Six students from UW-River Falls competed in the AQHA World Championship Collegiate Horse Judging Competition in Oklahoma City Nov. 10. From L-R are: Meghan Donahue, Olivia Fischer, Lexi Parker, Assistant Coach Emma Clements, Zoe Donahey, Allie Keilen and Jennifer Fox.

Equine judging students among top ten in the nation

November 20, 2018 - Six students from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls competed in the AQHA World Championship Collegiate Horse Judging Competition in Oklahoma City Nov. 10. Two team members finished in the top ten, out of 42 individual competitors.

Olivia Fischer of Chilton finished eighth overall and eighthin the halter class and Zoe Donahey of Janesville took eighth place in the performance class judging.

During the competition, participants evaluate a variety of halter and performance classes and give oral reasons defending their placings. Contestants receive scores based on how they placed a particular class as compared to how contest officials placed the class. The closer a contestant’s placing is to the officials’ placing, the higher the score they receive.

The other team members from UW-River Falls were: Meghan Donahue of Lake Elmo, Minn., Jennifer Fox of Oconomowoc, Allie Keilen of Medford, Minn., and Lexi Parker of Chilton. The team is coached by Casie Bass, assistant professor of Animal Science, who is assisted by student Emma Clements of Rosemount, Minn.

Schools from across the country gather each year to compete for the collegiate horse judging team title and the thousands of dollars in scholarships that are awarded to the top three teams in each division.

For more information, email laura.walsh@uwrf.edu or call 715-425-3535.