Writer: Tana Luna

Coach: Haley Collins, Hannah Chute, Marisa Peterson, Taylor Godwin, Mattie Frances Willard, Morgan Moreno, Megan Prokop, Sarah Malyan Savage, Ellen Black, Kristy Burton and Kailyn Capps.

Oklahoma City, also known as the “Horse Show Capitol of the World,” once again hosted the annual American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) World Championship Show. The most talented and highly regarded breeders, trainers, exhibitors, and of course, horses, from around the world all came out to compete at their highest level for those trademark quarter horse globe trophies. Amidst the most prominent horse show in the world, dozens of collegiate students from across the country are given the opportunity to showcase their ability to evaluate and articulate the ideals of the AQHA. This year the TAMU Horse Judging Team swept the reserve championship. Members of the Senior TAMU Horse Judging Team are Megan Prokop, Taylor Godwin, Morgan Moreno, Mattie Willard, Sarah Savage, Ellen Black, Hannah Chute, Marisa Peterson and Kristy Burton. The Horse Judging Team is coached by Haley Collins.

Top 10 Overall Individuals include Taylor Godwin who placed 4^th, Morgan Moreno who placed 5^th, and Sarah Savage who placed 7^th.

In addition to their success at the AQHA World Show, the Senior Team placed 5^th in performance, 3^rd in reasons, and 5^th overall at the All American Quarter Horse Congress this semester. This same team took home a reserve finish at the 2016 Texas Spring Contest, as well as top honors with a first place finish at the NCHA Collegiate Judging Contest in the Fall of 2015.

-30-

Tana Luna is a senior Animal Science and Entomology double major from Troy, Texas.

For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Maggie Tucker at maggie.tucker@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.