North Carolina State 4-H Horse Program

Do you have a child who wants to learn more about horses or interact with other youth who are also horse lovers?  If so, the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program offers a number of projects catering to a wide range of interest and experience levels.  Recognized as one of the top youth 4-H horse programs in the nation, the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program offers a variety of equine related activities on the county, district and state levels.  Competitive events include Horse Bowl, Hippology, Horse Judging, Horse Presentation & Public Speaking, and Artistic Expression & Creative Writing, but for youth who are interested in non-competitive events the program also offers several Horsemanship Camps, leadership opportunities, and additional group activities such as trail rides and retreats.  A brief summary of our various statewide youth activities is listed below:

Horse Bowl- Use your knowledge of horses and horse-related subject matter to compete in a Jeopardy-like contest on a four to five member team at the district, state, regional and national levels.

Hippology- This contest blends your horse knowledge, judging, and communication capabilities into one event.  Individuals and four member teams compete on the state, regional and national level.

Horse Judging- Learn to evaluate equine conformation, breed character, and performance ideals while developing decision making and communication skills.  Individuals and four member teams compete on the state, regional and national level.

Horse Presentation- Refine presenting skills while educating other youth by developing an individual or team presentation on various equine-related topics.  Horse presentation contestants compete on the county, district, state, regional, and national levels.

Horse Public Speaking- Express your opinion on horse-related subject matter by developing a public speech specifically targeted to your audience.  Individuals will compete on a county, district, state, regional and national level.

Horse Show- Compete in various 4-H horse shows at the district, state and regional level in your respective show division (participation at the state and regional level is determined by prior qualification).

Horse Project Record Book- Learn to identify goals, summarize experiences, and record equine-related activities and accomplishments in a Horse Project Record Book.  These books will be turned in yearly for review and are available in three different levels suitable to age and equine knowledge. 

Horse Cumulative Record Book- Summarize your 4-H Horse Program career over a period of years in a Cumulative Record Book.  Individuals will compete on the district, state and national level.

Horse Artistic Expression Events- Use your individual artistic talent to create an equine-related drawing, painting, photograph, poster, or craft that may be entered in our state-level competitions.

Horse Creative Writing Events- Improve writing skills by developing a horse-themed essay, short story or poem that may be entered into our state-level competitions.

Horsemanship Camp- Attend horsemanship camp with your horse for one week in mid-June.  All campers receive riding instruction, attend equine-related demonstrations, and develop life-long friendships in a true camp setting at the Millstone 4-H Center in Ellerbe, NC.

In addition to the myriad youth equine activities offered on the county, district and state levels, the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program has a long history of success in national level competitions, including an accumulated 204 championships or reserve championships in educational contests at the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships, the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup and the AQHYA World Championships. 

For more information on the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program, please visit our website, http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/horse/Webpages/NCSU_EHH_Home.html, or give us a call at (919)-515-5784. 

You may also contact your local county 4-H extension agent, http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/local-county-center/, to find out about local 4-H Horse Clubs or additional events. 

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