George Morris:

An equestrian legend and ‘R’ rated judge, George Morris’ influence has been monumental in the evolution of this sport both as an international competitor and as the Chef d’Equipe for the United States Show Jumping Team.  Throughout his equestrian career as an accomplished rider and teacher, Morris has experienced the thrill and challenge of being a rider in the show ring along with coaching the top riders in the world.

At the age of 14, Morris not only won the prestigious ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Finals, but also the American Horse Show Association (now the United States Equestrian Federation) Hunt Seat Medal Finals. Morris was the youngest rider in history to win both events, and from that point on he proceeded to excel as an international rider, a coach, and also as a judge.  Morris has represented the U.S. as a member of the Gold Medal-winning USET squad at the 1959 Pan American Games and the Silver Medal-winning team 1960 Rome Olympics. Between 1958 and 1960, he rode on eight winning Nation's Cup teams, and in later years served as Chef d'Equipe for numerous Nation's Cup teams as well. In 1988, Morris won the biggest purse in Show Jumping history at Spruce Meadows, Canada. In 1963, Morris began training junior equitation riders including top students Leslie Burr Howard, Norman Dello Joio, the Leone brothers, Chris Kappler, Katie Prudent, Conrad Homfeld, and Melanie Smith-Taylor, Lisa Jacquin and Anne Kursinski, and Nona Garson.  

Currently Morris serves on multiple equestrian boards while training, giving clinics, and coaching.  One of the original supporters of high performance hunter classes, Morris is passionate about the evolving hunter derby program.  When not on the road Morris resides in New Jersey.

 Julie Winkel:

Julie Winkel has been a longtime equestrian, growing up out west with both of her parents largely involved in numerous equestrian disciplines.   At just 15 years of age, she opened her first barn and began teaching lessons and traveling to shows.  As a young rider and trainer, Winkel had a desire to gain a complete education about the hunter/jumper industry. She owes much of her knowledge and training methods to Joe Fargis, George Morris, Melanie Taylor, and her parents.

Over 25 years ago, Winkel began her career as a USEF and CEF judge. Since the inception of her judge’s card, Winkel has judged a considerable number of renowned horse shows around the country. A few of those shows include Devon, the Hampton Classic, Capital Challenge, Upperville, Harrisburg, the Winter Equestrian Festival, Maclay Finals, and most recently, Winkel had the opportunity to judge the inaugural $100,000 USHA Hunter Derby Finals in Lexington, KY. In addition to her normal calendar of horse shows, Winkel will also be judging the 2010 USEF Pony Finals and the 2010 USEF Medal Finals.


Adding to her impressive resume of horse shows, Winkel has served on many equestrian boards over the years. She currently serves on the USHJA Board of Directors, is Chairman of the USEF Continuing Education Committee, and was appointed to the Committee of the USEF Licensed Officials. Winkel is also on the USEF Hunter Committee, the Trainer Certification Committee, the Equitation Committee, and the Emerging Athletes Committee.  Winkel has owned many hunters that have won several prestigious horse shows around the country including By the Bay, Forewarned, and a more recent horse named Cincenatty.  Winkel maintains a hunter/jumper/equitation breeding and training stable through her Maplewood Stable Inc., located in Reno, NV.

 Scott Hofstetter:

Scott Hofstetter is known for his kind demeanor with both humans and horses, and is highly regarded within the equestrian community. Throughout the course of his career, Hofstetter has worn a multitude of titles from rider, to trainer, to judge, to clinician.

Hofstetter began his involvement with horses in Albany, NY, where he started in the Saddle Seat discipline and then proceeded to move on to the hunters and jumpers. After moving to Florida, Hofstetter immediately began riding with Georgann Powers who found Hofstetter to be a true horseman. Horses seemed to react to his kind disposition, which made it easy for Hofstetter to ride every type of horse.

In 1986, Hoftstetter won the ASPCA Maclay Horsemanship Finals at Madison Square Garden, and continued on to claim numerous top honors at multiple other equitation championships. Adding to those accomplishments, Hofstetter won the Leading Rider Hunter award at the Devon Horse Show and the Capital Challenge Horse Show.

After beginning his training career, Hofstetter taught many strong competitors, including Emily Williams. Williams had great success as a junior, and in 1999 won both the USEF Medal Final and the Maclay Final. Hofstetter continued training multiple top riders alongside trainers like Don Stewart.

Branching out on his own, Hofstetter opened Copley Place in Ocala, FL, and began showing many of his own mounts in the winter, while giving clinics and judging throughout the remainder of the year.  Hofstetter can be found traveling the country for clinics and shows and is looking forward to judging the derby.

 Jimmy Torano:

Jimmy Torano began his successful equestrian career as many riders, in the leadline classes when he was about five-years-old. At 18 he began a ten-year period of training and riding at the show barn located at the Palm Beach Polo Club. In 1989 Torano had his first show jumping debut and from that point on he continued to ride at many World Cup Finals, was on the Nations Cup Team at the 1999 World Cup Finals, won the Puissance at the Washington International Horse Show and captured the Leading Jumper Rider Award at the 2001 National Horse Show held at Madison Square Garden. Torano has also received many top accolades with his hunter horses and can be seen all over the country in both the hunter and jumper ring. Not only can Torano be seen in the ring, and in the judges booth but he is also an active board member for the North American Riders Group.

Jimmy Torano and his wife Danielle operate JET Show Stables in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Mohrsville, Pennsylvania. The Torano’s ride, train, and teach, and have a large number of clientele. JET Show Stables travels to many of the prestigious hunter/jumper shows around the country. As a grand prix rider Torano has traveled to Europe, has ridden top hunters and jumpers in the industry and is a well-respected equestrian around the world. A few years ago Torano decided to begin his journey from the judges booth. As an "R" judge, Torano has judged many finals including the 2006 Pessoa USEF Medal Finals, 2007 USET Talent Search Finals, 2008 Pony Medal Finals, 2008 ASPCA Maclay Finals, and many other top hunter jumper shows. “I have been very fortunate to be able to judge so many nice events,” said Torano. “I have been judging about six years and over that time period I have had the opportunity to judge many of the top riders in the country.”

When Torano is judging he is looking for a hunter derby horse that has specific attributes. He explained, “I am looking for a horse with quality and brilliance especially when it comes down to the handy round. I want a rider that takes a few risks out there on the handy round. That is what the derbies are all about, not being conservative, and not playing it safe. I want a rider to be aggressive and really go for it. Currently we have a lot of professionals that participate in the hunter derbies that definitely do that.”