The University of Florida’s Horse Judging Team teaches students to evaluate the horse, both in halter and performance classes. This gives the students the knowledge to understand what a good horse needs to look like for the most efficient athletic performance a horse can offer. Being on the Horse Judging Team, the students compete in intercollegiate competitions in both semesters with teams from o
ther colleges and universities across the United States. The objectives of the contests are to help students gain self-confidence, in addition to allowing the student to develop skills in effective organization and presentation. Each student will then give oral reasons, which is an explanation of their placing’s, for the specific halter and performance classes decided upon by the official judges for that contest. Depending on the contest you may give four to six sets of reasons. A new division has been added to the collegiate horse judging competitions called the Limited Judging Division. This is offered at both AQHA Congress and AQHA World competitions allowing students who are new to horse judging, the opportunity to compete twice in their college career. In the Limited Judging Division the students only give two sets of reasons. The UF horse judging team has been very successful throughout the years, contributing to student development. Students on a Horse Judging Team gain much needed and useful experience in analytical and critical thinking, judgment, written and oral communication. Many of the students who compete on a judging team through their college career continue to judge once they graduate, becoming professional judges for breed associations both in the United States and Internationally. A horse judging team is designed for students interested in equine section and performance evaluation. The UF Horse Judging Team competes annually at the nation’s most prestigious collegiate contest. The UF Horse Judging Team competes in the Intercollegiate American Paint Horse Association (APHA) Spring Sweepstakes in Alvarado, Texas each year. In the fall the students will travel to the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Congress Show in Columbus, Ohio and the AQHA World show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Other possibilities to travel for completion include the Arabian Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the National Reining Horse Association Contest in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Morgan Nationals in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the National Appaloosa Contest in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Middle Tennessee State University hosts an Intercollegiate contest in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as well. Beyond the competitions, students will travel to several major trainers’ facilities throughout the year both locally and while on judging trips to competitions. Students do not need any type of previous experience to be on the team, just motivation, dedication, a work ethic, a desire to compete and a love for horses. Students begin their horse judging career at UF in the spring and finish up with the major contests in the fall. The team practices on at least twice a week in the evenings with some weekend workouts too. Most travel expenses are covered by funding through the Animal Science Department. However, the more fund raisers the students participate in, the less money they need to spend out of their pockets.
