ShowBiz
Getting out of the buying and sell- top hunter divisions has been the new Advice to the young judges: “Don’t
ing business was, in part, a necessity Hunter Derby’s. The bonus points for stop learning,” is his first quick re-
of health issues with the New York the handiness in that round are going sponse. “You have to have a passion
winters. The eastern weather “made to revolutionize great hunters if we let for judging and not only as a job, but
me sick all the time,” says Artie in a it,” Artie continues. “Even though the as a part of your craft. Keep an open
candid moment. “Every winter I had very top horses are still on a pretty high mind and don’t worry about who won
recurring pneumonia and pleurisy, and level, it is not where it was 30-35 years yesterday, last week or the big class at
even though in 1965 I had two thirds ago with the bigger fences, more natu- the last show. Judge exactly what is in
of my lung removed, I still had prob- ral obstacles and the open gallops then. front of you and stay true to your own
lems off and on. At times I lost 80% With the majority of the numbers be- integrity.”
of my strength and was weak all the ing in the lower divisions, it has made He quickly adds, “Common sense are
time. So I decided to move to sunny the top lighter. In my opinion, it has two words missing in the rule book and
southern California in 1977!! you don’t see it too often
I have still had minor pneu- around the ring any-
monia three times in the more. There have been
last five years but this last so many different really
time around they gave me good judges, with great
a broad spectrum antibiotic backgrounds. When
and I have felt great.” you sat down to judge a
Artie is a text book men- class with Danny Lene-
tor when speaking about han, Victor Hugo-Vidal,
judging, where the industry Ronnie Mutch and Red
has been and where it is go- Fraiser, to name a few
ing. Asked a series of ques- of the old greats, there
tions, Artie is right to the was simply no question
point and has an interesting that the vision of the
vision and perspective on best was the same for all.
judging top horses. They were all of the same
“The best judges have mind as far as what was
plenty of background and know how taken away from the top prestige.” great, and no compromise ever! They
to keep an accurate and clear set of When asked how he would measure are all gone and are being replaced by
‘books’ for each class,” reflects Artie. himself as a judge: “I consider myself a group of different judges, some with
“When you sit and watch 45 and more one of the best or I wouldn’t still be do- a lack of hands on background. I don’t
in a class, without an accurate set of ing it after 53 years. I have been lucky know if that is good or bad, but that is
cards, it all falls apart 2-3 hours later and judged the Garden a dozen or so just the way things are.”
when it’s time to pin. It’s truly the only times, same with Devon, Medal Finals “Danny Lenehan was the most fun
thing that helps you separate the horses 8 times and then of course the top to judge with then. Not only were we
for the pin, especially now-a-days hold- rated Pony Final half a dozen times. on the same wave link with what our
ing 2-4 cards at a time.” Interestingly enough, it is not neces- ideal was, he was a guy with the great-
“The only one you are going to sat- sarily the very best horse that wins at est Irish humor and it made for an in-
isfy at the end of the day is yourself. times. He has to perform the best also, teresting time. Nowadays I would say
Be sure that, as a judge, when you look and get across the ground the best that that my favorites to judge with, given
yourself in the mirror that you are hap- day to be called back as the best. Same a choice, would be Jimmy Lee, Tom
py with what’s looking back. You can’t with the equitation, it’s not necessarily Brede and Brian Flynn. Their true to
make everyone happy, that’s for sure.” the ‘best’ rider that wins; it is the one ideal integrity is good to have beside
“The boom to the country for the that rides the best that day.” you at a show.”
Pg 84 - Judging 1984.
Pg 85 - Frank Flynn, Artie and Victor Hugo, 1970.
This Page - Hawkins Family...Brothers, Sister, Mom & Dad, 1940.
Opposite Page - #1 - Judging Madison Square Gardens Sally Sexton 1990; #2 - Air Force Okinawa 1953; #3 - Air Force 1952;
#4 - Judging Madison Square Garden Peggy Wynans 1978; #5 - Showing Springfield High School 1965; #6 - Judging Cow
Palace Don Burt and Jim Lee 1974; #7 - Mrs. Arthur Hawkins 4ft Appointment Class Madison Square Gardens 1954; #8 - Arthur
Hawkins, Rancho Santa Fe; #9 - Judging with Red Frazer MSG 1988; #10 - Arthur Hawkins; #11 - 1974 Royal Winter Fair
Canada Toronto; #12 - At Harrisburg High School Judging with Rodney Jenkins 1997; #13 - 1977. Four judging together in
Vermont, sister Norah, Artie, brother Steve, father Frank; #14 - Judging 1993 with Betty Oare at Madison Square Gardens.
Pg 88 - #15 - Hawkins with Frank Madden 2003; #16 - Judging with John Quirk 1980; #17 - Judging with Dan Lenehan in VA
1992; #18 - Hawkins with John Irvine Smith.
80
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