Horse Judging

• Stimulate learning in equine science and agricultural industry.
• Youth develop positive interests and attitudes about equine evaluation, animal science and related careers.
• Youth gain a base of knowledge of equine projects.
• Youth will utilize skills and abilities to solve everyday situations.
• Youth gain valuable producer experience.
• Reward 4-H members for knowledge gained in a subject matter area.
• Provide a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail.
• Participants will process information, analyze complex scenarios and make informed decisions based on breed association rules and apply those rules to difficult decisions.
• Youth develop teamwork, self-confidence, public speaking and decision-making skills.
• An increased number of participants seek higher education opportunities and careers related to animal and equine science.

• Contestants must be enrolled in North Dakota 4-H (4honline) as a full-time member in the county they represent. Short-term 4-H members are not eligible to compete at the state level.
• Counties may enter any number of participates in either age division without specifying a specific “team.” The high three individual scores from all individuals entered will determine the overall team score.
• All participants are eligible for individual awards.
• Counties may combine to form a team provided neither county has more than two participants. Combination teams must preregister together for the appropriate age group. A team of three may not pick up a fourth member from another county.
  • Counties and coaches from teams must approve combining of individuals for a team.
• Contestants in the senior division must be 14 to 18 years as of Dec. 31. The junior division is for members 8 to 13 years of age as of Dec. 31.
• While the contest is in progress, no conferring shall occur between contestants or anyone else other than the contest superintendents, group leaders or their representative. Fifty points will be deducted from the total score for each talking infraction reported.
• Individuals with disabilities are invited to request reasonable accommodations to participate in NDSU-sponsored programs and events. To request accommodations, please contact Samantha Lahman at 701-231-6658 or samantha.lahman@ndsu.edu two weeks prior to the contest to make arrangements.
• 4-H members are not eligible for this contest if:
  • They have judged at the national 4-H horse judging contest in Louisville, Ky., or Denver
  • They have participated in official post-secondary (university, college, junior college or technical school) competitive events of a similar nature in the same subject matter area. Neither can they be members of a post-secondary team undergoing training in preparation for an event.

Each age division is considered a separate contest, and youth may enter one of the following divisions:

• Junior 4-H division: Youth 8 years of age before Sept. 1, to age 13 as of Dec. 31.
• Senior 4-H division: Youth ages 14 to 18 as of Dec. 31, and enrolled in North Dakota 4-H as a full-time 4-H member (not a short-term member)
• Open division: Participants ages 8 to 18 not eligible for 4-H divisions. 4-H/FFA dual members choosing to judge only in the state FFA horse judging contest this year may enter this division. Individuals from another state are welcome to enter this division.
  • The senior first-place team overall in the state 4-H horse judging contest has the option to represent North Dakota at the Western National Roundup contest in Denver, Colo. The team is awarded $1,000 from the North Dakota 4-H Foundation to help with travel expenses. Contestants already must have passed their 14th birthday and may not have reached their 19th birthday as of Jan. 1 of the year in which the national 4-H competitive event is held. However, the state 4-H leader may grant a special authorization to compete for youth with developmental disabilities who exceed the upper age limit.
    • To request funding for the national 4-H horse judging contest .The Extension agent in the county of the representative team will need to write a formal letter to the North Dakota 4-H Foundation ndsu.nd4hfoundation@ndsu.edu and copy the state 4-H animal science specialist at samantha.lahman@ndsu.edu on the email as well. Request funds for $1,000. Include: who the 4-H Foundation should write the check to, where to mail the check, the names of those competing on the team, and the name and date of the national event.

County agents and coaches are responsible for determining the age and member eligibility of participants in the state 4-H horse judging contest from their respective clubs.

Participants shall follow the 4-H dress code: 4-H members must be dressed neatly and wear a solid white, yellow, gray or green shirt with the 4-H emblem on the front. County names or other affiliation should not be worn at the state contest to avoid bias. The clover may be imprinted, screened or attached with an adhesive (if clovers are pinned to the shirt, use multiple pins and place pins discreetly underneath the chevron). Failure to comply will result in the deduction of 50 points from the individual or team score. 4-H members are asked to stay in official dress until completion of awards.

4-H Western National Roundup rules will apply. Local managers may modify rules and procedures as needed to conduct the event in the allowed time.

