GoHorseShow asked several judges some of their most memorable moments while judging a horse show. Many involve traveling to foreign countries; insane travel and weather problems; funny events happening in the show arena; the shows they had the opportunity to judge; people they have met, and exhibitors that have left a lasting impression in their minds.
Regardless of the memory, all of the judges are thankful that horses gave them the opportunity to have these once-in-a-lifetime experiences. We separated the moments into a three part series, and this is the final part discussing memorable moments inside ths show pen.
Unforgettable Moments Inside the Show Pen
Chris Jeter–Last year, I’m judging with Doug Huls, Larry Hansch, and Nancy Alto-Renfro in Gordyville. It was a nice large show, and we are all having a good time–judges, exhibitors and staff. I had turned in my card, and I was taking my chair to go back and sit down on the rail to wait for the next class. Larry is right behind me, and the other two are finishing handing in their cards. As I plop down in my chair, I hear a popping sound, and my chair collapses–my feet fly in the air, and dirt covers me. Larry is laughing so hard I think he’ll have a heart attack; I’m laughing because funny is funny; I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Doug laugh that hard, and Nancy and the ring stewards are enjoying it as well. Then, I saw the faces on all the kids–about 20 of them, and they have their mouth hanging open, afraid to laugh at the judge. I tell them it’s okay to laugh, lord knows the rest of us are, and they start laughing. To top it off, I hear a dear friend that I hadn’t seen in over 20 years holler over the ruckus–“only you JETER!”
Carla Wennberg–The most funny experience I remember was about 15 years ago at the Florida Gold Coast. In the hunter arena, during an Amateur hunter class, a lady going across the diagonal line, jumps the oxer–horse bucks up; and she ends up falling off in the hedge of bushes at the end of arena. The horse stops and starts looking into the bushes. Leslie Lange and I are judging together–we jump up and look at what is happening. The horse stares, then, a leg comes out of the bushes, then a hand, then the body. The girl was laughing and, then, Leslie and I started laughing. Of course, the wonderful quarter horse was still looking and probably laughing too. I will never forget, and I am sure they won’t either. Loved it!
Cyndi Hershey Brown–I was getting ready to judge a horse show in Lexington, Virgina, and show management asked me if I would sing the National Anthem. I was judging with Charlene Carter, and we walked out to the arena. I walked up to the announcers booth unbeknownst to Charlene. Everyone faced the American Flag, and I proceeded to sing the National Anthem. When I finished, everyone clapped and Charlene turned around and looked up and realized it was me that sang it. She had the most bewildered look on her face. I walked backed down to the arena floor and she looked at me and said, “I didn’t know you could sing?” And I replied, “Really? Neither did I”.
Daren Wright–I have one exhibitor that has crossed my mind many times over the years. Several years ago, I was judging a show in Pennsylvania. There was a young lady exhibiting in the youth classes that had a prosthetic leg from the knee down. The girl showed in everything, was a great exhibitor and had an even greater attitude. Late in the day, it was about dark and the lighting at the arena was not the best. During one of the pleasure classes, I noticed something laying in the arena. As I walked over to it, I realized it was the girl’s prosthetic leg. It had fallen off, boot and spur still attached. As I quickly looked up to find the girl, I noticed she is still loping, laughing and having a great time. What would have been embarrassing or traumatic for many people did not phase this young lady. I can’t really even describe the look on her face, but her smile was larger than life and you could tell she was so comfortable with her handicap (and I hate to use that word because it was certainly not a handicap to her), and so comfortable with herself at such a young age it was just very inspiring to see this young lady’s resilience. You could just tell that this young lady was not going to let anything get in her way. Over the years, when I hear people complain at horse shows, I always think of this girl and use her as an example for those who think they can’t do something.
Sandy Campbell Jirkowsky–When you love judging as much as I do, every judging experience is pretty memorable. I absolutely love working with great judges and watching the progression of breeding and training as the quality just continues to improve in all the different arenas. You do have to be quite adaptable to many situations from canceled flights to questionable motel accommodations. One of my most memorable shows was in Waco, Texas judging with my dad, Hadley Campbell. It was one of the last shows he would judge, and one of the first shows of my judging career. I remember being so honored to be standing in the same arena with him. Many of his “Hadleyisms” still enter my mind when I am deciding my placings. He was such a great horseman. That same feeling comes to me when I judge with my brother Butch Campbell, as I have so much respect for him as a horseman and judge. I look forward to the opportunity of working with my son, Chris Dawson in the NRHA or NRCHA pen, and I can only hope I will leave that same impression on him.
Kendra Weis–My favorite experience judging was the western riding finals at the 2011 AQHA World Show. The finals was loaded with some of the best western riding horses in AQHA history. As I was scoring the runs, I remember thinking history would be made as Vital Signs Are Good set at the time the highest score ever in Western Riding. It was such an honor to judge the AQHA World Show.
Nancy Sue Ryan–My favorite judging experience/reality check was when a young girl told me she placed second in a reining class. I replied, “oh that’s great!’ Then, she followed her statement by saying there were only two in the class, but she was still thrilled to be second. It was the first time she had not been disqualified. Often, I think of this girl while judging.
