Ask the Judge:
AQHA changes for
Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Hunt Seat Equitation exhibitors
NEW PATTERN SCORE SHEETS
By Scott Carmichael
For Showmanship, Horsemanship and Hunt Seat Equitation exhibitors there are some exciting changes coming in the near future.
As an AQHA Novice Judge I am required to attend the AQHA judges conference and this year they have announced some great changes. A few years ago judges were presented with several different score sheets to try for these popular classes. The Show and Judges committees have narrowed it down to one score sheet that works best for exhibitors and judges. Starting in 2012 all judges will be required to use and post score sheets for these classes.
Until now these three pattern classes have been scored on a 0-20 basis with a 14 being an average score. Exhibitors never got a chance to see how they scored and rarely got feedback from the judges on their performance. The new score sheets have boxes to separate and individually score manoeuvres within your pattern. Judges will assign a plus, check, minus or a combination of the symbols in the designated boxes to explain how a manoeuvre was completed. A plus meaning above average, a check meaning average and a minus meaning below average. Judges may also use a double plus or double minus which will mean very good or very poor. There is also an area for comments. This is a great way to understand how the judge saw your run and which components to improve in the future.
Faults have also been outlined on the score
sheets. You will find minor, major and severe faults which dictate
where your final score will be. If a fault is incurred it will also be
recorded in the appropriate maneuver box as a “m” for minor fault, “M”
for major fault and “S” for severe fault. Examples of minor faults are,
break of gait for 1 stride in showmanship, over or under turn up to 1/8
in horsemanship. Examples of major faults are, picking up pivot foot or
splitting the cone in showmanship. Incorrect gait or breaking gait at
walk/jog for 2 or more strides in horsemanship. A severe fault includes
blatant disobedience, exhibitor standing in front or on wrong side of
horse in showmanship (including standing directly in front of horse in a
back up). To see all the faults go to
AQHA.com to print off
a copy of the score sheet.
The final score the judge will assign will be based on a range of 0-100, 70s denoting an average score. The score sheet outlines what a judge should mark an exhibitor based on their performance and any faults incurred. This is similar to the scoring system used in working hunter.
This coming season you may find judges using both the new and old methods of scoring but starting in 2012 all judges will be required to use and post these new score sheets. The rule book will still have the old scoring system listed and will not change until 2012. Score sheets have been developed for many classes over the years. Although like anything new they have been controversial in the beginning but only benefit exhibitors and make judges more constant and accountable. To get a copy of the new score sheets go to AQHA.com and look under “Judges Resources“ for printable copies of all score sheets.
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Scott Carmichael is an AQHA Professional Horseman and AQHA Novice Judge. He has trained multiple futurity champions and placed in the top five in almost all the major NSBA futurities. Scott trains Western Pleasure and all-around horses at his farm in Fenwick, Ontario. Prior to starting his own operation, he spent several years working under some of the top trainers in the Western Pleasure industry while living in Texas. Always eager to learn more, last winter Scott travelled to Australia and worked on a large Thoroughbred breeding farm.
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