Individuals interested in becoming an MFTHBA carded judge will have an opportunity to start the process later this month.  Hosted by the MFTHBA Judges Committee, the clinic planned for March 28 in Rogersville, Missouri will assist interested individuals in starting the certification process.  In addition to new judges, the clinic is open to currently carded judges or those working through the apprentice judge process looking for a continuing education opportunity.  Individuals interested in learning more about the breed, but not pursuing a judges card may attend as an auditor.   The cost to attend is only $25.

Coming off the success of a clinic in February, the committee is working to improve the training in March.  “Feedback from the previous training was positive but we also received suggestions for how we could make it a better learning opportunity,” shared MFTHBA President, Mark Mackie.

The clinic in March will focus primarily on Missouri Fox Trotting Horse performance and model judging but will include an in-depth discussion of Western Pleasure and English Pleasure classes.  The committee hopes to schedule a clinic on overall Missouri Fox Trotting Horse versatility and ranch horse judging later in 2020.

The March clinic will be held at Karen Graddy’s barn in Rogersville, Missouri.  Ms. Graddy is the co-chairman of the MFTHBA judges committee.  Complete information regarding the schedule for the day, directions to the facility, registration forms, and judge tests are available at https://mfthba.com/forms-and-downloads/judges-forms/.

Potential attendees should note that organizers are monitoring the current recommendations of health professionals regarding the COVID-19 situations.  If it is determined that changes to the schedule are needed, the information will be shared on the MFTHBA website.

The clinic is part of an overall effort to improve the training and education opportunities for MFTHBA judges.  In addition to working to improve the training format for in-person training, the committee is working on developing online materials that will assist judges and exhibitors in learning more about the judging process.  The committee is also developing a proposal for a judge selection process for the MFTHBA sponsored shows.