Sound Horse Conference Louisville, KY

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Sound Horse ConferenceLouisville, KY

• November 2010
• Judging Perspectives
• Dianne Little

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Good Morning

• It is an honor to be on a panel with Chris
  Messick and Dr. Jim Heird.
• In many respects I am an unusual choice for this
  panel.
• I am the only female, the shortest one on the
  panel, the only one who has never lived in
  Tennessee and the only Canadian.

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Personal Background

• Discovered the horse as an adult
• Discovered TWH by accident
• Fortunate that I was trained and influenced by
  ethical horseman who worked diligently to ensure
  there was no need for a HPA in Canada
• 1990 General Performance judges license through
  CEF (Equine Canada)
• Member of Board of AWHA, CRTWH, AEF, EQ
• 2003 FOSH Board IJA Director of Judges

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IJA

• a subset of FOSH. 
• trains judges, licenses judges and maintains a
  Rule Book for multiple gaited breeds.  
• IJA is not a breed organization, but an umbrella
  organization for many Gaited Breeds who are
  interested in sound horse and ethical judging.   

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History IJA Program

• I am grateful to those who laid the foundation
  for FOSH and the IJA program under the leadership
  of Cherie Beattie. They compiled the first IJA
  Rule Book and laid the foundation for the future.
  
• This Foundation was and is based upon
• principles of good horsemanship
• established and accepted sound treatment of
  horses
• an alternate show circuit for sound horses

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History continued

• Clear guidelines as to what was acceptable and
  what was not.
• Specific not fuzzy language.
• Judges and exhibitors were empowered by the
  vision of a sound gaited horse.
• Exhibitors could trust they would be judged
  according to a written standard based upon
  philosophy, values and ethics.
• The founders embraced change to do the right
  thing for the horse, the exhibitor and the
  breeder.

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Time Passes

• A Rule Book is a work in progress as knowledge
  expands or societal values and attitudes shift,
  rules adapt to those changes.
• Decisions should be based upon what is good for
  the horse emotionally, mentally and physically.
  
• Under IJA Rules, decisions are made with full
  awareness of the backlash and potential loss of
  shows and exhibitors. (eg 2 year olds under
  saddle)

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IJA Rules and Judges

• IJA judges and apprentices are trained in a
  program based upon a philosophy that comprises
  knowledge, horsemanship, personal values and
  ethics.
• They are committed to the FOSH Sound Principles
  and willingly accept personal sacrifice to be an
  IJA judge
• I trust and respect them

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IJA Rules and Judges

• They understand the IJA Rules are not just words
  that can be ignored when the whim strikes.
• They understand the difference between personal
  and professional opinion.
• The IJA Rules are the standard by which all
  competition must be judged.
• They believe in what they do they walk the
  talk.

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Perception of Judges

• I enjoyed the judging discussion group on
  Thursday evening and the presentations yesterday.
  The variety of perspectives was educational and
  stimulating.
• I found a common thread - regarding judges. I
  can not ignore any of the following statements

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Comments from Yesterday

• I dont want to show I want to go
• Once something starts and it is rewarded, others
  follow the example
• Showing is a way to spend money and be frustrated
• We know the results before we enter the ring
• The more action, the better you place

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Comments from Yesterday

• Rules, what rules?
• Professional opinion personal opinion
• Exaggeration draws attentionStakes are not high
  at little showsMake heroes out of cheaters
• The judges are the problem
• Trust is eroded
• All judges are the same

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Comments from Yesterday

• Life after showing
• Rehabilitating the show horse
• I was left with 3 questions -
• If there were no horse shows, would soring exist?
• Can horse shows survive?
• Am I part of an obsolete group a horse show
  judge?

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Much as the above statements are discouraging, I
still believe there are good judges

• These statements lead directly to the topic

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A Simple Topic yes or no

• All soring would end in 30 days if the judges
  would just quit rewarding
• the way of going of the sored horse.
• This simple statement puts the blame on the
  judges and suggests the judges shoulder the
  responsibility for change.

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Examine the Statement

• If one accepts this statement, one also accepts
  that the way of going of the sored horse is
  what is being rewarded by judges.
• One also accepts that judges are acting beyond
  the scope of their responsibility.
• Are there any judging standards that describe the
  way of going of a sored horse and indicate it
  should be rewarded?

