WWU Judging Team to Host Clinic and Judging Contest

2/23/2012 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

William Woods University's Judging Team will host the fifth annual 4-H and FFA Judging Clinic Saturday (Feb. 25). Those attending the clinic are members of FFA and 4-H.

Participants are located throughout Missouri and some are from out-of-state.  Previous clinics have included 100 to almost 200 people in attendance. The ages of those participating in the clinic can range from 8 years old to seniors in high school.
 
The first session will involve a clinic in which Jennie Petterson, the western riding instructor at William Woods, and the upperclassmen of the judging team will instruct the participants. An explanation of what the competitors should be looking for while judging the class will be given.
 
The second half of the clinic will give the competitors the opportunity to apply what they learned during the first session to judge real classes. Two halter classes and two performance classes will be held as an actual contest would.
 
A total of 40 horses will be used for the clinic, including horses from both the Western and saddle seat barns. Those riding in the clinic will be divided into different sections based upon style of riding and breed of horse.
 
Also helping host the event are at least 50 volunteers whose jobs range from greeting the participants as they arrive to actually riding in the clinic. Christine Whittier, a junior at William Woods University and a member of the judging team, is excited for the clinic.
 
"I'm looking forward to riding in one of the judging competition classes the most. I've been working hard to prepare my horse for an important show coming up, and I'm very interested to hear the opinions of the judges and the competitors about my horse."