An interesting post about where Grand Prix dressage judges are looking when they evaluate riders and horses. Interesting -- but I imagine the same research on lower level judges, esp. those who score training level tests. Where do you suppose they're looking?
I'm guessing they're looking at their watch ;-).
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The watch joke was excellent. :D
ReplyDeleteUhm...you may be right about the watch. It also might explain why we often see horses that are not really engaged behind score as well as they do. Seems "looking at the front" is more common than looking at the hind end.
ReplyDeleteCurious, but it might explain some of the judging I've witnessed.
I was thinking the same thing, Jean.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I've scribed, the watches or cell phone clocks are definitely being watched by both! One can only watch so many tests with the same amount of earnest interest, especially at a large USEA show haha!
ReplyDeleteAs for the study, I think that's odd: I would think they would pay more attention to hind end action. That's what my eye goes to first, but I am certainly no judge nor have I ever been to a judging class or clinic lol. I always hear, "ride the horse from back to front." As we have seen with many a GP dressage horse, just because they are flashy in the front, doesn't mean they are engaged in the hind, which in turn would determine if they are truly "round" or not. Round not only means a nice arc in the neck, but especially a nice, uphill, swinging, filled up, "arched", etc. back. And since being truly engaged and collected is a huge part of the upper levels, it bothers me that the judges in this study (which, we must remember, is not necessarily a true representation of all judges from all judging or training systems) paid little to no attention to the areas of the horse behind and beneath the rider where collection really happens. Interesting findings.