From The Publisher – You Think That Judge Is a Crook…

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14 – July/August, 2026

By Tom Grabe

Every horse show parking lot, barn, tack room, or adjacent bar has one. The exhibitor who knows exactly why they lost.

The judge favored trainers. The judge owed someone a favor. The judge hates amateurs. The judge prefers chestnuts, bays, geldings, mares, Western riders, English riders, or horses from a certain zip code. There is always a reason—and it is almost never the horse standing at the end of their lead or parked under their saddle.

Politics is the universal explanation for disappointment in horse sports. Sometimes it is justified. More often, it is simply easier than confronting a harder truth.

Judging is subjective. That’s not corruption; it’s the nature of the game. Two honest judges can watch the same class and reward different horses for perfectly legitimate reasons. One may value brilliance. Another may prioritize correctness. One may reward athleticism; another, polish and presentation. It comes down to preferences.

Click here to read the complete article
14 – July/August, 2026