2025 National Championship

[William Woods]

Originally Posted by John Davis

A judges job is to observe and evaluate. The dogs run is a critical part of this, as well as being steady to wing and shot, and backing when the opportunity arises. You CAN NOT adequately observe or evaluate a Field Trial dog's performance from the eye level of a golf cart or four wheeler. This can ONLY be done from the back of a horse. If you've ever competed in a walking trial, you know the judge on horse back often sees your dog when you can't and has a much better vantage point. The AKC kicked around the idea of allowing pointing dog trials to be judged from golf carts, etc. The concern being that it was becoming too difficult to find judges with horses. The concept was roundly rejected. They do allow judging from vehicles in Hunt Tests.

Mr. Davis, While I preferred a judge to be on horseback in the NSTRA trials, they were few and far between in our area. The NSTRA trials I participated in were in open fields and the dogs were almost always within eyesight of the handler. I had a bird dog friend that judged and ran horseback dogs. He once one the championship for the red dogs. He was a pointer man. His name was Don Jones. Did you know Don?