"internal independence" must be equally

SCORESII{ DRESSAGE SUBLIMAL ITIFLUENC€SON THE PERFORMANCE TESTS By Dr volker Moritz I did lookat this problernat the end of 1979duringa seminarof the ...
Author: Buck Miller
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SCORESII{ DRESSAGE SUBLIMAL ITIFLUENC€SON THE PERFORMANCE TESTS By Dr volker Moritz I did lookat this problernat the end of 1979duringa seminarof the GermanJudges Association and laterat an FEISerninar,The experience of the past20 yearsconfirms that this will alwaysbe a currenttopic. judgingin Nationaland Possiblydue to the accumulation of questionable Intemational dressagesport, especiallyin recenttimes, we have cause to address this subject again.This ls also an explicit rcquestto the directors of the German JudgesAssociation to addressthe topic. problemas Fromthe title, it is dear that \re are dealingwith a basicpsychological 'dith everytype of subjectiveperformance scoring,whicfralsoincludesthe judgingof dressagetests.It influences wherethe judge'ssubconscious the assessmert, takes over the evaluationof technicalknowledge, and leadsto distortionof the professional opinion.The possibility of deliberatebias- unfortunately there are alsoexamplesof this - will not be disossedhere.Admiftedly,we are dealingherewith a difncultand sensitivetheme.whidl we all tend to shy awayftom.Judges,in discusslons among themselves, alsoavoidthis topic.Thisaspectseemsto haveutmostsignificance becausethereinliesthe partiallydisturbedtrust in the relationship betweendressage "internalindependence" riders/traineBand judges.The necessary mustbe equally qualitiesof a judge.The dangerof measuredagainstthe professional assessment unconscious biasis a possibilityfor everycunentjudge,for judgesthat are repeatedlyfacedwith judgingthe samehorsesand ridersin a shortperiodof ti[]e, as well as colleagues, who are only ableto judgea few timesa year,and thereforeare moreapt to lle subliminally influenced. The first pointwe haveto take into accountis the "DailyForm".It is necessary to disregardprevious memoriesof earlierperformances and thereforeachievea freshindependent assessment of the actualoresentation.

The followlngare the pladng for ftve dder/horseaombinauonsIn the three tests of at Sydney2000OlymplcGames. the individualcompeut'on GP

GPS

GPFST

UllaSalzgeber Rusty(GER)

7

2

3

Ferro(NED)

3

8

4

6

11

Horse

Rider Coby l/dn Eaalen

LoneJorgensen Kennedy(DEN) Goliath(NED) ArFn

o

L2

Teeuwissen SueBlinks

.

Fim Fam(USA)12

6

of only 3 ridersper nationbeingallowed. Didnot startdue to the restrict'ron

in rankingsfrom test to test canbe seenthroughout. Examplesof suchdifferences The differenceswere possibleb€causethe cunent jury tried to assessthe new test of the day before.Moredifficultyet, thejudge must by ignoringthe p€rformance endeavorto judgethe Kurin spiteof the psydologicalthoughtprocessthat the start list was chosenin 3 groupsaccordingto the previousdays performances. Closelyrelatedto the riskof not judgingthe actualform of the day is alsothe -we will callit - "GuiltyConscience". judgingcanalwayslead Separate self-influence for a singleriderwhichwill to one of the currentjudgesdeviatingin hisassessment scores.Evenwhenhe wasat that point of hiscolleague's decidethe scoreregardless usinghis bestjudgment,whenthejudgecompareshis scoresto the othershe could be the vlctimof a guiltyconscience whenit comesto the riderin question.Oftenwe experience that then supposedly a betteradjustmentin the nexttest will be over compensated andevenhigherscoreswill be givenfrom thisjudgethan from his I'm objectivelyconvinced colleaques. that this happensin veryfew casesfully consciously.

Also, 'variatioos In performanceduring the tesf aould lead to an unfair assessmeflt of the or'erallperformance.Everyonehas had the experieflcethat a horsestarted a test very well and then beganto make a few mlstakes.In spite of the fact that the rest of the test was good, it wasjudged more carefillly than it shouldhave been resultingin an unonscjousview,that after thesemlstakes,a win or a goodplacingis In a judglngsystem wh€re individualmovementsare given no longerpossiblescores,a mislakewith a low scorecan easilybe evened out with the rest of good scores.About this obledive we must alv{aysrernindoutsideobseJvers,particularly since siqniircantmistakesin movernentsare moreoften remembs€d by the spectatorsthan the highlightsof the test. "Unknown Horse".As a self Anotherlmporbnt point is "UnknownRjds" or critical judge you will alwayshavethe erQerience,that certain inhibitionshave to be overcomeIn order to give new horsesand ride6 the polnts to be placedhigh in spite of the fact that known and proven horsesand ridersare also starting. It is however, essentialto remaintrustworthv,and in this caseto havethe couGgeto make a "FigureSkatingEffectand "Promlnent decisionthat speaksfor the performance. - I am sureyou underslandwhatI mean- shouldnot be allowedinto Favouritism" Certaintywe shouldalsoprotectoucdves ftom the opposite,whereas our discipline. "I known ridersand horsesgenerallyare criticaltyassessed,afteJ-the motto expected more of them" or" I haveseenthem in better form". or owners betweenRidersffrainers I alsohaveto mentionthe so-called"Discussion" and Judges.A judge,that himselfcompetesor hasparticipatedin dressage whichare usuallyfrom unsatisfied competitionsknows, that suchdiscussions, competitors,canbe very "useful"with regardto futureassessments.These dirussions aresupported,and are absolutelyin the interestof betteringthe basic shouldnot changethe tnist the judgeshavefrom the riders.Butthesediscussions of the horseand riderin question. assessment criteriaat the next performance judgecouldbe "SpectatorReaction", Furtherinfluences on the dressage throughthe reportsof the so' ooinionsof the Pressand differentMedia.Especially that in many wayshavenot earnedthrstitle.A grealdeal specialists", called"Press

