4-H Judges Score Card

4-H Judges Score Card – detailed description of image and rules

Each scorecard lists at top of page with a line for Event, Judge Name, Participant Event, Date, Class and Pattern
There are ten spaces that go across the page with the following categories: Draw, Exh #, spaces for penalty and scores for Maneuvers 1 – 7. At the end of each maneuver line, there is a Penalty total box and a final score box for that individual maneuver.
Scores are explained in detail below in the 4-H Judges Score Sheet

4-H Judges Score Sheet

Each Maneuver should be scored according to the following scale:

1 ½ = extremely poor 1 = very poor
½ = poor
0 = correct
+ ½ = good
+ 1 = very good
+ 1 ½ = excellent

Penalty Application

Penalty Application: There are certain penalties which are applied should the rider not execute a precise maneuver or deviate from the exact written pattern. These penalty points have a negative impact as they are deducted from the ﬁnal score.

Score of 0

Use of illegal equipment (including whips or bats)
Use of 2 hands with a leverage bit
Use of more than index ﬁnger between reins when using 1 hand
Failure to complete the pattern as written
Equipment failure that delays the pattern
Performing maneuvers other than in the speciﬁed order.
The inclusion of maneuvers not speciﬁed, including but not limited to: o Backing more than 2 strides o Turning more than 90 degrees
Stopping (exception is a complete stop in the 1st quarter of a circle is not considered an inclusion of maneuver but a break of gait and therefore a 2 point penalty will apply.)
Balking or refusal of command where pattern is delayed.
Running away or failing to control horse.
Jogging in excess of ½ circle or ½ the length of the arena
Over spins of more than ¼ turn.
Fall to the ground of horse and rider.
Dropping a rein that contacts the ground while the horse is in motion.
Abuse of an animal in the show arena and/or evidence that abuse has occurred prior to or during the exhibition.
Failure to have correct exhibitor number displayed.

Penalty of 3 Points

Break of gait
Freezing up in spins or rollbacks
On run in patterns, failure to be in a lope prior to reaching the ﬁrst marker.
If a horse does not completely pass the speciﬁed marker before initiating a stop position.
Starting or performing circles or eights out of lead will be judged as follows:
Ø Each time a horse is out of lead or has a delayed change of lead, a judge is required to deduct 1 point, which is cumulative.
Ø The judge will add 1 penalty point for each ¼ of the circumference of a circle or any part thereof that a horse is out of lead. A delayed change of lead is a 1-point penalty from 1 stride to ¼ of the circle.

Penalty of 5 Points

Spurring in front of the cinch.
Holding the saddle or touching the horse with free hand
Blatant disobedience including kicking, biting, bucking or rearing

Additional Penalties

Deduct ½ point for starting a circle at a jog or exiting rollbacks at a jog up to two strides. Jogging beyond two strides but less than
½ the circle or ½ the length of the arena, deduct 2 points.
Deduct ½ point for over or under spinning up to 1/8 of a turn; deduct 1 point for over or under spinning up to ¼ of a turn.
In patterns required a run-around, failure to be on the correct lead when rounding the end of the arena will be penalized as follows: for ½ turn or less – 1 point; for more than1/2 the turn – 2 points.
Deduct ½ point for failure to remain a minimum of 20 feet from wall or fence when approaching a stop and/rollback

Suggested Danish Ribbon Placing

Blue: 63 and up • Red: 56 through 62 • White 0 through 55