard go get unorganized and crowded with paper. I like being able to stay more organized with this storage. You will need plastic gallop ziplock type bags. These can be used to put over paper to help keep it dry in tge rain. If it is going to be a rainy day, bring many! Pens, pencils (in the rain often pencils are all that work on soggy paper), calculator, red pen, a smaller clipboard (some shows give you tiny judge's cards and you do not need to carry a big clipboard), rain coat, rain protector for your hat, extra gloves and hand/toe warmers in cold weather.
Also have a cooler of water and a snack. You may or may not be served lunch and you may or may not have time to eat lunch.
Sun screen and bug spray, but especially sun screen
It is a good idea to have copies of rulebooks being used at the show you are judging.
Have your own copy of the prizelist, show rules, patterns, and score cards you will be using. Have the top of your score cards filled in before the show for each movement.
In otherwords, be prepared.
Other important things: be on time. That means arriving at least 1/2 before the start of the show. Some managers like you there an hour before. It can also be challenging sometimes to find where you should park.
Act professionally. This means watching your language, not putting people down, etc. Things I feel like I shouldn't have to say, but it happens.
What it is like to be a judge?
It is wonderful and challenging. It is very rewarding to get to travel, see different places, meet lots of people and see hundreds of horses. It is a great learning experience. I say I learn something every time I watch a horse and rider or horse and handler.
The flip side is that you can end up being away from your family quite a bit. If you have kids, it can be hard on them to have their parent gone so much (if you are judging quite a bit). You can decide to judge 5 shows a year max and that is fine. I generally judge 30 or more, but it is my primary occupation in addition to clinics.
Traveling alone can be fun, but it can also get lonely at times given how long you are gone and how often you travel. I have also heard of judges not feeling safe when traveling alone. Some bring pepper spray. It is something you have to think about for yourself. Maybe you want to stick with judging locally if you do not like to travel. I personally enjoy traveling, but have to be aware of the impact on my family.
Financially, judging can be a lot of work and travel, with little financial gain. Just be aware. Many shows cannot afford to pay their judges very much these days, cannot reimburse for gas. It is customary and normal to ask for gas milage to be covered when you state your rate of pay, I just find that more often than not right now shows cannot afford to pay it.
Sometimes when you judge, you end up making a decent day's wage. Othertimes you lose money with travel and food expenses. It is not a job to take thinking it will make you rich. You also need insurance to cover you as a judge, and consider the wear and tear on your vehicle.
Also with expenses, schools and cards are necessary. You generally need to pay for memberships each year and attend schools every 3. Some schools are inexpensive, but can add up with travel, hotel, food. Some cards (breed and usef) can cost thousands and thousands to get given school, travel, hotels, learner judging, etc.
I find judging to be fun, challenging, and a huge part of my life. I like to encourage competitors. I also enjoy judging many types of shows. I like working with show managers and show volunteers.
It is also a wonderful feeling to pull up to a beautiful shows grounds in the morning.
If you are seriously thinking about becoming a judge, great! Welcome aboard! It definitely takes a lot of dedication, but in a wonderful way of constantly bettering ourselves.

Actively Booking 2023 now!
Typo correction-over 15 yrs judging experience.