WT Horse Judging Team First at Nationals, Highly Ranked at World Championships

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — West Texas A&M University’s horse judging teams successfully closed out its season with high rankings at national and world championships this month.

One WT team was named champion at the National Reining Championship on Nov. 1 in Oklahoma City, outranking teams from Texas A&M University, Oklahoma State and the University of Arkansas. WT’s second team ranked sixth.

At the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship on Nov. 7, WT’s teams ranked third and sixth overall, topping teams from Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Colorado State and elsewhere.

“This completes a pretty spectacular year for our horse judging teams,” said Dr. John Pipkin, Regents professor of agriculture and director of WT’s Equine Industry Program. “They showed remarkable growth over the season, and this positions our teams as competitors to be reckoned with in years to come.”

At the world championship, Makenzie Knipe, junior agriculture education major from New Braunfels, ranked No. 1 in overall and performance and third in reasons. Hannah McLochlin, senior agriculture major from Plymouth, Ind., ranked second in reasons. Calli Montague, senior agribusiness/equine major from Mason, ranked first in reasons and second in performance. Sydni Nilles, junior agribusiness/equine major from Fox Lake, Ill., ranked first in halter and eighth overall. Sierra Stammen, junior agribusiness/equine major from Allen, ranked fifth in halter and sixth in reasons. Grant “Sal” Washington, junior agribusiness/equine major from Levelland, ranked 10th in halter.

At the national reining championship, Stammen ranked first; Grace Wolfington, junior animal science major from Sheboygan, Wisc., ranked fourth; Quinn Dunham, junior agriculture communications major from Greensboro, N.C., ranked fifth; and McLochlin ranked sixth.

WT’s horse judging teams are one of the ways the University is responsive to regional needs, as set out in long-term plan WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World. That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Photo: Members of West Texas A&M University's horse judging team include, from left, Baily Summers (assistant coach), Grant "Sal" Washington, Kami Woodard, Grace Wolfington, Lauren Heine, Sheyanne Pruett, Sierra Stammen, Sydney Nilles, Hannah McLochlin, Makenzie Knipe, Shanna Marquart, Quinn Dunham, Lauryn Harris, Calli Montague, Maggie Murphy (coach) and Dr. John Pipkin (head coach).

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 60 undergraduate degree programs, 40 master’s degrees and two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WTAMU—