January - May
Brazos County Horse Judging Contest
January 11, 2025
Bryan, TX
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. Juniors have the option to say a set of halter reasons. Intermediates say one set of halter reasons. Seniors say a set of halter and a set of performance reasons. Hosted by Brazos Extension Horse Committee.
Eligibility: 4-H and FFA members.
Age Divisions: Junior (3rd-5th grade), Intermediate (6th-8th grade), and Senior (9th-12th grade)
Awards: Scholarships for high point individuals. Buckles and ribbons; individual and team awards.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Equine Public Speaking Challenge
January 19, 2025
Fort Worth, TX
The Equine Public Speaking Challenge gives youth the opportunity to earn scholarships while presenting an issue in the Equine Industry with a possible solution. The contest consists of two rounds of prepared speeches; the top twelve from round one move on to round two.
Eligibility: Texas residents aged 14-18.
Awards: Scholarships are awarded to the top five - $12,000 (1st), $10,000 (2nd), $8,000 (3rd), $6,000 (4th), and $4,000 (5th). First place also receives a buckle and a vest or jacket. Second and third place receive ribbons.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Equine IQ
January 20, 2025
Fort Worth, TX
This is an individual contest that includes a multiple-choice test, identification stations, and oral questions. The top five Seniors participate in a speech round on a topic selected at random from a predetermined list.
Eligibility: Texas residents aged 8-18.
Age Divisions: Junior (Ages 8-10), Intermediate (Ages 11-13), Senior (Ages 14-18).
Awards: The top five Seniors receive scholarships of $12,000 (1st), $10,000 (2nd), $8,000 (3rd), $6,000 (4th), and $4,000 (5th). First place in each age group receives a buckle and a vest or jacket. First through fifth place in each age group receives a ribbon.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Senior Horse Judging Contest
January 21, 2025
Fort Worth, TX
This contest is for Senior teams of 3 or 4 and determines who will represent the TQHYA and the state of Texas at two national contests later in the year. This contest consists of 2 to 4 halter classes, 4 to 6 performance classes, and 3 sets of reasons.
Eligibility: Texas 4-H, FFA or TQHYA members aged 14-18. Register through your organization.
Awards: Each member of the overall high scoring team receives a $2,000 scholarship and a buckle. The top two teams will represent the TQHYA at the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Horse Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the top team will represent Texas at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. The High Point Individual receives a $4,000 scholarship. Rosettes will be presented to the members of the top five (5) teams and to the ten (10) high individuals in the Contest. Awards will be presented to high individuals and high teams in halter judging, performance judging and oral reasons scores.
2025 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Senior Horse Judging Contest Information
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Horse Skillathon
February 9, 2025
San Antonio, TX
Contestants enter as individuals. The contest consists of a multiple-choice test, identification stations, and oral questions. The top five Senior contestants move on to a public speaking round.
Eligibility: Texas residents age 8-18.
Age Divisions: Junior (8-10), Intermediate (11-13), and Senior (14-18).
Awards: First place Senior receives a scholarship of $10,000. First place in each age division receives a buckle and $100 cash. Second and third place in each age division receive a plaque.
2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Competitive Events Premium List updated 1-22-2025
2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Competitive Events Information
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Horse Judging Contest
February 10, 2025
San Antonio, TX
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 halter classes, 4 performance classes, and 10 questions. There are no reasons.
Eligibility: Texas 4-H and FFA members.
Age Divisions: Junior (8-13), Senior (14-18).
Awards: High Point Senior Individual for both 4-H and FFA receives a $10,000 scholarship.
2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Competitive Events Premium List updated 1-22-2025
2025 San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Competitive Events Information
San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Equine Skillathon
February 16, 2025
San Angelo, TX
Contestants enter as individuals. The contest consists of a multiple-choice test, identification stations, and oral questions. The top five Senior contestants move on to a public speaking round.
Eligibility: Texas residents age 8-18.
Age Divisions: Junior (8-10), Intermediate (11-13), and Senior (14-18).
Awards: First place Senior receives a scholarship of $10,000. First place in each age division receives a buckle and $100 cash. Second and third place in each age division receive a plaque.
