SHOW HIO Announces Major Judging Program Reforms for 2025

SHOW HIO Announces Major Judging Program Reforms for 2025
February 17, 2025

The SHOW Horse Industry Organization (SHOW HIO) unveiled sweeping updates to its judging program this week, marking a pivotal shift in how judges are trained, evaluated, and selected for affiliated horse shows. The changes, announced during the organization’s annual training session on February 15, 2024, at the Embassy Suites alongside the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association’s meetings, aim to enhance transparency, accountability, and expertise within the industry.

Stricter Testing for Judges
A cornerstone of the 2025 reforms is the introduction of a mandatory closed-book exam for judge applicants, designed to rigorously assess their mastery of the SHOW rulebook. Test results will be logged in a centralized database, with judges receiving personalized feedback to address knowledge gaps. “Judges must thoroughly understand the rules to uphold integrity in the ring,” a SHOW representative emphasized.

Trainer-Driven Judge Ratings Go Digital
In a first for the organization, SHOW will launch a confidential online rating system this March, allowing licensed trainers to anonymously evaluate judges on a scale of 1–10. Ratings will be aggregated into a public database, though individual responses remain private. Judges inactive for over five years will be excluded from the platform, which closes to submissions on March 15, 2025. Trainers may select “N/A” for judges they haven’t observed or competed under.

Push for Fresh Judging Talent
SHOW is urging show managers to prioritize hiring judges who haven’t officiated in the past 12 months for multi-judge events. While not yet mandatory, the recommendation has garnered support from trainers, owners, and judges surveyed by SHOW. The move aims to diversify opportunities and inject new perspectives into the circuit.

Streamlined Public Evaluations
Starting this year, electronic judge evaluations will be open not only to exhibitors and trainers but also to owners and fans. Participants must provide their name and disclose whether they competed at the show being evaluated. SHOW hopes the shift to digital forms—already piloted in prior years—will boost engagement and accountability.

Long-Term Goals: Data-Driven Reform
These updates mark the first phase of a multiyear effort to modernize SHOW’s judging standards. Acknowledging that many top-rated judges haven’t officiated in over five years, the organization plans to use 2025’s data to overhaul its rating system entirely. “This is just the beginning,” officials stated, stressing commitments to ongoing judge education and performance tracking.

SHOW credited its judges committee, trainers, and owners for shaping the reforms. “Improving judging is critical to our industry’s future,” the organization said. “We’re listening to stakeholders to ensure fairness and trust in every show ring.”

As the 2025 season begins, the equestrian community will watch closely to see how these changes impact a tradition steeped in precision and prestige