Saddleseat Equitation Numerical (SEN) System

SEN System is designed to help eliminate the paperwork and memory tests associated with judging multiple sections and multiple phases. By utilizing a point system, a judge can focus on the riders present in the ring without having to consider previous performances. It reflects the individual judge's opinion and gives the judge the opportunity to compare riders without the time consuming paperwork.

Railwork and Brackets
The railwork is scored by placing the riders in order of preference and also into brackets. The brackets signify the judge's opinion of riders from top to bottom of the class. (See judges card below.) At the top of the card is a number representing the maximum points allowed for the section. This number indicates the score for the judge's interpretation of a "perfect" rider. The Beginning Point Reference box at the top of the Judge's Card is to be filled out to represent how close the first place rider is to perfect. If the section you are judging is a strong section, your beginning score will be high and closer to the perfect score. If the section you are judging is a weak section, your beginning score will be lower. In addition, the judge has the ability to indicate the top two riders of the section are to receive the same score during tabulation. The idea is to give the ability to keep two riders the same in the event a definite decision can not be made as to which is the better rider. This option is only available during Phase I.

When placing the back numbers in the brackets, keep in mind that you can put any amount of riders in any bracket. Riders inside a bracket should be of similar talent and skill based on their performance at the time. A suggested school of thought could be to reserve the first bracket for those riders in contention of winning the final based on their performance during their section. The judge also has the option of not putting any riders in any given bracket to represent the gap in the abilities of the top riders versus the balance of the class. The computerized system assigns points to the riders based on the Beginning Point Reference score and where each rider is placed in the brackets for the balance of the class. The point drop is based on the maximum points allowed. If the maximum points allowed is between 75 and 100 then there is a 3 point drop between riders within a bracket with a 7 point drop between the last rider of one bracket and the first rider of the next bracket. If the maximum is between 50 and 74 then the drops between riders and brackets are 2 and 5, respectively. The system begins the point assignment/calculation by using the judge assigned Beginning Point Reference then uses the correct point drops for each remaining rider for the balance of the class. If a judge elects to not put any riders in a given bracket then the system will still deduct that bracket's point drop.

Pattern Work and Segments
The pattern work will be divided into segments by the judges. Each segment has a maximum point value assigned to represent perfection. The judges have the option of either having each section total the same score or the judges, collectively, have a segment's score be decided by difficulty. During the workouts, the judge will be responsible for determining a point value representing their opinion of how close to perfection the rider executed the segment. A scribe will be available to record the judge's segment score as the rider executes the pattern. Overall impression is considered continuously throughout the workout. Each individual judge may devise their own method to decide how to score the patterns. One suggestion that can be used to build your own idea is to evaluate the rider upon entrance into the ring and throughout the first segment as to overall impression. If the impression is high, use the score of 7 as middle ground and work up and down from there in point assignments. If the impression is medium use a middle score of 5 and use a 3 if the impression is low, working up or down from there. This is based on a maximum score of 10 and would have to be adjusted for a segment with a different maximum score. Remember, an advanced rider can still score a 1 or 0 as well as a lower skilled rider. Ask yourself the question, "Could the segment have been done worse?" when considering using the score of 0 for a segment. There is no wrong or right way to score as long as it reflects your opinion. All segment scores are final when the last score is recorded for a given rider.

Riders coming back for Phase II
Once the judge's opinion is captured in SEN System for Phase I then the computer will determine the rider placing numerically for each judge. To enforce the percentages and the integrity that was originally intended by the UPHA, each riders overall score is weighed to represent 60% railwork and 40% workout. This is achieved by multiplying the railwork numerical score by 1.5 since the railwork and workout has the same maximum point value. These rider placings are then further calculated using the MOS System logic so any one judge can not have a disproportional impact on the final result of Phase I. It further preserves the intent of a judge to tie a rider into a placing although the same placing on another judge's card may have a considerably higher or lower score numerically. Upon completion of the MOS tabulation, the top 12 riders are automatically brought back for Phase II.

Phase II
Phase II is judged without consideration of the Phase I performance since all scores for Phase I have been recorded. The original railwork and workout scores are preserved so the integrity of the final result adheres to the UPHA intent of 1/3 railwork, 1/3 workout, and 1/3 phase II railwork. The Phase II railwork is judged just like the Phase I railwork using the brackets with the exception of not having the ability to indicate a tie for the first rider. With the completion of the final phase, all scores are accumulated to assign a placing of each rider for each judge. These placing are then further calculated again by the MOS System logic to arrive at the final result.

SEN System has preserved the intent of the UPHA to weigh each phase of the final per the rule book while capturing the opinion of the judges and how they arrived at the result. Riders will be able to see how the final unfolded to achieve the results as well as the areas of the final the judges felt they needed to improve upon. The computerization of the scoring system has allowed the equitation division to enforce their desired specifications that would be impossible to achieve otherwise by man with a pencil and paper under time constraints.