I judged a Hunter/Jumper show last weekend. It was on the west side of the Organ Mountains and the dirt blew in giant swirls and brown walls that blocked my view of riders on occasion. The show was full of tiny ponies and wonderful kids riding on in spite of the weather (it has certainly been worse, as well as better), draft cross horses with the greatest temperaments and big eyes and ears, gorgeous Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods with big hooves and haunches, Pintos and Appaloosas and everything you can imagine. All working hard and riding well and caring about the horses and each other. As a Buddhist, it is really hard to judge things. Seriously. I trained decades ago to be a horse show judge and secrets were shared with us in classes from some of the top judges in the country. Still, I have a hard time using my training to place one beautiful child and her beloved pony or horse over another... yet I do it. I take my job seriously and stay focused from the beginning to the end. Last weekend we went over 11 hours with no lunch break (they brought me a wonderful veggie sandwich that I ate as classes continued) and the riders, parents, grooms - all kept smiling (bright white teeth against pure dirt covered faces) and helping each other. I'm still putting aloe on my wind-burned face. As I think about this show (and all the others I've judged or ridden in), I know for sure that horses - most of the time - bring out the best in people!
