4-H Horse Program

2020 Western Region Horse Show Results – – See How Shelby County Participants Placed

Horseback Riding Activities

• Flag Race – event in which a horse and rider attempt to complete a pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. The contestant must deposit a flag in one bucket and remove a flag from another bucket. It is a youth event for both boys and girls.
• Barrel Racing – event in which a horse and rider attempt to run a cloverleaf pattern around preset barrels in the fastest time. It is a youth event for both boys and girls.
• Pole Bending – a timed event that features a horse and one mounted rider, running a weaving or serpentine path around six poles arranged in a line.
• Hunter Show – a branch of horse show competition that is judged on the horse’s performance, soundness and when indicated, conformation, suitability or manners. The following are the different classes for competition.
  • Hunter Showmanship
  • Hunter Mares
  • Hunter Geldings
  • Hunter Ponies
  • Hunter Under Saddle
  • Hunter Under Saddle Ponies
  • Hunt Seat Equitation
  • Hunter Hack
  • Hunter Trail
• Western / Ranch Shows – patterns where you show your horse’s ability to show large fast and small slow circles, spins, stops, roll backs and lead changes. Also, shows manners and suitability of the horse for a relaxed but collected gait cadence and relatively slow speed of gait, along with calm and responsive disposition depending on the class. Below are competition classes.
  • Showmanship
  • Halter Mares
  • Halter Geldings
  • Halter Ponies
  • Walk/Trot
  • Western Pleasure
  • Western Pleasure Ponies
  • Western Horsemanship
  • Ranch Pleasure
  • Ranch Horsemanship
• Gaited Show – shows the horse’s ability to perform one of the smooth-to-ride, intermediate speed, four-beat horse gaits. Below are competition classes.
  • Walking/Racking Showmanship
  • Gaited Halter
  • Gaited Pleasure
  • Trail Pleasure Racking
  • Plantation Pleasure for Walking Horses
  • Open Racking
  • Open Walking Performance
  • Walking / Racking Equitation
  • Trail (Western, Ranch & Gaited)

Non-Riding Horse Activities

• Hippology – Comprehensive knowledge-based competition where teams of three to four youth complete an exam, stations, slides, and judging covering all aspects of the horse industry. The competition is divided into three divisions (Junior, Junior High, Senior) with age-appropriate information included in each division. Regional qualifying contests are held in January. The state competition is held in February with the winning senior level team representing Tennessee at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in November in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Horse Bowl – Jeopardy-style competition where teams of three to four youth answer questions related to the horse industry. The competition is divided into three divisions (Junior, Junior High, Senior) with age-appropriate information included in each division. Regional qualifying contests are held in January. The state competition is held in February with the winning senior level team representing Tennessee at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in November in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Horse Judging – Teams of three to four youth evaluate conformation, form to function, unsoundness’s, blemishes, performance, and other factors to distinguish desirable versus undesirable characteristics in horses, riders, and equine performance events. Then, contestants are asked to defend their reasoning and logic while delivering oral reasons sets. Regional qualifying contests are held in May. The state competition is held in June at the state 4-H Horse Show with the winning senior level team representing Tennessee at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in November in Louisville, Kentucky.
• Horse Speech and Demonstration Contests – Horse Project can be a topic for Public Speaking and Demonstrations can be used for the 4-H Fair.