Horse Sense: More students are taking Tech's judging reins
Texas Tech graduate student Rebecca Gotti has a sharp eye when it comes to sizing up horses and horse performances. Now the Nacogdoches native is expanding her portfolio of experience beyond teaching to taking on coaching duties for the university's horse judging team.
Designed for students interested in equine selection and performance evaluation, horse judging helps students gain useful experience in analytical and critical thinking, judgment, and written and oral communication. "Having to provide oral reasons enhances students' ability to support their own decisions through public speaking, even as it exposes them to horse industry experts," Gotti said.
During the season the team travels to competitions across the nation, including:
"All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio
"National Arabian Horse Judging Contest in Tulsa
"American Quarter Horse World Show in Oklahoma City
"National Reining Horse Futurity in Tulsa
"American Paint Horse Spring Sweepstakes in Ft. Worth
Gotti, who received her bachelor's degree in animal science from Texas Tech in 2008,
stresses that horse judging educates students, many of whom want to work in the horse
industry after graduation, about current industry standards and its criteria for conformation
and performance.
In addition to judging competitions, she said team members coordinate and host educational seminars and events at Texas Tech for regional youth. Chief among these opportunities to serve the community are invitational horse judging clinics, area and state FFA horse judging contests, and assisting with a university-sponsored summer camp.
Members of this year's Tech horse judging team include:
"Bianca Abraham, a freshman animal science major from Lubbock
"Hillary Finck, a freshman animal science major from Tulia
"Ashley Hardenbrook, a senior animal science major from Midland
"Kiersten Johnson, a sophomore pre-vet major from Amarillo
"Heather Moon, a freshman pre-vet major from Colleyville
"Banks Ready, a freshman animal science major from Hernando, Miss.
"Laura Smith, a senior animal science major from Belton
"Cara Wessels, a freshman pre-vet major from Missouri City
"Callie Wilbanks, a junior animal science major from Carlsbad, NM
"Eddie Voskamp, a junior history major from Thompsons
Written by Sean Cleveland
CONTACT: Rebecca Gotti, horse judging team coach, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University (806) 742-2805 or rebecca.gotti@ttu.edu
0310NM10 / Photo Credit: Norman Martin / TTU-CASNR
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