The American Quarter Horse Association Judges and Executive committees recently voted to remove Rule SHW 910.12, “A judge shall accept mandatory retirement at age 75.” 

Retired judges have the opportunity to return to the list of AQHA-approved judges if they pass the appropriate judge recertification exam. The Judges Committee stipulated that all returning judges, from all-around to specialized judges, will be required to take and pass the rulebook and video tests.

All-around judges will take a 50-question test on the AQHA rulebook, with allowance to use an open rulebook the last 10 minutes of the exam. There are four video tests: reining, trail, western riding and horsemanship. 

Judges will be required to make a minimum 80 percent on the rulebook test and 75 percent on the video test to pass. Practice rulebook and video tests will be sent to each applicant. 

Specialized judges will take a 25-question test on the discipline they are testing for as well as a video test. Roping applicants will take a video test on tie-down, heading and heeling. Again, a passing grade will be 80 percent on the rules and 75 percent on the video test.

Applicants may not apply for specialized cards in halter, cutting, reining, team penning/sorting or working cow horse unless they are already approved by the corresponding alliance association – World Conformation Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, National Reining Horse Association, United States Team Penning Association/Ranch Sorting National Championships or National Reined Cow Horse Association. However, regardless if an applicant is approved by the alliance association, the applicant must pass the AQHA recertification exams. 

Testing has been tentatively set for July 22 at the Sheraton DFW in Irving, Texas. If you are interested in going through the process to obtain your AQHA judging credentials, you must fill out the form and submit it to AQHA, along with your $100 seminar fee, by June 26.

 Additional information will be posted on www.aqha.com/seminars.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter and visit www.aqha.com/news.