The Connemara Pony Breeders Society is expanding its Ridden and Working Hunter Judges List and invites interested applicants to apply.  Individuals may have a wide range of experience, from stewarding and judging at shows to already being experienced judges on other judge’s lists, or may have little or no judging experience but may be involved through competing.  1.How do I apply to become a CPBS Ridden Judge? Make an application for Assessment day Download Application form here: Judges Application Form 2014 All prospective judges must submit an assessment application to: Carol O’Connor, CPBS, The Showground’s, Clifden, Co Galway by Monday 7th April 2014. A provisional assessment day is set for Sunday 11^th May at the Parks, Moycullen, Co Galway. The assessment panel will evaluate the application forms and will invite those applicants which it feels are best skilled to the assessment day.  Applicants whom it feels have sufficient judging experience may be put directly onto the Ridden list without going through to the assessment day.  This is up to the discretion of the assessment panel.    

*Please note applicants have the option of becoming a judge for Ridden classes or just for Working Hunter classes or both*

The following are desirable qualifications/experience  

• Judging for another showing society panel
• BHS Stage 2 or equivalent (i.e. HSI Coach Level  1)
• Previous judging experience
• Competing in ridden or WH class (or both)
• Applicants must be over 21 on the 1^st January 2014

There is no stipulation on how much experience you should have, but emphasis will be placed on previous judging experience and/or qualifications    2 Prepare for the assessment Even for candidates who may have previous judging experience it’s important to make themselves aware of the rules with WH classes and ridden classes and what is expected on the day.    There will be an administration fee of €30 to be paid to the CPBS by applicants attending the assessment day.     3. What happens on the Assessment Day Part One: Group Discussion Part Two: Judge Classes Part Three: Interview 4. What happens after the Assessment day  The assessment panel will review the assessment day and all applicants will be written to within 7 days of the assessment day.  Successful applicants will be written to and advised on how many shows they need to judge at with a senior judge before they will be put onto CPBS Judges List. Unsuccessful applicants will be written to and provided with feedback. 5. Completion of judging at shows with Senior Judge Once successful applicants have judged at the recommended amount of shows he/she will then be put onto the CPBS Judges list.   Helpful Hints and Preparation While prospective judges are not expected to know ever part of the equine anatomy, they do need to be able to describe the positive and negative points of conformation, movement, breed type, way of going and jumping ability.  Also knowledge on the mechanics of judging a WH class, and judging ethics.   Useful reading IPS Rules and Guidelines- Working Hunter rules and marking system from IPS rule book Available from  Irish Pony Society C/o Horse Sport Ireland 1^st Floor Beech House Millennium Park Osberstown, Naas, Co Kildare   Any queries please contact Carol O’Connor at 095 21863 or [email protected]  Judges Application Form 2014