With their score sheets and pencils at the ready, young judges gathered in the Will Rogers Coliseum June 28 for the annual Youth World Show Horse Judging Contest, co-hosted by AjPHA and the Appaloosa Youth Association.
Evaluating both halter and performance classes, nearly 150 participants tried to match official judges’ placings as close as possible on their own cards. Then, they headed to the reasons room to defend their placings for specific classes.
“The American Paint Horse Association and the Appaloosa Horse Club recognize the importance of evens like these for our Youth members,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said. “It’s important for Youth to be educated on the rules of horse shows, as they are our future exhibitors, judges and leaders.”
The top five teams and top 10 individuals were recognized in both the Junior and Senior Divisions in four areas: halter, performance, reasons and overall. Prizes included ribbons, glass trophies, Gist Silversmiths trophy buckles and two $500 scholarships awarded to the high-point individuals overall. Winners included:
Junior Division
Halter Individual Champion: Rebecca Kennedy, Permian Basin
Halter Team Champion: Oklahoma Union 4-H
Performance Individual Champion: Tyler Arnod, Choteau
Performance Team Champion: Choteau Jr. Blue
Reasons Individual Champion: Connor Pell, Choteau Jr. Blue
Reasons Team Champion: Choteau Jr. Blue
Overall Individual Champion: Tyler Arnod, Choteau
Overall Team Champion: Choteau Jr. Blue—Connor Pell, Elizabeth Hokit, Emily Hokit, Karson Stomper
“This is my second year of judging. Winning this feels like I have accomplished everything I have been working for,” Tyler said.
Senior Division
Halter Individual Champion: Laura Ganvik, Illinois Leopard
Halter Team Champion: Illinois Leopard
Performance Individual Champion: Sydney Lemanski, Williamson County 4-H
Performance Team Champion: Williamson County 4-H
Reasons Individual Champion: Sydney Lemanski, Williamson County 4-H
Reasons Team Champion: Williamson County 4-H
Overall Individual Champion: Sydney Lemanski, Williamson County 4-H
Overall Team Champion: Wlliamson County 4-H—Sydney Lemanski, Lauren Bergman, Audrey Gibson, Rachel Scott
“It was great to have our hard work pay off and earn a little money for college,” Sydney said.
Special thanks goes to our contest horse providers and exhibitors: Carly and Wade Parks, Sandi Morgan and Kelsey Kefesjian, Heather Meyers and Haylee Schoonover, Sabine Lazo, Karen Banister and White Harvest Farms, Dale Sullens, Mary Gage, Jim and Sandy Jirkovsky, John Letham, Olivia Johnson, Michelle Connolly, John Hardin, Freddie Sanchez, Dave Archer, Elle Disselkoehn, Angela Pfister, Therese Pennington and Windermere Farms. Also appreciated are Contest Coordinator Lori Wunderlich and Reasons Room Coordinator Paul Roger, as well as all the volunteers, officials and staff that made the contest possible.
##
[Reprinting all or part of this news release is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provided back to apha.com.]
About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded. APHA creates and maintains programs that increase the value of American Paint Horses and enriches members’ experiences with their horses.