State Horse Show Start Guide

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What is the State Horse Show? 

The State 4-H Horse Show provides an opportunity for 4-H’ers to exhibit their horses and skills and receive input on their accomplishments. Classes are offered in five divisions: Stock Seat (Western), Ranch (Western), Hunt Seat (English), Saddle Seat/Gaited (English), and Contest Events (Running). A champion and reserve champion are named in each division and age category. All exhibitors must be enrolled in and carrying out a 4-H Horse project and must be the person primarily responsible for the care of the horse, which teaches responsibility and self-motivation.  

Learn More 

The Georgia 4-H State Horse Show is a 4-H program that develops self-motivation, self-esteem and responsibility, while providing 4-H members in the Horse project an opportunity to exhibit their horses and to exhibit knowledge of their horse project through demonstrations. 

There are three age categories: Cloverleaf (4th-6th graders with limited experience), Junior (5th and 6th graders with demonstrated skills and 7th and 8th graders), and Senior (9th-12th graders). 

In order to compete, 4-H’ers are required to complete numerous entry requirements, which include the Novice Horseman 4-H Horse Project manual, the first in a series of three manuals offered to document Horsemanship skills gained through the Georgia 4-H Horse Program.  

Eligibility to Show

Be sure to check the horse show rulebook for updates.  

This is simply a quick reference sheet. 

Own or lease a 4-H project horse by spring of the current year. 

Your county agent must complete online Intent to Show forms by spring. Your County Agent must complete online Horse Show entry forms by spring. Be an active, enrolled 4-H’er in the county where you live or attend school. 

Cloverleaf 4-H’ers must complete at least half of the Novice Horseman 4-H Horse Project.

Manual and senior 4-H’ers must complete all of this book by spring. 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 on the resources link on the next page. 

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.

Preparation Activities

Completion of Horseman book Each manual contains a set of questions and problems which must be answered/solved in order to demonstrate the knowledge that the 4-H’er gains through the research performed during the completion of the manual. Various activities are required, completion of which must be documented by the 4-H’er and signed by an adult leader. Progression through the series of manuals guides the 4-H’er through an increasing level of difficulty in both horse handling skills and knowledge of the equine industry. 

It is recommended that 4-H’ers watch or attend local shows as a learning opportunity. 

 Be sure to check out the “Am I Ready To Show?” Guides.

Southern Regionals

Southern Regional Qualifying 70 4-H’ers will be eligible to represent Georgia at the Southern Regional Horse Championships. The top two placing exhibitors in highest level Dressage and Western Dressage will be invited. The remaining 66 qualifying positions will be selected based upon a formula. Please see the State Show rulebook for the formula. 

Recommended Resources

Southern Regional Qualifying  

Horseman books:
Novice Horseman Project Manual
Intermediate Horseman Project Manual
Master Horseman Project Manual

 

 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