OSU Horse Judging Team captures AQHA World Championship

Monday, November 28, 2016

The Oklahoma State University Horse Judging Team capped off an undefeated season at the recent 2016 AQHA World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, winning world champion honors for the second year in a row and the third time in the past five years.

“This team’s dedication, positive attitude and commitment to each other allowed them to put together the perfect season,” said Coach Steven Cooper, the team’s faculty adviser and an associate professor of equine studies in the department of animal science.

With a full squad and then some, OSU fielded two teams at the 2016 AQHA World Championship judging contest. The OSU Pokes team was first in every division including halter, performance, reasons and the overall title. The OSU Pete’s team was third in halter and fourth overall.

Cooper was quick to heap praise on the students, Coach Sarah Schobert, an OSU animal science graduate student from Roanoke, Virginia, and Assistant Coach Marissa Chapa, an OSU animal science undergraduate student from Maple Park, Illinois, and member of the 2015 OSU AQHA World Championship team.

“Sarah and Marissa spent countless hours not only coaching these students but, more importantly, mentoring team members to be successful in and outside the judging arena,” he said.

Individual accomplishment at the contest and a season of challenging one another to "do and be better" helped to garner collective team success.

Dylan Price, of Norris City, Illinois, was second in halter, first in performance, second in reasons and earned high individual overall honors.

Garrett Reed, of Locust Grove, was first in halter, sixth in performance, first in reasons and finished the competition as reserve high individual overall.

Michal Robertson, of Ardmore, was fifth in performance and eighth high individual overall.

Hana Murphy, of Philadelphia, Missouri, was third in reasons.

Rebecca Janes, of Peotone, Illinois, was tenth in reasons.

Harlie Sasser, of Vinita, was seventh in halter.

Other OSU Horse Judging Team members included Taylor Gilbert of Luther; Jenna Kool of Adel, Iowa; Samantha McCullough of Tulsa; Macy Perry of Prather, California; and Franchesca Rollerson of Lawton.

Schobert said the team members were a joy to work with, and always came to practice focused and ready to improve.

“Their strong team dynamic is a testament to why they have been extremely successful this year,” she said. “I am proud to say all 11 team members ranked in a Top 10 division at a national contest, which illustrates their level of commitment to improve as a whole.”

Additional information about academic programs and judging team opportunities in the OSU Department of Animal Science is available at http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/ online.

The American Quarter Horse Association’s World Championship is considered the preeminent horse judging event. Based in Amarillo, Texas, AQHA is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse.