Among almost 90 of their peers in the junior division of the All American Quarter Horse Congress contest, known as the most prestigious in the country, the Boulder County 4-H team came home with a remarkable sixth place overall team finish. Members included Clara DeSouza, Mattea McQueen, Josie Temple and Audrey Wright. The team was also third in halter, seventh in performance and fourth in reasons. Mattea earned fourth in halter, ninth in performance, sixth in reasons and sixth overall and all team members finished in the top half of overall individuals.

Youth from across the country competed at the U.S. Arabian & Half-Arabian National Championship Youth Judging Contest in Tulsa, Okla. last week and Boulder County 4-H members brought home scholarships and other awards. The junior team representing the Colorado Arabian Horse Club (CAHC)/Region VIII Arabian Horse Association were named National Champions, the CAHCsenior team earned a third-place finish while another member represented Colorado 4-H on a composite team to help them to a third place in their respective division.

 The contest was hosted during the national championship horse show on Friday, October 27, 2023. Team members competed in both team and individual categories. The Junior Arabian Horse Association (AHA) division is for local affiliate club members under the age of 18, the Senior AHA/Collegiate division is for 19-23 and the 4-H/FFA division is for 4-H and FFA members across the country.

 The junior CAHC/Region VIII team won a national champion trophy, champion buckles and scholarships from the Arabian Horse Foundation. Team members included Clara DeSouza, Rhiannon McDermid, Josie Temple and Audrey Wright. Out of almost 40 individuals, Clara was ninth in halter, first in performance, third in reasons and third overall. In her first national contest, Rhiannon finished twelfth in halter, sixth in performance, eighth in reasons and eighth overall. Josie was fifth in halter, eleventh in performance, first in reasons and sixth overall. Audrey was third in halter, second in reasons, seventeenth overall. All junior members are also 4-H members who compete on the Boulder County 4-H Horse Judging Team.

 The senior team was composed of Bailey Burke, a Colorado State University graduate, Kylie Carson from the University of Wyoming (previous Wyoming 4-H member), Maddy Gable from the University of Montana (previous Boulder County 4-H member) and Hailey Nicolls from Colorado State University. Kylie and Maddy are previous 4-H Horse Judging Team members. 

Mattea McQueen represented Boulder County on the combined Colorado 4-H team and earned an impressive tenth in reasons and a team third place finish.

Contestants from 4-H, FFA, Arabian Horse Association (AHA) affiliate clubs and collegiate teams from across the U.S. and Canada competed in the day-long contest split into three divisions totaling 23 teams and over 100 individuals. They evaluated ten classes of Arabians and Half-Arabians then delivered four sets of memorized oral reasons defending their placings in select classes which are scored on accuracy, terminology and presentation.

 Competitive horse judging offers a challenging opportunity for youth to further their knowledge of horses. Team members learn to evaluate horse conformation and performance while developing skills such as critical thinking, public speaking and team building. Contestants are scored based on how close their placings of mock classes are to the official panel. They are then asked to deliver a two minute, memorized oral defense of their placing of certain classes.

The Boulder County 4-H Horse Judging Team will host a kickoff for the spring season on Wednesday, January 24, 2024. Interested members are welcome to attend a fun potluck at the Boulder County Fairgrounds to learn more about the team and competitive horse judging plus fulfill their 4-H judging requirement. Enrollment in the 4-H horse project is not required. For more information, find the team on Facebook @Boulder County Horse Judging or email bouldercountyhorsejudging@gmail.com.