Dr. Ron Butler – Faculty member and Chair of the Department of Animal Science at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. He is an avid supporter of Cornell Cooperative Extension “outreach” educational programs, including youth and 4-H programming. He will share his vision and leadership goals for the New York State 4-H Horse Program, as well as up-dates on what is happening in the Department of Animal Science.

Dr. Lew Sterrett – Lew is Executive Director of Miracle Mountain Ranch in Spring Creek, Pennsylvania. He is an internationally known speaker and is famous for “LEADERS by H.E.A.R.T.” (Human Equine Analogies in Relational Training) or “Lessons in Leadership from the Language of the Horse”. He will be engaging all of us to pursue EXCELLENCE, by developing healthy and productive relationships. When working with children, as all of us do in the NYS 4-H Horse Program, we (“the good”) will be challenged to excel and learn to multiply our investment in the program and the youths that we work with by defining, then achieving standards of excellence. Lew will focus on “Capturing the Heart” and “Coaching the Heart”, during his time with us at Cornell University. He is also very well known for his “Sermon on the Mount” presentations. These will be very exciting presentations, DO NOT MISS IT!!

Roger Parulski – Roger is the Driving Chair for the New York State 4-H Horse Program. He has been an outstanding volunteer for the 4-H program for a very long time. Roger has been involved in the discipline of driving for most of his adult life. Roger is not only a very knowledgeable whip himself, but is also a highly qualified judge in the driving world. He judges on the local, state, and national level. Roger is a long time member of ADS (the American Driving Society) and also holds a judges card for American Miniature Horse Association. Roger has judged the National Miniature Horse Show.

Roger will be introducing the new NYS 4-H Horse Program “Driving Level Evaluations”. Learn more about what you need to do to help ensure that the youths in the NYS 4-H Horse Program are in a safe environment while driving their equines. Roger will review the new forms and talk about the evaluation process itself. Come and learn about this new part of the NYS 4-H Horse Program.

Kim Fleming – Kim is a member of the “State 4-H Office” staff in New York State. She is responsible for many of the administrative functions that relate to the staff and volunteer notebooks - which contain policies, recommended procedures, information about competition, forms, insurance information, and much more. She will be here to remind us all that these notebooks do exist, what is contained in them, and where to find the information that applies to the New York State 4-H Horse Program – to include Cloverbuds policy, “On the Grounds Skills” Evaluation forms, “Riding Level Evaluations” forms, and now the new “Driving Level Evaluation” forms.

Dave Phillips – A horse show judge for 17 years, from Penn Yan, NY. Dave presently holds judge’s cards with Palomino Horse Breeders Association, Pinto Horse Association, American Miniature Horse Association, Pony of the Americas Club, National Snaffle Bit Association, and American Quarter Horse Association/Novice Shows. Dave also judges many open and 4-H shows on the local, state, and national level. Dave showed for many years on the open and Quarter Horse circuit, currently he has been competing in eventing horse trials. He also instructs and trains horses professionally.

Ever wonder…“what is the judge looking for”? Most horse show judges are very knowledgeable in the disciplines in which they judge, and do an outstanding job evaluating a class based on well learned and established judging criteria. You may need to remember that every time you go in the show ring, it is a particular judge’s opinion, on that particular day, for that particular class. You have heard it said “if you don’t want the judges opinion, don’t go through the gate”! We all work very hard to get our horse, or the youths that we work with and their horses “ready to go in the in-gate”. What we some times forget, is that the overall impression of the horse and rider is being evaluated from in-gate to out-gate, during any horse show class. Come and learn more about the concept of a “head to toe presentation” for both the horse and the rider - from proper attire, to tack, to position of the rider, to collection of the horse, and more – it all has to “fit together”. YES…presentation is important! Come and learn from one of the best!