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Horses

Horses

girl riding a horse No matter what your interest in horses may be, there is something for everyone in the 4-H horse program! Youth involved in the 4-H horse program area learn responsibility and commitment to a project. The time invested in caring for, riding and training horses improves the quality of life for youth while at the same time teaching life and work skills such as time management, record keeping, problem solving, goal setting and many others.

Members do not need to own a horse to participate in the 4-H horse program. 4-H members will learn about horses at their local 4-H club meetings as well as at state 4-H horse workshops and events. In addition, 4-H members have fun competing in educational contests at the county, state and even national level. While 4-H is not a riding instruction program, members do sometimes ride horses as part of 4-H their activities and 4-H does sponsor horse shows.

For more information, contact your local 4-H office.

Horse Chat - What the Program has to Offer to Leaders & Members

 

Contests Rules & Resources

The Horse Bowl, Hippology and Horse Judging contests are held each year at both the local and state levels.  Each county or region holds these competitions in the fall or winter to select  both a junior and senior team to compete at State 4-H Horse Round Up, usually held in April.  Once selected the county teams study and practice to prepare for state competition.  Senior age 4-H members, ages 14-18, compete for one of the four slots on the State Horse Bowl, Hippology or Horse Judging team.  These state teams will represent the Massachusetts 4-H Horse Program at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round Up in Louisville, Kentucky in November.  In addition to Horse Bowl, Hippology and Horse Judging, a Communications team is also selected at the State Visual Presentation Day.  The cost of the trip to Kentucky is funded in large part by the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation.

Hippology

Horse Bowl

Horse Judging

MA 4-H Horse Roundup

Watch for 2024 dates!

 

APPLICATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS COACHES & ASSISTANT COACHES FOR HORSE COMMUNICATIONS AND HORSE JUDGING (2024)

Team Coaches Application 2024

 

 

Horse Show & Health Regulations

4-H members are able to exhibit their riding skills at local and state 4-H Horse Shows.

 

State 4-H Horse Show

June 21-23, 2024 Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton

 

The Regional 4-H Horse Show

September 7 & 8, 2024 Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton         Entry Information on the website     www.regional4hhorse.com

 

Franklin County 4-H Horse Show

 

 

Norfolk County 4-H Horse Show

Watch for details on the 2024 Show!

 

Big E - New England 4-H Horse Show

Watch for the packet on the Big E site  

A youth applying to the New England 4-H Horse Show (Big E) needs to have on file by May 1st of the current year a Horse Verification Form. Youth exhibiting a horse, must be 13 years old as of January 1st current year and a junior leader must be 12 years old as of January 1st current year.

MA 4-H Horse Verification Form

 

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR SHOWS

       2023 MA Animal Health Rules for Fairs

       2023 New England Animal Health Rules for Fairs

 

Massachusetts 4-H Horse Program Policies and Forms

All volunteers running 4-H horse shows must comply with 4-H policy and procedures. 

2022 New England 4-H Horse Show Rulebook

MA Addendum to NE Horse Show Rule Book May 2022 rev

2020 NE Bit Guidelines and Rules

Policy for Offering 4-H Classes at Open Horse Shows

Release Statement for 4-H Horse Shows

Horse Program Insurance Requirement

Horse Show Stewards Report
     Must be filled out after every 4-H Horse Show and filed with Carrie Chickering-Sears

Other Resources

2023 NE 4-H Judges List

Horse Show Planning Guide

4-H Fitting and Showmanship Manual

Biosecurity for Horses

4-H Fair and Animal Show Safety Guidelines

 

Horse Advisory Council

Membership for State Horse Advisory Council (HAC)

The membership list is updated each year at the Annual meeting held in January. If you are interested in representing your county at the State Horse Advisory Council meetings, please speak with your county educator.

2023-2024 State Horse Advisory Council Representatives

  • Barnstable: Jennifer Lewis
  • Berkshire: Open 
  • Bristol: Nick Barishian, Chesley Chmura
  • Essex: Nancy McCarthy
  • Franklin: Arthur Martin
  • Hampden: Penny Blomgren, Brie-Anna Massoni Facto
  • Hampshire: Anne Blizniak, Carolyn Ritter
  • Middlesex: Suzanne Ferris, Lanea Tripp, Darlene Welch
  • Norfolk: Shari Ackerman-Morris, Nora Reardon
  • Plymouth: Molly Vollmer
  • Worcester: Karla Barrows
  • 4-H Staff: 

 

Meeting Dates for State HAC

  ** Meetings are held either by Zoom at 7:00 pm or in-person at a site to be announced prior to the meeting. 

 

2024 Dates

1/13/24 -  Meeting - Marlborough

 

For further information, please contact:


State 4-H Animal Specialist
University of Massachusetts Amherst 
100 Venture Way, Suite 334
Hadley, MA 01035-9462
413-545-5302