WHC 2025 Certified Judge Seminar
The date for the WHC 2025 Certified Judge Seminar has been set for April 5, 2025.
Please check back often for more details as they become available. Thank you!
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WHC 2024 Certified Judge Seminar Recap
The 2024 WHC Certified Judge Seminar was held on April 6, 2024, at the Holiday Inn Stevens Point, 1001 Amber Avenue, Stevens Point, WI 54482. This year's Clinician was Lita Perrin, ( her picture and bio are provided below), and the topic was Halter and Western Pleasure.
We would like to thank Lita Perrin, the WHC Certified Judge Seminar Committee Members, all of our volunteers, our Judges, Judge Candidates, Auditors, everyone at the Holiday Inn Stevens Point for a wonderful clinic!
We will post the 2025 WHC Judge Seminar details as soon as they are available. Thank you!
Judge Bio for Lita Perrin
Trainer/coach in Rochester, Minnesota
Has conducted clinics and judged in:
Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, US and the UK.
Perrin currently holds her AQHA, NVRHA, NSBA, APHA, ApHC, PHBA ApHCC, PtHA, POAC, WSCA, IBHA, MN 4-H and WI 4-H judge's cards.
Some major shows judged:
AQHA Select World, AQHA Q11, Q15 & Q23 Aachen Germany, EquitaLyon Championship France, ApHC Youth World, PHBA World, PtHA Congress, PtHA World, POA Nationals, ApHCC Nationals, ApHCC Congress, and Scandinavian ApHC Championships.
Perrin coached the Israeli, AQHA, youth world cup team in Australia.
Inducted in the PtHA Hall Of Fame 2019
Judges clinics POA National Convention, WSCA judge’s seminars, MN 4-H judge’s seminars, private clinics for judges and private clinics for exhibitors.
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WHC 2023 Certified Judge Seminar Recap
The 2023 WHC Certified Judge Seminar was held on April 1, 2023, at Heartland Equestrian Center, 7510 Deer Rd, Custer, WI 54423. This year's Clinician was Gigi Bailey and the topic was Trail / Trail In Hand.
We would like to thank Gigi Bailey, the WHC Certified Judge Seminar Committee Members, all of our volunteers, our Judges, Judge Candidates, Auditors, everyone at Heartland Equestrian Center and those at the Holiday Inn Stevens Point for a wonderful clinic!
Please enjoy a few pictures below from this year's event.
We hope to see everyone next year when the seminar will be held on April 6, 2024, in Custer, WI.
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WHC 2022 Certified Judge Seminar Recap
The WHC Certified Judge Seminar was held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at the Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713.
The Clinician was Dan Grunewald and he spoke on the topic of "Ranch Riding, Ranch Pleasure, and Ranch Conformation”.
During the WHC Certified Judge Seminar's lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the AQHA conducted their Ring Steward/Scribe School in the same classroom space. Lunch was provided by the WQHA for those participants only. The class was free of charge.
We would like to thank the WHC Certified Judge Seminar Committee Members, Dan Grunewald and those that attended for another informative seminar.
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WHC 2019 Judge Seminar Recap- April 6, 2019 - Comfort Suites, Green Bay & Circle E Equestrian Stables, Seymour
The WHC 2019 Judge Seminar was held on April 6, 2019, at the Comfort Suites, 1952 Bond Street, Green Bay, WI 54303 for the Classroom sessions and lunch and at Circle E Equestrian Stables, W1424 County Rd V V, Seymour, WI 54165 for the Live Demos and Judging.
This year's clinician was Ginger Schinktgen Bellin. Ginger covered the topic of "Diversity of the English Horse for the Open Show".
Ginger attended Marian University and graduated with a major in communication. Ginger became a professional horse trainer in 2000. She worked at Royal Crest farm for 2 years. At the time Royal Crest was one of the largest breeders of American Saddlebreds in the Mid-West. Ginger broke colts and learned how to develop show horses in large quantities. Ginger became certified in therapeutic Riding and taught at Free Spirit Riders. She taught there for 12 years along with teaching at REINS. Throughout Gingers professional career the special need riders have kept her grounded while running a show barn.
