I judge 4-H and open shows and that is actually a normal rule for the 4-H groups that I am approved with. Some will even say no tabacco use on the show grounds. But I do love to hear judge horror stories....I always like hearing about judges taking a cell phone call in the ring...That stuff is crazy, how do they get jobs?
BOTH MY SISTER JILL AND I JUDGE 4H SHOWS, TOO. BUT WE'RE TOLD TO GO BY USEF RULES (FOR THE MOST PART) SO I WASN'T ACTUALLY AWARE THAT 4H HAD THE "NO TOBACKY" RULE, TOO! IN ALL MY YEARS AROUND THE SHOW CIRCUIT, I HAVEN'T SEEN A JUDGE USE A CELL PHONE WHILE JUDGING, BUT I'VE BEEN JUDGING AND HAD COMPETITORS' CELL PHONES RING... WHILE THEY'RE JUMPING A COURSE OR STANDING IN THE LINE-UP! I JUST WANT TO LOOK UP FROM THE JUDGE'S BOOTH AND YELL OUT, "HEY, DO YOU WANT TO STOP AND GET THAT?" WHICH IS WHY THERE'S NOW A USEF RULE AGAINST CELL PHONES COMING INTO THE ARENA.
I'm a trainer/riding instructor and I usually bring a a handfull of students with me when I show open, some as crew, others to compete. As a normal part of the show experience, we spend down-time between classes observing the judge and other competitors as a form of learning. More than once we've been quietly discussing a judge and what his/her expectations for the next class will be, and watched as said judge lights up a cigarette in the shade of the judges' booth or on the side of the restroom - so judges *are* doing it, at least occasionally. I myself do not smoke, but I will say that while it's tacky and bad form to smoke or chew tobacco while judging, I think that especially here in California, there are so many regulations about tobacco use (one city is currently considering legislation to ban smoking thought the entire city, INCLUDING inside personal residences), that the rules for it have passed the point where it's about public safety and are simply unnecessarily intrusive. I do understand banning tobacco use at 4H shows or youth-specific events, though.
I glad there are rules against Judges smoking if I was competing I wouldnt want to see a Judge with a Cigar, or Cigarette, dangling out of His/Her mouth while asking Me and My fellow competitors what sequences to do, not only is this gross but a Person with a Cigarette Cigar etc dangling out of their mouth are very hard to understand.