J U D G E P RO F I L E Beth Hacking enjoys watching confident, athletic hunter horses put in a beautiful trip. Photo by Bonnie Herbers
Beth Hacking Meet one of the AEF’s newest certified officials. BY PIPER WHELAN
Like many equine enthusiasts, Beth Hacking first became interested in riding as a child growing up in the Edmonton, AB, area. “When I was 12, a friend was about to take her first riding lesson and invited me to join her, which began my decades-long involvement in riding,” she explains. Recently, Hacking has taken the next step in her horse-related journey by earning her Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) certification as a hunter judge. Hunter is a discipline she has loved and appreciated for many years. “What I like best about the discipline of hunters is that it promotes happy, comfortable, relaxed, natural and technically-correct horses,” says Hacking. “The pursuit of excellence appeals to me. For me, it’s always been exciting to watch a confident, well-mannered, typey, athletic horse put in a beautiful trip.” For Hacking, the road to becoming a certified hunter judge presented itself after her first judging experiences. “I decided to become a certified official after I was invited to do some judging and it went well,” she says. “The process of becoming certified involved shadowing senior judges and earning their approval. While ‘shadowing’ may sound like a passive act, it
was anything but! I was put to the test.” Through this experience, she learned much from the officials she observed and worked with. “The judges were demanding but also open and generous in sharing their methods and advice.” In addition to the shadowing process, Hacking had to receive some formal education on the topic, and was tested on her knowledge afterwards. “It also involved attending an Equine Canada clinic and writing an exam. Letters of reference from professionals in the industry were submitted, along with a description of my equine experience and education,” she explains. “The length of time it takes depends largely on how a person schedules their shadow judging experiences and on when an appropriate clinic is available.” Now that she is certified with the AEF, Hacking is thrilled about her achievement and the opportunities it presents. “It feels good to have credentials and to be backed by the AEF,” she says. “I hope to contribute to equine sport by consistently rewarding the most deserving horses and riders according to industry standards.” And what’s next for Hacking. She aims to take her expertise even further. “I’m considering pursuing my Equine Canada certification in the hunters, and also becoming certified as a jumper judge. Really, my primarily goal is to keep getting hired and continue judging,” she says. “I hope to help shows run smoothly and encourage participation in the hunter divisions by being organized, fair, knowledgeable, efficient and pleasant to work with.” The AEF congratulates Hacking on her certification. Show organizers who are planning Wild Rose-sanctioned shows can contact Hacking and other certified officials through the AEF Officials Directory, found online. AB
“For me, it’s always been exciting to watch a confident, wellmannered, typey, athletic horse put in a beautiful trip.”
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