North American Western Dressage Judge Jill Hallin

Jill’s background with horses started in elementary school when she lived in Italy, taking
lessons in Italian when she did not know the language, and spending summers riding at
stables in England. Her riding education continued when she trained in England for a
year after high school, receiving British Horse Society Assistant Instructor credentials.
Returning to the States, she worked with Thoroughbreds at the racetrack and also
taught balanced seat riding on the flat and over fences, and dressage. Jill was a
licensed Washington State Horsemen judge from 1991- 2023, judging multiple-day
sanctioned shows and fairs at all disciplines including Western & English Equitation and
Pleasure, Driving, Jumping, Dressage, Reining and Trail. These shows included all
breeds, registered, non-registered and grade horses. Most recently Jill has
concentrated on judging 4-H, which encourages judges talking to and educating the
exhibitors. She is excited to judge Western Dressage and the 6 Feet On The Ground
tests, which she has competed with on her retired Thoroughbred Turbo. For 23 years
Jill was the rider and caretaker of Chinook Pass, the Washington State Horse of the
Century (1900-1999) and an Eclipse Award Winner and the National Sprint Champion in
1982. Jill and Chinook competed, did exhibitions at the racetrack and other locations,
and enjoyed trail riding until Chinook’s death at 31 years old in 2010.