NEO Horse Judging Team Won National Championship
The team secured top honors at the APHA Horse IQ Junior College Championship held in Fort Worth.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Large Animals
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The Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Horse Judging Team has earned the APHA Horse IQ Junior College Championship. Four students from the college swept the top five individual rankings during the competition.
Why it matters
The team's success in judging halter and performance classes highlights the rigorous academic and practical preparation required for collegiate equestrian competition.
Four members of the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College team finished in the top five overall standings. Macyn Olson led the group as High Individual Overall, followed by Kaylee Sells, Bryleigh Colbert, and Keeley Brooks.
The players
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
The institution whose horse judging team took top honors at the championship.
Macyn Olson
The student who was named High Individual Overall.
Kaylee Sells
The student who placed third overall in the individual rankings.
Bryleigh Colbert
The student who placed fourth overall in the individual rankings.
Keeley Brooks
The student who placed fifth overall in the individual rankings.
The details
Team members competed by evaluating halter and performance classes and delivering reasons to judges in Fort Worth, Texas. The group earned Champion Reasons, Champion Halter, and Reserve Champion Performance honors. They now prepare to travel to Ohio for the All-American Quarter Horse Congress.
Timeline
The team won the APHA Horse IQ Junior College Championship in October 2026.
The team travels to Ohio for the next competition in October 2026.
Beyond the 305
The APHA Horse IQ Junior College Championship serves as a key indicator of performance for collegiate equestrian teams. This victory sets a strong competitive precedent for the group as they head to the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio.
Students and faculty at the college are looking ahead to their next test in Ohio. Competitors will need to maintain their performance standards to repeat their recent success in the upcoming national event.
The takeaway
The team's performance highlights the high level of technical proficiency required in modern horse judging. Follow the upcoming All-American Quarter Horse Congress results to see if the team can maintain their current momentum.
What happens next
The team is scheduled to compete at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress in Ohio in late October 2026.
Further reading
For more on collegiate equestrian achievements, visit the Large Animals section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Newstalk KZRG.
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