Horse Shows
Contest Superintendents: Cali Brettel and Kyndal Bussard
Performance Show Entry Fee: $30.00
Speed Events Entry Fee: $30.00
The Horse Project is designed as a tool for youth to learn about horse care and handling, and the equine industry in general, through hands-on activities designed to develop skills not only in horsemanship and equine handling but also in leadership, communication, decision-making, and personal management.
A completed record book or summary sheet and a show sponsor thank you letter must be turned in at entry time for you to show your animal.
Performance and Speed Events are separate shows, with separate registration fees. Exhibitors may show 2 Horses, 1 Performance Horse, and 1 Speed Horse, but only 1 horse per show.
Versatility Award is given to the Junior and Senior rider with the highest combined points earned in both performance and speed shows.
4-H members who are not 8 years old by 9/1/2023 CANNOT participate in this Project Area.
Show Sponsor: Gene, Darlene, and Wyatt Higginbotham
Classes:
Showmanship At Halter Class: Participation in showmanship is mandatory and points earned in this class will be added to the points earned in the following performance classes.
Command/Obedience Class: An elimination contest where any rider not executing the judge’s exact commands promptly and correctly will be eliminated. Awarding of ribbons is to be based on the order of elimination of final contestants.
Horsemanship Class: Riders will be asked to perform individual patterns. The patterns will consist of a combination of maneuvers that will test the equitation/horsemanship skills of the rider. All individuals or finalists may be asked to enter the ring and work on the rail.
Pleasure Class: Horses will be shown at three gaits walk, trot/jog/natural gait, and lope/canter/third gait in each direction of the arena. Horses must back easily and stand quietly. The judge has the option to ask the exhibitor to extend any gait or request any additional work.
Trail Class: Attire and Tack must be acceptable for use in Pleasure classes. No tie-downs, martingales, or mechanical hackamores. The trail course will be closed until the start of the class (no practice on the obstacles). The period in which the obstacle course will be open and contestant order of go will be posted and announced. Riders must take obstacles in order. Missing an obstacle or taking an obstacle out of order is a disqualification. Failure to complete an obstacle once attempted does not constitute a disqualification but should be scored accordingly. A maximum of 3 refusals or 1 minute after the first refusal will be allowed on any 1 obstacle. Beginner Walk-Trot may participate in this class as an exhibition only and No points will be awarded.
Show Information:
Show Sponsor: Gene, Darlene, and Wyatt Higginbotham
Classes:
Ground Handling Class: Participation in ground handling is mandatory and points earned in this class will be added to the points earned in the following timed event classes.
Cloverleaf Barrels is to be run around 3 barrels. Size of course will be determined by available space. The first and second barrels should be at least 20 feet from the fence. Each barrel knocked equals a 5-second penalty.
Flag Race: Two 2-gallon buckets filled with sand are placed on top of barrels 1 and 3, with a flag in one of these buckets. Pick up the flag from barrel 1 and deposit it on barrel 3. The contestant is disqualified for failure to pick up or place the flag, dropping the flag, hitting the horse with the flag, knocking over the barrel or bucket, place the flag side down, running off course, falling of horse or rider.
Keyhole is an event in which the contestant races from starting line to the entranceway of the key. Passes through the entrance, turns in the circle, then returns through the entrance and crosses the start-finish line between markers. The contestant is disqualified if a horse steps on or outside the markings of the circle or the opening or fails to cross the start-finish line between markers.
Pole Bending is a bending pattern run around 6 poles. Each Pole knocked equals a 5-second penalty.
Show Information:
Information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not imply a contest, event, or show will occur at the Suwannee River Youth Livestock Show and Sale. If you find a broken link please email: Holly Houghton