Judges

Kathy started showing Morgan Horses in Illinois, while attending High School. Her appreciation for the breed continued through to her professional horse training career, including AMHA Local, Regional, National and World Championships. Kathy received her USEF Morgan Judge’s card in 2007. This will be her third time to judge MGN and she is looking forward to a great show. 

Darrell Case is a well-known Morgan and Saddlebred Trainer who has trained at Willowbank Farm in Simpsonville, Kentucky since 1994. He began to work with Morgans at the Harrell Family’s, La Mirage Stables in Farmville, North Carolina in 1989. Then as a student at East Carolina University, he was a riding instructor, trained, and showed Morgans for five years before leaving for a position in Kentucky with the trainer and breeder Joan Lurie. He has participated in and has won blue ribbons in the Oklahoma Grand National and the Saddlebred World Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. He and his wife, Katie Case, who is also a trainer and riding instructor, enjoy RV camping with their nine-year old daughter, and their two dogs–a Golden retriever named Luca and a Yorkshire terrier named Lollipop.

Chris has been a USEF-licensed judge since 1989. Along with his wife, Michele, they own and operate Culbreth Equine Training and Management LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. Holding multiple cards with USEF, Chris has officiated at hundreds of National Championships and rated horse shows in South Africa, Namibia, Brazil, Australia, Canada, Uruguay and the United States. In addition to training, showing and judging horses, Chris is very active within the Arabian Horse Association. These duties have included being the National Chairman of Committees and Commissions to include the AHA Judges & Stewards Education and Evaluation Commission, AHA Breeders Sweepstakes Commission, AHA Internal Audit Committee, AHA Professional Horseman’s Committee, AHA Internal Audit Committee and AHA Director for Region 7 (Arizona, Nevada, Utah).

Stephen Davis has a lifelong passion for the Morgan Horse. As a youth, he apprenticed with Master trainer/showman Bob Baker, in his native town of Middlebury, Vermont. During that time, he had the opportunity for the hand’s-on development of many young horses, including an association with numerous National Champions. Through this New England network, Steve met his future wife, Dr. Josie Davis, and Dr. Donald Balch, Director of the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm in the neighboring town of Weybridge, VT.

After obtaining a B.S. Degree in Animal Science from UVM in 1972, Steve was hired by his alma mater and began a 45-year career of employment initially as Horseman and subsequently as Director of the University of Vermont’s Historic Morgan Program. Highlights from this era include exhibiting at the inaugural 1973 Morgan Grand National in Detroit, judging his first Grand National in Oklahoma City in 1982 and being involved in the production and promotion of several Grand National and World Champion UVM Morgans over the years. Retired since 2017, Steve and his wife continue to work a few horses. As a 40 plus year registered judge in the Morgan Division, Steve is honored to be on the 2025 judging panel, his twelfth assignment officiating in center ring at Oklahoma City.

Susi is a well-known and respected American Saddlebred breeder, trainer, instructor and exhibitor. She was one of the top amateur riders in the country, earning 13 World Championship titles under the direction of Marilyn Macfarlane’s Walnut Way Farm and Steve and Julia Joyce’s Castle Hills Farm, before marrying her husband Bret Day and opening up their Grey Ridge Farm in Versailles, Kentucky in 1996. Together, they have trained and instructed numerous horses and riders to World and National Championship titles. Susi is a licensed official in the Saddlebred, Saddle Seat Equitation, Roadster, Hackney and Morgan divisions.

Keith Friday grew up in Gansevoort, NY where he and his family own and operate Rolling Oaks Morgans LLC. He began showing and training horses at a young age and has always put all of his efforts towards his family, horses and farm. Keith’s riders show in all three seats and harness and have numerous National and World titles to their credit.

Maggie Friday is a Morgan judge, and a trainer and instructor at Rolling Oaks Farm in Gansevoort, NY where she grew up riding and began competing at the age of 7. She started her career showing Saddle Seat but has gone on to coach riders across all disciplines to ride with confidence and competence. She has a passion for riding and training young horses with her husband Keith, and her amateur and equitation students are frequent winners.

Chuck has been a Professional Horseman, Breeder and Instructor for over 45 years in the Saddlebred Industry. Chuck and his wife, Nancy opened their Cedarwood Farm in 1980.

Chuck has been a licensed official in Saddlebreds, Roadster, Hackney and Saddlebred Seat Equitation for over 35 years and most recently licensed in the Morgan Division.

Chuck is a past President of the UPHA and an Inductee into the UPHA Hall of Fame.

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!

Gayle is currently an adjunct professor at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri after being the saddle seat program director there for 41 years. Gayle holds judges’ cards in nine equestrian disciplines, and has judged competitions in 43 states as well as Australia, Canada, Great Britain and South Africa. She has also conducted clinics in 25 states and 3 foreign countries.

