JUDGE APPLICANT FACT SHEET
The following is a detailed explanation of basic procedures to help the applicant become an approved Appaloosa Horse Club Judge. Completion of the requirements rest on the applicant, not the ApHC. Communication between the applicant and the ApHC is encouraged. For information pertaining to the status of your file, please contact the ApHC Judges’ Department.

1. ApHC membership: An applicant must be a current ApHC member in good standing at the time of submitting a judges application and be an active member in good standing one year prior to the applicant’s file being reviewed by the Judges’ Committee (JC) and Judges’ Advisory Committee (JAC).

2. An applicant must be at least 25 and not over 70 years of age.

3. An applicant processing fee of $100 must be received with your judge’s application. No reference forms will be accepted for applicants who have not submitted their application and application fee. Any references received prior to the application and fee will be returned.

4. Two color photos of the applicant are required. These photos will not be returned.

5. Applicant’s name must begin appearing in the issue of Appaloosa Journal one month prior to review by the JC and the JAC. Submission to the Journal will be done when the applicant processing fee and application are received in the ApHC office. (Please Note: In order for your name to appear in the June issue (prior to review in July), the application and fee must be submitted to the ApHC by no later than April 15. In order for your name to appear in the October issue (prior to review in November), the application and fee must be submitted to the ApHC by no later than August 15.)

6. 3 ApHC Judge References: An applicant must have three ApHC Judge references that have seen him/her judge. These references can include individuals the applicant has judged or has worked with while judging. Additional reference letters are encouraged.

7. 10 Show References: An applicant must have judged at least ten shows (with a minimum of 40 horses) in the last three years. Show Reference forms are to be completed by the show managers or show secretaries. A show bill and an entry count must be sent in with the show reference forms. (Applicant is to provide this information to the show.) A minimum of five (5) references will be verified by phone. All references must be mailed directly to the ApHC by the reference and not to the judge applicant. Any forms received from the applicant will be returned.

8. 3 Junior Judge References: Applicants may be required to jr. judge up to two (2) ApHC shows at different locations. Judges carded with AQHA and/or APHA are not required to jr. judge. The ApHC approved shows that you jr. judge must have cattle and jumping classes. One of the shows must have at least 35 horses or 300 entries. The junior judge must turn their judge’s cards into show management at the completion of each class. These cards will be submitted to the ApHC along with the show results for evaluation of the junior judge’s placings. When jr. judging, you must judge the entire show. The official judge must complete the Jr. Judge Reference Form and the ApHC Field Exam and submit it to the ApHC.

The ApHC recommends that junior judging take place after the applicant has passed through the CBC seminar. Please contact the Judges’ Department for updates. It is the policy of the ApHC Judges’ Committee to instruct all judge applicants to first contact the ApHC Judge to obtain permission to jr. judge with them. After arranging a jr. judging assignment with the official ApHC Judge, the applicant must then contact the show committee, show manager or show secretary to obtain permission to jr. judge at their show.

9. Once your file is complete, you will be:

     A. Reviewed by the ApHC Judges’ Committee and the Judges’ Advisory Committee.

     B. Applicants that have completed all their requirements and have been given favorable approval by the JC are required to attend the International Equine Judges Seminar & Judge Applicant School managed by the Color Breed Council. All information regarding date, time, location and fees for the school will be forwarded to you. The school is generally the last week of January each year in Oklahoma City. Failure to attend the school without just cause requires the applicant to reapply.

     C. At the judge applicant school, applicants will be video tested (200 points) and be required to live judge halter and performance classes (400 points). The applicant will also be interviewed (200 points) and evaluated by a panel of ApHC approved judges (100 points). A written, closed rulebook test will also be issued consisting of true/false and multiple choice questions (200 points). A minimum test score of 80% is required.

     D. After successfully completing the judge applicant school with a score not lower than 957 points out of a possible 1100 points (87% required to pass), you will have one year to complete your jr. judging requirement if you have not already done so.

     E. After your jr. judging is completed you will be reviewed by the ApHC Judges’ Committee once again. The Judges’ Committee will make the final determination and award ApHC judges cards to those individuals whose conduct, ability and performance warrant the privilege.

10. If the applicant does not receive favorable approval to attend the judge applicant school, a two year waiting period is required before reapplying.

11. Applicants who attend the judge applicant school and complete their jr. judging requirements, but do not receive their judge's card must also wait two years before reapplying.

12. Applications not completed within two years from the time the application and application fee are received will be dismantled and the applicant will have to reapply.

Judges Application form (click here)