Ginger opened De Equus Stable in 2002 and started her business. During that time she developed horse and riders to go on and win tittles at our national world championships in huntseat, saddleseat, western, working western and roadster pony driving. Judging horse shows is also a love of hers. Ginger has judged school shows to class “A” American Saddlebred shows. This year she has been given the opportunity to judge a draft show
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WHC 2018 Judge Seminar Recap - April 7, 2018 - Rawhide Boys Ranch
On Saturday April 7, 2018, the Wisconsin Horse Council Judges, Judge Candidates and Auditors attended the annual WHC Certified Judge Seminar held at the beautiful Rawhide Boys Ranch.
The WHC Seminar Committee works hard year round to provide the highest level of education possible for our Certified Judges and Judge Candidates. We were honored this year to have Stephanie Lynn as our clinician. Stephanie brings over 35 years of training, showing, and coaching riders. Stephanie has judged in several World Championship shows and holds judge’s cards in the American Paint Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association and the National Snaffle Bit Association.
This year’s topic was Horsemanship. For the morning session held in Rawhide’s beautiful auditorium, Stephanie Lynn shared video of Horsemanship at the NSBA to demonstrate the evolution of this popular class. She then explained and had everyone practice the most up-to-date scoring method with the provided scoresheet. Questions were encouraged and answered with Stephanie’s 35 years of judging experience.
The Rawhide Boys Ranch provided a delicious buffet lunch just a short walk from the auditorium.
After lunch with another short walk to the arena, the afternoon session of live judging began. Stephanie had this year’s seminar participants practice scoring individual Horsemanship maneuvers by the demonstrators. There was a variety of breeds in the Horsemanship demonstration, ranging from Paint, Palomino, Quarter horse, and Buckskin horse. After that, several complete patterns were demonstrated before the final live testing.
Planning for the 2019 Judges Seminar is already underway. Next years topic will be English pleasure (hunt and saddle seat with all types of breeds). The Judges Seminar will April 6, 2019.
The WHC Judges Committee would like to extend and HUGE thank you to Stephanie Lynn, Rawhide Boys Ranch and all of the owners and exhibitors who brought their horses for us to judge and all of those attended this event.
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WHC 2017 Judge Seminar Recap - April 1, 2017 - Rawhide Boys Ranch
On Saturday April 1, 2017, the Wisconsin Horse Council Judges, Judges Candidates and Auditors attended the annual WHC Judges Seminar held at the beautiful Rawhide Boys Ranch.
The WHC Seminar Committee works hard year round to provide the highest level of education possible for our Certified Judges and Judges Candidates. We were honored this year to have Sid Larson as our clinician. Sid brings his experience as a nationally credentialed judge in ten different breeds and holds judge’s cards in the American Paint Horse Association, Pinto Horse Association and the International Buckskin Horse Association.
This year’s topic was Showmanship. For the morning session, held in Rawhide’s beautiful auditorium, Mr. Larson shared videos of Showmanship past and present to demonstrate the evolution of this popular class. He then explained ,and had everyone practice, the most up-to-date scoring method with the provided scoresheet using video demonstrations. Questions were encouraged and answered with Mr. Larson's 40 years of judging experience.
The Rawhide Boys Ranch provided a delicious buffet lunch, just a short walk from the auditorium.
After lunch with another short walk to the arena, the afternoon session of live judging began. Mr. Larson had this year’s seminar participants practice scoring individual Showmanship maneuvers by the demonstrators. There was a variety of Showmanship disciplines being demonstrated ranging from Western, Hunt Seat, Saddle Seat and even a miniature horse. After that several complete patterns were demonstrated before the final live testing.
