Dr. Meadows and Dr. Whitaker Host Judge’s Versatility School
Friday, February 20, 2009
by Stephanie Rose
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. - A National Horse Show Commission Judges’ Versatility School was held on Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, in the Calsonic Conference Room at the Calsonic Arena in Shelbyville, Tenn. Dr. Doyle Meadows of the Celebration and Dr. Dave Whitaker of Middle Tennessee State University’s Horse Science Program, both renowned judges in multiple breeds, moderated the discussion. The clinic started at 9 a.m. with Dr. Meadows giving a definition for judging, which he said was simply “recognizing differences”. He also went on to say that, “Judgment is based solely on the performance and not last week.”
Next on the agenda was Judging Ethics. A judge should have judging ethics toward show management, the associations involved, toward the fraternity of judges and doing the right thing by yourself.
The next topic was Model Presentation. Dr. Meadows said that the reason you have model classes is to protect the integrity of the breed and have the ideal horse. The main thing that lets the horse be an athlete is balance, and that is the basis for how the horse should look or carry itself.
Dr. Meadows followed the model division by giving an understanding of the scoring systems in reining, showmanship and horsemanship. He showed several videos of each and let the participants score them on a score sheet. He explained there are specialty horses and trainers now in each breed and as judges they needed to understand how to properly place them in shows.
There was an hour lunch break and then Dr. Whitaker came to speak about trail and western riding. He showed videos and had actual walking horse classes of a different association, which was helpful to the judges. He passed out score sheets as well and had the judges partner up and one scribed and the other called out penalties. Dr. Whitaker recommended each judge have a scribe at his or her show.
There were some comments to change the way that the versatility classes are scored and do away with the fractions, but Dr. Whitaker felt certain that everyone should use the same system in case you wanted to judge an all-breed show or so that other judges could come judge our shows if need be.
The versatility school had good participation and all that came seemed to learn new things. Dr. Meadows commented that he loved teaching and would like to do more seminars like this one. At 4 p.m., the clinic was adjourned.
Dr. Meadows said, “It gives our judges an opportunity to expand their judging skills by judging these versatility classes. Additionally, it gives these judges an opportunity to use judging systems that are more objective than subjective in nature.”
More Stories |
-
Read More
-
The Walking Horse Owners’ Association is proud to announce the following candidates were elected to the WHOA Board of Directors by the WHOA Membership...
Read More
-
It is with great sadness that we announce the loss of Watch It Now due to complications from colic...
Read More
-
The South Central Kentucky Walking Horse Association has canceled their annual banquet for 2021. The association hopes to host their banquet in 2022. For more information, contact Frankie Jo Bradley at 270-6460-7957.
Read More
-
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has posted their fiscal year 2020 enforcement activity summary...
Read More
-
The Walking Horse Report recently received a copy of a 1946 Blue Ribbon magazine. The copy was sent by a Report subscriber Robert Smith in Elma, Wash...
Read More
-
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NAS) released their report, “A Review of Methods for Detecting Soreness in Horses,” earlier today. The committee has been working on the report for over a year with their first meeting happening in October 2019...
Read More
-
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services has informed the industry’s Horse Industry Organizations that it will host a virtual training this year due to ongoing conditions surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read More
-
The Kentucky HIO recently announced updates for the 2021 show season. The HIO will lower horse show affiliation fee to $50 and maintain the $6 inspection fee per horse this year...
Read More
-
It has been a year! The Walking Horse Industry remains strong and our supporters continue to dedicate their time and efforts to ensuring our future. Sales have seen record-high numbers and barns continue to bustle with the talk of the “next great one.”
Read More
|