Who are you, and what is your statistics position?
I am Steve Ascher, 2017 president of the ASA New Jersey Chapter. I was vice president in 2011 and 2012, president in 2013 and 2014, and president in 2016 and 2017. I’ve been an ASA member for more than 40 years. I retired from Johnson & Johnson in May of 2016 after nearly 40 years as a professional statistician (five years teaching at Temple University, seven years at two contract research organizations, and 26 years for J&J). My last position at J&J was as senior director, managing a phase 4 statistics group.
Tell us about what you like to do for fun when you are not being a statistician.
I have many hobbies that keep me busy (baseball memorabilia, coins, Beatles). A relatively new one, compared to those mentioned above, is horse show announcing. Riders compete in various disciplines at shows and the announcer—in concert with the judge and in-gate person—is responsible for letting the judge know who is in the ring for what is called the “over fences classes” (i.e., riders individually negotiate a series of eight jumps in a specific order).
I would say, “Now in the ring is number 121, Bonnie Ascher riding Chance Encounter.” (Bonnie, my daughter, did ride a horse called Chance Encounter. She is now an equine veterinarian.)
In what is called the under-saddle class, where all the riders are in the ring together, the announcer on cue from the judge tells the riders what to do. For example, when the judge says, “Walk to me,” I then announce, “All riders are being judged at the walk; all walk please.” When the judge has the results, they are given to me and I will announce, “First place and our congratulations go to number 121 Bonnie Ascher, riding Chance Encounter.”
In a different category, called show jumping, horses enter the ring one at a time and negotiate a set course of jumps. In show jumping, there is no subjectivity, as horses receive four faults for each jump rail knocked down and time faults if they go over the allotted course time. The object is to get zero faults. My announcing in this competition also lets the judge know who is in the ring and then to announce the total faults for each rider as they complete the round. I then announce the final results.
Being behind the microphone gives me the opportunity to express myself in ways my friends and family would not necessarily recognize! I try to make it exciting for the riders and spectators. In some larger events, I am provided with Olympic-style music, which I play as background while I announce the results. It lends a majestic air to the event!
What drew you to this hobby, and what keeps you interested?
I was originally drawn to announcing when the regular announcer at the barn where my daughter rode was not available. I filled in and have been doing it ever since. This was a way to help at our barn (no pay) and keep me involved in the horse show beyond watching my daughter compete. Now that I am retired, I announce at several area shows and actually get paid for it!
Sitting next to judges has given me a new appreciation for how difficult the sport is. It also gives me the opportunity to watch a sport I love up close and personal. I plan to increase my horse show announcing career!
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