Advice from FEI Judge Janet Brown-Foy

Janet Brown-Foy was teaching a clinic this weekend at the barn where I ride. She had one horse after the next, and during a quick break she was kind enough to remain in a very cold arena and answer a few questions that I thought might be of help to anyone riding and competing in dressage.

What do you best like to see in the ring?

I most like seeing harmony. That means the horse and the rider are both having fun and enjoying the experience.

What do you most dislike seeing the ring?
I really don’t like seeing a horse that’s over-faced by the rider. I also don’t like seeing a horse that is capable of doing a certain level with a rider who isn’t, so the horse is confused and unhappy.

Is there a one simple thing that every rider could do in the ring to raise their overall marks?Yes, riders needs to use their corners. They also need to know their tests before they come to the ring and know where the figures should be placed. I’ve judged riders who look like it’s their first time riding in a ring with letters.

Do you have a tip for raising the marks for a specific movement?
Yes, for half-pass from centre line, make sure you start with shoulder-fore before you start to go sideways so the haunches don’t lead. If the haunches are leading I can only give you a “6”.

Do you have a tip for improving rider position?
Yes, get on the lunge line. More students need to ask for lunge lessons and more instructors need to offer them.

What do you think about shows using closed circuit cameras in the warm-up rings?
As a judge it is my duty to protect the welfare of the horses and if closed circuit cameras help that, I’m all for it.

Janet's pearls of wisdom from the clinic:
"The horse responding to an aid with a good forward reaction is NOT a mistake".
"Get the horse's shoulders in the right place first".
"You need to be able to ride (a movement) correctly 90% of the time before you can change it".
"See-Saw is NOT a classical dressage aid. You must choose how/where you want the horse to be supple".
"Make learning fun for your horse. Be pleased with small victories. Praise often".

Janet Brown-Foy is an FEI “I” judge, USEF “S” Dressage Judge and an AHSA Sporthorse “R” Breeding Judge. She has judged at all major shows in the United States including the North America Young Rider Championships.

She has also judged national championships and CDI*** in Guatemala, England, Canada, Poland, Australia and Mexico as well as the FEI World Cup League Finals for the United States, Canada and Australia.

Janet has served on the USDF Executive Board, the USA Equestrian Board of Directors, and is a current member of the federation Dressage Committee and the International High Performance Dressage
Committee. She is also on the USDF “L” Faculty and instructs federation
judges training programs throughout the United States for dressage and
sporthorse breeding.

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Comment by Linda McDowell on June 8, 2010 at 10:15pm: I just showed at Morvan Park in Leesburg Va. Janet was my judge and she is very accurate with her comments and I thought an excellent judge. I saw her give a clinic with Stephan Peters a few years ago. Janet judged the rider and Stephan helped correct the problems. It was one of the best clinics I have ever audited.

Comment by Gary Stuart on February 25, 2010 at 12:05am: Thanks for the clarification, Barbara F. What you're saying makes a lot of sense. I don't know why someone would want to compete much above their level in any event. Hard to build much confidence that way!

Comment by Barbara F. on February 22, 2010 at 9:18am: Hi Gary and Marion,

To answer your questions without putting words in Janet's mouth.

1. I believe what Janet was suggesting was that the rider compete at the level of their own capability, rather than at the level of the horse (if the horse is trained beyond your level). For example, if you are a third level rider who has just bought a schoolmaster PSG horse, still compete at third level until YOU are ready to move up.

2. Marion, perhaps Janet was saying that even if everything else is perfect - perfect frame, perfectly accurate, perfect rhythm, all she can give you at most would be a 6.

Comment by Marion D on February 22, 2010 at 9:06am: [quote]Do you have a tip for raising the marks for a specific movement?
Yes, for half-pass from centre line, make sure you start with shoulder-fore before you start to go sideways so the haunches don’t lead. If the haunches are leading I can only give you a “6”.[/quote]
Interesting. Even a slight haunches leading for a split second has gotten me a 4.

Comment by Gary Stuart on February 21, 2010 at 6:32pm: Judge Janet:

Your comments were really helpful and interesting. With respect to your comment that you don’t like seeing a horse that is capable of doing a certain level with a rider who isn’t, what advice would you give a rider who wants to speed up her/his riding ability by either buying a horse that is more advanced or else having her/his trainer work the horse up to the higher level. Sometimes it's easier for a rider to raise her/his level by working with a horse that can do the advanced work. Are you saying that the rider should not show the horse until the rider is ready or that the rider should not have even got on the horse until the rider was ready?

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