Mike Rosser

Mike Rosser has been an “R” Judge for the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) for 3+ decades and is also a judge for AQHA ( American Quarter Horse Association). He has judged many prestigious horse shows, including Devon, Capital Challenge, Wellington, Menlo Classic, Washington International, The Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada and The AQHA World Show.

Mike and his wife Alicia own Reynard’s Ridge in Southern Pines, NC for over 30 years, where they have been teaching, training, foxhunting, and showing successfully. Offering services for starting young horses, training hunters and jumpers of all levels, and competing at the Medal-Maclay and Grand Prix levels, Mike and Alicia take a “building blocks” approach to training both the horse and rider. Mike was awarded the NCHJA (North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association) “Horseman of the Year” in 1998 and again in 2007, and is a past President of NCHJA .

Reynard’s Ridge is located at the historic Young’s Farm in Southern Pines, North Carolina, and are directly adjacent to the Walthour-Moss Foundation, a 4000-acre nature preserve dedicated to wildlife and equestrian purposes. Our horses enjoy hacking the miles of wooded trails of the Foundation, making for a restive break from showing and training.

This Judge’s Answers:

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Otis Brown, Jr. (“Brownie”)

Otis Brown Jr. (“Brownie”) is a third generation horseman and known world wide for his exceptional eye for young talent of both horse and rider. He has run Brass Lantern Farm for over thirty years. Originally based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Brownie and former rider Patty Johnson Stovel claimed fame with numerous Championships in hunter divisions throughout the Country, including wins in the International Hunter Futurity, and International success in Grand Prix Show jumping including Olympic trials and the World Equestrian Games.

“Brownie” is a popular judge across the country and an articulate clinician. His judging venues include all the top shows and circuits – WEF, Ocala, HITS in the Desert – and all of the top rated national horse shows. Brass Lantern is now in Georgetown, KY. where Brownie continues to teach students and assist young professionals in the industry.

This Judge’s Answers:

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Walter “Jimmy” Lee

Walter “Jimmy” Lee is an Internationally renowned hunter judge, trainer, breeder and is held in highest regard by his industry peers. As owner and trainer of seven USEF (formerly AHSA) Grand Hunter Champions, Mr. Lee’s positions have included Chairman of The National Show Hunter Hall of Fame, Vice-Chairman of the International Horsemen’s Advisory Committee, past president of the Virginia Horse Shows Association, and board member of the AHSA and The American Horse Council. Additionally, he has been Vice-President of the Virginia Horse Industry Board and serves on the board of the International Hunter Futurity. He formerly served on the Hearing Committee, Licensed Officials Committee, Executive Committee, Nominating Committee, Drugs and Medications Committee and Clinics Committee of the USEF organization.

Mr. Lee is a Senior Judge with USEF which is the governing body for the United States Federation Equestre Internationale. He has judged at all major shows (Madison Square Garden, Devon, Harrisburg) in the United States and Canada and has also given judging and riding clinics for the USEF and The Canadian Equestrian Federation and has judged the Royal Dublin Horse Show.

He has trained over 125 VHSA year end champions and AHSA Horse of the Year Champions including Jet Run, South Side, Catalyst, Allegro, Free Ride, Doc O’Day, Macho, Obi-1-Knobee, and Scot To Do. In addition, Mr. Lee has trained Jumper Champions at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show at Devon and The Washington International Horse Show at Washington, DC.

This Judge’s Answers:

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Bucky Reynolds

J. Arthur “Bucky” Reynolds II officiated at every major horse show in the U.S. and has trained and ridden winners from New York City’s Madison Square Garden to the winter equestrian mecca of Wellington, Florida, and hundreds of events in between. For more than five decades, he was a leading figure and frequent champion on the nation’s hunter-jumper circuit.

Bucky’s horse show achievements range from hunters to jumpers, from championships in the hunter divisions at the National Horse Show to winning the Grand Prix of New York. His historic champions are a Who’s Who list in the hunter division including Henry the Hawk, Roman Lyre, Square Lake, Stocking Stuffer, Gabriel and Gozzi, whose rider Bernie Traurig stated was the best hunter he ever rode.

“He was a top, top, top horseman,” said long-time trainer Don Stewart, Jr. of Ocala, Florida. “He had world-class horses and he was a great rider. He was very disciplined in everything he did, and very easy to be around. A wonderful temperament.”

Bucky was selected for the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame in 2017 and honored at a ceremony at the Devon Horse Show near Philadelphia in May. He joined his late father, J. Arthur Reynolds Sr., and his sister, Betty Oare of Warrenton, both previous Hall honorees. All three, as well as his brother-in-law, Ernie Oare, are also in the Virginia Horse Shows Association Hall of Fame. They’re often referred to as their sport’s royal family.

Sadly, Bucky Reynolds passed away at the age of 78 in July of 2017.

This Judge’s Answers:

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Sue Ashe

Sue Ashe is one of the country’s most well rounded horsewomen, successful as a rider, trainer, horse show judge as well as parent. Her involvement with horses began in childhood and she has worked with such trainers as George Morris, Gordon Wright and Otto Heukeroth. Her early showing years earned her the AHSA (now USEF) Medal Finals at Madison Square Garden. She has years of training experience and is a parent to top child riders Neil and Molly.

Sue’s judging schedule is non-stop and she is a welcome, respected judge at shows from Palm Beach to Thermal each spring. Summers find her judging competitions throughout the East, South, Midwest and West. She is often judging Medal finals in the fall and is a clinician in between.

This Judge’s Answers:

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Conformation Showmanship:  (more…)