Exhibitors Excel at APHA’s 2026 horseIQ Collegiate & Youth Judging Contest

 

By Makenna Batchelder, APHA Media, PHJ News:

On October 2, the Watt Arena at the Will Rogers Memorial Center brought together aspiring judges from across the nation at the 2026 horseIQ Collegiate & Youth Judging Contest. With 115 individual entries and a combined 56 teams across six divisions, APHA awarded cash and prizes to top-placing individuals and teams. The event took place in conjunction with the 2026 APHA/WCHA Halter Million.

The annual event would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. Special appreciation goes out to the National Snaffle Bit Association, World Conformation Horse Association, GBSD Technologies, Red Barn Riding Company with Margy and Cassidy Morgan, the 2021 Texas A&M Judging Team—Grace Foster, Ashley Bonner, Hannah Shasserre, Madison Strief and Holly Swason—and the 2023 Texas A&M Judging Team, composed of Reagan Bennett, Brooke Kiefer, Grace Parks and Megan Gajdica. Additionally, the Top 10 Senior College individuals in Halter, Performance, Reasons and Overall categories also received complimentary membership to the Pony of the Americas Club along with a year of POA provisional judge status.

Congratulations to the 2026 horseIQ Collegiate & Youth Judging Contest winners!

Senior Collegiate Division

Overall Team: Oklahoma State University—Caysie Wood, Keely Snodgrass, Jalynn Barenberg, Madailein Beard

Overall High Individual: Faith Fry of Texas A&M Maroon

Junior Collegiate Division

Overall Team: NEO A&M—Macyn Olson, Kaylee Seels, Brylegh Colbert, Emily Hopkins

Overall High Individual: Macyn Olson of NEO A&M

Limited Collegiate Division

Overall Team: Texas A&M

Overall High Individual: Riley Guidry of Texas A&M

Youth 14–18 Division

Overall Team: Texas Elite Blue—Grace Fry, Grace Spooner, Kaylee Scott, Ava Fry

Overall High Individual: Grace Fry of Texas Elite Blue

Youth 13 & Under Division

Overall Team: Texas Elite—Katriel Hwang, Rory Daughtery, Keira Bennington, Gentry Spooner

Overall High Individual: Katriel Hwang of Texas Elite

Limited Youth Division

Overall Team: Whitesboro FFA

Overall High Individual: Emerson Knabenshue of Whitesboro FFA

NSBA & WCHA Special Recognition

Senior Collegiate Division

WCHA High Individual in Halter: Faith Fry of Texas A&M Maroon

NSBA High Individual in Performance: Lesley Munoz of Texas A&M White

Junior Collegiate Division

WCHA High Individual in Halter: Macyn Olson of Neo A&M

NSBA High Individual in Performance: Ellie Ellis of Black Hawk East

Youth 14–18 Division

WCHA High Individual in Halter: Grace Fry of Texas Elite Blue

NSBA High Individual in Performance: Kaylee Scott of Texas Elite Blue

Youth 13 & Under Division

WCHA High Individual in Halter: Katriel Hwang of Texas Elite

NSBA High Individual in Performance: Katriel Hwang of Texas Elite

 

Full results are available online at apha.com/youth/contests/youth-collegiate-judging-contest.