Debbie Kail–My favorite judging experience was probably judging the first big money class at the Reichert Celebration. It was very secretive who had been selected. We were told if anyone told friends; they would be released of their duties. So six of us flew into St Louis not knowing who was going to show up. It became apparent at the airport when we started gathering around baggage claim who the six were–Dale Livingston, Mike Carter, Rick Christy, Karen Graham, Carla Wennberg and myself were the team. It was the most nervous I’ve ever been, as the riders and horses were riding for so much money. The winner was RL Best of Sudden and Bret Parrish. I think we did a great job as he has proven himself in the arena as well as a sire.
Michael Damianos–I got a call to judge a show in Reno, Nevada. When the call came I was asked if I was available to judge on some particular dates. I told the lady those dates were open, and, then, I asked her what kind of show was she holding. She told me they wanted me to judge the FHANA North American Friesian Horse Championships. I thought, what? I informed the lady that I had no experience with Friesian horses and have never seen a Friesian horse show. She said she knew that, but that I had come highly recommended for their riding classes judge. I was also told I would be the ring steward for the carriage class judge, and the carriage class judge would ring steward for me. After all that, I told the lady I would do it and spent the next several months worrying about what I got myself into. What was I thinking? I’m used to judging reiners, rope horses and cow horses. Certainly not Friesians. When I got to the show, there were more Friesian horses than I thought there could be in the whole country. After all that, I judged unbelievably beautiful classes; everyone had great fun, and I had a blast ring stewarding some really big carriage classes. I gained a great respect for the Friesian horse and their exhibitors. Before the show, I kept asking myself, “why did I take the job?” and since the show, I am thankful I was asked. It just shows, you never know.
Cindy Rucker–It was my first year judging a World Championship Show, and it was the Junior Pleasure at the Open APHA World. We had over 100 entries and we had already judged the first goes and the semi-finals. I was extremely nervous because I was judge “D”. For anyone who has judged these shows, you know it is nerve wracking to be the fifth judge to line up your placings in front of you. Sometimes that fifth placing makes the difference of whether the exhibitors placing goes up or down. The pressure on the judges (at least for me) can feel excruciating. I had been watching this little over mare go around the arena through all the goes, and I thought she was just lovely. I put her number on the top of my card and hoped that my fellow judges liked her also. We go to the wall and as each judges cards are called, this rider is placed anywhere from 7th , 2nd, 3rd. The fourth judge steps up to the line and places the horse first. The crowded coliseum goes wild. The reason is that the tension is building between this horse and another for the World Championship–it will all come down to my placing. My heart was pounding as I stepped up to my spot for my placings. The announcer said, “The placings for Judge Rucker. In first place #2208…..” It felt like the roof came off the place….a roar went up from the crowd, they were shaking the place stomping their feet. The announcer had to wait for the noise to stop before he could continue. As the gentleman rode his mare over to stand in front of me, I looked up at him and smiled and saw that there were tears in his eyes and he was so choked up that he could not speak…and neither could I. I found out later that this was his first World Championship title.
Charlie Cole–My favorite judging story was my first year of judging, and I was judging with Jim Searles–it was his first year also. We were judging in New Jersey and the reining was starting. We had the pattern posted, and the first horse comes in and starts doing a completely different pattern. So, Jim and I start panicking, but start scoring. After the run, we stop and see what pattern is posted and our pattern was the one posted. So, the next horse comes in, and it starts doing the pattern and something still doesn’t seem right. Then, I realize we are sitting on the wrong side. Now, Jim and I feel stupid and the third horse comes in and is totally out of control bouncing off the walls, so, it nearly runs over Jim and I, but we don’t move. Then, at the very last stop, it heads right at us. Jim bails and jumps out of the arena. I didn’t move and the horse slid just barely in front of me and covers me with dirt and rocks. By now, Jim is laughing and I’m trying to maintain my composure. I look up at the rider, dust myself off, and top my hat and say, “thank you rider” and, thankfully, that was the final rider!
Tina Price–I was judging a very large paint show in Utah. All the top trainers and horses were there, so judging was just delightful. There were 12 judges, so we were in good company as well. As I was walking through my winning horses for Grand and Reserve, one top trainer was working hard to draw attention to his horse by hollering, ‘HO’ very loudly. He would do this every time a judge would walk around his horse and with 12 judges, it was a little annoying. As I walked around his horse, he started in with the ‘HO, HO, HO, HO’. As I came around behind him, he said it again, and I asked him, ‘What did you call me?’ He stopped for a moment, and, then, as it occurred to him what he’d been saying and how, being a woman, I might have interpreted it– he turned beet red. He nearly choked on his blubbering apologies, stating that’s not what he meant, that he was so sorry, and on and on! He completely lost his composure. I always get a great laugh when I tell that story, and the look on his face was absolutely priceless!
Iris Petschenig–In 2008, I judged the first horsemanship class held in Slovenia. As the judge, I had to explain what we were looking for in a good horsemanship pattern. So, at first, they all got mad at me for telling them that they could only show one horse in the class–they all wanted to show at least three. After the pattern part, I had to judge an out of control broodmare. Even worse, her baby got loose and came running in the show pen. Even better, I made the biggest mistake thinking that it would be logical for the riders to know they could pass the horse in front of them. They had no idea they where allowed to do that, so, I had a stallion that was trying to breed the mare in front of him until I was finally able to stop the class. It was my craziest judging day ever!
