36 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
From The Judge’s Point of View
By Lauren R. Giannini
Every show, from rudimentary
backyard schooling up to the AA
circuit, has at least one judge
presiding over the ring. It takes
a special mentality to keep your
scorecard while watching 20
to 50 hunter rounds of outside,
diagonal, outside, diagonal
even if the course boasts clever
variations. Personal acronyms
help. One AHSA judge, long
passed to the big ring in the sky,
used FFB (foot in the – bucket)
to designate a less-than-stellar
round.
The recommendations for a big
“R” judge for this story included
Melanie Smith Taylor, George
Morris, Ginny Edwards, Leslie
Cox, John Roper, Jim Giblin,
Scott Fitton and Randy Henry. Joey Darby got the nod:
he teaches judging clinics, he’s one of the USEF Judges
Program mentors, he stays busy judging and he helps
friends with their driving dressage. Plus, the consensus is
that he tells it like it is. “I’ve been judging a long time,”
said Joey. “But you’re better off talking to Mike Rosser
and Tucker Ericson. They will give you wonderful insight.
They’re almost like a shooting star as far as judges are
concerned. Mike’s local (Southern Pines), a goodhearted,
neat guy and he’s turned into one of the better judges on
the circuit. He’s in the mentoring program, too. Tucker has
a corporate job; but he’s been with horses all his life.”
Mike’s been judging for 25 years, Tucker’s a somewhat
newer “R” on the circuit. They’re both known for their
honesty and integrity.
Mike, who is licensed “R” for hunters, hunt seat, jumpers,
hunter breeding and also judges for the AQHA. His wife
Alicia shows, teaches and trains from Medal Maclay to
jumpers at their training facility in Southern Pines. They
also ride to hounds. In 2007 Mike earned his second
NCHJA “Horseman of the Year” title.
“Joey was an infuence, because he’s a great horseman,”
said Mike. “We’re in the same town and anytime I had
problems with horses, he would be one of the people I
would call. He taught me about horsemanship and judging.
My wife has been a big infuence, too. She’s a great ground
person, she’s good at watching and making observations.
I’ve learned from some great horsemen: Dave Kelley, Patty
Heuckeroth, Gene Cunningham and Delmar Twyman.”
Mike pointed out that a judge can’t show favoritism:
“even if it’s your best friend or worst enemy, you have to
call it like it is on that day.”
Mike thinks that the derbies and handy classes have
contributed greatly to sparking renewed interest in the
hunters. “I’m excited about that,“ he said. “I like the
galloping courses – they’re more like the old days. The
hunters are re-creating themselves.”
Tucker’s background is frmly rooted in New Jersey
farmland about an hour from New York City. “I’m very
H
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O
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fortunate. I grew up on an old dairy farm in Sussex (no cows)
and I helped my father convert the dairy barn into some stalls,”
recalled Tucker. “4-H offered great opportunities to learn a lot of
skills and horsemanship. 4-H values have infuenced my life and
gave me the confdence needed for the corporate world and to be
a judge.”
Tucker’s job responsibilities made it diffcult for him to ride
consistently so he stopped competing in 2004. He has one
broodmare and a young prospect he’s very excited about, but
does not have much time between his judging schedule and
his full time career at ARI Insurance where he’s in charge of
underwriting and marketing. “It’s great to travel to different parts
of the country and so refreshing to judge a crop of horses I hadn’t
seen before,” stated Tucker. “Traveling makes it easier for me
to be objective and look for the best ride. I’m passionate about
hunters and I judge equitation and hunter breeding, too. I judged
at Devon for the frst time and was asked to come back this year
to do hunter breeding, pony hunters and derby judging with Joey.
That will be a blast. He challenges you and makes you think.
People don’t understand why he has horses walk so long in a
hack. He’ll judge the hind end of a horse. Joey’s good at looking
at the total picture.”
These three judges, representing three different generations,
alluded to giving back to the sport. While shows may be affected
by the economy, the calendar is pretty full all over the country and
there’s a good fow of learner judges. You don’t need to have a
six fgure horse to be competitive: you need to be patient and put
in the time with a green prospect.
“Joey didn’t come from money, but he was such a good
horseman he was always able to fnd the diamond in the rough,”
acknowledged Tucker who, with his cousin, spent teen years
hunting for bargain horses with potential and schooling them to
sell. If these judges represent the standard, the bar is set high.
Honesty, integrity and horsemanship plus the right mentality
(daydreamers need not apply!) and a good eye add up to equitable
offciating. If you’re interested in judging, consider attending a
clinic in your favorite discipline. The gain in pragmatic knowledge
will add polish to what you do the next time you enter the ring
under the scrutiny of the judge.
Please line up in front of the judge’s stand…
Photo by Lauren R Giannin