Judging the Arabian Nationals: It all started with a love of horses and showing at local horse shows
Posted on Wednesday, November 5, 2008
GENTRY ó With roots in Gentry and childhood memories of showing at local horse shows, Steven Lieblang has risen to the highest levels of the Arabian Horse Industry, judging the recent U. S. Arabian National Championship horse show in Tusa, Okla.
More than 1, 800 purebred and half-Arabian horses traveled from across the United States and Canada to show in the national championships held in Tulsa. Top horses and riders competed in 126 classes over a 10-day span that included halter, native costume, reining, working cow, cutting, trail, show hack, sidesaddle, park horse, driving, English, western and hunter classes.
Lieblang grew up around horses and inherited his love for the animals from his mother, Heather Lieblang. Although he doesnít really remember it, Lieblang said he started showing at an early age at Pony Club events while living in California. When he was 9 years old, Lieblangís family moved to the Gentry area, and he began showing at the Association of Northwest Arkansas Riding Clubs, better know as ANWARC shows.
From the very beginning, Lieblang said his mother drilled the principles of correct riding into him. Because of her early influence, Lieblang has found it easy to be naturally balanced on a horse and has a knack for getting along with horses.
After graduating from Ozark Adventist Academy in 1986, Lieblang went on to Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, where he graduated with a degree in corporate communications. He used his degree to work for Schneiders Saddlery, a company which sells tack and horse-show equipment.
Lieblangís natural talent and background with horses was quickly noticed, and after working as a manager and assistant trainer, he became a professional trainer, working for top horse farms such as Tamar Arabians and Battaglia Farms.
Between the horses he trained, the students he coached and the horses heís personally shown, Lieblang has over 20 national and reserve-national championships under his belt.
Lieblang said he decided to become a judge because he loved horse shows and thought it would be fun to judge. He earned his certification to judge shows recognized by the Arabian Horse Association and the United States Equestrian Federation in 2000, but it wasnít easy.
ì Itís a slow and expensive process, and itís difficult to do as a trainer because youíre showing all the time, î Lieblang said.
Lieblang had to complete intensive educational courses, and pass a series of evaluations with both organizations to earn his judgeís card. In 2006 he earned his certification to judge regional and national horse shows.
ì It was really the quickest I could get my certification, because you have to judge a minimum of 10 shows over six years and then go sit before a panel... they grill you, and I passed, î he said.
In 2007, Lieblang judged the AHA Region 15 Championship show, and in 2008 he judged the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, the Ohio Buckeye Show, the East Coast Championships and U. S. National Championships.
Next April, he is looking forward to judging the Arabian Breeders World cup in Las Vegas, Nev. The European-style show will have two American judges and three European judges, and the showís Web site, www. arabianbreedersworldcup. com, states itís the organizationís goal to ìachieve the highest possible standards of judging. î
At the U. S. National championship show, Lieblang was in the English judging panel with two other judges, but at other shows he judges all other classes except working cow and dressage. English or saddle-seat riding is based on the style of riding used by plantation owners ñ the horsesí gaits had to be comfortable enough for the rider to spend long hours in the saddle and showy enough for a trip to town.
While in the ring, Lieblang said he tries to remember that each horse deserves special attention at all levels of shows. Even if it is not a big horse show, itís still a big deal to the owners, he explained.
ì It takes a bit of a special person to stand out there 10 to 13 hours a day, it is difficult but at the same time I love it. I try to be very exhibitor friendly; I want exhibitors to feel like weíre glad they came, î he said.
Lieblang, who is now living in Richmond, Texas, also works as a property manager for Taliid Arabians. Although he has a different perception than some Arabian horse enthusiasts because he didnít choose the breed but grew up working with them, Lieblang said he enjoys Arabian horses for their adaptability, amiable temperaments and their desire to please and do a good job for their riders.
For more information on Arabian horses or Arabian horse shows, visit www. Arabianhorses. org.
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