Horse Quiz Bowl Start Guide

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What is Horse Quiz Bowl?

Horse Quiz Bowl is a fast-paced contest in which teams compete face-to-face, buzzing in to answer questions about equine anatomy, conformation, feed and nutrition, evolution, breed characteristics, reproduction, horse management, way-of-going, tack and equipment, styles of riding, and the exhibition of horses. The primary objective of the Horse Quiz Bowl contest is to provide an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H to demonstrate their knowledge of equine-related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail.

Learn More

Horse Quiz Bowl is a 4-H program that develops self-motivation, self-esteem and responsibility.

This project is conducive to both traditional rural 4-H members with equine experience and urban youth who do not have the opportunity to raise animals.

Students have the opportunity to strengthen their communication and leadership skills in an environment which allows contribution to group effort, encourages teamwork and promotes acceptance of differences.

Competing as team members assists youth with the development of social skills, cooperation and managing feelings, as they become comfortable with working alongside others toward a common goal; integrity and sportsmanship are also developed through the Horse Quiz Bowl experience.

Cloverleaf, Junior and Senior 4-H members are eligible to compete in Horse Quiz Bowl. There are Junior and Senior divisions; Cloverleaf 4-H’ers who are in the 4th grade may compete in the Junior division.

Breakdown of Contest

Play consists of double-elimination tournament-style matches;

Participants must work with four to five team members to answer questions to the best of their ability.

Preparation Activities

Each coach can determine the number of practices held during the judging season. Ideal practices last one hour to 1 ½ You can have one to two practices a week. Teams can practice year round for a couple of months before the contest.

Each county participating is required to submit 25 typed questions, per team, written new that year, from the official resources.

Classroom activities can include:

-Chapter and section review
-Youth-written questions
-Interactive power points, videos, and activities
-Try to make learning sections easier by starting with an easy topic. Mastery of basic topics before moving forward is important.
-To get to the state contest, look for emails from the state office on registration deadlines. Encourage them that this is a fun way to learn about horses, especially if you don’t have one.
-Don’t forget the snacks at practice!

Recommended Resources

• Horse Quiz Bowl Procedure for Play Manual 

• Equine Science, by Jean T. Griffiths
• Horse Smarts published by the American Youth Horse Council.
• The Horse Industry Handbook published by The American Youth Horse Council.
• Feeding and Care of the Horse, by Lon Lewis Williams and Wilkins
• The Coloring Atlas of Horse Anatomy, by Robert A. Kainer and Thomas O. McCracken
• Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, by New Horizons Education Center

Special Considerations

Each team must consist of not less than four (4) or more than five (5) members of the same age group. Teams must provide one coach and one score keeper for the state contest. Contact

Dr. Kari Turner, UGA Animal & Dairy Science Equine Extension Specialist

Dr. Kylee Duberstein, UGA Animal & Dairy Science Equine Extension Specialist

Kate Whiting, State 4-H Animal Science Specialist

Manual Prepared by: Allison Perkins, Bartow County 4-H Agent, Kate Whiting, State 4-H Animal Science Specialist 5/10/23