I was put on the list of FEI 2* dressage judges in July 2016 after attending a FEI Judges seminar and fulfilling all the prerequisites.

It has opened up many doors and given me plenty of judging opportunities in different countries but it is not all just glamour and excitement.

Every 3 years, 2* judges are expected to attend a seminar as well as judge a minimum of 3 CDI classes at a minimum of 2 CDI shows. In addition to this, we also have to judge at least 9 national classes on PSG/Int I level (so minimum 12 classes in total). PSG / Inter 1 competitions are rare enough in our region, let alone CDI classes. To score an invite to judge a CDI is difficult as there are such limited CDIs around SEA.

Failure to fulfil these requirements would mean getting taken off the FEI list and since it was hard enough to get on the list, I definitely don’t want to be taken off.

I judge an average of one show a month, sometimes even two shows. Early in the year, most organisations send me list of their show dates for the year so that I can check my availability and then pen their shows into my calendar. As glamorous as all the travel may sound, often it gets quite tiring and I also have a full time job, plus some weekends I am actually competing as well. To avoid taking more leave than I have to, I try to leave after work and leave again immediately after finishing judging. This can mean I have worked 7 days a week straight!

With co judge, Col Shivi at the AEF U21 Dressage Championships in Taiwan

However, I do appreciate all the opportunities that I have been given and it has been great meeting new people and also being able to catch up with old friends on my travels. Last Saturday I judged at Bukit Timah Saddle Club in Singapore which allowed me a very short but good catch up with Yien and Edric.

March and April are quite packed so not much breathing space… As the saying goes, you can sleep when you are dead!!!