• A coaches meeting may be held on Friday night before the contest. If a meeting is held, the program will be explained and contest instructions will be given. Coaches/agents should be prepared to check names, addresses and ages of their contestants. Substitutions/changes may be made at this time or at registration the day of the contest. If no meeting is held, changes can be made at check-in for the contest.
• A $12* registration fee will be charged to cover the cost of the scantrons, awards and lunch. Lunch for coaches/others is $10* (subject to change based on expenses).
• No electronic devices (phones, tablets, computers, etc.) will be allowed during the contest.
• Two minutes will be provided for each profile view (sides, front and hind) and close inspection.
• The horses/riders/handlers will be designated by numbers 1-2-3-4.
• Contestants should make their observations, take notes and fill out their scantron during the time allowed because reasons classes will not be announced prior to the start of the contest.
• All tack and attire will be considered legal providing it is used properly.
  • For example, a rider riding with two hands on a shanked bit is not using the tack properly, which will result in disqualification.
• In halter classes, all horses will be considered and judged as “sound.”
• Scantrons will be used for the entire contest.
• Contestants must bring their own No. 2 pencils, clipboards or judging books.
• Each individual junior/senior will receive one scantron to record that individual’s placings.
• Team/individuals are responsible for ensuring their scantron is filled out properly. This includes:
  • Making sure erased bubbles on the scantron are erased well so the scanner does not pick up a double-marked answer.
  • Scantron bubbles are filled in neatly and dark enough for the scanner to read the bubble correctly.
  • Scantrons will not be evaluated or checked for inaccuracy do to the contestants’ error.
  • Please make sure to double-check the scantrons before handing in the scantrons. Once they are handed in, they will not be returned for any reason.
• Contestants will not be prohibited from using pre-printed materials during the contest, including rulebooks, judging manuals and score sheets.
• Oral reasons will be given at the NDSU Equine Center campus. Two minutes are allowed for oral reasons. Contestants should not have paper, cards or notes to assist while giving reasons.
• Contest superintendents reserve the right to replace one or more classes with original, professionally produced video classes in the event weather or other emergencies mean having the minimum number of live classes required for the contest is impossible.
• All decisions of the official judges are final.

• Juniors – will judge two to four halter classes and two to four performance classes, and give one to two halter oral reasons and one to two performance class reasons.
• Seniors – will judge two to four halter classes and two to four performance classes and give one to two halter oral reasons and one to three performance class reasons.
• Judging phase – 50 points per class
  • Contest classes will depend on the availability of horses, riders and the schedule of the day.
    • A scantron will be used to place classes. An example for practice can be found on the ND 4-H Horse Events webpage.
    • At least two but not more than four halter classes will be judged. Efforts will be made to provide a variety of breeds in halter classes.
    • At least two but not more than four performance classes will be judged. The performance classes will include at least one of the following: Western Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation, Trail, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Reining and/or Ranch Riding.
    • Officials reserve the right to excuse any horse from a class if they deem it lame. In the event, the excused horse should be placed last on the contestant’s card. The remainder of the class will continue to be judged once the lame horse has exited the arena.
    • A minimum of two minutes will be allowed for contestants to judge each profile view of a halter horse. Performance classes will allow for the appropriate time in each gait for contestants to see each horse at least once.
• Reasons phase – 50 points per set
  • Two minutes are allowed for oral reasons. Contestants should not have paper, cards or notes to assist while giving reasons. Reading notes to a reasons taker will result in a score no higher than 25 points. Reasons are evaluated on content, accuracy, emphasis, completeness, terminology and presentation. Classes for reasons will be determined by officials. Contestants should assume that any class during the contest is a possible reasons class.
    • Oral reasons will be required on at least one halter class.
    • Oral reasons will be required on at least one performance class.

Priority order for breaking ties:

1. If tied for a division award in Halter or Performance, the contestant or team having the highest reasons score in that division will be listed first.
2. If tied for an award in reasons, the contestant or team having the highest placing score on the reasons classes will be listed first.
3. If tied for an individual or team overall award, the contestant or team having the highest overall reasons score shall be listed first.
4. If still tied for 1 or 3 above, the contestant or team having the highest score in placing reasons classes shall be listed first.
5. If still tied, the contestant or team with the highest overall placing score will be listed first.
6. If still tied, the contestant or team with the highest single class reasons score will be listed first.
7. If contestants still are tied from above, the youngest contestant or team shall be listed first.

