"West Texas A&M University’s horse judging team finished with a third- and fourth-place overall at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress Oct. 18 in Columbus, Ohio. The team placed second and fourth in halter, third and fourth in performance and third and seventh in reasons.
The day ended with some tight scoring in the top five overall placings. The WTAMU team earned a total of 3,181 points to garner the third-place berth and 3,125 for the fourth-place spot. Oklahoma State University tallied 3,190 points to win first place, followed by Kansas State University at second place with 3,186 points. The University of Wyoming rounded out the top five with 3,096 points. WTAMU was the only school with two teams finishing in the top 10. The event brought in 75 contestants and 18 teams competing in halter, performance and reasons.
In individual placings, Kyle Vanderleest, a junior animal science major from Morrison, Ill., earned a second-place finish overall with a first in performance and a fifth in reasons. Katy Hawkins, a junior agriculture education major from Needham, Ind., finished third overall with a sixth in reasons, seventh in performance and eighth in halter. Other team members who placed individually are Kyla Myers, a junior agriculture communication major from Clovis, N.M., sixth in halter; Brooke Parrish, a junior agribusiness/equine industry and business major from Elmwood, Ill., ninth in halter, and Lauren Moore, a junior agriculture communication major from Canyon, 10th in halter.
“The team had a very impressive showing with the top teams finishing very close,” Dr. John Pipkin, director of the equine industry program and coach of the horse judging team, said. “I am very proud of their performance and how well they have represented WT this fall. I’m excited about their attitudes—they are really motivated to focus on preparing for the AQHA World and NRHA Championships in November.”
The WTAMU horse judging team will compete Nov. 11-12 at the 2017 AQHA World Championship and Nov. 29 at the NRHA Championships, both in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Members of the team are listed by their hometowns along with their classification and majors.
Allen
Catherine Johnson, junior agribusiness/equine industry and business major
Canyon
Lauren Moore, junior agriculture communication major
Clovis, N.M.
Kyla Myers, junior agriculture communication major
Elmwood, Ill.
Brooke Parrish, junior agribusiness/equine industry and business major
Kingston, Wash.
Madison Worland, junior agribusiness/equine industry and business major
Morrison, Ill.
Kyle Vanderleest, junior animal science major
Needham, Ind.
Katy Hawkins, junior agriculture education major
Rhome
Paighton Kelly, junior agribusiness/equine industry and business major
Wolfforth
Arienne Martinez, junior agribusiness/equine industry and business major"
-West Texas A&M University
