Overview of the 4-H Horse Project - Texas 4-H and Youth ...

Overview of the 4-H Horse Project
Overview. The 4-H Horse Project has been in existence for many years, with organized statewide
activities dating back over four decades. Opportunities exist at the county, district, and state levels, with
additional competitive activities at the Southern Regional, Western, and National levels. The strength of
the Texas 4-H horse project comes first from the active involvement of 4-Hers, and support from
Volunteer Leaders, at the county level. Educational emphasis in county project clubs and community
clubs is a high priority. A major objective of the Texas 4-H Horse Project is to help initiate, support, and
promote education via hands-on involvement with horses. From 8,000 to 10,000 youth enroll annually in
the Texas 4-H Horse Project.
The Horse Project. The horse project encourages a 4-H youth to validate and maintain one or more
horses of various ages as a project on or before May 1 of each year. The horse project is first and
foremost, a horsemanship project area, with additional opportunities that do not necessarily involve horse
ownership. Areas of potential participation, learning, and competition with a horse include:
I. Western Emphasis
• Judged Western - Showmanship, Trail, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship,
Reining, Western Riding and Halter Conformation
• Stock Horse Trail
• Speed Events – Pole Bending, Barrel Racing and Stakes Racing
• Cattle-related – Working Cow Horse, Team Penning, Cutting, Team Roping, Breakaway
Roping and Tie-down Calf Roping
• Futurity Projects – Reserved for older, more experienced 4-Hers who are ready to accept
the challenge of selecting and advancing either a yearling (Halter & Longe Line), twoyear-old
(Western Pleasure) or three-year-old (Stock Horse).
II. Hunter (English Emphasis) – Hunter under Saddle, Equitation, Hunter Hack, Working Hunter,
Equitation over Fences, Jumping and Hunter Showmanship
III. Drill Team and Precision Riding – Introductory Precision pattern work advancing up to more
advanced Mounted Drill Team competition.
Ownership, Age and Competition Rules. Updated annually in the Texas 4-H Horse Show Rules and
Regulations – available on the 4-H and animal science web sites. Some key points:
• 4-H year begins on September 1
• Horse(s) must be owned by May 1 of the current 4-H year.
• May 1 deadline strictly enforced by countywide Horse Validation process.
• Horse project(s) must be owned by the 4-Her, parent, grandparent, sibling or legal guardian.
Leased, loaned, borrowed or rented horses are not eligible.
• Validated horses for each 4-Her are maintained in county, district and statewide databases
• Only horses owned and validated on or before May 1 each year can be exhibited in 4-H shows
• There is an annual $10 fee for each validated horse
District-Wide Competitive Activities. There are 12 District 4-H Horse Shows across Texas in June of
each year, and these events showcase the 20+ counties that come together for competitive activities. A 4-
Her must enter and exhibit at their respective District 4-H Horse Show in order to qualify for the Texas
State 4-H Horse Show in certain classes. Over 1,450 youth compete at these District Shows annually.
County Extension Agents and Volunteer Leaders serve on District Horse Show Management Teams.

Texas State 4-H Horse Show. Held the last full week of July in Abilene, with over 700 youth bringing
over 1,000 horses in various emphasis areas as listed above. For many 4-Hers, the State Show culminates
a year of activity, progress, and effort with one or more horses as 4-H projects.
Additional Educational and Competitive Activities and Events.
• Horse Judging – County teams of three or four members.
• Method Demonstrations and Public Speaking – County teams of one to five members, or
individuals.
• Horse Quiz Bowl – County teams.
• Hippology – County teams of three or four members
• Record Books – Individual record keeping and Record Book Competition
In these project areas listed above, county teams and individuals are often eligible to compete at Districtwide
events, with top teams and individuals representing County and District at the State level. Top
teams or individuals represent Texas 4-H at regional and national level contests.
Educational Support.
County-wide Horsemanship Schools. Every summer, Horse Program Assistants are trained and sent
to 35 to 40 counties that host a two-day or a three-day-long clinic. Information on requesting a school
is found in the September and January issues of the CEA Horse Newsletter. These are hands-on,
learn-by-doing clinics that help 4-Hers maximize utilization of their existing project horse(s). Clinics
are taught from late May through early July.
Specialty Clinics. Offered each year with emphasis on:
• Reining, Team Roping, Calf Roping, Working Cow Horse
• Horse Judging Team Coaches’ Clinic
• Youth Horse Judging Camps
• 4-H Horse MENTOR Leader Training
For More Information.
• CEA Horse Newsletter – published in January, May and September posted online at
http://animalscience.tamu.edu – sent to all County Extension Agents electronically
• Texas 4-H Horse Show Rules and Regulations – updated annually
• Texas 4-H Roundup Guide – Rules and procedures on Horse Judging, Method Demonstration,
Public Speaking and Quiz Bowl.
• Youth & Collegiate Horse Judging Leader Guide –available in print and on CD.
• Youth & Collegiate Horse Judging Manual – available in print and on CD at
http://agrilifebookstore.org
• Online Horse Judging – available at http://animalscience.tamu.edu
• Texas 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl Guide – available via the State 4-H Office
• Texas Horse Owners’ Reference Guide – available from http://agrilifebookstore.org
Specialist Support.
• Pete G. Gibbs – Extension Horse Specialist – 979-845-3579 or p-gibbs@tamu.edu
• Brett D. Scott – Extension Horse Specialist – 979-845-1562 or bdscott@ag.tamu.edu
Teri J. Antilley – Horse Program Specialist – 979-845-1562 or tjantilley@ag.tamu.edu