Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, 2003 was the weekend set for the NHSC?s judges applicant school. Quiet conversation over coffee and breakfast in the Hall of Fame Club at the Calsonic Arena began the morning during registration for the NHSC Judges Applicant School. Lonnie Messick was on hand overseeing the project. Judy Martin, Director of Judges, opened with the welcome and led the way in introducing the speakers for each division and recognized Rachel Reeves for all her work in getting the judges school ready for the applicants.

Approximately 50 men and women were in attendance for the school, most were new faces, but others were there for a refresher course. The day began with Bobby Richards stressing the rules and regulations, as well as good points for judging model and halter classes. Leigh Bennett made the presentation for the performance and pleasure divisions. Nicole Carswell discussed the proper way for equitation riders to perform in the equitation presentation. After a break at lunch, Jerry Thacker took the microphone and explained how to judge racking horses classes. Carswell then took center stage again to explain the academy program.

Judy Martin announced it was time for the applicant?s live judging session. Martin took over the announcing duties for the 10 mock classes, while Lonnie Messick handled the duties at the entry gate. After each class was judged by the applicants, the panel of judges (Bennett, Carswell, and Richards) explained how they tied the classes from first place to last, giving the applicants a full understanding of the process of judging.

A short question and answer session followed the live judging with the written test ending the day.

On Saturday, Judy Martin once again introduced Nicole Carswell as speaker on the versatility and equitation divisions. Carswell gave a more in depth look on how to judge the two divisions and exactly the performances that are supposed to be given. Approximately 20 judges, from certified to new, were in attendance for the versatility and equitation clinic. Those judges already licensed with the NHSC that attended the course took a written test for certification in both divisions.