By Kay Kamish
Last month we explored the possibility of becoming a scribe at some upcoming schooling show, or even, yes, a recognized show. I offered reassurances that every scribe, even those at the recent Olympic Games, had to start somewhere, some-time for the first time and you can, too! This month I will tell you about the responsibilities for scribing, as well as the "Do’s" and "Don’ts" of scribing.
First of all, you must understand the principle duty of a scribe is to simply write down what is being dictated to them. That’s it, plain and simple, in a nutshell. A scribe neither adds nor deletes anything that is to go on record. This you must do without reaction… no gasps of dismay or cheers of approval! Judging is the judge’s responsibility, and you should never offer any insights or explanations of what you see in the ring. It is also imperative that you do not distract the judge with idle chatter or questions about training methods. Things can move quickly, and it is easy to become distracted and get behind. Take your lead from the judge with regards to conversation. Some judges will be talkative and happy to offer insights to their reasoning; others will scarcely utter a word other than their scores and comments for movements. Be courteous and respectful, and let the judge concentrate on doing their job.
Next responsibility is to stay focused and attentive to what is going on in the ring and be certain you, the judge, and the competitor are synchronized. This means keeping an eye on the test, an eye on the competitor, and an ear on the judge. Nothing quite so frustrates a judge as to get number scores and comments put in the wrong place. If you believe you are missing a score, quietly mention this immediately to the judge so that the two of you don’t fall hopelessly behind and out of synch. One way to do this is to ask, "is this the score for the transition?" Occasionally the judge may accidentally omit a score, and they will appreciate a prompt so they, too, can keep on track. If a score for a movement actually has been missed, expect to just go on with the scoring, leaving that space blank. It is impossible to backtrack in the middle of a ride, and the judge will have to fill that mark in at the end of the test. Once the final mark has been given, the Collective Marks and Comments remain. Some judges will dictate these, but many judges prefer to fill these out them-selves, making the final comments in their own handwriting.
There is also a mechanical skill that becomes important for scribing – the ability to write quickly and legibly. There is nothing quite so annoying to a competitor as to get a test back that is full of unintelligible scribbling in the comments section of each movement. It is important that a scribe deliver the message clearly, so not only does your handwriting need to be clear, but you must use complete words whenever possible. An abbreviation that seems obvious to you may be meaningless to the rider trying to decipher the test back in the barn. Concurrent with this, it is important that a scribe has a good working vocabulary of dressage terms so that they can understand the judge’s comments. This familiarity of terms will lessen any potential confusion as the judge rattles off comments for one movement after another. It is also very helpful if the scribe has a familiarity with the test that is being ridden, even if it means they have just read through it before the class starts. That way they can have a clue about what movements are involved and what is coming up, and can help anticipate when a score will be given. This becomes vitally important as the tests become more and more complex. Be especially aware that sometimes there are scores given for the overall quality of a movement, in addition to the specific movement itself; these are easy to miss.
Finally, there is the responsibility of ‘housekeeping’. By that I mean getting to the judge’s table early, making sure there are the appropriate number of tests for each class. Show management should furnish the judge with a class list, giving the order of rides and riders’ names and numbers. There should be a labeled test for every competitor, as well as a blank test for the judge to use throughout the test. Be sure to check the rider’s number, and be certain that the test you are about to write on corresponds with the competitor who has just trotted past! Finally, check to see that the judge has signed the front of the test; some will sign all the tests before a class begins. Completed tests should then be set aside, ready for the runners to pick up. The runners are also there to serve as messengers; let them know if you or the judge need anything (pencils, food, drinks). You will also need to keep track of any scratches, have an idea of how well you are keeping on time, and keep track of details in general. Many of these details are the responsibility of the show management. However, it is in the best interest of all involved for you to help with the details as well. Everyone can make a contribution to a smoothly run show, and the scribe can play a vital role. And above all, Thank You. Without you "silent witnesses" the show could not go on. So, give it a try! See showing from a different perspective. I promise you won’t regret the experience! Enjoy it!!