Judges

Terry Jones Brennan of Summerhill Farm in Hollister, CA, has been a part of a family-owned Morgan breeding program her entire life. Terry has trained and shown family-owned Morgans to championship titles at world, regional and local shows.

For over 30 years, Terry has been a licensed USEF judge, carrying a large ‘R’ in Morgans, Andalusians and Friesians.  Judging the Morgan Grand National is always an honor for Terry as it showcases the best of what the Morgan breed has to offer.

Missy’s career has been largely as a Morgan horse trainer.  She fulfilled many a dream by successfully training and showing horses all over the West Coast, as well as garnering many world championships with annual trips to OKC. 

Missy transitioned into the nonprofit world where she has been using her expertise, experience, and business background to make a difference in the lives of others.  

After serving 10 years as the Executive Director at the Marconi Automotive Museum and Foundation for Kids, Missy is now enjoying her new responsibilities as Director of Operations for the Arthritis National Research Foundation.

One thing that remains as a constant, is her love for the Morgan horse and its community. It has been, and continues to be, a vital part of her life. 

Lisa makes her home just north of Kansas City Missouri where she has owned and operated Linden Hill Stables for the past 20 years. A graduate of Stephens College and a Horse Trainer’s Kid, Lisa has had the opportunity to be involved with American Saddlebreds, Morgans, Hackney Ponies and Roadsters for most of her life. She is the mother of Madison Pope, a well known Junior Exhibitor and enjoys her free time “being Mom.” 

Lisa holds a USEF Judges license in Morgans, Saddlebred, Equitation, Hackney Ponies and Roadsters. She is also Co-Chair of the UPHA Exceptional Challenge, Co-Chair of the NCHS Summer Kick off Horse show and the UPHA Chapter 5 Secretary. Lisa is honored to be on the panel of Judges for this year’s Morgan Grand National.

Terry resides in Scottsdale, Arizona and manages Regency Cove Farms. He has been involved In the horse industry for almost 50 years. He has trained, shown, bred and judged during that time. His father was a veterinarian in Iowa, So the love for horses was inevitable.

He is married to his wife, Melissa and has one daughter, Chloe who will graduate from medical school in 2022. Both Melissa and Chloe are accomplished riders and have shown many times throughout the years with much success. 

Terry has been a licensed judge for over 25 years. He has judged numerous national championship horse shows in six different continents around the world.He has judged the Arabian United States national championship show four times.Terry admires and respects all of our equine breeds and disciplines. He is very honored to judge his first Morgan Grand National. He has attended the show a few times and can’t wait to be here. He would like to wish everyone the best of luck at this prestigious event.

Ann is a Purdue University graduate and is from Denver, Colorado, where she has owned and operated a show horse training facility since 1985. Ann trains Arabians and Half-Arabians and has won national awards in several divisions. She has served as a judge since 1993 and holds cards in USEF Morgan, Western Dressage, Arabian, Western/Stock Seat; PtHA (Pinto Horse Association, NRCHA (National Reined Cow Horse) and AMHA (American Miniature Horse Association).

Ann has judged the U.S. Arabian National Championships seven times, the Pinto World seven times, the U.S. Arabian Youth Nationals three times, the AMHA World Show four times, the South African Arabian Nationals, Canadian Pinto National Championships, Australian Miniature National Championships and the Canadian Miniature Horse National Championships.

In 2014, 2016 and 2018, Ann was named APAHA Horsewoman of the Year and was inducted into the APAHA Hall of Fame in 2020. In 2015, she was inducted into the Pinto Judges Hall of Fame and was named again into the Pinto Hall of Fame as Horsewoman of the Year in 2018.

When not showing or judging horses, Ann enjoys her job during the NFL season as rider of Thunder, the Denver Broncos’ mascot, and loves the thrill of riding down the field to the roar of a crowd of 75,000 fans each time the team scores!

The McCrea family has been involved with Arabian Horses for over 65 years. Bruce has been a Professional Horseman for nearly 50 years. He has seen success as a trainer, instructor, breeder and manager of some of the most prestigious farms in the World. Retired in 2018, he spent the last 25 years of his career in Saudi Arabia. He has been a USEF judge since 1976 and continues to judge shows around the World. He lives in Edmond, OK with his wife and teenage daughter.

Owner/Manager of Sunrise Stables in Versailles, Kentucky, Melissa Moore is a complete professional. Not only does she turn out champion show horses, she also runs a successful breeding program, standing four stallions and caring for approximately 25 broodmares. Dedicated to perfecting her training and showing skills, Melissa has become well-known in the winner’s circle. Over her relatively young career, she has personally accumulated over 55 World Championship or Reserve World Championship titles. She has trained approximately 35 additional horses that have won World or National Championship titles for their owners. The American Saddlebred Horse is in her blood, being the daughter of legendary Hall of Fame horse trainers, Tom and Donna Moore and sister to World Champion trainer, Melinda Moore.

