WT Horse Judging Team Named Reserve Champion at World Competition

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

High ranking follows successes in other fall competitions

CANYON, Texas - The West Texas A&M University Horse Judging Team was named reserve national champion at the 2026 American Quarter Horse Association World Championships.

The team placed second overall and second in each of the contests-halter, performance and reasons. The team was only 22 points behind the champion team from Texas A&M University at the contest, held Nov. 8 in Oklahoma City.

"We are incredibly proud of these students and the hard work, dedication and commitment they have shown throughout the season," said Dr. Christy Petry-Adams, coach and clinical assistant professor of agricultural business and economics in the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. "Their determination, resilience and countless hours of preparation have led to another outstanding finish."

The AQHA showing follows a season of high placements throughout the fall, including an overall victory at the recent Arabian Nationals Horse Judging Contest.

In the senior division at the AQHA show, Camryn Barton, a senior agricultural media and communication major from Amarillo, ranked sixth overall, second in halter, ninth in performance and seventh in reasons.

Charli Wells, a junior animal science / pre-vet major from Holdrege, Nebraska, placed seventh overall, fourth in performance and fifth in reasons.

Isla Anderson, a junior psychology major from Elbert, Colorado, ranked eighth overall, fifth in performance and 10th in reasons.

Ethan Hendrix, a junior animal science major from Piedmont, South Dakota, ranked 11th overall, eighth in performance and fourth in reasons.

Muireann Benn-Rothstein, a junior biology / pre-med major from Peyton, Colorado, also ranked 13th in reasons.

In the limited college division, Kenzie Brossman, a sophomore agribusiness major from Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, placed fourth overall, eighth in halter, fifth in performance and ninth in reasons.

Saul Flores, a senior equine industry and business major from Dimmitt, placed seventh overall, sixth in halter, eighth in performance and second in reasons.

Lexie Wollert, a junior agricultural business and economics major from Burlington, Colorado, placed 10th overall, sixth in performance and fifth in reasons.

Previously, the WT team took home a championship at the Arabian Nationals, held Oct. 30 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, placing first in halter, second in performance and first in reasons on its way to an overall victory.

In individual contests at the Arabian Nationals, Wells placed second overall, first in halter and reasons, and eighth in performance. Wells also won the Jody Zeier Memorial Trophy for earning the highest score in the reasons category.

Barton third overall and in halter, fourth in performance and second in reasons. Also competing were Anderson, Benn-Rothstein and Carrie Miller, a junior animal science major from Mount Crawford, Virginia.

Earlier this fall, the team was reserve champion at the All American Quarter Horse Congress, held Oct. 14 in Columbus, Ohio.

Hendrix placed fourth overall, Barton placed fifth, Wells placed sixth and Anderson placed seventh. Also competing were Benn-Rothstein, Miller and, in the limited division, Flores and Wollert.

At the American Paint Horse Association Horse IQ Youth and Collegiate Judging Contest, held Oct. 2 in Fort Worth, the team placed third overall. Individually, Wells placed sixth overall, followed by Barton in seventh.

The WT team also was reserve champion at the Back to Schooling Horse Judging Contest, held Sept. 30 in Gainesville. Anderson placed second overall as an individual.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of about 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and three doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference; WT offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: The West Texas A&M University Horse Judging team was named reserve champion at the 2026 American Quarter Horse Association World Championships. Pictured are, from left,Simone Allen, Rylee McKinney, Saul Flores, Ethan Hendrix, Charli Wells, Isla Anderson, Muireann Benn-Rothstein, Carrie Miller, Kenzie Brossman, Lexie Wollert, Camryn Barton, and Dr. Christy Petry-Adams.

-WT-