OHIO 4-H JUDGES TRAINING PROGRAM

1. The 4-H Horse Judges Committee, through its administration of the Ohio 4-H Judges Training Program, publishes a judges list on January 1 of each show year. The list contains the names of 4-H judges who have expressed an interest in judging 4-H shows and have met the criteria established by the judges committee as listed in this document. The current judges list is made available through the local county extension office or via the internet at http://horse.osu.edu. Placement on the 4-H Horse Show Judges List is a privilege, not a right, bestowed by the Judges Committee.
2. The 4-H Horse Show Judges Training Program, and the subsequent listing of judges, has the following objectives:
1. Identification of judges that Demonstrate ability to work with youth; have good communication skills with youth, parents, and show management; demonstrate knowledge of 4-H rules and the ability to make decisions that reflect the 4-H philosophy of fairness and impartiality; and demonstrate professionalism in attire and conduct. An individual's conduct as a judge listed on the judge's list, as well as any other role the individual plays at an equine related activity, must be exemplary at all times.
2. Provide a list of the judges identified above and their capabilities as evaluated by show committees, to Ohio 4-H horse show committees, State Extension Horse Specialists in neighboring states, and other interested open horse show groups (committees).
3. To train our present judges and to provide training for beginning judges.
4. In as far as it is possible, to not list judges that may endanger Ohio's youth.

3. On the list, judges indicate classes or types of classes they feel qualified to evaluate.  The list includes the judge's name, the number of evaluations turned in for the current and previous year, the judge's address, phone number, and any breed or non-breed judge's card held.  The list also indicates if they will accept apprentice judges and are willing to judge State Fair Qualifying shows where Performance Against the Standard judging is being done.  All Experienced judges interested in obtaining approval* to judge PAS Shows must attend PAS Training Session(s) at the annual Multi-State Judges Clinic.  *For current PAS judges, this must be completed by 2010 to remain as a PAS approved judge.  As in the past, poor evaluations will be investigated by the Judges Committee
4. The Ohio 4-H Horse Judges Training Program and the compiling of the 4-H Horse Show Judges List are administered by the Ohio 4-H Judges Committee. The committee consists of the following representatives:
1. Up to three representatives of the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee, who are selected by that committee on a rotating three-year, term basis.
2. Six representatives will be judges that qualify for the experienced judge's list. Each year at least two representatives will be elected, by all attending the annual clinic for a term of three years. Representatives must attend at least 75% of the committee's meetings and functions unless prior approval has been made from the State Office.  The judges committee will nominate persons they feel are qualified to be on the committee and nominations will be accepted from those in attendance at the clinic. Voting will be done by paper ballot.
3. The State Horse Specialist will be the tenth member of the committee, and is responsible for the office administration of the Judges Training Program. All inquiries of the Judges Committee shall be made through that office.

5. All persons interested in the continued and improved success of the 4-H Horse Judges Training Program are urged to report any situation that involves a current judge who is not demonstrating conduct as indicated above. The following should be reported to The Judges Committee:
1. The individual's name and credentials
2. The exact date, time and location of the incident
3. An accurate accounting of all actions, conversations and witnesses that may be contacted by the committee for verification of the report. Upon receipt of the report, the State Horse Specialist will notify the judge and request a written or oral response to the report. The Judges Committee will review each report and reach a decision, if necessary, by majority vote. If it is determined that the judge's conduct was unprofessional as compared to the standards of conduct for judges on the judges list, that judge will not be allowed to apply to the judges list for at least the year following the decision of the Judges Committee. Multiple offenders or convicted felons will be permanently removed from the judges list.

6. The Judge's Committee as the administrative body of the Judges Training Program, reserves the right to do the following:
1. Consider all special cases for application to the judge's list (i.e. transfer judges from other states, judges returning after retirement, etc.)
2. To rule on any situation not covered in the above rules, as necessary to ensure consistency and coherency of the judges training program, and within the spirit of the 4-H program.
3. To add to or amend rules of the Judges Training Program to ensure the above stated objectives of the program.

7. Judges need to be aware of their responsibilities to show management and show management's responsibilities to the judge as set forth in the Uniform Rules for 4-H Horse Shows.
8. There are two categories of judges on the judge's list: Experienced Judge - Have completed requirements as listed below to be on the 4-H Horse Show Judge's List. Beginner Judges - Have completed the basic requirements as listed below.

