Students learn how to evaluate horses at the CDE judging competition.

FRANKLIN FURNACE, Ohio – Area youth converged on the Ohio Horse Park for the Equine Career Development Event (CDE) judging competition. Twelve teams from Ohio and Kentucky competed for team and individual honors. 

Nine senior teams and three junior teams represented Boyd County 4-H, Collins Career Center, Diamond Oaks Career Center, Grant Career Center, Logan Elm, Minford FFA, Oak Hill FFA, Scioto Rough Riders 4-H and Scioto Trail Riders.  

Teams evaluated three performance-classes of horses. These included halter, western horsemanship and English equitation. Participants placed the classes and answered five questions related to the horses. Additionally, they completed a written test and identified a variety of equipment.

Mark Abell is a nationally certified judge, a Southern Campus adjunct instructor and the Ohio University Southern Equestrian Team coach. Abell judged the class and ranked horses from one to four. 

The event was organized by the Equestrian Team and coaches Abell and Bradie Chapman, Southern Campus lecturer and assistant coordinator of the Ohio Horse Park Center for Therapeutic Riding. 

Chapman shared that activities such as this can positively impact participants lives and potential careers in the future. “To date, there are over 18,000 opportunities for employment as a qualified horse judge,” Chapman said. 

Results: 
Senior Team
1st Boyd County 4-H (1475 pts)
2nd Diamond Oaks Career Center (1288 pts)
3rd Logan Elm (1217 pts)

Junior Team
1st Scioto Rough Riders 4-H (1186 pts)
2nd Boyd County 4-H (949 pts)
3rd Scioto Trail Riders 4-H (893 pts)

Senior Individual
1st Caleb Martin- Boyd County 4-H (386 pts)
2nd Rylie St. Clair- Boyd County 4-H (386 pts)
3rd Lauren Gardner- Oak Hill FFA (381 pts)

Junior Individual
1st Ella Crum- Boyd County 4-H (377 pts)
2nd Lainie Johnson- Scioto Trail Riders (362 pts)
3rd Sydney Burchett- Scioto Trail Riders 4-H (310 pts)