Meet 2024 RIHS decide Melissa Richardson

With the 2024 Royal Worldwide Horse Present (RIHS) simply across the nook, H&H catches up with using horse journey decide Melissa Richardson, who will officiate on Friday alongside conformation decide Greer Taverner.

Who’s Melissa Richardson?

Melissa Richardson is a decide, exhibiting competitor and dressage rider. She sits on British Present Horse Affiliation and Arab Horse Society panels. She started her profession on the British Present Pony Affiliation panel 20 years in the past.

She has judged in any respect main exhibits, together with Royal Windsor, The Hickstead Derby, Royal Cornwall and on the RIHS in earlier years. She has additionally judged on the Horse of the 12 months Present, officiating the hacks in 2017.

The prolific present hunter pony Chiddock Superman is the horse Melissa credit for placing her on the map, although she has additionally loved success within the present ring on stars corresponding to Alesi and Courtland Nation Methods. The latter horse gave Melissa the leg up in dressage and she or he has since achieved a grand CV within the self-discipline.

Her present journey Gravgaards Sir Dundee was superior medium and PSG champion on the summer season regionals in 2023, and he was Hickstead masters champion as a younger horse. He has additionally been positioned within the prime three on the nationwide championships since he was at novice stage.

What the decide might be on the lookout for when horses enter the ring

“That first impression is so necessary within the present ring. Firstly, I’ll be on the lookout for one thing with an excellent stroll. I desire a using horse that’s stronger in sort, however that’s nonetheless elegant and athletic, as I prefer to suppose horses might go on to produce other careers and do different issues. I don’t like horses which have an excessive amount of physique and center; if a horse is just too fats you’ve impacted that preliminary impression immediately.

“I’ll then be on the lookout for horses that carry the standard of the stroll by to the opposite paces. I really like a horse to be sitting up and searching by its bridle, clearly having fun with its job.”

Issues the decide will contemplate in the course of the journey

“Once more, I need a horse that’s sitting up and searching by its bridle whereas in self-carriage. For me, all the things has to attach. They must be straight, with a connection between the hand and the leg. If the horse is just too behind the bridle you lose the connection and straightness, and consequently the liberty of motion.

“I additionally like a match horse that’s going to hold me round; I don’t wish to be persuading him to go for a jog!”

How will the decide take a look at the championship?

“A championship must be judged as a separate class, however in idea your two winners must be preventing it out with one another, as they need to be good examples of the small and enormous sorts. Ideally, we’ll have a constant sample, however typically that doesn’t all the time observe by as horses can shock you. Maybe a horse has gone so superbly that it must be rewarded. Finally, will probably be the best way of going and sort that may win the present, however I do hope the riders will actually showcase their horses; go daring or go residence!”

Does Melissa have any present ring pet hates?

“An excessive amount of physique and an excessive amount of center as the general image turns into unbalanced and the horses can shuffle, affecting the paces.

“I hope opponents are ready and have accomplished their homework, too. For instance, by presenting with accurately fitted tack – you wish to give your horse the most effective likelihood of giving the decide its finest journey.

“Journey sensible, my greatest pet hate is that lack of connection and horses not being match. I don’t like horses that work on two tracks, which tends to occur after they get an excessive amount of center physique and the engine isn’t working correctly.”

Any sign-off recommendation for RIHS first-timers?

“Create your self a timetable so you’ll be able to permit your self loads of time to get organised. A guidelines can be a good suggestion so that you don’t neglect something. As judges, we would like opponents to take pleasure in it. It’s an enormous privilege that individuals belief me to journey their horses. Let’s hope for some sunshine so we see the horses bloom.”

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H&H exhibiting editor

Born and raised within the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the exhibiting scene. She has certified and competed ponies on the Royal Worldwide, Horse of the 12 months Present and Olympia and has first-hand data of the present points within the exhibiting world in addition to the horses, ponies and riders who compete within the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 since when she has cemented its place because the main equestrian publication for each exhibiting reviews and present exhibiting information within the UK.