This article aims to give people who haven?t fence judged before a good idea of what to expect. It?s always a fun day out, usually very educational (there?s nothing like seeing how various riders 
tackle the same fences), and many venues/events give gifts or cross country schooling vouchers as a nice thank you for your time and effort. Events could not run without these generous volunteers, so I urge all riders to offer to help at at least one event this season.
There is, of course, a very comprehensive briefing for Fence Judges first thing in the morning at all events, usually over Bacon Butties and Tea or Coffee. Everything is explained and any questions answered in detail. Also, through the whole day you always have back-up, you can speak to Cross Country Control at any time on the radio, and summon the relevant B.E. Official (Technical Assistant or Technical Delegate) if you have any concerns or problems – they are the experts who will have seen it all before and will be able to cope with anything.
What To Take
? Most events provide a very good packed lunch, snacks, tea and coffee etc but I always take extra just in case.
? Take clothes for all eventualities, and folding chairs if the weather?s good enough for you to sit outside your car (and blankets in case it suddenly isn?t)
? It?s a good idea to take your own pens, and a sharp knife for cuttings strings on the fence in case a horse gets stuck ? very unlikely, but just in case.
Ideally fence judging should be done by two people, and it’s very easy if there are two (or more) of you, but it is possible to do it alone, you just get into a rhythm and stay organised.
Getting Ready
After the briefing, you go back to your car and drive it to your allotted fence. Park carefully so you’re well out of the way of any route a competitor might take, but on the take-off side (uphill of the fence is usually advised) so you can see exactly what’s going on. Check the ground on take-off and landing at your fence, and if there are any holes or rough areas you need to repair them, or tell Cross Country Control on the radio so that they can send someone with tools to do it. You may need to keep checking the landing in particular, and 
possibly rake it over or replace divots if it keeps getting cut up as horses land.
Riders walking the course are usually very friendly and it?s a good way to see a lot of famous faces. Sometimes they will ask how your fence is riding, so you need to stay on the ball. You will be given lots of notice before the first rider appears on course; a fence-by-fence radio check is always carried out, to ensure that everyone is in place and ready.
First Rider On Course
? When the Fence Judge at the fence preceding yours blows their whistle, that’s your heads-up that a competitor will soon be approaching your fence. Blow your whistle as soon as you see them, twice if necessary – if there are any spectators/course walkers around your fence, make sure they’re not in the way/ inattentive etc. Be prepared to yell.
? Make sure they aren’t in the way of a long route either ? never underestimate the stupidity of someone who is totally absorbed in their course walking or their conversation.
? When a rider comes into view, write their number down in the booklet you?ll have been given at the morning briefing ? if they’re leaning forward as they gallop then seeing their number can be the hardest part of the whole job. Most riders sit up as they approach a fence, so you can see it then, or on their back as they gallop away from your fence.
? If they fly over your fence clear (as most will) you just add a tick in the relevant column after their number. If you?ve never fence judged before you will be given a very straightforward fence which should cause very few problems all day.
Refusals and Run-outs
? If the rider has a run out or a stop at your fence, say loudly “First Refusal”. They aren’t allowed to try to get the horse to jump a fence from a standstill (very dangerous) so be prepared to yell if anyone’s that daft – unlikely though. The exception is if it is a drop fence with no height, or a tiny log on the edge of a drop. If they have problems, write down their penalties – 20 for first refusal at your fence, 40 for 2nd refusal at your fence, etc.
? If there’s a run out which could be contested, or if the rider takes an interesting route between fences, it is a good idea to draw a picture on the back of the sheet and/or make a few notes (rider?s XC colours, horse colour, brief description of incident) to jog your memory should you be questioned later if the rider appeals against the penalties.
Timing Matters
You’ll have a timing watch with double digital screens, one of which keeps running all the time, and you click it (and then write down their time) as every rider goes past a landmark you have chosen, about 50 – 100 yards from your fence on the approach – a big tuft of grass, fence post, tree, whatever.
If you are ordered to stop someone before your fence because of problems on the course further on, this is your Timing Marker. If you do have to stop someone, they’ll mooch around (they are ‘out of the competition’ until you re-start them and they can therefore dismount to rest their horse, chat to people, ask you what’s going on etc) until you hear “Course Clear” on the radio from Cross Country Control. Then you send them away back down the course to warm up so that they come past the Timing Marker at a good gallop again, and you click the stopwatch and note down their new start time as they pass it again. (This is so that the scorers can take the elapsed time at your fence off the rider?s total time to give them a correct time. I hope that makes sense, it sounds much more complicated than it really is).
Falls
If there’s a fall at your fence, you have to tell Cross Country Control on your radio FIRST, before doing anything else – just say “rider fall at fence 18″ or ?horse and rider fall at fence 18? (or whatever) and whether the course is ?clear? or ?blocked?. This is essential, and unfortunately many people forget it in the heat of the moment, leaving those in Control frantic because all they?ve heard is ?fall?, and they have no idea where it is, who it is, who to send where, which other riders to worry about stopping, and whether to prevent riders from starting. With two minutes between horses on course usually, it is essential that they know where things have gone wrong, so 
that they can stop the next competitor if necessary. If you go to help then you mustn?t forget to take your radio with you so that you can stay in touch with Control and keep them informed.
If there is a fall at another fence, not the one that you are judging, you must keep silent on the radio and leave the airways clear until it has been dealt with and all is moving again.
As well as the radio, you’ll have flags of different colours which will be explained, and if you have a fall at your fence, you go and wave the correct one to show Paramedics, Horse Ambulance, or Course Repair (if the fence has been damaged or a horse is stuck) where to come… although in the heat of the moment a lot of people grab the lot and wave them all, which isn’t really frowned upon, as it always gets the desired result.
The ?cavalry? (emergency services) will get there amazingly fast if there’s an incident at your fence, and you call on the radio for Doctor/Paramedic or Vet or Horse Ambulance. If you don?t have a radio, the Fence Judges at the next fence with a good view of yours will have one, and will have radioed immediately to summon everyone to your aid.
There’s very basic immediate First Aid information given at the briefing, all common sense.
That?s about it.
If after reading all this you fancy a day?s Fence Judging, please contact the Organiser of one of your local BE Events. They are usually overjoyed to have a few more willing volunteers. Some Fence Judges are so dedicated that they travel from event to event, staying in their caravans and really enjoying the social side of things. If you do go and volunteer I hope you enjoy it, it’s usually really fun, as long as you remember to take a comfy chair and cushions? for some reason sitting still all day and staying alert is strangely exhausting, but not having a numb bum really helps!
2010. Words Kerry Weisselberg – Photos Wern Woloschin
