FRANKLIN FURNACE  – Area youth converged on the Ohio Horse Park for the Equine Career Development Event (CDE) judging competition. Twelve teams from Ohio and Kentucky competed for team and individual honors.

Nine senior teams and three junior teams represented Boyd County 4-H, Collins Career Center, Diamond Oaks Career Center, Grant Career Center, Logan Elm, Minford FFA, Oak Hill FFA, Scioto Rough Riders 4-H and Scioto Trail Riders.

Teams evaluated three performance-classes of horses. These included halter, western horsemanship and English equitation. Participants placed the classes and answered five questions related to the horses. Additionally, they completed a written test and identified a variety of equipment.

Mark Abell is a nationally certified judge, a Southern Campus adjunct instructor and the Ohio University Southern Equestrian Team coach. Abell judged the class and ranked horses from one to four.

The event was organized by the Equestrian Team and coaches Abell and Bradie Chapman, Southern Campus lecturer and assistant coordinator of the Ohio Horse Park Center for Therapeutic Riding.

Chapman shared that activities such as this can positively impact participants lives and potential careers in the future. “To date, there are over 18,000 opportunities for employment as a qualified horse judge,” Chapman said.

Results:

Senior Team

• Second place: Boyd County 4-H (1,475 pts)

• Second place:  Diamond Oaks Career Center (1,288 pts)

• Third place: Logan Elm (1,217 pts)

Junior Team

• First place: Scioto Rough Riders 4-H (1,186 pts)

• Second place: Boyd County 4-H (949 pts)

• Third place: Scioto Trail Riders 4-H (893 pts)

Senior Individual

• First place: Caleb Martin- Boyd County 4-H (386 pts)

• Second place: Rylie St. Clair- Boyd County 4-H (386 pts)

• Third place: Lauren Gardner- Oak Hill FFA (381 pts)

Junior Individual

• Second place: Ella Crum- Boyd County 4-H (377 pts)

• Second place: Lainie Johnson- Scioto Trail Riders (362 pts)

• Third place: Sydney Burchett- Scioto Trail Riders 4-H (310 pts)