2025 USEF/USDF Dressage Judge Clinic

By Michell Combs

Additional contributions by Missy Gilliland and Sarah Lindsten

Del Mar, CA was a wonderful place for the dressage judge clinic presented by Mike Osinski and Bill Warren on April 18-19, 2025. Arizona had fantastic representation with Dorie Vlatten-Schmitz, Ellie Stine-Masek, Beverly Rogers, Missy Gilliland, Sarah Lindsten and Michell Combs attending. Mike and Bill showed comradery and humbleness during the two days, and we saw many Grand Prix rides.

Missy says: “Mike and Bill are masters!”

Friday was an interesting training day. We utilized the BlackHorseOne technology. Many of the dressage judges in attendance had not used the platform before and so there was some time spent to get familiar with it. We judged tests or specific movements with our laptops or iPads and then reviewed the cumulative group scores. Saturday was live judging at the Del Mar show. We were lucky to spend most of the day watching Grand Prix and Prix St Georges tests.

With BlackHorseOne we had lively discussions. With this technology we were able to rewatch & pause the movements where we were the furthest off from each other. With live judging we need to be educated, secure and fast with what we see.

Sarah says: “(We) celebrate our shared commitment to dressage judging excellence!”

Sarah Lindsten said participating at the recent USEF/USDF Judges Clinic was an enriching experience that left me feeling inspired and motivated. I found it very beneficial to explore the online judging platform provided by Blackhorse, using Equestrian Hub. The large contingency of judges from Arizona brought a vibrant energy to the forum, highlighting the strength and dedication of our judging network. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn, engage, and celebrate our shared commitment to dressage judging excellence.

We reviewed many examples of rider’s “losing the haunches” of their horse in walk pirouettes and shoulder-in’s. We also saw many variations of contact issues with tongues – either with the tongue hanging out, or “lizard-like” or bulging. We were asked to look at the whole picture presented, but some concerns necessitate low scores. We noticed that many riders sit to the outside in a half-pass, which is a rider fault and can block or restrict the horse’s movement. We spent time reviewing walks – the quality, the overstep, and the purity – especially the purity before, during and after the walk pirouettes. Bill asked us to be picky about tracking in the walk and trot.

Missy and I both liked how much the group talked about horse welfare and how judges should take serious responsibility to uphold high standards of horsemanship in how we judge tests. Missy noted how impressive she thought the international judges were – how quickly they can gauge a horse’s basics (balance, impulsion, submission) while simultaneously watching how they execute the movements. It takes such skill, and Missy says they are absolute masters!

Michell says: “It was amazing to evaluate so many Grand Prix rides!”

We also talked at length about various degrees of faults or mistakes in movements and what that would do to the score. Bill & Mike had a generalized approach to scoring methodology where if a movement was recognizable, it would be a 5, if it was impressive, it would be 9-10. We reviewed the FEI Dressage Judging Manual which included a term called “firewall”. A firewall is a mistake where the score cannot be greater than a particular score. The manual provides some examples and case studies advising an appropriate score when observing common mistakes. For example, if a horse is uneven behind or in front, it must be below 5.  One counting mistake in the canter zig-zag would be 5.5 or lower.

Every single judge in attendance had to give feedback and judge a live test. Mike and Bill were supportive, helpful and encouraging.  In our group, we had a conversation about the unpleasant side of judging. Some judges have been sued over comments or scores and there is some politicking when working with ambitious riders or their ambitious parents.

Mike and Bill are looking forward to utilizing the BlackHorseOne technology to help develop greater uniformity and standards in our judge training. They want to prevent riders from being blindsided by the effects of mistakes when they get scores and comments at National Finals or other big-time shows.