Personalities.

“A different sport”

• Our sport has changed The time when this was a sport with an amateur perspective has long gone
• Our sport has a professional industry behind it.
• Professionalism has taken over. Most of the people involved at the High Level Sport are professionals: Riders
• Trainers
• Chefs d´Equipe
• Vets
• Your actions are in social media with in seconds.
• All stakeholders involved EXPECT this professionalism to carry over to the show officials

“It is a lot more than judging the competitions”

• President of the Ground Jury has final authority Be prepared for the show. You may find a lot of difficult situations will arise before the first class.
• Be a leader, not a “sheriff”
• Lead by knowledge and common sense, not by fear
• You MUST have knowledge on various areas: Footing
• Obstacle construction (especially water jump)
• Feeling for course design
• Time measuring
• Horse related issues Stables
• Veterinary fundamentals

“It is a lot more than judging the competitions”

• Foreign Judge Always remember, you are the FEI at the show. Report with fairness We expect the FJ to report what happens in reality
• Do not be OC “friendly”
• Do not hold back in your report
• We are going to ask you the difficult questions. We know that you are the FEI. Prepare for this.
• Do not try to dilute the responsibility
• WE EXPECT YOU TO TAKE THE LEADERSHIP

Communicate

• TALK TO PEOPLE
  • Be available at all times during the competitions Make sure that the correct communication devices are available to talk with you at all times during competitions, specially on GP and NC days
  • Do not be afraid of asking any questions to anybody
  • Do not get run over by anybody: It is sure that we will try sometimes.
  • Do not send away anybody without an explanation
  • We understand that the judges do not have to know every Rule. HOWEVER we want a correct answer based on Rules.
  • 90% OF THE PROBLEMS CAN BE PREVENTED BY CORRECT COMMUNICATION!

Standards

• Set the standards and do not waver
• Have clear ideas of how you want to run your show
• Treat everybody equally: if not we will find out who is the best one to take advantage.
• Back up your people, especially your stewards. If you fail to back them up they will be there but they will see nothing.
• Remember: THERE ARE NO SECRETS DURING A SHOW.

STICK TO THE RULES!!!

• Do not try to defuse problems by adapting the Rules to a situation: YOU ARE CREATING BIGGER PROBLEMS FOR THE FUTURE
• The only way to out good of very difficult situations is to stick to the Rules.
• We all have PERSONAL views and opinions. Do not let you personal opinion get in the way of what the Rules are there for.
• Be proactive, follow up. If you strongly believe something is wrong with a Rule, there are procedures to change a Rule.
• Always remember a Rule is Rule until it is changed, do not look the other way even in very difficult situations.
• WE NEED A UNIFIED CRITERIA FOR JUDGING. The field cannot change from week to week

FINALLY:

• ALL THE PEOPLE Involved WITH OUR SPORT ARE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THIS SPORT BIG AND SUCCESSFUL.
• IT IS YOUR JOB IN THE SPORT TO KEEP IT WITH IN THE RULES, WITH TRANSPARENCY AND EQUAL TREATMENT FOR EVERYBODY.
• IF WE FAIL THE SPORT WILL GO DOWN A PATH WHERE WE ALL LOOSE, A LOT.