Brought to you by The Plaidcast
Ken Smith is widely known as a trainer of top hunters, jumpers, and equitation riders. But when he’s not ringside coaching the next great junior, he often steps into the judge’s box—a role he believes more professionals should consider.
“I really think we all need to pay our dues and try to judge a little bit,” Ken said in Episode 435 of The Plaidcast. “It’s not for everybody, for sure, but I think it’s an important part of the sport.”
In an age where horse shows are bigger and more complex than ever, the need for knowledgeable, active professionals in the judge’s seat is growing. Yet the pool of judges remains relatively small, and in some cases, out of step with the realities of modern competition.
A Judging Career That Grew with the Barn
Ken first earned his small “r” card in the early 1990s, encouraged by his mentor Howard Lewis. “I used to judge a lot of little local shows,” he recalled. “Howard really pushed me to get my card, and I was lucky enough to judge with a lot of great judges during my early days of learner judging.”
These days, Ken judges a few shows a year, including week nine of the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, which has become a tradition.
“It’s a nice break for us to have that week and not all the clients be showing,” he said. “It’s kind of a forced week off for our business—even though it’s not always a total week off!”
Even as Ashland Farms has grown into a hugely successful operation, Ken has remained committed to judging whenever his schedule allows. He sees it not only as a duty, but as a way to stay sharp, current, and connected to the evolving standards of the sport.
A Shortage of Qualified Judges
One of the biggest challenges in equitation and hunter judging today is availability. Many of the professionals most qualified to evaluate high-level competition also have students in the very classes they would be judging, which disqualifies them from sitting in the box at major finals.
“There’s a lot of discussion about this,” Ken said. “All the people obsessed with equitation probably have a student showing at the finals. So they’re not part of the available pool.”
This creates a dilemma: the most relevant and up-to-date professionals are often unavailable, while others who are eligible may be more removed from the current landscape of the sport.
“It’s a little bit hard with some of these finals to get the kind of the peer judges, so to speak,” Ken explained. “Because we all have students.”
Still, Ken believes the sport benefits greatly from trainers who make the effort to judge at any level they can—even if it’s not the biggest classes. “I try to tell everybody, at least try to do a regional or some sort of a local finals to help the sport a little bit.”
Staying Current Is Key
One of the concerns often voiced in the equestrian community is that some judges may not be in tune with what’s happening in the ring today. This is where active professionals can make a huge difference.
“It’s important to stay current with that part of it,” Ken said. “We do have some younger people stepping up that are wanting to do it. They’re doing a great job.”
By encouraging the next generation of trainers and riders to pursue judging, Ken hopes to see the pool of qualified professionals expand and evolve. He recognizes the challenges, but also sees the long-term benefit to the sport.
“It’s not always glamorous, but it’s important,” he said. “And the more experience you get, the better you get at it.”
Giving Back to the Sport That Built You
For Ken and Emily Smith, judging is just one way to give back to a sport that has given them so much. Whether it’s taking on working students, helping young professionals grow into their own businesses, or staying involved in the judging conversation, Ashland Farms is committed to supporting the broader equestrian community.
“I wish I had more time to [judge],” Ken admitted. “I love to do it.”
Want to hear more from Ken and Emily Smith?
Listen to Episode 435 of The Plaidcast, where Piper Klemm chats with the Ashland Farms team about judging, mentoring, and building a sustainable future for the sport. Available wherever you get your podcasts.
