Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse - 2013 Judges' Guidelines

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The aim of these classes is to encourage trainers and breeders to produce and present the correct type of young horse which is considered to be the best material to make a world class three day event horse.

Method of Judging:

The Judges should bear in mind that they are looking for potential for the future. Unfortunately, all too often, the horse with the most potential may not be the one which is presented in the best manner. We are looking for an athletic, loose moving horse with a promising jumping technique who with correct training will develop physically and mentally into a strong three day eventer.

In the dressage phase, unlike a normal dressage test, we are not assessing the state of training and marks are not given for individual movements. The judge may watch from wherever he will get the best view. However it is found that the view from the side helps reveal the true suppleness, natural ability to engage the hind legs and accepatance of the bit. Three correct, elastic and regular gaits through a swinging back are what we are seeking. The Judge will have to weigh up the influence of the rider; a good rider may present a well balanced, smooth test from perhaps a moderate, unscopey horse while a novice rider may even hinder a good horse from showing its true worth. It is the horse's, and not the rider's real potential we are looking for. Trainability should also be taken into account.

In the jumping phase we are looking for a bold athletic horse with good technique and a horse with these qualities, should not necessarily be penalised for knocking down one fence (or a four year old having one refusal), providing he learns from his mistake. Four year olds may find it easier to jump out of trot. However, 3 cumulative refusals or a fall of horse or rider will result in elimination.

The horse's conformation and type should enable him/her to withstand the demands of the sport in terms of soundness, speed and stamina. Lack of quality and other defects which may prevent him/her being fast enough, should be penalised against him/her, even though the horse may make a nice dressage or show jumping horse. However, a lack of size should not be held against him/her. Equally one should not allow a possible prejudice against mares to affect any judgement. It is essential to encourage producers to give mares more of a chance if we are to establish a better breeding policy using proven mares. The conformation should be marked out of 12 and the type marked out of 8 to achieve a published total score out of 20.

In the suitability and potential section only the top ten horses are required to come forward. They will be judged for star quality and potential to make the ULTIMATE WORLD CLASS THREE DAY EVENT HORSE. These horses will be required to gallop. Ten marks will be awarded to the horse placed first, 9 to the second, 8 to the third etc., down to 1 to the tenth horse. These marks will then be added to those from the previous 3 sections to find the winner.

Use of Marks:
Careful thought must be given as to how the marks are used. In order to have enough of a gap between the indifferent and good horses, it is necessary to use the full range of marks (see below).

In conclusion we could sum up by asking the question "which horse would I buy to make the best top class three day eventer?" We are not buying the rider .... only the horse.

Judging

Section I	Dressage Test Marking: 1-10 poor; 11-20 adequate; 21-30 good	30 Marks
T E S T To be ridden from memory
A M C F X H Between H & C C M X K Between K & A A Between A & F Between F & B B E Between E & K	Enter at working trot From X proceed directly to Working trot Serpentine 3 loops each loop to go to side of arena finishing at A Change rein showing some lengthened strides (Not required for 4 year olds) Working canter right Circle right 20m diameter Change rein with transition to trot between X and K Working canter left Circle left 20m diameter Working Trot Medium Walk Half 20m circle left in free walk on a long rein Medium walk Halt & Salute Leave arena at A
To be followed immediately by:
Section II	Jumping Marking: 1-15 poor; 16-25 adequate; 26-35 good; 36-40 excellent	40 Marks
No time will be allowed between these sections for any adjustment to tack or riders dress. Maximum height of fences 0.90m (4 years) 1.05m (5 years). Fall of horse or rider or a total of 3 refusals will result in elimination. *Note:* fence height at Final 1.00m (4 years) and 1.10m (5 years)
Section III	Conformation (12 marks) & Type (8 marks) (see overleaf)	20 Marks
Following Section III, the ten horses with the highest marks will proceed to Section IV. In the event of equality of marks at this stage the horse with the higher jumping mark will be given precedence. Should this still produce an equality of marks, all horses on that same jumping mark will come forward.
Section IV	Suitability and Potential	10 Marks
Only the top ten horses are required to come forward. They will be judged for star quality and potential to make the ULTIMATE WORLD CLASS THREE DAY EVENT HORSE. These horses will be required to gallop. The horses must be brought into line in the order that you see their potential in this section. Remember this section has no bearing on the previous sections. Ten marks will be awarded to the horse placed first, 9 to the second, 8 to the third etc., down to1 to the tenth horse. These marks will then be added to those from the previous 3 sections to find the winner. Note: In the event of equality of marks at the end, i.e. after all four sections, the jumping mark will take precedence. Should this still produce an equality of marks, the highest mark attained in the final section will be the deciding factor.