Cuts, as specified in the NHJTCA Handbook:

1. Horses are extremely similar; no obvious reason why one should be placed over the other; or both horses have numerous faults and none supersedes the others; placing is strictly a matter of personal preference; placing varies among official judges – will result in a small cut (0 to 2).
2. Horses are very close, but one horse has one or two qualitative or quantitative advantages; the majority of official judges would not switch the pair, but half of the contestants logically could switch the pair – will result in a small to medium cut (1 to 2).
3. Horses are of unequal quality, but a logical placing exists in favor of one horse; one horse has several faults or several advantages; all official judges would agree on the placing; no more than one third of contestants would be expected to switch the pair – will result in a medium cut (3 to 4).
4. Horses are not of similar quality; one horse has several decided advantages based on many points; all experts would see the placing quickly; no guesswork or personal preference is required to make a placing; no more than 10% of contestants would be expected to switch the pair – will result in a larger cut (4 to 5).
5. A large number of extreme differences exist between the horses; placing is obvious to everyone on a first, quick observation; careful study is not required for the placing; pair consists of an inferior horse vs. a consistent winner; only very inexperienced, uninformed contestants would switch the pair – will result in a large cut (4 to 6).
6. A horse is not even comparable; differences reflective of a champion-quality horse or performance vs. a horse or performance that is not of show quality – will result in a large cut (5 to 6).
7. Largest cut; differences reflective of a world-class halter horse vs. an extremely poor-quality or lame horse; or a world-class performance vs. a disqualified performance – largest cut (7).
8. The total of the three cuts for a class of four animals shall not exceed 15 or a negative score may result. The middle cut may never exceed 5 points when the cuts add to 15 or exceed 8 points when the cuts add to 14 or a negative score may result. An understanding of how placings are tabulated should benefit the youth judge, coach, parent, 4-H leader, teacher, volunteer and Extension agent.

1. Senior and junior 4-H division participants are eligible for the following awards:

• a. Individual ribbon awards for the top 10 individuals and top three teams overall
• b. Awards for the five high individuals in each judging phase and reasons
• c. Ribbons will be awarded to approximately the top 30% to 50% of the participants, depending on the amount of participants entered in the contest.

2. Open division participants are eligible for the following awards:
a. FFA will provide awards to FFA participants

Results will be posted on JudgingCard.com under the name of this contest.

• Individuals competing in the state 4-H horse judging contest should come prepared with a No. 2 pencil for all phases of the contest. Scranton forms will be utilized for the contest.
• Individuals should have a notebook for the judging portion of the contest to take notes and prepare for oral reasons.
• Score sheets and/or rulebooks may be used at any time during the judging portion of the contest.

To provide a rewarding experience for our youth, volunteers are key to the successful operation and efficiency of each contest. If you would like to serve as an official during the state 4-H horse judging contest, please send an email to LeighAnn.Skurupey@ndsu.edu.

Superintendent(s): The superintendent oversees all aspects of the contest; assists contestants and other officials; arranges for qualified judges; publicizes the contest; ensures the rules are updated; arranges for and selects animals for classes; secures other officials, supplies and paperwork to run the contest efficiently; establishes the contest on Judgincard.com and develops the contest within the system; introduces the contests and ensures the PA system is working; works to ensure results, reasons and classes are being conducted in a professional and timely manner; and assists in presenting and posting awards.

Moderator(s): The moderator should be knowledgeable in horse judging procedures, guidelines and regulations. The moderator assumes complete direction of the contest (also may be the superintendent), calls the rotation of the animals and the participants during the judging phase, and gathers the official placings and cuts for tabulation.

Judge(s): A judge can be anyone with a strong background in horse judging. Classes will be placed in accordance with the rules of the respective breed association rules. The judges will make informed decisions on the official placing for each class. Along with the moderator, they will come to an agreement on official cuts based on the difficulty or ease of placing each class. The judges may or may not be used as reasons takers. Judges should give reasons for the class placings and official placings/cuts after the contest is complete and before the awards ceremony.

Timekeeper: The timekeeper will monitor the elapsed time for each timed rotation of profile views of a horse, allowing two minutes for each view/close inspection to be judged, and giving adequate time for each rotation to settle in prior to starting the time clock after each rotation.

Reasons taker(s): The reasons taker is an industry professional knowledgeable about horses. Reasons takers listen to each participant to evaluate the content, accuracy, emphasis, completeness, terminology and presentation for each class. Reasons takers should make their best effort to score consistently throughout the contest. If more than one reasons taker is used for a class, reasons takers will listen to the first three sets together and collectively score them to make every attempt to maintain uniformity. Reasons takers should be on the same page when participants read off their notes (highest score allowed being 25 points).

