John Pipkin, a nationally recognized horse judging team coach and expert in equine care and industry relations, has been named Executive Director of Texas Tech University’s Equestrian Center within the university’s award-winning Department of Animal & Food Sciences, officials announced this week. He will step into his new administrative post on Sept. 2.
“I am extremely excited and honored to join the Texas Tech Equine Program,” Pipkin said. “With the excellent record of success and tremendous support for the equine program and teams, this is a terrific time to join the Department of Animal & Food Sciences in this role. My primary goal is to help support and advance all facets of the program. As a Texas Tech alumnus, I am very thankful and fortunate for the opportunity to return and contribute that Dr. [Chance] Brooks, the administration, and Equine Advisory Board is providing me."
Prior to joining the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources’ administration, Pipkin worked as the American Quarter Horse Association’s Director of Officials. In addition, he served more than three decades in a variety of positions at West Texas A&M University, including Paul Engler College of Agriculture & Natural Sciences’ Regents Professor of Animal Science, Equine Industry Program Director, and leader of an award-winning horse judging team as Head Coach.
Under his leadership, the judging team won 160 national, world champion and reserve champion titles; and the equestrian and ranch teams have won over 60 national champion and reserve champion titles. Outside of the university, Pipkin judged hundreds of shows in several different countries and over 20 world championships and trained and showed horses professionally in several different disciplines.
Honors include ‘First Choice’ recipient from West Texas A&M’s Department of Agricultural Sciences (2024), AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year (2023), Texas Tech Department of Animal & Food Sciences Hall of Fame Advanced Graduate of Distinction (2014), and Texas A&M University System Teaching Excellence Award (2011).
Among Pipkin’s duties at Texas Tech will be managing unit assets including facilities and horses, optimizing financial operations, providing leadership to all staff, establishing goals, and ensuring compliance with university operating policy and procedure.
Program officials note that the mission of the 100-acre equestrian center, which is located 10 miles southwest of the main campus, is to transform lives by providing innovative, ethical, student-focused equine programs and hands-on experiences, while engaging with others to improve the industry and communities.
Home to the Texas Tech Equestrian Team, Horse Judging Team, Ranch Horse Team, Rodeo Team and Therapeutic Riding & Therapy Center, it features a 125-feet wide by 255-feet long indoor arena with offices, a covered warm-up arena, three outdoor arenas, and an outdoor warm-up arena, as well as a 180-stall barn and a five-stall barn for horses.
During the past 15 years Texas Tech’s Ranch Horse Team has won a series of national championships. Separately, the Therapeutic Riding Center uses a sensory trail and a fully enclosed 100 feet by 200 feet arena. The center’s mission is to provide high quality equine-assisted services in the South Plains for people with disabilities and special needs as well as veterans programs.
CONTACT: Clint Krehbiel, Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or Clint.Krehbiel@ttu.edu
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