The publication committee has started a series of Judges Interviews. Here is our first installment....
How did you become involved with the breed?
I was blessed; my grandparents introduced me to the breed at a very
young age. They were the first, and until their retirement, the largest
breeders of Peruvian horses in the state of Louisiana. I began showing at
the age of 8, and the rest is history.
What do you love best about this breed?
The smooth gait along with the unique beauty are the trademarks of our
breed that keep me falling in love with the Peruvian horse.
What are the stand-out characteristics of a great horse?
A great horse consistently performs well in every class. A stand-out horse
is also one that has a seamless transition to each consecutive gait. Those
are the horses that are hard to keep your eyes off of, whether you are a
spectator in the stands or a judge in the middle of the arena.
What are the stand-out characteristics of a great exhibitor?
A great exhibitor knows his horse's unique attributes and limitations. An
exhibitor should work as a team with his horse. It is a joy to see that
teamwork. It's a partnership that can often be found in amateur owners
who ride their horses frequently and understand how their horses will react
to a maneuver or challenge before it is ever executed.
What's the best trait/ability you've seen in a rider? The worst?
It's all in the hands. The best thing a rider can do for both the horse's
performance and the rider’s competitive edge is to keep the hands quiet.
You should find a comfortable place for your hands and keep them there.
When you see a rider pulling on the reins and a horse's mouth is opening
and gapping, it is hard to watch. I like to see riders whose hands never
move, and the horse's mouth looks comfortable and relaxed as though it
was not even wearing a bit. That is what each exhibitor should be trying to
accomplish.
Do you care if riders use one hand or two?
It depends on the class. In breeding, gait and bozal, there are no rules
dictating a preference in how the reins are held. Our rules state that in
performance classes, one hand is preferred. I absolutely do not use
this as a final deciding factor, but do keep it in mind when judging a
performance class. I respect the rules under which we show our horses.
But I will always place the better performing horse, whether the rider is
using one hand or two.
What advice do you have for people who are new to the breed?
Do not get overwhelmed. Between our tack, show attire and oddly
named classes, it can be intimidating to jump into the world of showing
Peruvian horses. Know that everyone started new at one point or
another. Peruvian horse owners remember being new to the breed and
are unquestionably the most generous when it comes to helping new
owners and breeders. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen
veteran owners and exhibitors assisting new owners right at the entry
gate of the arena. Last-minute tack changes and adjustments are normal
and everyone seems to help each other (old or new). Even though it
is a competitive environment, the people who attend our shows are
compassionate and helpful to new owners and exhibitors.
What's your biggest challenge as a judge? Your biggest thrill?
The biggest challenge as a judge is to stay completely objective. It is
human nature to "fall in love" with an individual horse over the course of
a show. However, I believe this is what makes the difference between a
good judge and a great judge. You must see that horse as a new entry
each time it enters the arena and never make excuses why it may not be
performing as well as it has in previous classes. Many judges will give a
horse more room for error if it has been in multiple classes and suddenly
does not perform well toward the end of the show. Judges should not
make excuses for any horses and must place each entry as they see them
in specific classes. If this is making you question the number of classes
you put your horse in at one show, you are thinking correctly. Our horses
have a lot of heart and will very rarely say "no" (through their actions) when
asked to complete a class. That is why you cannot ask your horse to
compete in 10+ classes over the course of one show, then be disappointed
if it does not do well in Champion of Chamipons classes. It is not giving
your horse the best chance if it is exhausted and competing against other
horses that were more properly managed over the course of the show.
What do we need to do to better market our breed?
We need to invite more people to ride our horses. People fall in love with
our horses after only one ride. They sell themselves -- why not let them?
How do you hone your skills as a horseman/horsewoman?
I have been fortunate to have exposure to many owners, breeders, trainers
and exhibitors over the course of my life. I take something away from
each experience and value the time I spend with people who are know
our breed. It is amazing what can be learned just from listening to people
speak about our horses and the topics that they are passionate about.
Everyone has a skill or piece of information that is valuable. You just have
to stop and listen to catch it.
What's the most important thing you want us know about you as a judge?
I have a great time when judging a horse show. I find joy in seeing riders
grow through the course of a show. You will see me talking to exhibitors
and giving them advice after classes. I do not believe in watching a
mistake being made by a particular exhibitor and not giving them the
advice to help correct that mistake after the class is over. I want exhibitors
to find value in their experience at a show and feel that they have learned
something and improved by the time the show is over. Each exhibitor
should feel that they got their money's worth from their show experience
whether they won a blue ribbon or not. Each person should leave improved
from when they started. I enjoy being part of that process and take
ownership in making sure happens for as many people as possible.
Thanks to
Stephen Lasko for the photo
