Dr. Jim Heird is an Executive Professor and Coordinator of the Equine Initiative and holder of the Glenn Blodgett Equine Chair at Texas A&M University. Immediately prior to Texas A&M, he was Director Of Teaching and Outreach for the Equine Sciences Program at Colorado State University. He also served as Director of the Colorado Agriculture and Rural Leadership program and as Chairman of the Management Committee of the Y Cross Ranch, a 50,000-acre ranch owned by Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S in Animal Husbandry and an M.S in Animal Genetics. His Doctorate is in Equine Behavior from Texas Tech University.
His academic career began at North Carolina State University where he was their first extension horse specialist. He was a faculty member at Texas Tech University for 10 years and was at Colorado State University for 23 Years. At Colorado State University, he served in several leadership positions, including Associate Dean and Director Of Academic Programs, Interim Dean of Business, and for 2 1/2 Years, Interim Dean and Vice Provost for Agriculture and Outreach. He was faculty representative for athletics and served as Chair of the Western Athletic Conference Administrative Council.
Dr. Heird has an international reputation in the field of equine sciences. He has lectured on numerous topics both nationally and internationally. He has been a successful judging team coach, teacher, researcher, extension specialist and administrator. His research in the areas of equine conformation and equine behavior is recognized throughout the Equine Industry. He has presented numerous lectures in the U.S and internationally on equine behavior, conformation, selection, judging, genetics and issues facing the horse industry.
Dr. Heird has received many honors, including the United States Department of Agriculture Honor Award For Excellence, the Distinguished Service Award from Southern University and A&M College, the Colorado State University Distinguished Service to Diversity Award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Animal Science at the University of Tennessee, the Outstanding Leadership Award from the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association and the Outstanding Advisor Award for Texas Tech University. In 2005, he was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the University Of Tennessee. In 2007, he was named an Honorary Vice President of the Quarter Horse Association of Uruguay. In 2009, he was named Horseman of the Year by the Colorado Horse Council. In 2014, he was named the first recipient of the Glenn Blodgett Equine Chair at Texas A&M. In 2016, he was named an honorary Vice-President and Life Member of the Argentina Quarter Horse Association. In 2017, he was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall Of Fame. He also became a Director of the National Advisory Board for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association and a Director of the Texas Racing Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2020, he was inducted into the Texas Racing Hall of Fame.
Dr. Heird has combined his academic career with leadership and successful competition in the horse industry. He has trained world champion youth riders and shown world champion horses. He served as Chair of the National Wild Horse and Burro Commission. He was an American Quarter Horse Judge from 1976 until 2017. In that capacity, he judged 13 world championship shows for AQHA and 15 national shows in multiple countries. He has judged the Road To The Horse Colt Starting Competition multiple times. He has lectured in numerous national and international judges’ seminars for many breeds. He is a past Chairman of AQHA’s Judges Committee, the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Sub-Committee, the AQHA Show Committee and Show Council and the Internationlal Committee. He also served as the first Chairperson of the AQHA Welfare Commission. He was an AQHA Director from Colorado prior to moving to Texas where he is presently an AQHA Director from Texas. In 2015, he was elected to serve as a member of the AQHA Executive Committee and in March of 2018 became President of the AQHA, the World’s Largest Breed Association.
His academic career began at North Carolina State University where he was their first extension horse specialist. He was a faculty member at Texas Tech University for 10 years and was at Colorado State University for 23 Years. At Colorado State University, he served in several leadership positions, including Associate Dean and Director Of Academic Programs, Interim Dean of Business, and for 2 1/2 Years, Interim Dean and Vice Provost for Agriculture and Outreach. He was faculty representative for athletics and served as Chair of the Western Athletic Conference Administrative Council.
Dr. Heird has an international reputation in the field of equine sciences. He has lectured on numerous topics both nationally and internationally. He has been a successful judging team coach, teacher, researcher, extension specialist and administrator. His research in the areas of equine conformation and equine behavior is recognized throughout the Equine Industry. He has presented numerous lectures in the U.S and internationally on equine behavior, conformation, selection, judging, genetics and issues facing the horse industry.
Dr. Heird has received many honors, including the United States Department of Agriculture Honor Award For Excellence, the Distinguished Service Award from Southern University and A&M College, the Colorado State University Distinguished Service to Diversity Award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Department of Animal Science at the University of Tennessee, the Outstanding Leadership Award from the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association and the Outstanding Advisor Award for Texas Tech University. In 2005, he was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the University Of Tennessee. In 2007, he was named an Honorary Vice President of the Quarter Horse Association of Uruguay. In 2009, he was named Horseman of the Year by the Colorado Horse Council. In 2014, he was named the first recipient of the Glenn Blodgett Equine Chair at Texas A&M. In 2016, he was named an honorary Vice-President and Life Member of the Argentina Quarter Horse Association. In 2017, he was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall Of Fame. He also became a Director of the National Advisory Board for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association and a Director of the Texas Racing Hall of Fame in 2017. In 2020, he was inducted into the Texas Racing Hall of Fame.
Dr. Heird has combined his academic career with leadership and successful competition in the horse industry. He has trained world champion youth riders and shown world champion horses. He served as Chair of the National Wild Horse and Burro Commission. He was an American Quarter Horse Judge from 1976 until 2017. In that capacity, he judged 13 world championship shows for AQHA and 15 national shows in multiple countries. He has judged the Road To The Horse Colt Starting Competition multiple times. He has lectured in numerous national and international judges’ seminars for many breeds. He is a past Chairman of AQHA’s Judges Committee, the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Sub-Committee, the AQHA Show Committee and Show Council and the Internationlal Committee. He also served as the first Chairperson of the AQHA Welfare Commission. He was an AQHA Director from Colorado prior to moving to Texas where he is presently an AQHA Director from Texas. In 2015, he was elected to serve as a member of the AQHA Executive Committee and in March of 2018 became President of the AQHA, the World’s Largest Breed Association.