When my Dad, Sid Griffith, got the call from Alex Ross that he was being invited to judge the AQHA World Show this year, I knew immediately that it would rank as one of the highlights in his professional career. After getting his first judge’s card with NRHA in 1970 at the tender age of 21, he has enjoyed the privilege of judging most of the major events in reining. In 1975 he added an AQHA judge’s card to his resume and since that time, he has enjoyed judging the Congress, numerous majors, and abroad over the last 35 years. Although my Dad is a private person behind the scenes, I know it meant a lot to him to be asked to judge his first AQHA World Championship Show.

Although my Dad has had great horses of every discipline along the way, he felt that hauling me non-stop over the last seven years for Rookie and high point honors had really prepared him well for the task. Most significantly however, he attributes the fine-tuning of the AQHA judging system over the years for really helping to properly prepare him for judging this important major. “The system itself,” he described, “has been overhauled significantly over the years and the degree of difficulty has changed due to the quality of exhibitors and explosion of specialized horses. Continuing to refine and create judging systems to keep up with the specifics of specialty horses helps judges to be more consistent as a whole.” He recalls that helping to develop the NRHA scoring system as a onetime NRHA Board member was also very useful.

“Today, you have to stay current by judging, exhibiting or training,” in addition to the seminars my Dad believes. “Although I have trained, ridden or judged every discipline, I find that need to continue to educate myself by talking to specialists at every horse show I get to. Sort of keeping a finger on the pulse of things. Open mindedness if an important factor in being a good judge. In the last seven years, I have been to more horse shows with Dakota than I have probably been to cumulatively in my whole life. I have become a better judge by virtue of hauling my daughter." While acknowledging that judging is an “individual opinion,” he feels the well organized guidelines developed by AQHA definitely help to make your decisions.

Clearly the World Show left a lasting impression on my Dad, and he described that the depth of quality of horses and trainers was “amazing.” I asked if he had any first time jitters, and he thoughtfully said that “If you didn’t have at least a little butterfly or two, that perhaps you weren’t taking the responsibility seriously enough. Everyone that I judged with took it very seriously, and we all felt it was an honor to be there…an honor that your association has chosen you to officiate at the most prestigious event of making world champions. It is a privilege.” His biggest fear in judging was that he would miss something with the incredible depth.

While my Dad said you have 15 days of pressure, that it was “Worrying about doing the best job that makes you do the best job possible.” He said his best feeling in hind sight was that he has “no regrets.” “In my own mind I did a fair assessment.” When I asked if there was added pressure in judging well known horses that were past world champions, he was quick to point out that “There were a lot of great horses that you admire at the shows week in and week out who weren’t crowned world champions. At the end of the day, each horse had to prove that they were deserving of the industry’s highest honor. Best set of horses you’ll ever look at in one show. Best of the best of the best!”

So what is a typical day for an AQHA World Show judge? Up around 5:30 a.m.; off to the arena at 6:50; arrive at 7:00; and hit the ground running. A major compliment that he made numerous times was the integrity of AQHA. Behind the scenes is a continuous process of judge’s meetings, educational tapes before certain sessions, and discussions about what is expected. Each group of five judges meets together with a representative of AQHA before their classes in order to re-enforce their comprehensive and professional standards. When I asked my Dad whether or not he felt he had judged anything differently after the daily judge’s meetings than before, he felt that they “Made you more aware of the areas that needed to be refined during the judging process.” Judges are permitted to walk through the trade show while accompanied by a chaperon staff member, and spend time in the judge’s room while not working or preparing for their classes. Meals are served buffet style for all staff which makes the whole day run smoothly.

O.K., now to the fun stuff! Since spouses and children of judges are not permitted to attend the world show, I had to know important details like the trends. My Dad said he definitely noticed that black saddles with square corners were among the strongest trends at the World Show along with saddles with black trim and detailing.

And what about the horses? I had to know if there was one go that he would always remember. Marking an arena high score, and breaking her own arena record in the finals, Vital Signs Are Good was in his opinion the most memorable overall run while competing in the senior western riding class. Describing all the finalists as “YOW-ZA”, it was “The extension of her front leg in her lead changes along with cadence and expression that were positively phenomenal.” To be in such deep water and stand out so significantly was mind boggling”. With sheer amazement, he described her run as “Impressive.”

Judging the world show is a tremendous honor, and does have its perks like the cool stuff my Dad brought home, including a gold medallion world show ring for first-timers. We all got a kick when he described it as his “Super Bowl” ring! In addition, each world show judge received the custom world show leather jacket, a briefcase, judge’s folder, and signature “Q” tie. His biggest tip for new judges is to “Take a large wardrobe – I spent a lot of time ironing.” (I honestly have never seen my Dad with an iron so that would have been an experience in itself.) As far as judge’s attire, in the prelims you are permitted to wear your own choice of clothing, while in the finals navy blazers and tan pants are required for women and men.

My Dad credits the highly qualified AQHA staff and ring stewards for making the entire process run seamlessly. His lasting impression of judging his first world show? “Across the board it was a quality set of horses. Horses as a whole were simply in remarkable physical condition regardless of the discipline. Whether it was speed, roping, reining, hunt seat, western, etc., the horses were just extremely attractive and in top flesh." Although it took my Dad a few days to catch up on his rest, I asked if he would ever want to do it again. “In a heartbeat, in a heartbeat!”

^{Vital Signs Are Good photo © The American Quarter Horse Journal}