Rules for being listed on the Ohio 4H Horse Show Judges' List

A.  Experienced Judges

1. Complete and achieve a minimum score of eighty five (85) percent on an open rule book test on the current Uniform Rules for 4H Horse Shows.  If a judge fails to achieve an 85%, they will be asked to retake the exam.  After the exam has been retaken, if a judge still fails to receive an 85%, the judge will be removed from the Ohio 4H Horse Judges List for one year.  It will be the judge's responsibility to contact the State Horse Specialist for the opportunity to reapply for the Ohio 4H Horse Judges List.
2. Submit a Renewal Judges Application:  (Applications will be sent to everyone on the current Judges List by October 1st of the current year).

           a.  Name, Current Address, Phone Number(s), Email (if you have one)

           b.  Areas of judging ability for which you wish to be listed.

           c.  If you are willing to judge PAS (Performance Against the Standard) shows

           d.  If you are willing to accept Apprentice Judges

3. Send in your application along with the $25 application fee, by November 1st each year to Amber D. Moffett, 2029 Fyffe Rd., Columbus, OH  43210.  No renewal applications will be accepted after the postmark deadline. After receiving completed renewal application, the open rule book exam will be sent to you.  The exam needs to be completed and sent back to the office by the Monday following the Judges Training Clinic.  If you are attending the clinic, the clinic fee should also be sent as directed.  Clinic information will be available with the Renewal Application and also online at http://horse.osu.edu.
4. Attend the 4H Judges Training Clinic and one other judges training clinic every three years; or attend the 4H Judges Training Clinic every other year.
5. Have a minimum of three (3) show evaluations turned in on shows judged in the past two years.

B.  Beginner Judges (First time judges applicants)

1. Obtain Judges Application (available online) or from Amber D. Moffett, 2029 Fyffe Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, email moffett.19@osu.edu or by phone 614-688-8109.
2. The application form requests the following information:
1. Background information on horse and judging experience
2. Three recommendations from those (not immediate family) able to evaluate your character and/or judging ability.  The local Extension Educator in your home county must do one of the recommendations.
3. The completed application must be returned to Amber Moffett with the $25 application fee by September 1st.  (Checks for application fees need to be made out to the State 4H Horse Committee)  Late applications will not be assured evaluation for the next year's judges list.
3. The applicant should submit a minimum of three (3) acceptable apprentice judging evaluations or evaluations from shows they have judged in addition to the three references required when submitting the completed application by September 1st.
4. After the completed application is submitted you will be sent a time for an interview with the State Judges Committee.  The interview will be conducted at the current year's Judges Training Clinic.  Based on results of the Interview the following will occur:
1. Applicant will be accepted to the next judges list as an Experienced Judge.  This is for applicants, with a considerable amount of judging experience or are listed on other judging lists that have a judge's training program.
2. If the applicant scores at least 85% on the interview, 80% on the judging done at the clinic, and 85% on the rule book exam, they will be placed on the Beginner List.  They have three years to advance to the Regular List.  Once a Beginner judge has 10 acceptable evaluations from shows they have judged on file they will be advanced to the Experienced List.  If a judge does not advance to the Experienced judges list in three years, the applicant will be evaluated and may be removed from the list.  When a judge is removed from the program, they cannot reapply for at least one year.
3. If the applicant scores lower in any area in (b), they may be placed on the Beginner List, but will be asked to do at least three more apprentice judging shows in weak areas to gain more experience.  The applicant may be re-interviewed the following year and determined if they will remain on the list.
4. Applicants that are not accepted at this time, may reapply after one year.
5. After the completed application is recieved, the applicant will be sent a copy of the open rule book exam which needs to be completed and returned to the office by the Monday following the Judges Training Clinic.  Information on the Judges Training Clinic will be sent with the exam and the listed clinic fee will need to be submitted and sent in according to the listed directions.
6. At the interview, the applicant and the committee decide classes they may be listed to judge.
7. If a judge does not participate in the Judges Program for more than five (5) years, they must go through the same process as new applicants to the Judges Program.