Horse handlers: They assist with handling/riding horses. They help lead, groom, tack or hold horses if needed.

Group leaders: They are volunteers, coaches, chaperones or agents who assist with leading each group of contestants during the rotation of classes. They are responsible for collecting cards from each participant when the class is complete. They are the only individuals who participants are allowed to talk to during the judging portion of the contest. Group leaders help ensure participants are not talking among themselves and report illegal behavior (cellphones, talking, cheating, etc.) to the superintendent or moderator.

Tabulators: They collect reasons cards and scantrons. They also help input reasons scores into the JudgingCard.com system and double-check the top 10 individuals for each category.

Reasons room advisers: They help ensure that participants are not talking to each other and the volume of voices is held at an appropriate level for contestants to work and respect each other. They also ensure that participants are not conversing with each other.

Hallway advisers: They are beneficial in helping participants find their way to their respective reasons rooms. Hallway advisers also ensure that participants are not conversing with each other.

Extra volunteers: They help with assembling and passing out lunch. They also may help with registration desk and may run scorecards and reasons cards to the tabulation room.

American Paint Horse Association – HorseIQ

• APHA members $6.99 per month
• Non-APHA members $9.99 per month

Designed for anyone who wants to learn more about how horse show classes are judged and how to improve their own performances based on judging standards, Horse IQ is perfect for exhibitors of all ages, trainers, parents, judges, competitive horse judging teams and more. Joining Horse IQ is easy and gives you on-demand access to hundreds of video clips and judging criteria at the click of a button. Subscription fees start at $6.99 per month for APHA members or $9.99 per month for nonmembers. Join now at aphahorseiq.com.

American Quarter Horse University

The American Quarter Horse University is the place where that community comes to life online with the resources, tools and educational opportunities you need to elevate the relationship you share with your horses. The American Quarter Horse University has something for everyone. Your courses are available at any time from any location with the internet. You can reference materials as often as needed and tackle the course at your own pace. Each educational class is $250. www.aqhuniversity.com

