Relief: the most common sentiment felt among AQHA judges as they left the DFW Sheraton after recertification testing on December 10th.
As one of the 285 approved judges who attended the 2014 Judges Conference, I can attest to the feeling. As a first time presenter at this year’s conference, I have a whole new appreciation for what the presenters go through when they stand up in front of a room full of judges. It was stressful, humbling and intimidating to speak to a room full of my peers – friends and judges for whom I have the greatest respect.
Although many judges came to the conference with negative feelings, most left feeling as though the conference did what it was intended to do. AQHA judge Beckey Schooler said, “Judges gained knowledge – everyone learned a lot and that is what the seminar was supposed to do.”
Some felt the majority of the education came before the seminar as judges gathered to study test material including taped runs in preparation for recertification. For those who tested and were approved as new judges earlier this year, to retest so soon seemed like cruel and unusual punishment. But most everyone left on a positive note – even if it was just to be done!
Lee Ann Harrison said, “As negative as I was coming in, it was a very positive experience. AQHA is on the right track.” Harrison, who received her twenty-year pin this year, hopes that AQHA will not abandon the program.
Tom Crowley, an AQHA judge from Minnesota suggested, “The process has provided AQHA with an excellent opportunity to collect information that could be used to create additional education material for future programs.”
One thing is for certain, members of AQHA and AQHA’s Judges Committee are committed to making the system better and worked tirelessly to provide as best they could. The hotel was under construction and there were a few technical glitches but with some quick modifications the show rolled on.
Pete Kyle and Alex Ross may have aged prematurely by having all of their judges together for the seminar, but most judges enjoyed the format. Previously, each educational session was presented in a two-year cycle with half of all judges rotating through the program each year.
Although the camaraderie was a big consideration, it was not the only reason judges liked meeting as a whole group. Having everyone together at once not only allowed judges to see each other, but it also kept the conversation on the same track. In the past, a controversial issue might arise one year and not the next or vice-versa. And as everyone in the horse business knows, no one wants to be left out of a good debate.
All the judges can do now is wait for the results to come in. AQHA’s Judges Committee members stayed on to grade tests. Make-up tests will be held in Nashville in January and in Dallas in March for those who do not pass or who were not able to attend the conference.
And to follow the advice of one of the greatest, D. Wayne Lucas, as he told us during the welcome session Monday morning, ”Try to reach out and make a positive difference in the lives of three people a day and make the choice each morning when you wake up to have a good attitude. Live everyday like your last as one day it will be.”
