Members of the Berkeley County 4-H Senior Horse Judging Team took home top honors recently by demonstrating their keen knowledge of horse conformation at the West Virginia Horse Judging Contest on April 18 in Keyser.

The specialty 4-H club, a program of West Virginia University Extension Service, is comprised of students between the ages of 9 and 18 who train weekly to identify all the makings of a “conformationally correct” horse, including qualities like structure, balance, muscling and proportions.

The Berkeley County Senior Team, comprised of members Mallorie Rudy, Ryan Snyder, Samantha Mudge and Elizabeth Lynch, placed first in the state and will represent West Virginia in the National 4-H Horse Roundup in Louisville, Ky., in November.

Designed to provide participants with the opportunity to develop critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, decision-making and public-speaking skills, the event challenges youth to recognize good conformation, breed character and performance ideals in different breeds of horses. The teams were also challenged to explain their judgement in an “oral reasoning” category.

Coach Cheryl Lynch said the team has been aggressive in its training this year, meeting sometimes multiples days a week to learn content, study professional horse judging videos and refine their observational skills while out in the field with live horses.

“It takes discipline to learn all of the subject matter and train their eye to knowing what qualities to look for,” said Lynch. “The course work can be overwhelming at times, but these students amaze me with their commitment and self-discipline to keep going even when it gets tough.”

Lynch said that one common misconception of the club is that members must have a strong horse background before joining. Rather, the club members just have to possess a desire to learn more about horses and how to identify the qualities characterizing a superior horse.

“It’s like a big puzzle,” said Lynch. “They have to put all the puzzle pieces together in order to see the final picture, and that final picture is what they’re judging.

Positive youth development is an essential element of the 4-H mission, which seeks to equip youths with the tools they need to reach their fullest potential, said Berkeley County WVU Extension 4-H Agent Doug Hovatter.

“These students impress me so much in the respect that they show one another and the dedication and commitment they put into their weekly practices,” said Hovatter. ””They represented the county well and we couldn’t be more proud.”

Each of the Berkeley County 4-H senior team members placed in the top five of their division. Snyder also received the highest overall score for his oral reasoning presentation.

The Jackson County 4-H senior team, comprised of members Kat Stewart, Mesa Altenburger, Hope King and Autumn Robinson placed second in the competition, while the Preston County 4-H senior team, with members Emily Weaver, Mikhaela Lichvar and Kelsea Nine, placed third.

Among the junior division, Grant County 4-H placed first with members McKinley Keplinger, William Barb, Catherine Byard and Allison Barr. In second, the Hancock County’s 4-H team included Taylor Allison, Rhiannon Paris, Sage Tellish and Troy Guerrieri, and in third, Berkeley County’s junior team included Julia O’Neill, Brianna Lilly, Hope Damon and Hope Adams.

The Berkeley 4-H senior team will also go on to represent West Virginia 4-H at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, in October, prior to the national competition in November.

To help sponsor the club’s November trip to Kentucky, contact Lynch at 304-261-8323. Checks should be made payable to the “Berkeley County Leaders Association,” with the memo: “Horse Judging 2015.” Checks can be mailed to the Berkeley County Extension Office, 400 W. Stephen St. Suite #302, Martinsburg, WV 25401.

To learn more about new opportunities in the 4-H program, visit www.ext.wvu.edu, or contact your local office of the WVU Extension Service.

-WVU-

blu/05/18/15

CONTACT: Cassie Thomas, WVU Extension Service
304.293.8735, Cassie.Thomas@mail.wvu.edu

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