The Use of New and Innovative DVD Technology to Teach Competitive Youth Horse Judging Teams

Introduction

Competitive horse judging programs are present throughout the nation on several levels, including (but not limited to) 4-H, FFA, and Junior and Senior Collegiate. Traditionally, resources available to teach youth or college students to judge horses have been limited to printed material and traditional VHS video. Printed material contains very useful and informative information but lacks an interactive 3-dimensional, live component. Traditional VHS video lacks picture quality (particularly when paused) and takes time to maneuver (fast forward and rewind). To meet the rising demand for competitive horse judging resources, an interactive DVD was developed to allow for easy maneuverability and quality digital video footage. The objectives of the project reported here were:

1. To develop a competitive horse judging DVD with high quality digital video; and

2. To develop a competitive horse judging DVD that allows for easy and fast maneuverability.

Materials and Methods

Each year, the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo hosts a nationally competitive youth and collegiate horse judging contest. The 2003 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Youth and Collegiate Horse Judging Contest contained 10 classes (four halter and six performance) of four horses each. In 2003, all persons providing horses for the horse judging contest were asked to sign a release affirming their voluntary participation in this project. Signed releases are kept on file in the office of the Colorado State Horse Extension Specialist.

Each of the 10 classes contained in the contest was filmed with two digital cameras. After completion of the contest, the digital video footage was compiled, edited, and produced. Split screens were implemented to allow the viewer to judge multiple horses at a single moment in time. Production of the final product was conducted by C-Torque Productions (2004).

After editing and production of the video footage was complete, several official judges were asked to judge and place the 10 classes. An official placing for each of the 10 classes is provided on the DVD. Next, collegiate students from a nationally competitive horse judging team were asked to view the 10 classes and prepare one sample set of oral reasons for each of the 10 classes. Each of the 10 sets of sample reasons was videoed with digital video cameras and is also provided on the DVD. Therefore, the DVD contains 10 classes of four horses, an official placing, and a sample set of oral reasons for each of the 10 classes.

Results

The resulting DVD is an easy-to-maneuver, all-encompassing horse judging workout. The DVD contains a main menu that lists the 10 classes of horses (Figure 1).

Figure 1.
2003 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Horse Judging Contest Main Menu

Once the user selects the class he or she wishes to view, the class sub menu (Figure 2) offers three options: view the class, view the official placing, and view the sample set of reasons. From this menu the user should first view the class (or pattern if applicable).

Figure 2.
2003 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Horse Judging Contest Reining Menu

Once the user has judged the class of horses, the user should then view the official placing. Next, the user has the option to view and listen to a sample set of oral reasons describing the official's reasons for placing the class (Figure 3).

Figure 3.
2003 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Horse Judging Contest Sample Set of Reasons Still Photo

The DVD also contains a credits page and a menu providing directions for use.

The result of this project is an interactive DVD that provides the user with a great resource to learn how to effectively judge horses and give oral sets of reasons. The DVD contains educational classes to judge and is useful to all age groups. The sample sets of reasons provided by collegiate students help both youth and college students by providing numerous examples of sample terminology and delivery. Additionally, the easy-to-maneuver DVD will save time for coaches/teachers because they will not have to fast forward or rewind through a traditional VHS tape to find the class of horses they wish to judge.

The 2003 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Horse Judging Contest DVD is currently available for purchase from the Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences. For more information and order forms, please visit the Colorado State University Equine Extension Web site at http://www.equineextension.colostate.edu/.

References

C-Toque Productions, LLC. Multimedia Equine Marketing (2004). http://www.ctorque.com/

Rocky Mountain Horse Expo, Denver, Colorado. (2003). http://www.rockymountainhorseexpo.com/

Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Youth Judging Contest DVD (2003).  Available at: http://www.equineextension.colostate.edu/