As a current Panel Judge with NCPA and your General Secretary, I frequently get asked how a person goes about joining the NCPA Judges' Panel. Here is the basic procedure:

• 1 Membership of NCPA is mandatory
• 2 Request an Application Form from the Office - fill in and return same
• 3 Carry out the required probationary appointments with suitable qualified judges
• Await the outcome of the Judges' Selection Committee

The minimum probation required is 4 for each Ridden Panel (with 4 different senior judges) and 4 for each In-hand Panel. Members wishing to join the same Ridden and In-hand Panel may do 2 of each. Any member who is already on the Judging Panel of the NPS, BSPS, PUK, BSHA, AHS or Breed Society may apply to be automatically accepted onto the equivalent NCPA Panel.at the discretion of the Judges' Selection Committee.

Have you considered becoming a Steward?

The NCPA is constantly on the look-out for new Stewards. If younk you may have any of the following qualities, consider offering your services to your local Branch or Main Branch shows

• 1 Love of horses/ponies and showing
• 2 Free time, particularly at the weekends
• 3 Knowledge of, or willingness to learn, ring procedures
• 4 A hat and a pen that works!
• 5 A sense of humour!

Although the job has little to offer in terms of material reward, it really is great fun and a great way to make new friends and get more involved, particularly for those people who, for one reason or another, are no longer directly involved with showing.

It is a very good introduction to those who feel they may like to be judges in the future - why not give us a try?