College students around the nation put judging skills
to the test at APHA Intercollegiate Spring Sweepstakes

FORT WORTH, Texas—The American Paint Horse Association ( APHA) hosted 139 students from 22 universities and junior colleges around the nation for the 2005 APHA Intercollegiate Horse Judging Spring Sweepstakes, held April 26 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center’s John Justin Arena, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Colorado State University captured the overall senior college team title with team members, from left, Dana Alexander, Megan Wagner, Will French, Jenna Johnson and Katie Johnson. Hirez TIFF (6.05 mb) Hirez JPEG (1.27 mb)

In addition, nearly 20 people put their judging skills to the test in hopes of becoming professional APHA judges. Their exam took place in conjunction with the collegiate competition. This was the second year that professional judging hopefuls were involved in the program.

High team and high individual winners
The Senior College High Team Overall winner was Colorado State University, located in Fort Collins, Colorado. Team members included Dana Alexander, Katie Johnson, Jenna Johnson, Will French, Megan Wagner and Coach Dave Denniston.

The Senior College High Individual winner was Kendra Baehler of Oklahoma State University, located in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

The Junior College High Team Overall winner was Clarendon College, located in Clarendon, Texas. Team members included Caitlin Mize, Amy Northcutt, Jonathan Spreng, Elizabeth Voskamp and Coach Leslie Stoker.

The Junior College High Individual winner was Colby Cunningham of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, located in Miami, Oklahoma.

Competition is an APHA education outreach program for judges
APHA introduced the collegiate judging competition five years ago to help students gain first-hand experience in using the knowledge they’ve obtained in the classroom to judge horses in the show ring. The event has been sponsored annually by Hart Trailers of Chickasha, Oklahoma.

The college students judged several horse show classes that are typically included in equine competition. These included halter classes, where horses were judged on their physical appearance and structure, and several performance classes—Trail, Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Western Horsemanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation and Hunter Hack. Roping classes were also judged. In all, about 90 horses were judged. Several APHA members generously donated the use of those horses for the competition.

“As a major horse breed organization that sanctions more than 1,250 shows around the world every year, we want to ensure that top-quality, well-trained horse judges are always available,” said Tina Anderson, Ph. D., APHA director of shows.

“Through this educational outreach program with colleges around the nation, we want to help students gain practical skills that will complement their classroom instruction. It also gives students the opportunity to judge and view some of the top horses in our breed.”

Anderson explained that students actually compete against one another at the yearly event and are themselves judged by APHA officials on their ability to evaluate the equine classes. Scores are based on how closely a student’s placing of horses matches that of an APHA judging official’s scoring. Students are also critiqued on the oral arguments they presented in support of their placement decisions.

At a dinner reception, held on the evening of April 26 at APHA’s headquarters in Fort Worth, awards were presented to the top individuals and top junior and senior college teams.

Earning the top team honors for Clarendon College in the junior college division were, from left, Caitlin Mize, Jonathan Spreng, Amy Northcutt, and Elizabeth Voskamp. Hirez TIFF (6.04 mb) Hirez JPEG (1.27 mb)

The top 10 senior college high individual placings and winners, included, back row from left: 1 st Kendra Baehler of Oklahoma State University, 2 nd Sarah McKee of Middle Tennessee State University, 3 rd Megan Wagner of Colorado State University, 4 th Katie Johnson of Colorado State University, 5 th Erin Peery of the University of Nebraska. Front row from left: 6 th Paula Gambill of Middle Tennessee State University, 7 th Jessica Lucia of Texas A&M University, 8 th Jayme Perrett of Kansas State University, 9 th Daniel Barnett of Texas A&M University, and 10 th Nate Iliff of Kansas State University. Hirez TIFF (6.04 mb) Hirez JPEG (1.35 mb)

The top 10 junior college high individual placings and winners, included, back row from left: 1 st Colby Cunningham of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, 2 nd Kindra Gradert of Black Hawk College, 3 rd Amy Northcutt of Clarendon College, 4 th Johnathan Spreng of Clarendon College, 5 th Rene Thayer of Black Hawk College. Front row from left: 6 th Holly Turne of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, 7 th Allen Willis of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, 8 th Caitlin Mize of Clarendon College, 9 th Katie Hambley of Black Hawk College, and 10 th Elizabeth Voskamp of Clarendon College. Hirez TIFF (6.04 mb) Hirez JPEG (1.18 mb)

Students from 22 colleges and universities competed in the APHA Intercollegiate Horse Judging Spring Sweepstakes. This was the fifth year the association hosted the competition. Hirez TIFF (6.05 mb) Hirez JPEG (1.35 mb)

Participating universities and junior colleges included:

Universities
Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan.
Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss.
New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla.
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
University of Georgia, Athens, Ga.
University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.
University of Wisconsin, River Falls, Wisc.