Can a Horse With a Rail Beat a ‘Clean’ Horse?
Why did a horse which had a rail beat my horse who was clear?
Each judge usually, and I say usually, because some judges don’t, gives a percentage score depending on the round. Generally speaking a rail gets a score of 40 – 50
depending on the rail and the rest of the course. See the following post regarding judging hunters. https://thistleridgestables.com/the-course/
and get a sample of the judges score card here. https://thistleridgestables.com/judges-card/
Judges do their best to be objective and give fair assessment of all horses presented to them. It could have been the judge missed the horse knocking down a rail or maybe the judge thought the rail was not the ‘horses fault’. For example, the previous horse having a HARD rub but not a knock down and then the rail falls without a whisper of a touch.
If you have questions for the judge you are able to discuss with the steward and request to review your round with the judge
A ‘rail’ usually doesn’t beat a ‘clear round’ in a hunter class. But sometimes, the best clear round by a horse with poor jumping technique may not get as high a mark as an excellent mover and jumper with a ‘bad rail’. A bad rail meaning the rail just shouldn’t have come down.
What is your feeling about a horse which had a knock down being placed over a horse which ‘went clear’?
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