Gayle has judged the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show ten times.  The first time was in 1993 and the most recent one was in 2022. She is honored and excited to be asked to judge again this year. Gayle has also judged the Northampton Morgan Horse Show twice. In 1996, Gayle coached the U.S. Saddle Seat equitation team to a gold medal at the World Cup Competition, held with Equitana in Louisville, KY. The outstanding Morgan rider, Georgia Hunter, was on the team that year. Gayle has conducted numerous USEF Judges clinics for Applicants, Morgans, National Show Horses, Saddlebreds, and Saddle Seat Equitation.

In addition to teaching and judging, Gayle also has shown Saddlebreds, Morgans and Arabians. In 1979, Gayle showed Zephyr’s King Moro to win the Ladies Park Horse Under Saddle Championship at the Grand National Morgan Horse Show.  In 2003, Gayle showed her own horse, Callaway’s Born to Win, to earn the Ladies Five-Gaited Championship title at the World Championship Saddlebred show held at the Kentucky State Fair. Additionally, at the United Professional Horseman’s Association American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, Gayle won the Five-Gaited Ladies National Championship on Born to Win in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

Gayle has been the recipient of the United Professional Horseman’s Association Equitation Instructor of the Year Award, the Missouri-Kansas Horse Person of the Year award at the American Royal Horse Show, the “Distinguished Professor Award” at William Woods University, and the Lurline Roth Sportsmanship Award at the American Saddlebred Horse Convention. In 2007, she received the Audrey Gutridge Award at the World Championship Saddle Horse Show held at the Kentucky State Fair. Also in 2007, The American Riding Instructor’s Association awarded Gayle the title of “Master Instructor”.  In 2015, Gayle was inducted into the “Missouri Sports Hall of Fame”.  Gayle was the first “horse” person ever to receive this honor other than one jockey and one rodeo rider. In 2024 Gayle was honored with “The Settler’s Award” from the Kingdom of Callaway.

In 1996, Gayle authored the book “Riding for Success, Both In and Out of the Show Ring” and in 2013, the revised edition of this book was printed. In her spare time, Gayle enjoys walking, planting trees, feeding ducks and playing ping-pong.  She even managed to win a Gold Medal at the 2000 Missouri Show Me Games in the Women’s single Table Tennis the same day she coached the first-place winner in Academy equitation at the Boone County Fair. The newest addition to Gayle’s life is Porchy, a little black feral cat, who moved in with Gayle in 2024 during a snow storm.

My career with horses began on our family farm where I will be the fourth generation to preside. Morgans were introduced as the farm’s main focus in the early 1980s and the herd we manage consists of, on average, 40 head. Our main objective is training, breeding and showing for individuals and other facilities both in and beyond the U.S. We also manage a lesson program with a student base equal to the number of horses. My judging career began just out of high school, when I was licensed through the New England Horseman’s council. Shortly after, I applied and received  small “r” status through the U.S. Equestrian Federation. After five years, I was promoted with my large “R” status and since have judged Morgan competitions throughout the U.S. and Europe for a total of 25 years now. It is a great honor to be judging the Morgan Grand National for the fifth time.

Kail is a Judge/Technical Delegate/Clinician and Trainer. She is a  licensed official with the Federation Equestre Internationale, American Driving Society  and United States Equestrian Federation. She holds “R” status in Pleasure Driving as  a Judge and Technical Delegate with the ADS and USEF. She is a “R” Dressage, and  Coaching Judge with the ADS. She also holds “Senior Status” for Combined Driving  with the ADS, “R” with the USEF as a Combined Driving Judge.  She currently holds level 2 status with the FEI as a Driving Official.

Kail has been involved with carriage driving horses her entire life. She has competed since the age of eight; driving singles, pairs, tandems, unicorns and four-in-hands in both pleasure and combined driving. She studied ridden dressage with Robert Hall at Fulmer International in Aiken, SC. A car accident in 1996 led Kail to pursue a career  judging.

Kail has worked with many different breeds, and has produced numerous  Championships and Reserve Championships in driving and in-hand.  She is a member of the World Coaching Club. Kail also has been the organizer and course designer for many shows. Kail travels throughout the country officiating, as well as conducting clinics for all levels and types of driving.  Kail recently has also produced 2023 USEF Intermediate National Single Horse champion Sunrise’s Commander and Ryley Miller, 2024 USEF Reserve VSE Training National Champion McDreamy and Mary Baldwin, and 2024 USEF Bronze Medal Training Single Horse Windfall’s First and Mary Baldwin. As well as currently producing her daughter at the FEI 3 star level.

Fatima is a USDF Silver Medalist as well as a USEF/USDF “R” Dressage judge and USEF “R” Western Dressage judge, with 48+ years of judging experience. She has been active in the Morgan Horse community for 30+ years, from initially showing a champion Morgan, then judging this magnificent breed.  Her goal is to promote and support the growth of the community for all ages and levels. As a third-generation equestrian professional, her philosophy is that it is all about the journey.  She takes a positive, kind, and constructive approach to both judging and teaching and hopes to inspire and encourage the growth of adult amateurs and young riders.

