In preparation for one of Buntine Equestrian Development Enterprise’s (BEDE’s) largest British Eventing (BE) events, Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst equestrian facility provided the perfect setting for the fence judges training day, which took place on 21st February. Students of the University’s equestrian centre were given the opportunity to meet with established judges and focus on the forthcoming eventing season.
The day began with refreshments and a warm welcome from Stuart and Anna Buntine who set up BEDE in 2004 to promote and enhance equestrian sport throughout the UK. The guests ranged from seasoned judges who had devoted many hours to eventing, to students who were keen to learn about fence judging and prepare themselves to assist at Oasby Horse Trials as part of their Competition Horse module.
The first guest speaker was Michael Browne, a British Equestrian steward, who offered an insight into the “behind the scenes” organisation of an equestrian event whilst outlining the roles of a Technical Advisor and BE steward.
Dr Simon Dunstan followed with a seminar on first aid for fence judges. As an event rider himself, he gave an educational talk with advice and experiences from both sides of the fence. This offered the guests a well-rounded impression of what was expected of them if an accident should occur, and provoked a series of relevant points by people who had been in the same position. This important insight into health and safety will no doubt help to make the cross-country phase of the event much safer for all involved.
After lunch, Stuart took the group through a series of video incidents and their corresponding rules. This not only highlighted the complexity of the fence judge’s job but also illustrated the split second timing needed to correctly work a fence. For the newcomers, this was a real eye opener and, together with the input from the experienced judges among us, this session proved invaluable.
This training day was beneficial to the established judges and students alike. It gave the regular judges a chance to learn more about the new rule changes and to pass on their knowledge to the less experienced guests. From the students’ point of view, it was crucial preparation for the upcoming event. It highlighted the importance of this role within the structure of the competition and provided essential training to make confident and informed decisions on the cross-country course. It was also encouraging to see the commitment shown to our sport and our future representatives by the BEDE team.