of pressurccanbe put on a c€rtalnsubjectaswasthe caseat the European thatthegreatervalue in Verdenln 1997.Weshouldalwaysremember Champlonshlp Thereforethe knowledge. of sucfireactionandcriticismexistsin our sp€cialized withreporters judgesshould interviews and and individual try at pressconferences joumalists for s@resthatweregiven' to deadysubstantiate hisreasons to the hereis understandably not mucftto grdspontoto find practicalansiwers pmbtem It is simplythe natureof theproblem. of subliminat influences. addressed and Perhapsahndy a lot hasbeen achieved by simply knowing the possibilities influence. dangersof sublimlnal To bringthisto light hasbeenthe purposeof thls T

shortartide. on the basicprinciple: As a dressagejudgeone must alwaysconcentrate "Judgeer'erytest as a new,movernent for mo/ement,andonlywhatyou effectively see". onemustke@hisinnerindependent Althoughsudla thesisalmostalwaysplateaus, understanding of the necessary with@ndusive basicideas- nafurally in connection Thisis pre€quisites state,to cometo a fairdecision. subject- astheconsid€rable the onlywaythatthe ridecwillbe ableto aimfor theirfuturetraininggoalsandthe of the sportof dressage entirediscipline to bewdl served.

ASSESSMENT oF TEsrs

thequalityof dressage andenhance Thejudge'smaintasksareto setstandards on the marks. ridingandto helpridersandtrainersby scoringandcommenting movement after Judgewhatyouseethisday,thistest,thisperformance, principles Thisincludes forgetting to the classlcal of dressage. movement according should withthisriderand/orhorse.Noexternalinfluences all pastexperiences havean effecton the scoring. a pure"faultregistration Approach the markingwithgoodwill.Avoiddeveloping a the highlights wlth highmarks.Try to differentiate: machine" attitude.Reward "good" "insufficient"" ("not (only) The range is from anda 4 0 markof 8 means to 10("excellent'). executed') judgeis to recordwhattakesplacein the arena Theresponsibility of the dressage and eachmovement of thetest. Thejudge'sexpectation andto befairin assessing clear. required at eachlevelmustbeespecially mentalimageof the collection goal word,is the ultimate in riding.Everyhorse, Collection, oftena misinterpreted young it is correctly trainedto the llmitof hisability,will havea froma ageuntil (anabilityto bendthejointsof the hindquaters) evenin its degreeof collection paces. Thedegreeof collection required at eachof the levelsisjust working in it withease enoughsothatthe horsecanperformitstestandthe movements andfluencv. ridersto takeboldrisks.If the rider'srisksare Judgesneedto encourage invites brilliance, butit successful, theyshouldbegivenhighmarks.Risk-taking loss or of balance Mistakes sometimes occurasa resultof mavleadto mistakes.l to an errorthat is directly ttG horseandrider,asopposed confusion behveen the movement or wentoff course. the ridermisrepresented markeddownbecause judge to think of the mark that hewas mistake, he first needs Whenthe seesa goingto givefor the movement.Thenhe hasto adjustthe markhewould on the gravityof the mistake. havegiven,depending otherwise it addsto the degreeof is veryimpoftantandneedsto be rewarded/as Precision difficultyof thetest (noisychildren,loosehorse,severewind/noise, In thecaseof outsidedisturbances Onthe lackof attentiononthe firstoccurrence. etc.),forgivea horse'smomentary judged on withouta disturbance; secondtime,the scoreshouldnot beas lowas it judge you you would normally. as thethirdoccurrence, should of Thebasicprinciplesmustalwaysprevailin fulfillingthe requirements the trainingscale,

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EXPLANATIoN oFTHE MARKS

of thetrainingscalehavebeen For a 10, excellent- Allof the requirements precision, will be performed withexcellent fulfilledto theirutmost.Themovement marker marker. to exactlyon the correctlinesfrom of thetrainingscalehavebeenfulfilled. lt/cT a'L , 9, very good - Allof the requirements withverygoodprecision, Themovements will beperformed exactlyon the correct{". ,C i linesfrommarkerto marker. of thetrainingscalewill be regarded asgood. & good - Allthe requirements followingthe correctlines. Movements areperformed accurately,

i tit y c"oL t f,ig,e- ?

of thetrainingscalewill be regarded fairly 7, fairly good - Allof the requirements good. Movements wlll be performed fairlyaccurately, following the correctlines. willbe performed withaccuracy 6, satisfactory- Eitherthe movements and precision, withinthe trainingscale/or buttherewill besomeweaknesses good movements maybe lackingaccuracy andprecision butstilldemonstrate qualities scale. of thetraining will be performed fairlyaccurately, 5, sufficient- Eitherthe movements butthere in withthe trainlngscaleor theremaybe some maybesomeclearweaknesses maybe inaccurate fairlyseriousmistakes.Or,movements but stilldemonstrate qualities satisfactory of thetrainingscale. will beperformed fairlyaccurately, but 4 insufficient- Eitherthe movements weaknesses withinthetrainingscalewithsomeobvious theremaybesomeserious maybeveryinaccurate butstill errorswithinthe movemenG.Or,movements qualities sufficient of thetrainingscale. demonstrate performed movements withseriousproblems within 3, fairly bad - Inaccurately thetraining scale. performed withsevereproblems withinthe 2, bad - Inaccurately movemenls scale. training performed 1, very bad - Movements arebarelyrecognizable. Showing severe etc. resistance throughout, i.e.rearing,runningbackwards, 0, not performed- Notperformed. Thereis nofragmentof the movement performed.

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