Georgia 4-H State Horse Show and Educational Contest

Georgia 4-H State Horse Show

June 3-7, 2025

Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter – Perry, GA

There are no qualifying shows, and you can enter the State Show simply by being a member of your local 4-H club, owning or leasing your horse by March 1, and completing the Novice Horseman workbook, which can be obtained through your local county extension office.

Classes are offered in five divisions:

Stock Seat (Western)
Ranch Horse (Western)
Hunt Seat (English)
Saddle Seat (English)
Contest Events (Running)

All classes are offered in three grade groups:

Cloverleaf (4th grade, 5th and 6th grade students with limited experience)
Junior (5th and 6th grade students with demonstrated skills, 7th – 8th grade students)
Senior (9th – 12th grade students)

A champion and reserve champion are named in each division and age category.

Entry Requirements

*Please note that county deadlines may be earlier than those listed below. Interested exhibitors must work cooperatively with their county office to ensure that the county office internal deadlines are met prior to the State 4-H Office Deadline.

Rules and entry forms for the State 4-H Horse Show can be obtained from your local county Extension office.

Submit the following forms to your County Agent:

Intent to Show Form, which includes Proof of Ownership or Lease of horses, due to the County Extension Office before March 14, 2025.
Entry forms are due online, submitted by County Extension Staff by May 6, 2025.
Hard Copy forms and fees must be postmarked to the State 4-H Office no later than May 12, 2025.

To be eligible to compete in the 2025 State 4-H Horse Show:

Own or lease a 4-H project horse by March 1, 2025.
Your county agent must complete on-line Intent to Show forms by March 14, 2025.
Be an active, enrolled 4-Her in the county you live in or go to school in.

Cloverleaf and junior 4-H’ers must complete at least half of the Novice Horseman 4-H Horse Project Manual and senior 4-Hers must complete all of this book by May 6th. The Novice Horseman Book is the first in a series of three manuals offered to document Horsemanship skills gained through the Georgia 4-H Horse Program. All participants should complete a new Novice Horseman Book each year. The books are available under the “Master Horseman” tab below or from your local county Extension Office, and it is the responsibility of the local County Extension Agent to check the books and sign off on their completion. This may be done in conjunction with a volunteer Horse Club Leader, but the Agent must sign the document.

Educational Contests

In addition to traditional horse show classes, the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show also provides the opportunity for 4-Hers who are exhibiting or who are not exhibiting horses to take part in the week through participation in the following educational contests:

METHOD DEMONSTRATION CONTEST (INDIVIDUAL)

Participants must choose to either participate in Method Demonstration (Individual) or Public Speaking (Individual); they cannot participate in both.

PUBLIC SPEAKING CONTEST

Subject matter of speeches must pertain to the horse industry.

GEORGIA 4-H HORSE DRAWING CONTEST

4-H member broadens his or her horizons and utilizes creative talent within the Horse Project through drawing exhibitions.

GEORGIA 4-H HORSE PAINTING CONTEST

4-H member applies artistic talent to increase knowledge and skill in equine-related painting.

GEORGIA 4-H HORSE ESSAY CONTEST

Encourages youths to gain better contact and use of the English language. Stimulates youths to expand their horse knowledge and learn how to use and interpret resources available on different subjects.

GEORGIA 4-H HORSE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

This is a great way to share your photographs. While not essential, we hope the photography contest entries will express creativity in communicating 4-H to exhibit viewers.

Please see the specific rules and guidelines for each contest in the current Georgia 4-H State Horse Show Rulebook

Resources

Sportsmanship Awards:

These special awards are selected by the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show staff. They select an individual that demonstrates the life skills that we hope Georgia 4-H promotes to our youth. Those selected are kind, helpful and courteous and are outstanding representatives of Georgia 4-H while at the State Horse Show.

Contest – Andi Unger, Coffee County
Hunt Seat – Johnathan Posley, Hancock County
Gaited & Saddle Seat – Lydia Moon, Elbert County
Ranch – Sara Morgan Sapp, Burke County
Stock Seat – Madge McCranie, Coffee County

Past Results

Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships

Georgia 4-H State Horse Show & Educational Contests