Judging Credentials

It all began when Stephanie was invited to join the Livingston County 4-H Program's Horse Judging Team in 2001. Having prior knowledge and experience through owning, showing and horse quiz bowl, Stephanie started practices with intentions of participating in the Michigan State University 4-H State Horse Judging Jamboree.

The judging team involved the development of intricate, well thought out decisions within minutes based on evaluating four animals. A great amount of knowledge and confidence was required to be able to rank different breeds and disciplines well enough to memorize and give oral reasons to official judges.

From Stephanie's perspective, "the rest is history", but the time spent getting from the past to the present was vast. Two years after inception, her judging team participated at their first large-scale competition: the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. By 2004, the team improved to earn 4th place overall at the U.S. Arabian Horse Nationals in Louisville, KY. The following spring the team reunited one last time to compete at the 4-H State Horse Judging Jamboree. It was worth it, as her team won the contest.

Between graduating from 4-H and progressing to the Michigan State University Horse Judging Team, Stephanie spent time in class refining judging at a collegiate level while participating in independent study Arabian and Quarter Horse training courses. While preparing for the intercollegiate judging contests, Stephanie began her apprenticeships to work on obtaining a judges card for the state of Michigan.

Many hours were spent in the sun, rain, fog and wind when Stephanie encountered the "real world" of horse judging. Between showing her own horses, apprenticing and working as a judge for smaller shows, her weekends were well-occupied during the competition seasons. Everything fell into place when not only did she get an interview, but she became an approved judge for Michigan 4-H in 2006.

After completing her Master of Science degree, Stephanie jumped right back in to judge's training: this time for dressage! Since 2011, Stephanie has had the privilege to sit and scribe for countless hours with USEF 'R' and 'S' judges in USEF recognized competitions in Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, as well as participating in the requirements of each of the judge's training sessions. The training has was invaluable, as Stephanie completed the written, oral and practical component, passing the USDF final exam with a 92% as an "L" Graduate with Distinction. 

The Livingston County Horse Judging Team

• U.S. Arabian Nationals; Louisville, KY (4th place overall)
• All American Quarter Horse Congress; Columbus, OH
  

USDF 'L' Graduate*

 "Education and Experience for Equine Evaluation"

Areas of expertise include halter, performance halter, showmanship, sport horse in hand, hunt seat equitation, hunter under saddle/hunter pleasure, saddleseat equitation, saddleseat pleasure, show hack, hunter/equitation over fences, sport horse under saddle, western horsemanship, western pleasure, reining, western riding, trail, intro through FEI dressage, western dressage, driving and speed events.

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The Michigan State University Horse Judging Team 

• American Quarter Horse Congress; Columbus, OH
• U.S. Arabian Nationals; Louisville, KY (2nd place overall)
• AQHA World Show; Oklahoma City, OK
• Middle Tennessee State Contest; Murfreesboro, TN

Individually, Stephanie placed 3rd in the Arabian Halter Division at U.S. Nationals and received Top Ten Overall