In addition, Melissa is a sought-after judge and adjudicates at approximately five shows a year from Coast to Coast. Notably, the UPHA American Royal, the South African National Championship, Lexington Junior League, The Royal Winter Fair, The Morgan Grand National and the Kentucky State Fair World’s Championship Horse Show.

Joshua Noble lives in Rowley, MA on his family’s historic Burkland Farm. Josh is the fifth generation to train and breed Morgan horses. Growing up with Dr Bob Orcutt (his grandfather) and Pat Tataronis-Orcutt, Joshua has been involved in Morgans his entire life.

Josh also has a masters degree in education and works as a special education teacher at a local high school.

Josh has his “R” for Morgans and hopes to pursue his Saddlebred judges card in the near future. A former winner of the AMHA young trainers judging scholarship, Josh views judging as a very important way to give back to the Morgan Horse community which has given him and his family so much. He is very excited and honored to be given the opportunity to judge the 2021 Morgan Grand National Horse Show. He wishes everyone the best of luck at the show.

Sheri retired as a professional trainer to pursue her judging career full time.  Sheri is a multi-carded judge and currently holds cards for the Arabian, Morgan and Pinto Horse Associations as well as a USEF Saddle Seat Equitation card.  She has judged internationally as well as multiple National and World Shows.  Sheri is currently serving as the Chair of the Equitation and Showmanship Committee for the Arabian Horse Association. 

For over 30 years, Joni Osteen has been a licensed USEF judge, holding her large “R” in the Hunter, Jumper, and Hunt Seat Equitation divisions. Joni competed successfully as a junior, amateur, and then as a professional after graduating from UCLA in the1980s. She and her husband, Rick Osteen, own a horse show photography business which photographs all breeds, including Morgans, Saddlebreds, Arabians, Hunters, and Jumpers. Joni is honored to have been chosen to judge the Morgan Hunter, Jumper, and Hunt Seat Equitation classes.

Muffy is from Williston, SC and is a well-known driver, trainer, clinician and competitor in combined driving.

Having started driving in the mid 80’s, she has held her Registered Pleasure Driving and Combined Driving USEF and ADS licenses for the past 25 years. She has won every major combined driving event in the U.S. and has been very successful in the Pleasure Driving ring as well.

Muffy enjoys the Morgan ability, character and willingness to try in every aspect of driving.

Sandy Sessink has been enthusiastically involved in Morgan horses for over 45 years.  Most notably, she and her late brother Calvin produced World Champion performance horses and equitation riders in all three seats for 30 years from their Michigan stable, Old Orchard Farm.  Sandy’s history making riders have set the standard, and influenced the saddle seat equitation division, in particular, for generations.  Having instructed and mentored successful trainers such as Mary Carlton, Becky Gruenberg, Stacy Hennessy and Jessica Cavanaugh, Sandy has earned the moniker of “instructor’s instructor.”

This is Sandy’s seventh appearance officiating at the Grand National.  She has also judged the Saddle Seat Equitation National Finals at the American Royal eleven times, and has been to South Africa to serve on the panel for the World Cup International Saddle Seat Competition. 

Sandy has most recently been using her expertise as a clinician, teaching at various venues from coast to coast, and she also enjoys the challenge of managing horse shows.        

Bill and his wife Lisa, reside in Knoxville, TN, where they own and operate Clover Leaf Stable. Bill is a USEF licensed official in the Morgan, Saddlebred, Saddle Seat Equitation, Friesian, Roadster and Hackney Pony divisions. He has judged major shows across the US, including the World’s Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair, the UPHA American Royal in Kansas City and the Lexington Junior League Horse Show. He has trained many World Champion and Reserve Champion horses and Equitation riders.

Lisa and her husband Bill, own and operate Clover Leaf Stables in Knoxville, TN. Together, they have had the pleasure of working with World and National Champion horses and equitation riders. Lisa is a USEF licensed official in American Saddlebreds, Saddle Seat Equitation, Morgans, Roadsters, Hackneys and Friesians. She has been a licensed judge the better part of her adult life. She has officiated at most major shows including the World’s Championship, Lexington Junior League, the American Royal Equitation Finals, Morgan Grand National and almost every Saddle Seat Equitation final. She has also had the pleasure of officiating the South African Saddle Horse Championships in Bloemfontein as well as other shows in South Africa.

In addition to judging, she has served in the past as UPHA Saddle Seat Equitation Chair and as coach of the US World Cup Three-Gaited team. Lisa is looking forward to the honor of judging Morgan Grand National again.