Judging101.com – $45/year -

DVD Practice

• University of Florida – Contact Saundra TenBroeck: sht@ufl.edu
• 2012 AQHA World Championship Horse Judging Contest DVD - $30
• Kansas State University DVDs
  • Judging Hunter Hack - $27.95
  • Judging Trail DVD - $27.95
  • Oral Reasons - $23
• HorseShowPatterns.com
  • Conformation – Part I - $32.50
  • Horse Show Pattern Judging Part I - $27.50
  • Horse Show Pattern Judging Part II - $27.50
  • Western Riding and Trail – Part II
  • Showmanship, Western Horsemanship and Hunt Seat Equitation – Part I
• AQHA Showing to Win series - gear/DVDs
  • Showmanship - $24.95
  • Trail - $24.95
  • Western Pleasure - $24.95
  • Western Horsemanship - $24.95
• National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association (NHJTCA)
  • Contact Aaron Callahan at Black Hawk College, callahana@bhc.edu
• 2012 World Show - $50 (same as the University of Florida DVD; we produced this)
  • 2010 World show - $50 *new*
  • 2008 World Show - $50
  • 2007 World Show (halter only) - $20
  • 2006 AJPHA Contest - $40
  • 2006 World Show - $40
  • 2005 World Show (halter only) - $20
  • 2004 World Show - $40
  • 2002 World Show - $40
• Oklahoma State University Oral Reasons
  • Developing Oral Reasons - $60 - Steven.Cooper@okstate.edu
• Jon Wolf’s Horse Judging Series DVDs
  • Several DVDs to choose from for all classes, including reasons and how to coach DVDs:
    • DVD 1 - Halter Judging for Coaches and Beginner Judges - $49.95
    • DVD 2 - Halter Judging for Coaches and Intermediate Judges - $49.95
    • DVD 3 - Halter Judging for Coaches and Advanced Judges - $49.95
      • DVDs 1, 2 and 3 include: Coaches' Corner, Contestant Tips, a class of quarter horse mares and a class of quarter horse or stock-type geldings, plus 10 questions/answers and a set of oral reasons on each class.
    • DVD 4 - Decisions (two-disc set) - $49.95
      • DVD 4 is a two-disc set titled “Decisions.” Disc 1 is designed for horse judging team members to use as an interactive tool to compare parts of two horses at a time, answer questions and make 250 decisions. Disc 2 contains a class of quarter horse mares and a class of quarter horse geldings to practice what they learned in Disc 1. Official placings and cuts are included.
    • DVD 5 - Oral Reasons by Aaron J. Callahan - $79.95
      • This DVD has been developed to benefit coaches and youth judges. It covers how to set up a horse judging book, how to take notes, how to start a beginner and work through to the advanced youth. Presentation skills in the reasons room as well as sample sets of reasons at different learning levels are shown.
    • DVD 6 - Practice Halter Classes - $19.95
      • DVD 6 contains a class of quarter horse mares and a class of quarter horse geldings. Official placings, cuts and class critiques also are included. This is a great DVD if you are needing to increase your practice library of halter classes.
    • DVD 7 - "Choices" Western Pleasure with Julie Voge - $49.95
      • DVD 7 concentrates on sorting differences in the Western pleasure class. Emphasis is given to evaluating brokeness, frame, quality of movement and manners within a pair of horses utilizing video clips. Fifty-five different pairs are presented to the user, along with a question and audio answer for each pair.
    • DVD 8 - Preparing for A Judging Contest - $39.95
      • This DVD is designed by Jon Wolf for all youth coaches and their judging teams and is an excellent tool to prepare for an upcoming horse judging contest. It will be particularly useful for the 4-H coach or vocational agriculture teacher and judging team with limited horse knowledge. Big issues are addressed and several examples are given for the following judging contest classes: Stock Type Halter, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Western Horsemanship, Hunt Seat Equitation.
    • Perfect Practice Horse Judging Resource CD - $9.95
      • Here is the perfect resource for those coaches needing that little extra help in preparing for their next contest. This CD contains printable files, most one to two pages long, that are designed to give you last-minute pointers and suggestions for coaching your team and/or keeping the youth motivated. Files include information for coaches, contestants, oral reasons, web resources and the basics for commonly seen horse judging contest classes. Print the specific files you want; they are ready to photocopy and hand out to your students.
    • DVD 9 - Hunter Under Saddle - $49.95
      • "Staying In The Hunt" focuses on identifying differences in quality of movement, frame, brokeness and manners of 60 video clip pairs of Hunter Under Saddle horses. Each pair has a question and audio answer. Also included is a Hunter Under Saddle glossary and multiple trot and canter tests using classes of four horses.
    • DVD 10 - Practice Performance Classes with Dave Whitaker - $49.95
      • DVD 10 contains the following classes: Hunter Under Saddle, Novice Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship I and Western Horsemanship II. Official placings, cuts and class critiques also are included. This is a great DVD if you are needing to increase your practice library of performance classes.
    • DVD 11 - Practice Showmanship and Horsemanship Runs - $29.95
      • DVD 11 contains 20 showmanship and 20 Western horsemanship runs for you to practice judging and scoring. Pick any four runs to make a class to utilize with your judging teams.
    • DVD 12 - Oral Reasons #2 with the Black Hawk East Horse Judging Team - $29.95
      • This nationally successful judging team provides oral reasons on Perfect Practice DVDs 1 to 4 as well as 6. This is 10 sets of halter reasons on DVD. Also included are six bonus sets of oral reasons on various performance classes.
• Julie Wolf Voge - Judging101@yahoo.com
  • Julie is John Wolf’s daughter and has lots of other DVDs available for practice.
• Video Horse World – DVDs with runs from AQHA Congress – www.videohorse.com

Call and inform these organizations you are a North Dakota 4-H club looking for free, helpful material to prep a judging team. Request a rulebook (give them the number of club members) and anything else they would care to provide. American Paint Horse Association (APHA) – Ask for rulebook and coat color charts – 817-834-APHA (2742)

American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) – Call and get a free rulebook – 806-376-4811 Pinto Horse Association of America (PtHA) – Ask for rulebook and coat color charts – 405-491-0111 Arabian Horse Association (AHA) – Ask for rulebook, judging manual or other supplies the organization can offer – 303-696-4500

American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) – Ask for a rulebook and color chart – 802-985-4944

• A Judges Perspective – a great series by the American Quarter Horse Association to not only listen for reasons phrases and descriptions, but evaluate a rider and horse according to a carded judge.
• The Game Plan – a great series provided by the American Paint Horse Association that covers most classes with descriptions and evaluation of a horse. Great to pick up reasons terminology.