Scribe • The job of a scribe is to quickly, accurately, and legibly record the scores

and comments made by the judge about each ride

Why Scribe???

• Scribing can be a very educational experience

• There are times when you get to watch and develop your eye while you listen to the judges commentary

• You’ll hear repeated phases and see how that quality gets marked

• Scribing is a great way for a new or timid competitor to see the judge in a different light. When sitting next to the judge you will realize that judges are on the competitors’ side. They want to be able to award high scores and get excited when they are able to do so.

Placement of Judge Booths – not all used for all tests

The Scribe Examples of

Judge Booths

Before the show

• Before show day – Review and familiarize with tests

– Familiarize yourself with basic dressage terms and abbreviations

– Pack weather related supplies such as bugspray, sunglasses/sunhat with visor, gloves, coat

– Plan to dress neatly

Show day – prior to start

• Arrive at least 30 minutes early to check in with show management and get settled

• You will be given materials to take to your assigned judge’s booth

• Organize your area

• Make sure you have pens (pencils are not OK) and at least 1 red pen

• If at C, make sure the ring “bell” is there

• Check to see that you have all the classes for the day

• Check all competitors against the day sheet

• Make sure to have at least one blank test per class (or test if a mixed level class)

• Secure all papers in case of a sudden wind

• Once the judge arrives and is settled, verify how they give comments and scores

Show day – During a ride

• Once the competitor enters the area around the ring, make sure their number matches the one on the test, and write it on the test

• If a competitor does not ride the test, write “no show” or “scratch”, whichever is appropriate on the test label; the ring steward or runner will let you know – No show – the competitor does not show up

– Scratch – either the office or the steward have been informed that the competitor is not going to ride

• Scores ranges from 0 – 10. Half points are allowed, so you must include the score to 1 decimal point – “6.0” not “6”

• Scores are written in the “points” column

• Comments are written in the “remarks” column

• You must write the judge’s comments without adding or deleting anything.

• Use abbreviations, even if few comments, your arm and hand will get tired

Show day – During a ride, cont.

• If you get lost say so, continue from the current movement and fill in with the judge later (they remember)

• If an error occurs, write and circle in red “error” in the appropriate movement

• If the voice is used, the judge will direct you to write and circle “voice” in the appropriate movement

• Most judges will fill in their own collectives and further remarks, but some may dictate them to you

• Check that all movements have a score and any mistakes were initialed by the judge

• The judge must sign the test

• A runner will pick up the completed tests and any scratch or no shows

• Judges are people – horse people even!

– Conversations happen, just take their lead for when – their job is to judge the competitors and your job is to capture (all) the comments legibly. But there are some down times.

Show day - During a ride

• All errors are marked the same

– In red, write "error", circle it

– The judge or scorer will fill in the deduction

– Sometimes the judge may direct the scribe to enter the deduction – follow the judge’s direction

• Types of errors

– Error of course

– Error of rider (voice, time delay...)

– Polos, whip (if not allowed), dress code infraction

• Causes of elimination

– 3 errors

– Lameness

– Blood

– All four feet of horse leave arena

Usually, the test will have a label with all the information on it

At the end of each ride, the judge will sign the test

If the rider does not ride the test, write either “no show” or “scratch”; which ever is appropriate on the label

Tests may be color-coded by level

Write the score in the points column –remember to include the decimal point (6.0)

Write the comments in the remarks column

If an error occurs, write and circle “error” in red in the appropriate movement/points box

If there is a mistake, make sure the judge initials it

Check the competitor's bridle number against the number on the front of the test and write it on the test

If the rider is eliminated or withdraws, write and circle in red, “elimination” or “withdrew” in the appropriate movement/points box ; “X” out the remainder of the test

Usually, the judge fills in the collectives marks and comments. Sometimes (e.g. if the judge is not comfortable with English) they will ask the scribe to write their comments.

The scorer will fill in final score and

totals

Freestyles

• Lists of legal and illegal movements

• Movements grouped by gait on test

• ½ points allowed

• A movement may be ridden multiple times

– You may have multiple marks for one movement

– The judge will write in the final mark

Write the scores in the preliminary notes column; there may be multiple scores for each movement so give yourself room.

Write the comments in the remarks column

The judge fills in the judges marks

Check the competitor's bridle number against the number on the front of the test and write it on the test.

The scorer will fill in final score and

totals

Usually, the judge fills in the artistic impression marks and comments.

Anecdotes from C (and B, E, M, & H)

• In all my years of scribing, I have never witnessed breed-bias

• All the judges I scribed for have wanted the horse and rider to have a great ride

• There are times when you get to watch parts of the tests, and you can develop your own eye while listening to the judge’s running commentary (just make sure you get all the scores and comments written down)

• You’ll hear repeated phrases, and see how that quality gets marked