Arabian Nationals horse judging contest results in big successes for Michigan teams
Print
EmailThe Michigan State University and Michigan 4-H horse judging teams took home big wins at the 2019 Arabian Horse Youth Association Horse Judging Content.
The results are in for the 49th annual Arabian Horse Judging Contest hosted at the 2019 U.S. National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show Oct. 25-26, 2019, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Arabian Horse Association awarded $9,250 to winners from all contest divisions. Twenty-six teams and over 100 individuals participated at the Arabian Horse Youth Association Horse Judging Contest for their chance at a national title.
The youth were asked to judge six performance classes, four halter classes including half-Arabians and purebreds, and present four sets of oral reasons to contest officials. The classes judged included showmanship, hunter pleasure, western pleasure, ranch riding, country English pleasure, horsemanship, purebred geldings, half-Arabian geldings, half- Arabian mares and purebred mares. Check out this Michigan State University Extension article on how to judge Arabian horses at halter if you’re interested in seeing what the teams were evaluating.
Representing Michigan 4-H Horse Programs were teams from Cass County 4-H and St. Clair County 4-H. Cass County team members were Amy Wyse, Mikayla Tice, Eve Heintzberger and Emily Luthringer. St. Clair County team members were Carrie Brown, Breanna Ngow, Madilyn Morris and Cora Rood. Both teams experienced success and represented Michigan 4-H Horse Programs beautifully. The team from Cass County 4-H took home champion 4-H/FFA team overall!
Additionally, the Cass County 4-H team was awarded second in halter and first in reasons. The St. Clair County 4-H team received fifth place in halter, fourth place in performance and fifth place team overall. As the champion team overall, the Cass County 4-H team members were awarded custom Montana Silversmiths belt buckles, the coveted champion trophy and $250 scholarships for each team member.
Michigan 4-Hers also received many individual awards. Wyse earned herself a $500 scholarship by being named the reserve high individual overall in the 4-H/FFA division. Wyse was also seventh in halter, fourth in performance and first in reasons. Tice was sixth in halter, eighth in reasons and seventh overall. Heintzberger was eighth individual in halter and Morris was second high individual in performance.
Not to be outdone, the MSU Horse Judging Team went home with top honors in the senior division. The team members, coached by Taylor Fabus, consisted of McKenna Bowen, Alyssa Hawkins, Ashley Phillips, Amber Roberson and Lindsay Smith. The team took home reserve senior team overall, third in team halter, second in team performance and champion team in reasons.
Many team members were also awarded individual prizes. Bowen was tenth in halter, second in performance, first in reasons and high individual overall in the senior collegiate division. Roberson was first in halter, third in reasons and fifth overall. Hawkins was sixth in performance and tenth overall. Smith was sixth in reasons and Phillips was ninth in performance. As high individual overall, Bowen received a $750 scholarship and a champion jacket from The Hat Lady. As the reserve team overall, the Spartans were awarded custom Montana Silversmiths belt buckles.
In each of these divisions, the rankings were separated by very few points, many were separated using tiebreakers, and all the contestants represented their states with pride. Michigan certainly had a lot to be proud of and many successes to celebrate!
Congratulations to all of the teams and participants. Complete results can be found at 2019 Arabian Horse Judging Contest Results.
Interested in starting a 4-H horse judging team? Check out this great MSU Extension article on how to start a 4-H horse judging team to start the process. Not sure what the benefits of horse judging may be? We’ve got an article for that too, “Horse judging is equal opportunity for all.”
The Arabian Horse Association is an equine association serving more than 85,000 Arabian, half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horse owners across North America. The Arabian Horse Association registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. The Arabian Horse Association produces five national horse championship events yearly and recognizes over 344 Arabian local and regional horse shows and distance rides. The Arabian Horse Association promotes the Arabian breed and ownership through educational and outreach program.
