In my quest for that USDF judges card , I constantly am pursuing opportunities to learn (on the ground AND in the saddle). As I mentioned before, one of the ways I'm doing this is by scribing at dressage shows. A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to learn with a fantastic judge and experienced scribe. These two ladies offered some great guidance directly but I also learned by watching them together. One of the most important things I learned yesterday was how critical running on time is. As a "novice-novice," I was unclear on the rules regarding time and show scheduling. But it became abundantly clear that (a) I needed to read my rule book more than I thought I might and (b) I needed to carry a watch. Part of my job, I didn't realize, is to keep the judge on track and help the show run smoothly. This means I need to pay attention to more than just the judge's words. What I didn't realize is that part of the scribe's role ...