Steve Lampson Three Nationals In 30 Days Steve Lampson, a well-known and respected judge from Haverhill, Massachusetts, began his judging career in the mid-1980s, judging local and 4-H shows. He has come a long way since then. He now holds 10 judging cards that range from USEF “r” Roadster to the American Miniature Horse Registry “R”. In 2006 he performed his biggest judging feat to date by judging three national horse shows in a one month time span. From September 20 to October 15 he spent a total of seven days at home. The rest of his time was spent on planes, at hotels and in the show ring. The hectic schedule that Steve kept up for those 25 days began on September 20, when he headed for Lexington, Virginia to be a part of a three judge panel with Gene Holloway and Mary Donald at the North American Gaited Pleasure Championships, sponsored by Friends of Sound Horses. The show ran from September 21 to September 24 and featured many gaited breeds including Walking Horses, Mountain Horses, Missouri Fox Trotters, Gaited Morgans and Paso Finos. “It was an exciting show, especially judging Gaited Morgans for the first time,” says Lampson, who grew up with Morgans. “I also found it quite challenging when it came to judging the Open Gaited Breed classes where all the different breeds of gaited horses were in the same class.” Steve flew home from the American Gaited Pleasure Championships on September 25 only to fly out again four days later, this time to Fort Worth, Texas to be on the five-judge Amateur/Youth/Futurity panel at the American Miniature Horse Association’s World Championships, which ran from September 30 to October 4. This show averages 3,000 entries and includes over 145 classes. The day before the show Steve arrived in Texas at about 5:00 p.m. only to learn that his bag, which held all of his judging clothes, had not made the trip with him. It had stayed at the airport in Chicago. After waiting most of the evening for two more flights to arrive from Chicago, the bag never arrived, and Steve checked into the hotel at midnight. That same night he headed to the nearest 24-hour Wal-Mart to create a whole new judging ensemble.  “This is a show I will always remember,” says Lampson.  What impressed him was how well the show was run, the quality of the horses, the immense size of the Will Rogers Arena and the fact that it was air-conditioned. “The Miniature horse has come a long way in its breeding refinement and the performance of the driving horses,” says Lampson. He especially enjoys the driving classes because it is the discipline that he competed in the most during his showing career. And about his bag? After the first day of judging and many phone calls to the airline his bag finally arrived. “What a relief!” says Lampson.   This time he spent only three days at home before flying to Lexington, Kentucky to be on a three judge panel at the Kentucky Mountain Saddle Horse International Grand Championships held at the Kentucky Horse Park. Other judges were Tom Davis and Nancy Harding. This time Lampson took an additional piece of carry on luggage with a suit, not wanting to have a repeat experience of the previous week! This show ran from October 10 through October 14 and had over 400 horses and 164 classes. Besides the exciting classes this show also had clinics, vendors, a raffle colt and a drill team. “Having heard and read about the Lexington Horse Park all these years, it was so exciting to finally be there and see this magnificent equestrian park,” says Lampson. “The Mountain horse is rapidly becoming a popular mount with people. Its smooth riding four-beat gait, exciting Park division, temperament, soundness, and tractability are making it an exciting breed to watch.” Besides judging these three nationals, Lampson spent 2006 traveling across the country judging breed, rated, unrated and 4-H shows. He traveled throughout New England, New York, Florida, Delaware, Alabama, Texas, California, Colorado and North Carolina. “I don’t want to ever outgrow 4-H shows and smaller local shows,” says Lampson. “It’s great to give back to where you came from, give back to your roots.” Lampson also enjoys judging open and smaller shows because of the variety of breeds. “At open shows there’s a little bit of every breed and each class is so different and exciting,”  says Lampson. “And they respect you if you have experience with their breed. My goal as a judge has been to have a rider feel that they have been judged fairly and according to their breed standard and/or discipline.” This is why he holds judging cards in many different disciplines. “I have had people come up to me after a show and thank me because they knew that I had experience in judging their breed and discipline,” explains Lampson.  What he doesn’t like to see at shows is the lack of sportsmanship and “loud“ coaching from the rail. “Once a rider is in the ring they should be prepared and know their job,” says Lampson. He feels that exhibitors should put more time in at home with their mounts and not treat a horse show like a practice session. “They should be the best they can be at that point. And I like to see politeness and courtesy. A rider should be out there to enjoy themselves as well as learn.” In addition to judging, Lampson attends many judges seminars to recertify his cards, and regularly attends the Color Breed Council in Oklahoma City. “There are many great clinicians and the knowledge you gain from this week of seminars is so important in helping you to grow as a judge,” says Lampson. 2006 was a busy and rewarding year for Lampson and with his drive and enthusiasm it doesn’t look like 2007 will be slowing him down.

Steve with Christmas Tie to support the Costume Theme 06

Always helping the kids