Combined Driving Events Pleasure Driving Shows Schooling Shows Judging Fees Cancellation Policy
Promoting Fair and Safe Competition
Organizing and managing an event is a tough job! Choosing the right licensed officials for your competition is an important decision. Your ground jury should add experience, guidance, and expertise to your event rather than giving you one more thing to manage. The right licensed officials can help you navigate the obligations of being an organizer, providing a fair and safe competition for your attending competitors. After all, the competitors are your customers, without whom there would be no competition. It’s important to be sure that they have a positive experience, no matter what the outcome of the competition. The members of your jury should be as comfortable communicating with the competitors as they are with one another, and all of your support team.
With more than 20 years of experience in carriage driving, and years of running my own business, I know what customer service is all about. Judging is more than giving out scores with an occasional remark. It’s as much a job of diplomacy and encouragement as it is about an in-depth familiarity with the rules, and the reasons behind them.
As a judge, I feel two concurrent obligations. The first is to the organizer, whom I consider an employer that I’ve been hired to represent. I make every effort to help that organizer create the competition that they envisioned when they took on the job of organizing. Sometimes that means “getting down in the trenches,” and helping things come together. Other times it simply means taking a step into the background, and allowing a well-run event to shine.
My second obligation is to the attending competitors, who’ve worked hard and set their time and money aside to come to your competition. Your competitors deserve my undivided attention and an honest assessment of their performance during the competition. This holds as true for the first-time competitor as it does for the veteran campaigner. Where appropriate, I enjoy sharing insights that are constructive and will help the competitor move forward with their horse.
I have years of experience with all types of competitions from “back yard” club shows to high level competitions with international competitors and ground juries. In that time, I’ve received many compliments from competitors and officials for my ability to officiate accurately and diplomatically.
Recorded ‘r’ Combined Driving Judge
As recorded (r) judge in combined driving I may serve as a President of the Jury (head judge, or solitary judge) at combined driving arena trials, horse driving trials, or events that offer training level through intermediate levels.
For competitions that offer advanced level competition, I may serve as secondary judge, but not as President of the Jury or a solitary judge.
Pleasure Driving Shows
I have not yet met all of the requirements to hold the ADS license for Pleasure Driving shows. However, if you are planning a pleasure show that you do not intend to have recognized by the ADS, you may hire me as your judge.
Schooling Shows
Schooling shows have the freedom to follow a relaxed format that encourages drivers to build their skill. As an instructor and a judge, I enjoy schooling shows as much as anything else. I have the opportunity to communicate more openly with competitors – sharing advice and making suggestions where appropriate. You can combine schooling shows with clinics. To read more about hosting clinics, please see my clinic page
Judging Fees
$400 per day, plus travel, accommodations and meals (see the travel page for more info). Since there are only so many dates available, I require a 50% deposit no later than 6 weeks prior to the competition date. This deposit is non-refundable unless I must cancel for health or personal reasons. Checks should be made out to: “Coachman’s Delight, Inc.”
Cancellation Policy
All competition dates are rain or shine unless conditions become unsafe, so bring your rain gear. Competitions cancelled less than 6 weeks prior to the date will be credited the amount of the deposit toward judging within 1 year of the original date. If a make-up date has not been scheduled within 1 year of the original event date, the deposit will be forfeited. Competitions cancelled less than 72 hrs prior to the competition date will be responsible for the full fee, plus any expenses associated with the event.
