Upgrade your Judging Eye I - "Making Strides in Movements and Collective Marks with Maryal Barn

Have you ever been curious as to why, or how, judges come up with your scores? (No, they don't make them up, I promise!) If you answered yes, then Louisville Dressage Society has the opportunity for you!

LDS is proud to host "Upgrade your Judging Eye I - "Making Strides in Movements and Collective Marks," an approved USDF Continuing Education in Dressage Judging Program. The USDF Dressage Judges Committee created programs like these to make excellent education more accessible on a regional level to judges, judges in training and riders.

Our facilitator, Maryal Barnett (see her long list of accomplishments below!) will be giving us an inside view on how judges do what they do! Potential topics of discussion are:

• the purpose of the movements when riding a dressage test

• the criteria for each movement (similar to a check list) that judges are looking for when scoring these movements

• how to properly score each movement according to what the judge sees during the test

• how to create the proper, well articulated comment for the score, according to the rules and guidelines set-forth by USEF/FEI rules

If time allows, auditors will be allowed to submit questions to be discussed during this session. Do you have any questions about how to tweak your tests to earn higher marks? This is the place to do it!

Maryal Barnett has a long list of credentials, achievements and accomplishments,

spanning over a few decades. Her judging experience includes:

• retired FEI “C” Dressage Judge

• active USEF “S” Dressage Judge

• Canadian Equestrian Federation Senior Dressage Judge

• Instructor and Examiner for the USEF “r,” “R,” and “S” Dressage Judges Training Program

• USDF “L” Faculty member (teaches future dressage judges)

Maryal has also ridden to the Grand Prix level. She is part owner at Nottingham Equestrian Center, a very active training center in East Lansing, MI, where she is part owner. Maryal was presented a USDF lifetime achievement award in 2014.

Maryal has facilitated many Judges’ Mini-Forums throughout the United States. She has traveled to Europe, Canada and all over The United States attending USEF Judges’ Forums and participating in USDF International Judges’ Forums and FEI Seminars for Dressage Judges.

This educational course could not be possible without the help and support of The Dressage Foundation and their Edgar Hotz Judges Fund. The Dressage Foundation is a non-profit organization set up to offer USDF Members an opportunity to apply for grant monies to help further proper dressage education. They have a variety of grants available, so when you get a moment definitely check out their website and consider sending a donation to help. Every little bit counts!