BRISTER’S BRIEF
Crystal ball judging is always hard CHARLIE BRISTER was in Toowoomba recently judging the young horse eventing classes. Not an easy task.
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udging is a lot harder than it looks. And judging young horse eventing classes is even harder. Not only are you assessing horses perform on the day, you have to forecast their possible future competing at the top Australian and international events. It’s a skill that’s partly derived from experience, research, technical knowledge and an ability to look into a crystal ball. For the past twenty years in Europe young horse eventing championships have identified world cup and Olympic talent, and the program is gathering momentum in Australia. In mid-April Toowoomba held their Armstrong Ford one-day event and young event horse of the year competition. It was the second time I’ve judged the Young Event Horse division and this year there was perfect weather, great people and quality horses. The committee created a fantastic event and attracted terrific future talent.
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Toowoomba run the class slightly differently to most other young horse competitions in Australia where there is usually set a basic dressage workout before a unique jumping phase. The jumping consists of a mix of showjumping and cross-country jumps in the showjumping arena. In Toowoomba the young horses enter the regular competitions for 95, 1* or 2* classes and elect to be evaluated as part of the young horse division. Following the dressage and showjumping, the judge conducts a conformation and trot up assessment of each young horse. Then as the main competition commences there is a careful review of each young horse as they compete across the normal three phases of eventing: dressage, cross country and showjumping. What really sets this competition apart is an additional ridden assessment. A shortlist of seven young horses is selected from competitors in the normal competition phases. Then the judge actually spends five to ten minutes riding each horse and seeing how they feel in the saddle over a couple of jumps. This ensures that little visual mistakes do not detract from the overall impression and result for a horse. It also makes the judge a lot more stressed and it gives the crowd a chance to judge the riding of the judge! (No pressure there.) One thing that was very clear is that faults or issues showing in the dressage phase quite often carried through to the other disciplines. Surprise, surprise, good dressage helps your jumping, and definitely improves the rideability of the young horse. A good mix of breeds was represented from Off The track Thoroughbreds to purpose bred Holsteiners to paints and Connemaras. Look at