2025 San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo Equine Skillathon Information
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Horse Judging Contest
March 10, 2025
Houston, TX
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 to 4 halter classes and 4 to 6 performance classes, for 8 classes total. FFA students do not give reasons. 4-H Seniors give one set of halter and one set of performance reasons. 4-H Juniors give 1 set of halter reasons. Registration is through the Judging Card website by your 4-H or FFA leader.
Eligibility: Texas 4-H and FFA members.
Age Divisions: Junior (up to 8th grade), Senior (9th-12th grades).
Team Awards: Senior High Point Team receives a trophy and buckles. Junior High Point Teams (1st-5th) and Senior High Point Teams (2nd-5th) receive team trophies and ribbons.
Senior Individual Awards: Awards are given for overall high point and reasons high point individuals. The Overall High Point Senior receives $1,500 cash and a buckle; Reserve High Point Senior receives $750 cash and a plaque. The Overall Reasons Senior receives $1,250 cash and a plaque. Plaques and ribbons are awarded through 20th place.
Junior Individual Awards: Awards are given for overall high point and reasons high point individuals. The Overall High Point Junior receives $750 cash and a buckle. The Overall Reasons Junior receives $750 cash and a plaque. Plaques and ribbons are awarded through 20th place.
2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Exhibitor Handbook
2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Horse Judging Contest Information
EquiFest of Kansas Open Youth Horse Judging Contest
March 21, 2025
Salina, KS
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 halter classes and 4 performance classes. Intermediate division gives 2 sets of reasons; Senior division gives 4 sets of reasons. The Limited division is for novice competitors who are new to horse judging and will have a test instead of oral reasons.
Eligibility: Ages 18 and under.
Age Divisions: Intermediate (7-13), Senior (14-18), and Limited (all ages).
Awards: Unknown. Both team and individual awards are given for Overall High Point, class placings, and reasons. Awards are given to the top 10 individuals in the Limited division.
NHJTCA Spring Sweepstakes Judging Contest
April 9-11, 2025 (details to come!)
Canyon, TX
Tennessee Walking Horse Youth Judging Contest
April 2025 (details to come!)
Shelbyville, TN
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 5 to 8 halter and performance classes. Seniors give one set of halter reasons and one set of performance reasons.
Eligibility: Anyone aged 10-19 who has not completed one year of college.
Age Divisions: Junior (10-13) and Senior (14-19)
Awards: Scholarships are awarded to the top ten overall senior reasons individuals and the overall senior reasons team. Cash prizes are awarded to the overall junior team and the top three high junior individuals. Top individuals and teams will be recognized during the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in August.
June - December
Pinto World Championship Horse Show Speech Contest
June 2025 (details to come!)
There are four categories in which to compete. Seniors can enter “Extemporaneous” or “Impromptu”. Seniors and Juniors can enter “Prepared Speech” or “Public Speaking”.
Eligibility: Anyone aged 18 or under.
Age Divisions: Junior (13 and under) and Senior (14-18)
Awards: Unknown.
Pinto World Championship Horse Show Youth Judging Contest
June 2025 (details to come!)
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 to 4 halter classes and 4 to 10 performance classes. Regular Senior division will be giving four sets of reasons. Regular Junior division will give two sets of reasons. Novice division will not be required to give reasons.
Eligibility: Anyone aged 18 or under.
Age Divisions: Junior (13 and under) and Senior (14-18)
Awards: Unknown.
APHA Youth Team Tournament
June/July 2025 (details to come!)
Will Rogers Memorial Center - Fort Worth, TX
Contestants can enter as individuals (to be put on a team) or teams of up to 6. The contest consists of four components and a grand finale finals competition. Events include: 1) The Great Amazing Race, 2) The TikTok-esque Video Challenge, 3) Knowledge Relay, and 4) Written Test. The top 6 teams compete in the Grand Finale Finals.
Eligibility: Anyone aged 18 or under.
Age Divisions: None.
Awards: Unknown. Top six teams receive awards.
APHA horse IQ World Championship Youth Judging Contest
June/July 2025 (details to come!)
Will Rogers Memorial Center - Fort Worth, TX
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 to 6 halter classes and 4 to 6 performance classes. Senior division will give four sets of reasons. Junior division will give two sets of reasons.
Eligibility: Anyone aged 18 or under.