The WHC Judges Committee would like to extend and HUGE thank you to Mr. Sid Larson, Rawhide Boys Ranch and all of the owners and exhibitors who brought their horses for us to judge, and all of those attended this event.
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WHC 2016 Judge Seminar Recap
On Saturday April 2, 2016, the Wisconsin Horse Council Judges, Candidates, and Auditors braved the unexpected spring snow and sleet to slip-slide their way to the beautiful Rawhide Boys Ranch for the annual Judges Seminar. With the quality of the facility, once on the grounds all travel worries disappeared as there is no need to change locations from classroom to arena.
The Seminar Committee works year round to provide the highest level of clinicians possible for this event to ensure that our Certified Judges have access to the utmost in education available. And Kevin Kline, Ph.D., a well respected Professor from the University of Illinois, is just one of those educators.
For the morning session, Professor Kline offered many "pearls of wisdom" as he presented the classroom session of this year's focus topic "Conformation". He kept the morning lively and interactive with anecdotes, case studies, and a good number of video judging opportunities. Questions were freely accepted and answered with wit and the wisdom of many years of experience.
A short walk took everyone to their favorite part of the day; a buffet lunch provided by the residents of the facility, where everyone was able to refuel for the afternoon's live judging.
This year's demo horses were particularly stellar as you can see from the pictures below. This made the live judging just a little bit more difficult. "I want that one. No, maybe that one. Then, again, maybe that one." Decisions, decisions, decisions. (All in a day's work for a judge, as those who've spent a day in center ring can attest.) But choices had to be made as those seeking their WHC Judges Cards and those with the need to re-certify pitted their judging skills against those of Professor Kline. The written tests were then handed out and those attending headed home in the now beautiful (it's Wisconsin, after all) spring weather.
The Seminar Committee, after cleaning the stalls, immediately met to begin planning the 2017 WHC Judges Seminar. No grass growing under the feet here! Once clinicians and facilities are arranged, that information will be released. Until then, the Committee wants to sincerely thank Professor Kline, the AWESOME owners and exhibitors who brought their fabulous horses out for us, Rawhide Boys Ranch, and all those who came out to attend this event.
Remember, you don't have to be a Judge (or have any desire to be one) to attend. If you want to learn more about what really happens in center ring, consider attending one of the annual WHC Judges Seminars. Education is always your best investment.
Rawhide Boys Ranch is located just outside of New London on the Wolf River and has all the charm of an old-west town. The facilities include a heated barn, equestrian center and lunch buffet. Please read more information below on the Rawhide Boys Ranch.
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Changing Lives of At Risk Youth and Their Families
Rawhide is a 501(c)(3) recognized charity, founded in 1965, by John and Jan Gillespie and Hall of Fame Quarterback Bart Starr and his wife Cherry. Rawhide has redirected the lives of thousands of youth that have either lived on our residential campus or received services through our numerous counseling clinics.
Today, Rawhide boys ranch offers a full continuum of at risk youth programs in Wisconsin, including intensive residential care for troubled young men. We also offer a spectrum of prevention-based programs for troubled boys, girls, adults and families. At Rawhide ranch, you will find committed, caring and professional staff who are focused on achieving positive outcomes with every youth or adult we serve.
Why not put almost 50 years of successful experience to work for your child or family and learn first-hand what the Rawhide difference can produce in your life?
The Rawhide Boys Ranch will be the location for the 2015 Wisconsin Horse Council’s Judge Seminar. We are featuring clinician, Lance Treptow speaking on Trail. Lance has been an AQHA and NSBA judge for over 18 years. He has judged many of the major shows thru-out the United States, Canada and Europe.
As a trainer and exhibitor for over 40 years, the horses under his guidance have earned numerous AQHA Championships, Superior Event Awards, Congress Wins, and Top Ten Honor Roll placings. Lance has served on the American Quarter Horse Association board of directors for 20 years and also holds the position of an AQHA Show Steward.
