Wir stellen vor: Das sind die Richter der Q24

Rick LeMay

Born in 1960 Rick LeMay was raised in the united States in Oklahoma, where he received a degree in education from East Central State University. In 1991 he moved to Europe to work with horses in the Scandinavian countries.

Specializing in reining and cutting, there he also began to compete in all around events, showing in trail, pleasure, and training amateurs, and youth.

Rick has 30,000 in NRHA earnings, and he successfully ran a training busi- ness for 25 years. In addition to showing horses himself, he also coached many non pros and trained a large number of horses.

A well known clinician Rick has taught all over Europe using his knowledge of both training horses, and judging to help riders gain insight on how to improve their performance, as well as improving their communication and relationship with their horse.

Rick continued his professional journey by becoming an approved judge in 1996 with the Swedish western society. From there he went on to get judges cards, with the NRHA,NSBA,NCHA,NRCHA, AQHA,APHA,ApHC. Rick has major events throughout Europe in every association.

Today Rick and his wife Maj-Britt live in Spain. Rick divides his time between judging, doing clinics, and playing golf.

 

Sonja Merkle

Sonja Merkle – AQHA, APHA, ApHC, NSBA, NRHA, and EWU Judge

Sonja Merkle from Germany is a highly respected judge with over 30 years of experience in the horse industry. She holds judging cards for AQHA, APHA, ApHC, NSBA, NRHA, and EWU, and has judged numerous prestigious shows across Europe. These include national championships in Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the Czech Republic, as well as major events in Lyon, Verona, and Paris.

Sonja is known for her expertise and dedication to the equestrian world, making her a sought-after judge at international events.

Daren Wright

From Chillicothe, Ohio I have been judging for 35 years. I started out as a 4H member and collegiate judging team member and progressing on to judging both open and 4-H shows and gradually working my way up through the ranks earning my breed cards. Currently I am carded with AQHA, APHA, NSBA, PHBA, ApHC, PtHA, ABRA, IBHA and NASMA.

I have been fortunate to judge multiple World Shows for each of the organizations in which I hold judging cards. I have also had the honor of judging the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, AQHA, APHA and NSBA World Shows and many major events overseas in Australia, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Amsterdam, South Africa, France, and Sweden.

I’m also the Director of the Equine Program at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Oh. Our program boasts a very large and successful IHSA Col- legiate Riding Team that has had much success at the regional and national IHSA shows.

David J. Denniston

Professional Horse Show Judge

David J. Denniston from Fort Collins, Colorado, has been involved in the horse industry for over 30 years and has more than 20 years of experience as a judge. As an Associate Professor at Colorado State University, he brings his scientific expertise to the equestrian world, combining his passion for horses with his academic career.

Holding judging cards from AQHA, APHA, and NSBA, David has officiated at many prestigious events, including the 2023 APHA World Show, the 2022 AQHA Quarter Horse Congress, the 2020 NSBA World Show, as well as international events like the 2018 APHA European National Championship Show and the 2013 AQHA European Championship Show.

David grew up with Paint and Quarter Horses and developed a passion for training and riding while attending Colorado State University. He was part of a World Champion Judging Team, which ignited his interest in judging. His academic background includes a Master‘s degree in Equine Reproduc- tion and a Ph.D. in Reproductive Physiology and Molecular Biology. Since then, he has become a prominent figure in the judging world, enjoying the opportunity to witness top performances from both horses and riders, and exchanging ideas with fellow enthusiasts.

As a judge, David’s greatest motivation is the thrill of seeing exhibitors and horses at their best and recognizing the hard work and preparation that competitors put into their performances.

 

Jan Dublin

Jan grew up in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls with a Bachelor’s degree in Equine Science.

After graduation from college, Jan lived in Ferrara, Italy for over 20 years where she trained and showed reining and all-around horses. Her accom- plishments include several Italian championships in Reining, finalist in many major events in Italy and around Europe, and she has taken many non-pros and youth to NRHA European championship titles and Italian championship titles. In 2007 she also won five silver medals at the APHA European Championships and high point awards in Trail and Halter for the Italian Paint Horse Association. After moving back to the States in 2008, she showed cutting horses and in 2015 was NCHA Reserve World Champion in the $35000 Non-Pro Class and won various year end circuit championships in Texas, Arizona, and California.

She has judged many NRHA events including numerous major events in Europe and the US. She has judged NRHA/AQHA/APHA/ApHC/PtHA/NSBA/ NRCHA shows for over 15 years including Q8, Q12, Q16 and Q22 in Aachen, Germany, Americana, the APHA European Championship, ApHC European Championship & AQHA European Championship, NRHA European Futurity, Italian Reining Futurity, Derby, and Maturity, NRHA Derby, NRHA Affiliate Championship, ApHC Nationals, ApHC World Show, AQHA World Show, AQHA-VRH World Show, PtHA World Show, APHA World Show, SHTX World Show and numerous other breed shows in the US and Europe.

She holds cards in NRHA, NRCHA, AQHA, APHA, ApHC, PtHA, ABRA, PHBA, NSBA, SHTX, ASHA, NVRHA, WRHA & NCHA (for Europe).

Jan now lives in San Angelo, Texas with her husband Chris where they ranch and raise cattle and cutting horses. She travels in the US, Canada, Europe and around the world often to judge horse shows.

 

Paola Donarini Masi

AQHA, APHA, and NSBA Judge

Paola Donarini Masi has 42 years of experience in breeding American Quarter Horses and is a well-known figure in the international equestrian world. Together with her two sons, Michele and Giovanni Masi De Vargas, she runs the renowned training facility ALBA QH 3.0, where she works as a trainer and instructor.

Paola is an international judge for AQHA, APHA, and NSBA, as well as an AQHA Professional Horseman. Throughout her career, she has trained and coached many European and Italian champions. Her expertise and dedication to the sport make her one of the most sought-after professio- nals in the Quarter Horse community.