The Texas A&M Horse Judging Team recently hosted horse judging camps in Texas and Virginia for aspiring young horse judgers. The Texas A&M Summer Horse Judging Camp was held at the Texas A&M Hildebrand Equine Complex, followed by the second annual Texas A&M East Coast Horse Judging Clinic in Blacksburg, Virginia.

At the Texas A&M Summer Horse Judging Camp, the department was represented by Sarah Schobert, Texas A&M Horse Judging coach; Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service horse specialist; Megan Miller, assistant coach; and members from the 2023 and 2024 All-Star Teams. 

The clinic was held from May 31 to June 2. The first two days were filled with a mixture of in-classroom instruction and activities, along with outdoor live judging demonstrations of halter, reining and western horsemanship. The attendees received a tour of the Equine Nutrition and Reproduction Research Center and toured the equestrian facilities at the Hildebrand Equine Complex. The evenings included fun-filled interactive activities, including a campus scavenger hunt and a field day at Freeman Arena. 

The clinic design intertwined disciplines of similar foundations. The coaches' teaching materials were modern but also included presentations that met the specific educational needs of the attendees. This format allowed attendees a strong foundation to prepare for their upcoming contests.

On top of this, the clinicians provided reasons instruction, professionally recorded reasons examples, live presentations, and finished each day by either helping students write a set or listening to them present. This year, to build upon the mock contest design held on the last day of camp, the Texas A&M coaches added a questions division within each skill level to select for the reserve high and high individual overall. The champions in each division received a Texas A&M champion banner, leather portfolio, and/or yeti-cup for their accomplishments.

Following the Texas A&M Summer Horse Judging Camp, three clinicians set out to Virginia for the Texas A&M East Coast Horse Judging Clinic held June 8-9. The department was represented by Schobert, Miller and Madison Rosenbaum, 2023 all-star team member.

This clinic had a similar structure to the Texas A&M Horse Judging Camp, with both in and out of the classroom instruction. The attendees received live class demonstrations of Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, and Hunter-In-Hand. The clinicians had many attendees from Virginia and North Carolina, allowing them to provide sections for beginners/intermediate, advanced, and coaches/adults. This allowed various teams, individuals and coaches across the East Coast the opportunity to either start or hone their horse judging skills across disciplines and advance in the reasons room.

By providing these types of horse judging camps and clinics nationwide, the Texas A&M horse judging clinicians share their most recent materials and horseman knowledge, hoping to highlight the value behind competitive judging.

Did you know the Department of Animal Science is home to 10 competitive teams? Learn more about the nationally recognized competitive team programs.

Texas A&M Summer Horse Judging Camp

Texas A&M East Coast Horse Judging Clinic