Age Divisions: Junior (13 and under) and Senior (14-18)
Awards: Gist trophy buckles will be presented to the first-place team members. Awards will be presented to the top 10 individuals and top 5 teams in each division and category (halter, performance, reasons, overall).
APHA horseIQ World Championship Youth Judging Contest Information
ABRA Youth World Show Judging Contest
July 2025
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 to 3 halter classes and 4 to 8 performance classes. Contestants will give 2 to 4 sets of oral reasons.
Eligibility: Anyone aged 18 or under.
Age Divisions: None.
Awards: Unknown.
AQHYA World Championship Show Art/Photo Contest
August 2025 (details to come!)
OKC Fairgrounds - Oklahoma City, OK
AQHYA members have the chance to show off their artistic side in the art/photo contest. The contest will consist of two categories - art and photography. Each contestant may enter up to three entries in the contest. Entries will be displayed in Section 300 in the Norick Arena during the Ford Youth World.
Eligibility: AQHYA members.
Age Divisions: Juniors (13 and under) and Seniors (14 and over).
Awards: Unknown.
AQHYA World Championship Show Horse Judging Contest
August 2025 (details to come!)
OKC Fairgrounds - Oklahoma City, OK
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 to 4 halter classes and 4 to 6 performance classes, for 8 classes total. Four sets of oral reasons shall be given (with the exclusion of the Limited division), of which at least one set of reasons shall be on halter and at least one set of reasons on performance. Limited Division Only: Two sets of five questions each will be asked of contestants.
Eligibility: 4-H, FFA or AQHYA Affiliate members.
Age Divisions: None, but the Limited Division allows youth with limited judging experience or coaching to have an introduction to competitive horse judging.
Awards: Unknown.
AQHYA World Championship Show Speech Contests
August 2025 (details to come!)
OKC Fairgrounds - Oklahoma City, OK
There are three speech contests at the AQHYA World Championship Show: Prepared Speech, Impromptu Speech, and Public Speaking. More information is available on the link below.
Eligibility: AQHYA members.
Age Divisions: Juniors (13 and under) and Seniors (14 and over).
Awards: Unknown.
APHA horseIQ Youth and Collegiate Judging Contest
September 20-28, 2025 (details to come!)
Will Rogers Memorial Center - Fort Worth, TX
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. The contest consists of 2 to 6 halter classes and 4 to 6 performance classes. Senior division will give four sets of reasons. Junior division will give two sets of reasons.
Eligibility: Anyone aged 18 or under.
Age Divisions: Junior (13 and under) and Senior (14-18)
Awards: Gist trophy buckles will be presented to the first-place team members. Awards will be presented to the top 10 individuals and top 5 teams in each division and category (halter, performance, reasons, overall).
APHA horseIQ World Championship Youth and Collegiate Judging Contest Information
AQHA World Championship Collegiate Horse Judging Contest
November 2025 (details to come!)
Oklahoma City, OK
AQHYA members may audit the collegiate horse judging contest for free. This is a learning experience at the largest collegiate horse judging contest. Auditors do not say reasons.
Eligibility: AQHYA members.
Awards: No awards are given to auditors. They are scored and placed.
2024 AQHA Collegiate Horse Judging Contest Youth Auditor Registration
NCHA Judging Contest
November 2025 (details to come!)
Fort Worth, TX
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of up to 5. This contest judges only cutting horse classes during the 2024 NCHA Metallic Cat World Championship Futurity. The contest will include a rulebook test, penalty clip test, and the scoring of two sets of runs.
Eligibility: Ages 14-18.
Age Divisions: None.
Awards: Buckles are awarded to champion and reserve champion teams and individuals. Trophies and cash are awarded to top 5 teams.
Collegiate and Youth NRHA Judging Contest
December 4, 2025 (details to come!)
Oklahoma City, OK
Contestants can enter as individuals or teams of 3 or 4. One or two classes consisting of 10 horses, if available, will be scored and placed. Each contestant will be required to take a written test covering the current NRHA Handbook. Each contestant will be required to take a 25 to 50 penalty clip test.
Eligibility: Ages 13 and up as of January 1, 2024.
Age Divisions: None.
National Reining Horse Association Futurity
2024 Collegiate & Youth Reining Judging Contest Rules and Entry Form