APHA hones horse judgers of the future at annual Judge Applicant Exam and Intercollegiate Judging Contest

Fort Worth, TX—Like any other knowledge-based skill, learning to judge horses takes practice. Each spring, the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) hosts their Intercollegiate Judging Contest and Judge Applicant Exam with the express purpose of providing future judgers the experience they need.

Held April 2, 2012, at Diamond W Arena in Alvarado, Texas, the dual-purpose event drew 175 aspiring collegiate horse judging contestants and 13 individuals testing to become APHA-approved judges. Collegiate judgers evaluated 11 live classes of registered American Paint Horses (Trail, Western pleasure, Western horsemanship, Western riding, Hunter under saddle, Hunt seat equitation, Reining, 2-year-old mares, 3-year-old & older mares, Yearling stallions and 3-year-old & older geldings), then presented four sets of oral reasons.

Additionally, APHA judge applicants evaluated 14 live classes with six horses each before returning to a classroom setting to judge nine filmed classes. Applicant testing also included a closed rule book test and an interview with the Judges Committee . Thirteen applicants tested; 11 were approved as Temporary Status judges. They are:

· John Anderson – Broomfield, Colorado
· Jennifer Cignoni – Scottsdale, Arizona
· Lynda Danielson – Streator, Illinois
· Kevin Ester – Laurens, South Carolina
· Brad Kearns – Grayslake, Illinois
· Lisa Ligon – Gainesville, Texas
· Jill Paxton – Johnson, Iowa
· Mark Russell – Beebe, Arkansas
· Pamela Miner Scott – Clermont, Florida
· Terry Thompson – Aubrey, Texas
· Betsy Tuckey – Liberty, Kentucky

“The collegiate judging contest is a great way for APHA to reach out to future judges in our industry and give the college students their first experience at a large contest. All of the great APHA members who provide horses for us also make it a great showcase for our American Paint Horse,” stated AjPHA Director of Youth Activities Shelly deBarbanson.

Longtime APHA Corporate Sponsor Hart Trailers, represented by Tracy Hart, presented $500 scholarships to the highest placing individual in both the Senior and Junior collegiate divisions. The recipient from the Senior college group was Kortney Bahem of Colorado State University; while the recipient from the Junior college was Sarah Simpson of Black Hawk College.

The contest would not have been possible without the following APHA supporters who shared their horses, their knowledge and their time: Ed Bader, Ray Barton, Pat Burton, Bobby Cox, Kelley Deignan-Stone, Delena & Clay Doyle, Sarah Hall, Rebecca Halvorson, Jessica Hein, Louis Hufnagel, Chris Jeter, Jackie Kennon, Josh Larman, Kristen Layher, Mike McMillian, Colt Miller, Tom Neel, Jeremiah Peek, James Saubolle, Chris Schoeneberg, Sara Simons, Garrett Skinner, Jennifer Sovocool, Becky Terrell, Bruce Walquist, Allen Walton, Wade Watkins and Earnest Wilson.

Intercollegiate Judging Contest Results

SENIOR COLLEGE – HALTER HIGH INDIVIDUAL

JUNIOR COLLEGE – HALTER HIGH INDIVIDUAL

1 – Kortney Bahem: Colorado State University

1 – Ashley Davis: Black Hawk College

2 – Monica Madsen: Iowa State University

2 – Sarah Simpson: Black Hawk College

3 – Jenny Vaughn: Middle Tennessee State University

3 – Taylor Hadden: Laramie County Community College

SENIOR COLLEGE – PERFORMANCE HIGH INDIVIDUAL

JUNIOR COLLEGE – PERFORMANCE HIGH INDIVIDUAL

1 – Melissa Kieser: Kansas State University

1 – Amanda Sonnenberg: Black Hawk College

2 – Courtney Stevens: Middle Tennessee State University

2 – Sarah Simpson: Black Hawk College

3 – Erica Jacquay: Virginia Tech

3 – Jodi Reed: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M

SENIOR COLLEGE – HIGH INDIVIDUAL REASONS

JUNIOR COLLEGE – HIGH INDIVIDUAL REASONS

1 – Kortney Bahem: Colorado State University

1 – Sarah Simpson: Black Hawk College

2 – Monica Madsen: Iowa State University

2 – Morgan Gadd: Black Hawk College

3 – Shannon Merala: Cal Poly

3 – Sarah Schobert: Black Hawk College

SENIOR COLLEGE – HIGH INDIVIDUAL OVERALL

JUNIOR COLLEGE – HIGH INDIVIDUAL OVERALL

1 – Kortney Bahem: Colorado State University

1 – Sarah Simpson: Black Hawk College

2 – Melissa Kieser: Kansas State University

2 – Ashley Davis: Black Hawk College

3 – Courtney Stevens: Middle Tennessee State University

3 – Jodi Reed: Northeastern Oklahoma A&M

SENIOR COLLEGE – TEAM OVERALL

JUNIOR COLLEGE – TEAM OVERALL

1 – Middle Tennessee State University

1 – Black Hawk College

Team: Courtney Stevens, Kelli Woodell,

Jessica Moore, Kaylee Leydens,

Jenny Vaughn

Team: Amanda Sonnenberg, Sarah Simpson,

Carrie Sumerville, Morgan Gadd

Coach: Dave Whitaker

Coach: Aaron Callahan

2 – Colorado State University

2 – Black Hawk College

Team: Kelsey Tosnay, Taylor Randall,

Callie Knight, Kortney Bahem,

Meghin Kiernan

Team: Sarah Schobert, Austin Scholl,

Ashley Davis, Josh Clevenger

Coach: David Denniston

Coach: Aaron Callahan

3 – Kansas State University

3 – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M

Team: Jessica Grinstead, Melissa Kieser,

Bobbi Ann Shanks, Amanda Parks,

Darcy Reeve

Team: Katie Jordan, Megan Larue,

Delayna Fitzgerald, Jodi Reed

Coach: Kristi Wright-Burton

Coach: Shannon Cunningham

About the American Paint Horse Association

The American Paint Horse Association (APHA), the international breed registry for the American Paint Horse headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. In fulfillment of its mission to collect, record and preserve pedigrees of the breed, APHA recognizes and supports 111 regional and international clubs, produces championship shows, sponsors trail rides and creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses. APHA has registered more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded, and now serves over 64,000 active youth and adult members around the world.

For more information about APHA and how to get involved, visit apha.com or call (817) 834-2742.