15/12/2025
🌟 Judge Announcement – Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman 2026 🌟
Wᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ɪɴᴄʀᴇᴅɪʙʟʏ ᴘʀᴏᴜᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴɴᴏᴜɴᴄᴇ Sᴀɴᴅʏ Jɪʀᴋᴏᴠsᴋʏ ᴀs ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴏᴜʀ Jᴜᴅɢᴇs ғᴏʀ Aᴜsᴛʀᴀʟɪᴀ’s Gʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ Hᴏʀsᴇᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ 2026.
Based in Whitesboro, Texas, Sandy Jirkovsky has built a truly distinguished career in the equine industry as both a highly respected judge and accomplished horsewoman. Her professional judging journey began in 1975, and she is now a multi-carded judge holding credentials with the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), American Paint Horse Association (APHA), Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC), National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA), and the National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA).
Sandy’s judging résumé includes some of the most prestigious events in the world, including the AQHA Congress, APHA World Shows, AQHA Youth World Championships, NRCHA Stallion Stakes, and the NRHA Reining Futurity. In 2023, she was appointed APHA Director of Judges and Professional Horsemen, recognising her leadership, integrity, and influence in shaping judging standards for future generations.
Beyond the judge’s booth, Sandy brings decades of hands-on experience as a trainer, competitor, and mentor, with a strong focus on all-around performance horses and cow horse events.
Working alongside her husband Jim through J/S Training in Texas, she has developed, trained, and shown horses across the Appaloosa, Paint, and Quarter Horse breeds, producing an exceptional number of champions while guiding youth and amateur riders through every stage of their competitive journeys. Her personal achievements include winning the Limited Open Hackamore Classic aboard MH Boon In My Blood, a highlight that speaks to her ability to excel not only as a judge but as a horsewoman in the show pen.
Across her career, Sandy has trained and shown over 100 World and National Champion performance horses, particularly within the Appaloosa industry. With a rare combination of practical hands on experience, deep horsemanship knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to education and fairness, Sandy continues to be a respected and influential figure — seamlessly blending elite-level competition experience with the insight and perspective of a world-class judge.
Sandy is also actively involved with the International Ranch Horse Association, promoting ranch riding and the western lifestyle throughout the United States and Europe.
There is nothing she enjoys more than encouraging new exhibitors and helping seasoned competitors understand how to improve their scores in the show pen.
Sandy firmly believes that showing is about far more than the blue ribbon — it should be educational, rewarding, and fun, and she encourages competitors to review their score sheets and ask questions. She warmly welcomes all AGWH competitors to reach out to her if they would like clarification on their scores.
On a personal note, Sandy is most proud of her family. Her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Sarah Dawson, are two-million-dollar NRCHA riders, and she treasures time spent with her family — especially making memories with her granddaughter Hadley Dawson.
We are honoured to welcome Sandy Jirkovsky to Australia’s Greatest Horsewoman 2026. Her depth of knowledge, fairness, experience, and passion for horsemanship will be an incredible asset to our competitors and to the event as a whole.
Please join us in welcoming Sandy to AGHW 2026 🤍🐴
