How to become a judge

ANYONE can train to become a dressage judge. There are six levels in British Dressage (BD), referred to as “lists”, starting from six and rising to one. A list six judge can judge up to and including preliminary competitions whereas list one judges can judge up to and including grand prix classes at championship level.

Judges are required to attend seminars to remain listed, and to move up to the next listing you will need to complete the relevant pathway through BD’s judge education system.

To register as a trainee judge in the first instance you have to be a full member of BD and attend one of their online induction sessions.

As a trainee judge, who has completed the induction, you can start judging at unaffiliated competitions straight away.

If you’re interested in judging affiliated classes, you have two years to become listed once you’re registered to the judge education system.

As a trainee judge, you will be following the “new judge” pathway. This will include attendance at interactive workshops and completion of self-directed learning activities, including writing, practice judging, observing training and an online final assessment.

To be eligible to take the final online assessment to become listed, candidates must complete all of the pathway tasks and also have achieved three scores of 62% or above at affiliated novice level, or in the relevant para-grade tests, or have achieved three affiliated novice scores of 65% or above in a freestyle.

Learn more at britishdressage.co.uk