I am a BD list 2A judge, RDA judge and FEI 4* Para Dressage Judge.  Genius Equestrian have asked me to collaborate with this blog in the hope that I can demystify the role of a Judge and offer you an insight into our world behind the boards.

My judging keeps me very busy nationally, including judging at High Profile Shows, Premier Leagues, the Winter Championships and Nationals.  I have been an RDA dressage judge for over 30 years and in 2017 became Chairman of the RDA Dressage Committee.  I derive a lot of pleasure as a volunteer.  Participation has increased and I have introduced a number of new opportunities.  The post of Chairman keeps me very busy in all aspects of dressage, but most notably conducting the judge training and appointment of judges.  I also sit on the BD Para Dressage Committee, providing a strong voice for the RDA.  In 2006 I became an FEI Para Dressage Judge and have had the privilege to judge at many venues across Europe and last year, in Gothenburg at the European Championships.

After a quiet winter and recharging my batteries in the sun in Fujairah in the Emirates, the competition season started in earnest in February at Genemuiden in the Netherlands.  The weather was certainly cold and the locals were out on their skates on the frozen waters by the roadside.  Genemuiden CPEDI 3* has now run twice and is a fabulous venue – many thanks to Marieke de Boer and Esther Breman and family for an amazingly successful event.  Well, on return, the weather unfortunately had an effect on some of the Regionals and the snow certainly caused havoc in some parts of the country.  Having had the honour of judging at the European Para Dressage Championships I was able to look forward to visiting another Scandinavian country in March.  This time, Randbol in Denmark was my destination.  The CPEDI 3* was held at the Blue Hors centre – truly amazing.  The organisers and sponsors really are to be commended for the success of what was their first FEI Para Dressage competition, in many years.  Genemuiden and Randbol are certainly worth a visit  – come on you British riders!