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Examine the Statement

• The statement puts the judges in the leadership
  position.
• If one believes that a single judge was
  responsible for the acceptance of way of going of
  the sored horse, then one can expect the judges
  to lead the way to further change.
• Should judges be in the leadership position?

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I Believe Judges are Hired to

• maintain a level paying field for all
• give a trained professional opinion
• Respect exhibitors
• Respect rules
• accept responsibility for their actions
• judge according to the established rules
• follow a Code of Ethics
• understand Conflict of Interest issues

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I Believe Judges are Hired to

• while blame is being placed on the shoulders of
  the judges, there are other shoulders that should
  share the responsibility and blame.
• The judges did not act in isolation.
• But a change in standards and accepted practice
  was the result.

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When did the change in standards begin?

• The change in standards began when a judge or a
  group of judges or perhaps a group of people
  decided to find value and reward what they liked
  rather than what was the accepted standard.
• AND
• This action or actions was not recognized or
  challenged by the licensing body, show
  management, breeders or exhibitors.

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Fact

• Few people read the Rules
• Fewer people understand the Rules
• Perception is reality
• What judges reward becomes the standard
• When extremes are rewarded, extremes become the
  norm

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Back to Topic

• If a single judge stopped rewarding the way of
  going of a sored horse today, I do not believe
  anything would change except the judge would not
  be hired again.
• If 2 judges stopped rewarding the way of going of
  a sored horse today, I do not believe anything
  would change except .
• If 30 judges stopped rewarding the way of going
  of a sored horse, it is possible that things
  would change.

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I Believe Things Might Change

• If exhibitors refused to show horses under judges
  who rewarded the way of going of sored horses
• If breeders stopped paying breeding fees to
  sored winners
• If owners stopped hiring trainers who showed
  horses with a way of going that was sored

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I Believe Things Might Change

• If Judges acted as professionals
• If Judges judged according to established
  standards the Rule Book
• If the governing body held judges accountable for
  decisions
• If the extremes were not rewarded
• If winning at all costs was the exception rather
  than the rule
• If Respect and Trust returned to competition

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Back to Topic yes or no

• All soring would end in 30 days if the judges
  would just quit rewarding
• the way of going of the sored horse.
• NO This is not a one judge decision. A
  collective decision is imperative to effect
  change. If the decision to change doesnt come
  from the top, then it must come from those who
  are most affected. Leadership is necessary.

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Who is to Blame?

• Governing Organization
• Breed organizations/ Breeders
• Director of Judges
• Exhibitors
• Trainers
• All share responsibility for not caring enough to
  work individually and collectively to make a
  difference or to share their anger and disgust.

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Leadership

• It takes courage to take a stand.
• Licensing Bodies must analyze and address the
  root cause and not just the symptoms. (example
  leaky roof)
• Change is difficult embrace it, do not fear it.
• Change must be substantive and not window
  dressing.
• But first you gotta wanta.

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ACCOUNTABILITY

• We must all be held responsible for our actions.
  
• Not holding individuals accountable is admitting
  the tail wags the dog.
• If there is a hierarchy, then the ultimate
  responsibility if the one at the top the CEO.

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Conflict of Interest

• Conflict of Interest standards must be determined
  and applied.
• Example If exhibitors believe judges reward
  their friends, the truth no longer matters.
• Perception becomes the reality.

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Fundamentals of Judging

• Philosophy
• Ethics
• Values
• Training
• Decision Making
• Defending

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Judging is grounded in philosophy, ethics, values
and knowledge.

• Judging is both Art and Science combined into
  Action.

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The Future

• All Associations and Judges must take a
  leadership roll and return the show arena to a
  level paying field
• Where outstanding horses and performances are
  rewarded for following the rules of the
  competition.
• Where trust is earned through respect for self
  and respect for others
• Where responsibility for ones actions is the
  accepted practice it is the rule not the
  exception.
• The future of our horse rests in the balance of
  people like you and me trying to make a
  difference.

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The Future

• What we do with our horses is a reflection of
  where we are in our lives.
• What we do as judges is a reflection or our
  philosophy, ethics and values.

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