OHLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – The Ohio State University Horse Judging Team traveled to Oklahoma City, OK in mid November to judge some of the top stock horses in the nation at the 2012 AQHA World Show Intercollegiate Judging Contest. The competition consisted of 4 halter classes, 8 performance classes and required oral reasons on 8 of the 12 classes. Seniors made up Ohio’s team members competing in the Senior College division and included Meaghan Bari, an Animal Science major from Wakeman, Ohio; Sara Bradley, a Psychology major from New Concord, Ohio; Bekah Meller, an Animal Science major from Pettisville, Ohio; and Amber Vannoy, an Animal Science major from Grove City, Ohio. Ohio State placed 7th as a team amidst a field of fierce competitors from colleges across the country. Coach Masa Alman was extremely pleased with her group’s performance at the contest. “ I am so proud of the team, they took personal time out in the evenings as well as weekends to look at horses and prepare for this.” The AQHA World Show was the second national contest for the OSU Horse Judging Team this fall. Ohio State's participation this year was the first time in over 6 years that OSU has been represented at the contest. Alman indicated that the team takes a lot of dedication by its members, herself and assistant coach Ben Wenner to prepare for a national contest. Contests last about 8 hours and the entire time is intense; however, the benefits from preparing and competing in something like this are tremendous. Not only do kids develop a better eye for horses, they gain confidence as well as critical thinking and public speaking skills that will benefit them in the workplace. Alman also said that interest in the club is growing and that students do not have to come from a horse background to excel in judging. For more information about the OSU Horse Judging Team, please contact Masa Alman at alman.4@osu.edu or 614-688-8109.