| Nov. 19, 2012
COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu Horse Judging Team Takes Reserve World Championship at AQHA Competition
CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University’s horse judging team earned 3,376 points to win the Reserve World Championship title at the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Nov. 15 in Oklahoma City, Okla. The WTAMU team was just two points shy of first-place Oklahoma State University’s winning score of 3,378. Third place went to Colorado State University with 3,341 points. The WTAMU team earned a first-place overall finish in reasons and performance and seventh overall in halter to secure the Reserve World Championship title. A total of 75 contestants representing 22 teams competed at the annual event. In individual placings, Tabatha Taylor, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Amarillo, placed sixth overall with a sixth place in halter and ninth in performance. Teammate Kayla Wells, a junior agricultural media and communication major from Aurora, Ill., placed eighth overall with a third-place finish in reasons and fourth in performance. Jana Foil, a sophomore nursing major from McGregor, finished ninth overall with a fifth place in reasons and sixth in performance. Rounding out the top 10 was Felicia Kimmel, a junior animal science/pre-veterinary major from Bradley, Ill., with an eighth place in reasons. “It was a terrific performance by all,” Dr. John Pipkin, director of the equine industry program and coach of the horse judging team, said. “To have four individuals in the top 10 overall is tremendous. The consistency of this entire group this year is clear. In adding this success with a first-place win at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in October makes them the most successful team in the preeminent contests of the year. WT is blessed to have so many exceptional students that are willing to work hard to improve so they can maintain the perennial success that the team has sustained. I am extremely proud of the success this team has had this fall, and I know they are still eager to keep working hard to be ready for the final contest of the year, the National Reining Horse Association Futurity contest in Oklahoma City Nov 29-30.” WTAMU horse judging team members are listed by hometown, classification and major.
Amarillo
Tabatha Taylor, senior agricultural media and communication major
Aurora, Ill.
Kayla Wells, junior agricultural media and communication major
Bradley, Ill.
Felicia Kimmel, junior animal science/pre-veterinary major
Clovis, N.M.
Julia Roberts, junior equine industry and business major
Dillon, Colo.
Erin Goodell, junior equine industry and business major
Houston
Lindsey McNeill, junior equine industry and business major
McGregor
Jana Foil, sophomore animal science/nursing major
Weatherford
Natalie Gilbert, senior equine industry and business major
—WTAMU— | 