A thirty-five-year veteran of equestrian sport, Ms. Reupke has an abundance of experience, from competing and training as a professional to officiating and competition event management.

As a professional, she qualified many students for Provincial, Regional and National Championships with a focus on pairing and purchasing suitable mounts with her junior and amateur students.

Her focus now rests on competition management and judging hunters and jumpers across North America.  She currently holds a position as Director, Equestrian & Breed Sport  and Show Manager at the world-renowned Royal Horse Show in Toronto, Canada.

I am excited to have the opportunity to judge at the Grand National and World Championship Morgan Horse Show once again.  I am an R Western Dressage judge and S Dressage judge who is also an active amateur competitor in both disciplines, competing through Grand Prix and Level 4 in Western Dressage.  I love and respect the Morgan horse and have had the opportunity to judge them at both the Jubilee of Breeds show and the Citrus Cup in the past.  Looking forward to watching great rides and talented horses.

Nancy owns, trains and instructs at  Meadow Wood Stables in Salem, Virginia,  specializing in saddle seat riding with Saddlebreds,  Friesians, Morgans and Hackney ponies.

She has been in business at the farm for 42 years, opening the current business along with her husband Danny in 1983.  They ran the stable together until his passing in 2021, training an average of 15 show horses year-round with  a riding lesson program averaging 75 students per week, taking horses to approximately 15 horse shows a year. She continues to operate the stables on a full schedule.

She has served as secretary for the United Professional Horsemens Association (UPHA), a long-time member of ASHA, Hackney Society and Road Horse and Pony Association, Morgan Horse Association and American Road Horse and Pony and USEF . She is the current  UPHA Chapter18  chairman , past president of the Roanoke Valley Horseman’s association, current member of the Virginia Horse Shows Association and has been inducted into the American Saddlebred Association of Virginia  Hall of Fame, served on the Board of the Virginia Horse Industry Board. Nancy is currently First Vice President on the board for Virginia Horse Council and manages the Virginia Winter Tournaments

She has her “R” judging license in Saddlebred, Saddle Seat Equitation, Hackney, Roadster, Morgan and Friesian and has judged shows across the United States, including Lexington Junior League, Friesian World Championship, Morgan Grand National and the World Championship for Saddlebreds, Hackneys and Roadsters.

Karen Winn grew up riding hunters in Princeton, New Jersey, but spent many summers in southern Vermont, where she was introduced to the Morgan breed at West River Lodge in Newfane, VT.  The pride of the Lodge was Lippman Hawk, a feisty gelding who had won both Roadster and Justin Morgan Versatility trophies at the Morgan Nationals.  As an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts, Karen was a member of the UMass Equestrian Drill, a team made up entirely of homebred Bay State Morgans, performing at the Eastern States Exposition, Mass Morgan Show, and in other regional parades and exhibitions. 

Karen has lived in Lexington, Kentucky for many years, where she has been active in the busy horse industry on many fronts.  She worked in the equine departments of both the University of Kentucky and Midway College.  In addition, she has worked as Business Manager for the American Hanoverian Society, as Chief Operating Officer for the United States Pony Clubs, and as Executive Director for the American Saddlebred Horse Association.  Karen is now retired.

Karen holds judges cards in Dressage, Western Dressage, and Eventing, and is also an Eventing Technical Delegate and an Eventing FEI Chief Steward.  She breeds and shows Black & Tan Coonhounds, and  competes in Dressage with her Oldenberg gelding.

Jay Wood is a decorated trainer, judge, and horseman. Born in Minnesota, he was fortunate enough to be raised by parents and successful Morgan horse trainers Ernie and VeeAnn Wood. As a result, Jay spent his formative years around Morgans show horses and fell in love the breed, and it was from an early age that Jay knew he wanted to spend his life working with show horses. It was close to home that he was able to get his start with this as throughout his youth he worked at Westwood Farm, his parents breeding and training operation. Working at Westwood gave Jay the chance to attend some of the nation’s finest Morgan horse shows. For instance, he was able to experience the early days of the Grand National in Detroit, the Gold Cup, and, of course, the Grand Nationals in their present location, Oklahoma City. Eventually, Jay was able to branch out. Over the course of his teens and early twenties, he worked under several top Morgan and Saddlebred trainers before finally following in his parents’ footsteps and returning to take over the running of Westwood Farm in Plato, MN. Currently, Jay, and his wife Jean, raise and train American Saddlebreds and Hackney Ponies, but he has never lost his love of the Morgan Breed. Beyond training, Jay has his USEF judge’s card for the Hackney, Saddlebred, and Morgan breeds and has judged some of the nations best shows including the Kentucky State Fair, The American Royal, Lexington Junior League, New England, Jubilee, and, of course, the Grand National. In addition to the horses, Jay has been a volunteer FireFighter for 30 years, including serving as Chief of the Plato Fire Department and the President of the MN Fire Service Foundation. Jay wishes all exhibitors, owners, and trainers the Best of Luck at this year’s Grand National.