THE NPS CODE OF CONDUCT FOR JUDGES
This Code of Conduct runs in conjunction with the Rules for Judges as in the 2008 Official List of Judges and Rules.1 Judges should reply in writing declining or confirming attendance within two weeks of receiving invitations to judge and should honour the commitment. If you are, at short notice, unable to officiate please inform the show secretary immediately and suggest a replacement judge.
2 A judge who feels unable to judge any class in the schedule should inform the secretary well in advance of the show.
3 Judges are advised to make prior arrangements with the show secretary regarding their expenses and accommodation. Expense forms should be submitted to the secretary on show day.
4 Judges should always be punctual and smartly dressed. They should present themselves to the show secretary at least half an hour before their first class.
5 Judges must avoid judging the same section in a local area more than once during a season.
6 A judge should not accept any hospitality from an exhibitor during a show until judging is completed.
7 A judge should avoid meeting exhibitors or their helpers on the day of the show prior to entering the show ring for judging.
8 Before judging commences, judges should discuss with the ring steward the procedure to be adopted in the ring and after their classes to thank the steward.
9 Schedules and rule books should be carried by the judge. Judges should note the number of rosettes, special awards or qualifiers to be awarded.
10 A judge should not call any exhibitor by their name in the ring and must remain detached and impartial. No social conversation should take place.
11 Instructions to exhibitors should generally be conveyed through the ring steward.
12 Judges are discouraged from placing over-fat animals.
13 Judges should present rosettes unless a sponsor requests to do so. A judge may withhold rosettes if entries are of insufficient merit.
14 Judges should be open to questions from exhibitors who are asking the reasons for the placing of their animal. Any remarks made should be discreet.
15 A judge must be unbiased and fair, treating each exhibitor the same and remembering that it is only the pony that is being judged.
16 Judges should report to the show secretary any Health and Safety incidents that occur during judging and fill out the relevant forms.
17 Judges must report any judging or ring irregularities to the show secretary, ie delays, amalgamation of classes, course building faults, uneven surfaces, etc.
18 Judges must report to the show secretary any competitor or pony irregularities ie non eligibility for classes, competitor rudeness, conflict of interest, etc. and provide all relevant details.
19 Judges should be aware of any new rules and rule changes and attend a judges' conference regularly.
20 Judges must return their Annual Return Forms by the deadline date. One letter of reminder will be sent before penalties are imposed.
21 Judges should not exhibit in qualifying classes when they are judging the final.
22 Judges should avoid staying with a potential exhibitor at shows where they are judging.
23 It is recommended that NPS Judges judging NPS classes do not touch ponies except where Breed Society Rules allow.
24 Judges please take account of condition of overweight or underweight ponies and penalise accordingly.