There is currently much emphasis on technical training for judges to develop consistency and common standards, however there appears to be less focus on developing skills to manage the stress and pressure that this level of competition often brings, a significant cause of poor consistency and subjective standards.

The demands made of judges when judging possibly hundreds of horses in up to three solid days of competition can be immense and certainly affect aspects such as concentration, and objectivity over time. Calibration of multiple judges can sometimes cause a ‘score drift’ that does not always reflect an individual judges opinion of the test.

We work with judges on a number of issues to help maintain a balanced mindset, deal with pressure and intense periods of concentration to maximise their effectiveness in competition. Developing self awareness and an understanding of why we behave as we do under pressure is key to self management. Much of our behaviour is influenced by our personal values and motivation patterns and learning to manage these particularly when they may differ from current thinking or trends in the sport.

We help judges understand what influences their own thinking and reactions in an area that is not an exact science. We also help them manage frustration or criticism whilst remaining positively focused on the key outcomes of their role.