At the August American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Board of Director's Meeting, locations for the 2008 Judge's School were selected in be held conjunction with Diamond Jubilee in Del Mar, CA, in April; Southern States Regional Morgan Horse Show in Raleigh, NC, in May; and North Star Morgan Americana in St. Paul, MN, in July.

These three-day events combine classroom work with learner judging under a stringent itinerary in an actual horse show setting. Overseen by two to three administrators, applicants receive an intense classroom education regarding Morgan type and conformation, Morgan judging standards, specifications governing each section of the Morgan division, as well as information on ethics and organization. Then it is on to ringside where applicants view classes and complete and sign judges' cards. They later are put to task explaining to administrators and peers their reasons for pinning the class(es) as they did. Applicants also will accompany the regular horse show judge(s) inside the ring, pinning classes, and later discussing them with the officiating judge. Both show judge(s) and school administrators submit evaluations of the applicant's performance to USEF. Recorded and Registered Morgan judges also are required to attend AMHA Judges' Schools to keep their cards current. They go through much the same work as applicants. Interaction between the two groups benefits the applicant as they work alongside someone who already has center-ring experience and perhaps a different perspective. At the end of the school, those who haven't yet done so are required to take a written exam, focusing primarily on rules and Morgan standards, and receive a passing score of 85% or higher.

For more information on becoming a Morgan judge or retaining your Morgan Judging Card, please visit www.morganhorse.com/benefits/judging.php.