Association Scoop
Wisconsin Youth Joined Sam Sorrel for an
Online Zoom Session Regarding
“What Judges Look For in the Show Ring”
Just two days before The Celebration
named Sam Sorrel to it’s five-judge panel
for this year’s Celebration, Sam was
sitting in his family room in Kentucky,
talking online with the youth of the Wisconsin Walking Horse Association. The
June 24th Zoom session was set up to
enable our youth to hear first-hand from
a walking horse judge what they look for
in the show ring. It was an extra special
session, as many of our Wisconsin youth
are getting ready to take the big trip from
Wisconsin to Tennessee to compete in
the 37th WHOA International Pleasure
and Colt Grand Championship for their
very first time. So, the topic was timely
and pertinent -- and as we learned just
48-hours later, we couldn’t have had a
more qualified webinar speaker!
Judge Sorrel started by explaining
the various pleasure class categories that
are judged by showing a visual chart
that illustrated what judges are trained
to look for as far as animation, stride
and front leg lift. The visuals help when
you’re hundreds of miles apart from
your presenter, and helped the youth see
differences between a country pleasure,
trail pleasure and lite shod horse. Sam
explained that judges are trained that
they must tie the horse that is “class
specific” and doing what its supposed to
do in that class, even if that means no or
low tie on a horse that is doing too much
for that class. He stressed its important
14 • Walking On
to be in the correct class for your horse.
For example, in the all day pleasure
class you’re looking for a smooth, timed
horse. One that’s not going too fast and
is shaking its head, but may not be as
animated as horses in other classes.
The youth jumped right in to ask Sam
questions. The first question, in which
classes do you judge the rider versus
the horse? Sam explained that both the
horse and rider are regarded together in
all the classes, and should be working
as a team. A judge is always watching
both; for example, that the rider is not
fighting the horse or bumping it in the
mouth, and that they look like their ride
is smooth (versus bumpy on a trot or
pace). That being said, it is the equitation classes where the rider is specifically
judged. In that regards we’re looking for
how the rider handles their horse and
rides with poise. A rider can win in
equitation even if the horse may not be
the better horse - as long as they showcase their riding ability and handle their
horse correctly, such as reversing the
correct way for Western or English.
Next Sam was asked what does he
look for when judging? He said he’s
looking for a rider who’s on the rail
showing their horse to the best of its
ability. Being on the rail gives a good
visual distance for the judge to see you
well - if you’re riding in the center, you
may be on top of the judge making it
harder for them to see you well. For
Sam, he’s looking foremost for consistency - and a horse that looks smooth
to ride, shaking and is in all around
good form. He’s looking for a rider who
looks like they are enjoying their ride
and makes it look pleasant. “When you
and your horse are pleasant and happy
- that’s when you’ll do your best.” He
warned th B