OklahomaHorses Magazine May 2023

May / June 2023 • OklahomaHorses 15 FFA and 4-H Youths Win in 2023 Horse Judging FFA individual (overall) 1. Dade Delozier, Adair 2. Macyn Olson, Owasso 3. Daniel Moody, Oklahoma Union FFA individual (placings only) 1. Nathan Dean, Oklahoma Union 2. Daniel Moody, Oklahoma Union 3. Rayln Yoder, Inola FFA individual (reasons only) 1. Macyn Olson, Owasso 2. Alexandra Delozier, Adair 3. Anna Jo Helling, Inola FFA team (placings only) 1. Oklahoma Union: Nathan Dean, Bodee West, Daniel Moody, Chastin Smalley 2. Inola: Anna Joe Helling, Ralyn Yoder, Will Willhour, Tyler Yoder 3. Adair: Ashlyn Schwartzlander, Dade Delozier, Cooper Maxwell, Alexandra Delozier FFA finishing team (reasons only) 1. Adair: Ashlyn Schwartzlander, Dade Delozier, Cooper Maxwell 2. Oklahoma Union: Nathan Dean, Bodee West, Daniel Moody, Chastin Smalley 3. Inola: Anna Joe Helling, Rayln Yoder, Will Willhour, Tyler Yoder Junior 4-H individual (overall) 1. Tucker Forth, Nowata 2. Drew Evans, Adair 3. Brynley Collier, Nowata Junior 4-H individual (placings only) 1. Tucker Forth, Nowata 2. Drew Evans, Adair 3. Brynley Collier, Nowata Junior 4-H individual (reasons only) 1. Drew Evans, Adair 2. Ryder King, Adair 3. Tucker Forth, Nowata Junior 4-H team (overall) 1. Adair: Ryder King, Chase Wood, Drew Evans, Dacen Delozier Junior 4-H team (placings only) 1. Nowata: Tucker Forth, Cooper Robbins, Carson Collier, Brynley Collier 2. Adair: Ryder King, Chase Wood, Drew Evans, Dacen Delozier 3. Craig County: Peyton VanPool, Colton Rudd Junior 4-H team (reasons only) 1. Adair: Ryder King, Chase Wood, Drew Evans, Dacen Delozier 2. Nowata: Tucker Forth, Cooper Robbins, Carson Collier, Brynley Collier 3. Craig County: Peyton VanPool, Colton Rudd Senior 4-H individual (overall) 1. Bronk Embra, Cimarron County 2. Owen Dean, Nowata/Oklahoma Union 3. Cooper Herrenbruck, Nowata/Oklahoma Union Senior 4-H individual (placings only) 1. Bronk Embra, Cimarron County 2. Owen Dean, Nowata/Oklahoma Union 3. Cooper Herrenbruck, Nowata/Oklahoma Union Senior 4-H individual (reasons only) 1. Bronk Embra, Cimarron County 2. Cooper Herrenbruck, Nowata/Oklahoma Union 3. Laremi Soell, Cimarron County Senior 4-H team (overall) 1. Cimarron County: Kylee Derrick, Laremi Soell, Jacee Maness 2. Nowata/Oklahoma Union: Cooper Herrenbruck, Addison Collier, Owen Dean, Joel LeLaCluen Senior 4-H team (placings only) 1. Cimarron County: Kylee Derrick, Laremi Soell, Jacee Maness, Bronk Embra 2. Nowata/Oklahoma Union: Cooper Herrenbruck, Addison Collier, Owen Dean, Joel LeLaCluen Senior 4-H team (reasons only) 1. Cimarron County: Kylee Derrick, Laremi Soell, Jacee Maness, Bronk Embra 2. Nowata/Oklahoma Union: Cooper Herrenbruck, Addison Collier, Owen Dean, Joel LeLaCluen Learning To Evaluate Horses At judging contests, participants evaluate several halter and performances classes of horses, recording notes on each horse and placing them in order first to last based on their opinions. Contestants are usually divided into smaller groups to prepare and give oral reasons for their placings in each class. The number of oral reasons varies with the contest, with two to six classes identified as reasons classes. Those classes are usually identified prior to the judging event. Judging horses at halter involves knowing all the parts of the horse and the ability to recognize conformation faults and blemishes and the effects they might have on the horse’s movement and ability to perform in various disciplines. The horse’s balance, or how proportionate the parts of the horse’s body are with one another, is evaluated because it also affects the animal’s movement and maneuverability. Other considerations include muscling, which aids the athletic ability of the animal, and substance, which refers to the width and depth of the body, height, and bone size and shape. The structure of the horse is also considered, which involves skeletal bone alignment and hoof quality. The horse should also travel straight, with balanced stride and straight footfall path. Horses displayed for judging are rotated to ensure that every contestant can observe and assess the horses from all angles. Mares, geldings, and stallions are usually judged separately and have different conformation characteristics that contestants should be aware of and consider accordingly. Horses of different breeds also have different conformation characteristics to consider. Observing a Range of Classes Several performance classes might be presented at a judging competition, so participants must be familiar with the horse’s role in each class. The 2023 state contest performance classes included ranch trail, ranch riding, western pleasure, western horsemanship, reining, and hunter under saddle. Aged mares and aged geldings were judged at halter. “The state competition included the opportunity for kids to judge the Oklahoma State University equestrian team in reining and western horsemanship. The OSU ranch horse team provided horses for the ranch classes,” Jones said. Schools represented at the state FFA and 4-H contest were Adair, Bixby, Chouteau, Custer, Dover, Elgin, Elmore City, Guthrie, Inola, Jenks, Lawton, Locust Grove, North Rock Creek, Nowata, Oklahoma Union, Owasso, Salina, Wagoner, and Warner.