Serious faces scrutinized Arabian and Half-Arabian horses on Friday morning in the annual Arabian Horse Judging Contest. Teams participated in three divisions: 4-H/FFA, Junior AHA and Senior Collegiate. All contestants judged four in-hand and six performance classes which were compared and placed against an ideal placing determined by a panel of respected guest judges. On Friday afternoon, individuals will give their oral reasons for placings based on organization, relevancy, accuracy, terminology and presentation. The Awards breakfast will occur on Saturday morning where $10,000 in scholarships plus saddles, trophies and ribbons will be presented

 

Richard Cavanaugh took Mosqof Fame V+// to the Arabian Trail Championship on Friday afternoon. His trainer Lou Roper took the horse to a championship in the open division that morning. When it was time for the championship photo, everybody in the paddock including the other top tens and perhaps 30 people in all posed for a championship photo while the music played “We are family.” It was a high moment for Kavanaugh who took up horseback riding at the suggestion of a doctor for an ankle injury 25 years ago when he was 56 years old. He’s competed seriously since 1980 and had been to Nationals numerous times but had never won a championship himself until today. “We’re going to celebrate tonight,” said the octogenarian. “We might even dance.”

 

The first inductees into the Judges Hall of Fame were honored at a reception on Friday evening. Many exhibitors came to honor those who had come before and who had played a formative role in the Arabian horse industry.

 

Strawberry Banks Farm