AQHA Horse Show Judging with Patti Carter
AQHA Horse Show Judging with Patti CarterIf there are no judges, there are no horse shows. The judge can make or break a horse show experience. Because they are essential to competition, I thought it would be good to talk with an experienced judge. Patti Carter is the Senior Director of Judges at the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Assn.). AQHA certifies over 800 judges and Patti oversees them all. She is in charge of educational programs, testing programs, and monitoring judges’ performances. In this interview, Patti walks us through her experience growing up in a horse family and learning to judge horses. She tells us about her association with the AQHA, and her duties and responsibilities with horse show judging.
As I compete in different Ranch Class shows, I’m impressed with the knowledge these judges possess. They not only know the rules, but they are very in tune with the horses and riders. Every judge I’ve come in contact with has been pleasant and informative when explaining the rules. The more horse shows I go to, the more I appreciate horse show judging.
Join Us on this Journey
We want you to be a part of the show. Tell us about your horse. Share your challenges, triumphs, or just everyday items that make horse ownership unique. Create an audio file using the memo app on your phone. Or contact me and we’ll set up a time to talk on Skype or phone. Perhaps what you have to share can help someone in THEIR horse journey.
You are an enormous part of why we do a podcast. We really love getting your feedback. Please let us know your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for the show. Email us at John@WhoaPodcast.com
Thanks for listening.
John & Ranae
Episode #191
Support the Whoa Podcast with this Amazon Link.
Checkout My John Harrer & Horses YouTube Channel
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
After listening to 
Are you looking for a little adventure? Give competitive trail riding a try. The 
Equine emergency preparedness is so not a glamorous topic. And, it doesn’t matter if you live in California with our fires and earthquakes (there was a 3.0 last night) or in the Midwest, or in a different country. Bad things will happen. No one wants to think about the disaster that may happen. No one wants to picture what will happen to their horse if they are unprepared. But as powerful as horses are, they can be extremely fragile in many situations. In past episodes, we’ve talked to 
Kelly McKnight emailed me to say his mother, Nancy, would be a delightful guest on the podcast. Nancy McKnight is 89 years old and spent much of her adult life helping children learn horses and horsemanship through her affiliation with the US Pony Club. The mission statement of the Pony Club is: