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Youth and collegiate teams take home awards in APHA HorseIQ World Championship Judging Contest

By Mary Cage

With classes ranging from Western riding and hunter under saddle to a variety of halter classes, the knowledge and skills of young judges were put to the test September 20 during the APHA HorseIQ World Championship Judging Contest, held in the Watt Arena in conjunction with the APHA Open/Amateur World Championship Show. Featuring both collegiate (junior and senior) and youth (18 & under) divisions, the contest presented both team and individual awards in halter, performance, reasons and overall.

Black Hawk College Team A took home the top spot in collegiate teams overall, receiving Gist Silversmith trophy buckles. The overall top youth team, also receiving Gist Silversmith trophy buckles, was Hunt County 4-H. The reserve high-point teams—Oklahoma State University Team 1 in the collegiate division and Chouteau Horse Team in the youth division—were each awarded jackets.

The high-point individuals—in the collegiate division, Aubrey Bennett from Black Hawk College and, in the youth division, Hannah McLochlin from Indie Okie Youth Team—each took home trophy Yeti coolers. The reserve high-point individuals—in the collegiate division, Baily Summers from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and, in the youth division, Clayton Elbel from Comal County 4-H—were awarded leather binders.

This contest was the first leg of a new three-tiered Horse Judging Team award, designed to honor junior and senior collegiate horse judging teams that win first place at the three “jewels” of horse judging—the APHA World Championship Show, the All American Quarter Horse Congress and the Lucas Oil AQHA World Championship Show collegiate horse judging contests—in a single year. Earning a win at any of these contests is a great accomplishment, but taking home the championship at all three contests is an outstanding feat of judging prowess that APHA and AQHA want to reward.

Along with recognition, the award includes scholarship prizes to the senior and/or junior collegiate teams that capture all three titles. The winning team will be presented their award following the Lucas Oil AQHA World Championship Show contest.

Thank you to all horse providers and volunteers who helped make this contest possible by donating their time and talent. A special thanks to Julie Voge for her coordination of this event.

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[Reprinting all of part of this story is permitted, so long as credit is given to the Paint Horse Journal and a link provide 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 promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.

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