Before I go any further, I want you to know that I am probably one of the most non-competitive people you will ever come in contact with. I am happy to play Chinese Checkers with the computer, whether I win or lose. I am quite content to sit at the yield sign and let others merge in front of me. And I cry when I watch dog shows on TV – I imagine how sad the dogs that don’t win feel. So the idea of equine competition absolutely baffles me. Don’t get me wrong – I am glad that horse shows exist and that competitors compete. I find watching the warm-ups and the tests educational. I served for years as a scribe and enjoyed the experience immensely. But I just can’t comprehend why the average rider does it.
I do understand the need for professionals to compete. If done successfully, it serves as an advertisement and shows the ability to effectively train and exhibit a horse. But, to me, for the average amateur rider, it seems like an exercise in masochism. And so, whenever I get the chance, I ask,” Why compete?” What follows is a list of the answers that I have received in response to my question and my thoughts on those responses.
“ I use the score as a measure of my progress.” OK, if you show under the same judge over a period of time. But no matter how much the USDF tries to level the judging playing field, there are still judges who score low and other who score high. How many times have you said that you thought you rode a test under Judge A better than the test ridden under Judge B, only to receive scores indicating the opposite?
“I like to see how I compare with my peers”. Again, OK if you show under the same judge over a period of time. And how do you interpret this situation – you get a first in your class, but with a score of 56%? Does that mean that the judge scored everyone low or that you were the best of a class of riders that should probably rethink riding at that level?
