French Judging Experience

Bungendore Carriage Driving Club

A French Judging Experience

Surprises come in many forms – an invitation to judge at a CAI-A in Pau, France in May was on my email early one morning. I was of course delighted to receive the invitation, I accepted and the planning began.
The invitation was a direct result of Mark Wentein’s visit to Australia in January at the invitation of the EA Southern Carriage Driving Club. Mark is an ‘O’ FEI driving judge from Belgium and he conducted an FEI clinic for judges during his visit. Mark and Marsoe LaRose (Canada) were the international judges at the CAN held at Witwood. The event included a qualifying class for Australian drivers who were interested in competing at the forthcoming World Singles Championships in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy.
The first two days in Pau were taken up with sightseeing and walking around the beautiful city. I then ventured to the spectacular venue. The event was held on the same site as the CCI**** events (the only international 4 star course in France) and the second largest horse racing establishment in France.
M Dot and Manuel

embers of the organising committee, Pierre Iato and Frederick Bousquet and officials – Franciose Lienart (TD), Manuel Ubeda (President of the Jury), Els Kerstens, Claudine Hodencq and Madalena Abecassis, my fellow judges, made me very welcome. Everyone was busy setting up so I took the opportunity to check the stables and camping areas. Transporting horses and two carriages is a logistical nightmare in most of Australia however the lorries and trailers at the event were mind-blowing. Competitors were interested that a judge had travelled such a long way for their competition and this judge was interested in the fact that setting up camp at a competition is the same everywhere – horses, dogs, children, tables and chairs, food and so on.
The contribution the racing company and the city of Pau made to the infrastructure of the event was interesting. The new dressage arena surface was laid two days before the President checking arena

competition commenced! Tractors, sprinklers and rollers were worked very hard to ensure the arena would be ready – and it was. What an achievement for those involved. One of the photos shows Manuel Ubeda riding a bicycle on the arena to test the surface.
The standard of dressage at the event was mixed as it is anywhere in the world and it was interesting to see some breeds that we don’t have in Australian driving. Gelderlanders, Merens ponies, Lusitano were among them. There were many Welsh ponies and mixed breed horses. The carriages used for dressage were in the main quite beautiful and most of the harness was leather.
The Ground Jury had four different tests to judge over the two days of dressage – FEI 8A, 8B, 9 and 10. We judged from different positions around the arena and the huts were moved accordingly. The FEI 8A test (shoulder-in for horse teams) requires of the judges to be positioned on the short side of the arena – C and at each quarter line (10m from the corner) – so there was much activity moving the huts during the lunch break.
Eve Cadiverna galloping to the finish of a MO

Eve Cadiverna galloping to the finish of a MO

The first two sections of the marathon were on the outskirts of the racecourse and the exciting Section E was held around the beautiful cross-country course. Some of the jumps were utilised as obstacles, including the two water obstacles and one of the jumps on top of a steep mound. Great driving! [See photo] Knockdowns are used frequently in Europe and they were on all obstacles except one. Eve Cadiverna - Horse pairs winnder going down the steep bank

Eve Cadiverna - Horse pairs winnder going down the steep bank

The obstacle driving phase attracted many spectators and there was some excellent driving. However the highlight for the spectators was the round driven by a 16 year old boy with a team of ponies. He absolutely flew around the course to the cheering and clapping of the crowd – unfortunately he has yet to achieve the finesse that Boyd Exell exhibits when he competes in the World Cup series.
Judging in France was a wonderful experience and it was an opportunity to maintain my international judging accreditation and to learn what dressage standards are at European events.
Dot Willcoxson