Ellie Stine-Masek (front)
Lynn Boice, Ana Calek, Anne Baustian-Gilmartin,
Jean McKnight-Guymon, Robin Ritter (left to right)

The Quest for "S"
by Ellie Stine-Masek

Three years ago I started the journey in pursuit of upgrading my USA Equestrian Dressage Judge's rating form "R" to"S". I had to submit judging verification forms, FEI dressage tests that I had ridden, and many letters of recommendation to the Licensed Officials Committee (LOC) to be accepted as an "S" candidate. As soon as I was accepted as an "S" candidate, I began the task of fulfilling the many requirements for the training program. Because we have few (or none) Grand Prix classes at Arizona shows with at least four competitors, I traveled to California at least six times to apprentice judge at different CDI's and to attend forums and training sessions.

When I started this training program I felt that I was a pretty good judge who had developed a consistent methodology at arrive at reasonable and fair scores for horses and riders through Fourth Level. My first effort at apprentice judging a Prix St. George test quickly humbled my confidence. I decided that my next effort would be to sit with Dr. Edgar Hotz for two days at a CDI in California to listen to his wisdom. Dr. Hotz was very generous with his time and knowledge, using breaks between competitors to set up different judging scenarios and giving advice on how to make fair judgements and useful comments. I am grateful for having had that opportunity because Edgar passed away five months later.

Following that confidence building weekend in Burbank, I ventured north to the Rancho Murietta CDI where I apprentice judged with seven other "S" candidates who had arranged to hire Lt. Co.Axel Steiner to teach us. That was my first experience to actually judge nineteen Grand Prix tests in two days with the pressure of real competition time restraints and the need for constructive, concise comments. I was beginning to clarify the "essence" of the movements in the Grand Prix and come up with scores and mostly miserable comments. The Piaffe/Passage tours in the Grand Prix tests have scores for each Passage, each Piaffe and all transitions, all within about sixty seconds! Phew! My confidence was only slightly improved and Axel Steiner's comments to us "S" candidates were related to getting more experience and watching more Grand Prix horses.

During that time we were also waiting to have an official training program organized in California for at least ten of us "S" candidates, where we could fulfill classroom requirements and for the actual testing. Thank you David Schumtz of the Paddock Riding Club for stepping forward to be our organizer. He arranged for the classroom and practice judging sessions to be taught by Natalie Lamping at the Del Mar National Horse Show in April 2002. Our testing would be done at the CDS Annual SHow in Burbank in September with Marianne Ludwig and Jayne Ayers.

Both of these sessions were very intense and educational, but certainly not something that I want to experience again anytime soon! We studied the Rule Book, the USDF Glossary of Terms, piles of reading material about gait analysis, and videos of International Grand Prix competitors. There was a wonderful exchange of experiences from our instructor judges and respectful advice and recognition for our own years of experiences as riders and judges. During these training programs I got to practice judging many of the competitors who were trying for the WEG team or the World Cup. Watching the Grand Prix Musical Freestyles at Del Mar last April was one of the highlights of this whole journey.

Besides those official training and judging seddions, I also apprentice judged with Hilda Gurney at the March CDI in Burbank. Hilda has been a role model for most of the "S" candidates and she was very encouraging to all of us. None of us were even thinking beyond acquiring the "S" approval, but Hilda expects us all to become "C" and "O" judges! She had just returned from an FEI Judges Training Program in Florida with the head of the FEI Dressage Committee, Marlette Withages. so she was able to share with us many of the current controversies and rule interpretations.

Beyond the apprentice judging requirement of at least thirty two Grand Prix tests, a minimum of eight classed at three shows, we also had to sit with instructor judges and observe all of the FEI tests. I arranged to travel to Denver to sit with Gary Rockwell and Joan McCartner during the High Prairie Show in August. They were both very generous and enthusiastic and I improved my eye and vocabulary greatly after sitting with them for two days.

My first co-judging opportunity was this past March with Cara Whitman at the CDI in Burbank. I felt so much more confident in scoring the Grand Prix than I had two years ago, but even more so because I didn't always score the same as Cara Whitman and I was comfortable with that. I knew that I could justify my scores and placings. Even on a panel of five judges it is rare to have everyone agree on the placings.

My letter of approval from the LOC arrived in the mail April 28. I ripped it open in the Post Office and raced to the car for my cell phone to call my husband, George. with the good news! He is very proud of me as are my friends and clients who have been patient and suppoprtive throughout this quest. Now that I have received my senior (S) Dressage Judge License from USA Equestrian, I know that I have a huge responsibility to help guide the sport in a postive way toward a better future. I feel priviledged to get to watch the beautiful creatures who allow us to experience the joy and power of their movement. I hope to see everyone down the centerline soon!!