Top-Five Finishes Distinguish UW Horse Judging Team

The UW 2016 horse judging team placed in the top five in every category of the limited division at the American Quarter Horse World Championship Collegiate Contest. From left are Alanna Gudmunson, Rayne Benson, Anna Bertani, Coach Jenny Ingwerson-Niemann, Ryan Fralick and Anastasia Cunico.

The University of Wyoming 2016 horse judging team wrapped up its fall season with strong finishes in October at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, and the American Quarter Horse World Championship Collegiate Contest in November in Oklahoma City, Okla.

“The team’s hard work and practice paid off,” says Jenny Ingwerson-Niemann, coach and assistant lecturer in the UW Department of Animal Science. 

Team members are Rayne Benson, of Laramie; Anastasia Cunico, from Parshall, Colo.; Alanna Gudmunson, of Cheyenne; and Ryan Fralick, from Hayden, Colo. The team was supported by teaching assistant Anna Bertani, a UW team alumna from Joliet, Ill. 

UW horse judging contestants competed individually in the limited division at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. In performance, Benson placed fourth, and Cunico placed eighth. In reasons, Benson placed 12th, and Gudmunson placed 20th. Benson earned ninth place high point overall individual.

“The team worked hard after Congress to improve its scores for the American Quarter Horse World Championship Collegiate Contest,” Ingwerson-Niemann says. 

UW placed in the top five in every category of the limited division. The results are:

Halter -- Benson, second; Cunico, sixth; and Fralick, eighth.

Performance -- Benson, fourth.

Reasons -- Fralick, fourth; and Benson, 16th.

Overall -- Benson, third; Fralick, 11th; and Cunico, 15th.