The best way to get started in a judging career is to start early.  4-H is a great way for children to get started in horse judging.  Many judges began their careers judging at a young age.  Many colleges hold judging events and work with 4-H groups to help the groups learn how to properly judge horses in halter and performance events.  Extension offices also provide 4-H groups with guides and manuals to get the children started in judging.

In 4-H children learn the basics and rules of all of the classes in a horse show.  They learn how to judge everything from reining to halter.  They also learn to give reasons, which are the most dreaded part of the judging competition for most competitors, but learning to give reasons is great for learning public speaking.  4-H is a great start for anyone interested in horse show judging. 

If you are beyond the age of 4-H, then the next great area is in college.  If you are in high school and interested in judging, then you will want to find a college that has been successful at the big judging shows.  West Texas A&M University has one of the best judging programs in the country.  They are in the Texas A&M University system, but they have two great horse show judges on their staff.  Dr. John Pipkin prides himself in his judging teams and they practice on a regular basis.  Students that are enrolled in the Equine Business program will have the opportunity to get a taste of judging by enrolling in his Equine Evaluation and Selection class.  These students will attend 4-H events and get a taste of what it is like to judge in judging competitions.  After completing the class, many students go on to join the judging team the next semester.  The school has had great success at the AQHA Congress and World Show as well as the NRHA Derby and Finals shows.  There are many great equine judging programs across the country and they are great for teaching you the basics of judging and how to properly judge a class without using your personal preferences and being objective in your judging.  Most land grant colleges have agricultural departments that have judging programs.

There is an age limit for most judges in various equine associations. The American Quarter Horse Association requires that you be at least twenty-four years old and that you attend judging seminars and testing.  The best way to   There is an application process that you must go through.  You may also have to have references from other judges as well.  The best way to get these references is to be very active in your local equine industry as well as the showing industry.  There are also many trainers who are also judges and vice versa, however, the best trainers and riders do not always make the best judges.

Check with your prospective equine association to see what their individual rules are for becoming a judge.  You will also want to obtain a rulebook from the association and begin learning and memorizing all of the rules.  Student judging is the best way to get a leg up in the industry.  If you have the opportunity to judge, do as much as you possibly can.  Every year you will learn something new and possibly the opportunity to help your coach and teach new students.  Make contact with other judges as well to get information from them on how they got their start and any other advice they might have for you.  The more learning and networking you do, the better chance you will have for getting good references and passing your test the first time.

If you have been in the equine industry for a longer period of time and you feel like judging is the next step, begin by getting an updated copy of your rulebook.  Next, contact your prospective association and get a judges packet.  They will supply you with the application, as well as seminar and workshop information.  Most associations require that you go through these as training for what the association deems as the ideal for their breed.  The association will work with you and help you get started in the process and walk you through the various steps.