Suwannee River Fair

Horse Shows

Performance Horse Entry Fee: $30.00

Speed Horse Entry Fee: $30.00

Online Entry: showman.app/shows#/suwannee-river-fair-2b5e

Liability Waiver REQUIRED at Check-in:
Click To Download Waiver

Mail-in Entry Form:
Performance Horse Entry Form
Speed Horse Entry Form

Record Book Contest:
Non-Market Record Book

Mandatory Drug/Quality Assurance Sheet:
Non-Market Sheet

Horse Committee

Horse Superintendent
   Blu Langford  - 352.440.0651

Committee Members
   Tyler Voorhees  -  352.359.9975
   Adam Elliott  -  352.258.8253
   Holly Houghton  -  352.498-1237
   Jessica Cooper  -  352.463-3174

Our Social Media

SRF YouTube Channel:
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FaceBook Page:
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4-H members who are not 8 years old by 9/1/2025 CANNOT participate in this Contest/Project/Show Area.

Thank You Horse Show Sponsors

Gene Higginbotham

Resources

REQUIRED at Weigh-in

Performance and Speed Events Are Separate Shows
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.

Horse Fitting & Showmanship

Daily grooming also eases the burden of the shedding season by removing the hair gradually. As well as providing a shiny coat, regular grooming also enables one to notice any abnormalities on the horse. Abnormalities such as cuts, irritations, or fever can be detected and treated, during a thorough grooming session.

Performance Show and Speed Events

Performance Horse Show 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.

Ranch Riding Class: Ranch Riding serves to measure the ability of the horse to be functional and a pleasure to ride at a working speed while being used as a means of conveyance from one western stock horse task to another. The horse’s performance should simulate a horse riding outside of the arena and that of a working ranch horse. This horse should be well-broke, relaxed, quiet, soft, and cadenced at all gaits. The horse should be responsive to the rider, yield to contact, and make all required transitions smoothly, timely, and correctly. The horse should perform with reasonable speed, and be obedient, well-mannered, free, and easy moving.

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.

Speed Horse Show 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 set in a clover pattern. 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.

Texas Barrels is an event in which the contestant weaves through 3 barrels set up in a straight line and turn the 3rd barrel. The contestant can choose to weave starting at the left or the right. Breaking the pattern will result in disqualification/no time. Each barrel knocked results in a 5 second penalty.

Pole Bending is a bending pattern run around 6 poles. Each Pole knocked equals a 5-second penalty.

Horse Study Guides

The horse industry is a very large and important part of our national, state, and local economies. It is diverse, involving agriculture, business, sport, gaming, entertainment, and recreation.

The industry has a $102 billion impact on the U.S. economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account. Including off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

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

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