Josh Bilbrey of Miles City, Miles Community College Equine Studies Instructor, won the 2008 NILE (Northern International Livestock Exposition) Horse Trainers Challenge event at the Billings NILE on Friday, October 17. Josh was one of three horse trainers that were selected by application to take an untrained 5-7 year old registered Quarter Horse donated by the Hall Ranch of Chinook, Montana for 90 days. The horses were brought to the 2008 NILE to compete against each other in a special challenge showcasing the skills of the trainers and the abilities of the horses under saddle. The contest was held in a ranch horse-style competition with part of the event designated to give the trainer an opportunity to conduct a mini clinic, demonstrating to the crowd how progress was achieved with the horse. Josh was the trainer with the highest score and was named the 2008 NILE Horse Trainers Challenge Champion. The Challenge horses were sold in a special section of the NILE Gold Buckle Performance Sale on October 18 with the proceeds designated for scholarship funds of the Koenig children of Baker (four children) and the Moline children of Geraldine, Montana (six children). The Koenig family lost both of their parents in a farm accident four years ago and the Moline children lost their mother following a horse accident in fall 2007. The NILE and the Agri-News teamed up with support from the Hall Ranch to create the Challenge event.

Josh begins his second year as the MCC Equine Studies program full-time instructor. The program was approved by the Montana Board of Regents in March 2008 and is offered as either an Associate of Science degree, with the option of transferring into the University of Montana-Western's baccalaureate program, or an Associate of Applied Science degree. Bilbrey also taught community outreach 4-H workshops in Miles City, Circle, Glasgow, and Jordan during summer 2008.

For more information about Equine Studies, please call Josh at 874-6182.