FORT WORTH, TEXAS—The American Paint Horse Association will host an innovative Educational Judges Academy, in cooperation with North Carolina State University, from Feb. 23–26 in Raleigh, N.C. This unique program is designed for anyone interested in learning more about the judging process.

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“This Academy provides a wealth of knowledge and anyone attending will benefit,” said Candy Cain, APHA’s director of judges. “Our Academy provides the perfect opportunity to learn about the judging process, whether you are an exhibitor, trainer or aspiring judge. It is also a great venue for current judges to brush up on some of the disciplines.

APHA’s Educational Judges Academies, which are held twice a year at different locations, also offer a day devoted to judging cattle classes, including working cow horse and roping events.

An ongoing educational outreach program, the APHA Educational Judges Academy has become critical to ensuring the availability of top-quality judges for the show ring. With more than 1,200 APHA-approved shows around the world, drawing nearly 450,000 entries, the need for quality judges continues to increase.

At the Academies, current APHA-approved judges and qualified industry specialists present the curriculum in a classroom setting. Sessions include discussions on judging procedures for a wide range of disciplines.

The presenters for the Raleigh Academy include:

• Butch Carse, APHA’s Judge Improvement Program liaison from Davenport, Fla., has been an APHA judge since 1981.
• Patti Carter of St. George, Ontario, Canada, has been an APHA judge since 2000.
• Kelly Boles Chapman of Bellevue, Mich., has been an APHA judge since 1998.
• Charlie Cole, a trainer from Pilot Point, Texas, has been an APHA judge since 1997.
• Tim Finkenbinder, a trainer from Collinsville, Texas, has been an APHA judge since 2000.
• Bonnie Miller of Sodus, New York, has been an APHA judge since 1987.
• Robbie Schroeder is a roping horse trainer from Gainesville, Texas.
• Andrea Simons, a trainer and breeder from Aubrey, Texas, has been an APHA judge since 1977.

For more-detailed biographies on the presenters, visit apha.com/judges/seminars.

“We truly appreciate North Carolina State University for its support in hosting the Academy,” Cain said. 

How to participate
Judges, potential judges, exhibitors, owners or anyone else interested in learning more about the judging process are welcome to attend. To register or learn more about the process of becoming a judge, call Candy Cain at (817) 222-6416, or e-mail ccain@apha.com . Downloadable registration forms are also available at apha.com/judges/seminars. APHA will accept registrations until the 75-attendee limit is reached. The cost is $250 per person for the core curriculum and $100 for the cattle class seminars.

APHA’s mission
While APHA has grown tremendously over its 43-year history, it continues to follow the original mission established by its early founders. That mission is to:

• Collect, record and preserve the pedigrees of American Paint Horses
• Oversee matters related to breeding and exhibition of those horses
• Create and maintain innovative programs that
  • Increase the value of Paints
  • Enrich members’ experiences with their horses
• Promote Paints and preserve their history