Project Information

Horse projects for Pennsylvania 4-H youth are offered in four areas of interest, including a project for youth who do not own horse. We also offer two programs: Horsemanship Skills and Safety

Horse Projects

Performance/Horsemanship (Level 1, Levels 2-5)

  • Youth select and care for a horse or pony and keep a record of all activities with their horse at each level.

Junior Horse

  • Youth in junior horse projects raise and handle young horses from yearling to five years of age.
  • Records are kept for each animal enrolled in the project.

Competitive Trail Riding

  • Youth learn to select and condition a horse for competitive trail riding.
  • Youth maintain records on project horses and record trail riding experiences.

Horseless

  • This project is for youth who do not own horses, but want to learn more about them.
  • There are many opportunities for horseless members such as the safety and horsemanship skills programs, horse judging, hippology, horse bowl, skill-a-thon and communications contests, photography, model horse, ground roping and much more!

Horse Programs

Safety Program

The safety program is designed to:

  • Promote safety of youth while working with horses
  • Promote safety awareness in youth, parents, leaders, and agents
  • Provide safety resources and activities for participants
  • Incorporate safety education within existing 4-H projects
  • Recognize youth and leaders for safety achievements

The primary components of the safety program are:

  • Safety resources, including booklets for each county
  • Educational programs and activities for youth and adults
  • Horsemanship Skills Program
  • Safety awards for youth, leaders and clubs

Horsemanship Skills Program

The Horsemanship Skills Program provides a planned progression of skill development to promote safety, education, and life skills of youth. The program is available to all 4-H members, regardless of their riding level, discipline, or ability to own a horse. Youth are not required to use their project animals, although this is encouraged as appropriate. Youth who do not own a horse may participate by sharing or leasing a horse. Team Horse Power is a leadership and horsemanship component of the Horsemanship Skills Program. Team Horse Power empowers teens and young adults to develop their individual skills and in turn teach horsemanship and mentor youth at county, regional, and state levels.

Yearly Events

Detailed Information

Performance/Horsemanship (Level 1, Levels 2-5)

Youth select and care for a horse or pony and keep a record of all activities with their horse at each level. Many members participate in county district or state shows, clinics, camps, trail rides and other activities.
Junior Horse

Youth who participate in the Junior Horse project raise and work with young horses from yearling to five years of age. Records are kept for each animal enrolled in the project. Animals enrolled in Junior Horse projects may be shown at local, regional or state shows.
Competitive Trail Riding

Youth learn to select, and condition a horse for competitive trail riding. Members maintain records on their project horse and record trail riding experiences. Many members participate in local, regional, or state competitive trail rides.
Horseless

This project is for youth who do not own horses, but want to learn more about them. There are many opportunities for horseless members such as horse judging, hippology, horse bowl, skillathons, communication contests, and much more! Some counties have opportunities for horseless members to participate in local shows.
Horse Safety Program

The safety program is designed to: (1) Promote safety of youth while working with horses (2) Promote safety awareness in youth, parents, leaders, and agents (3) Provide safety resources and activities for participants (4) Incorporate safety education within existing 4-H projects (5) Recognize youth and leaders for safety achievements

Supporting Materials

Pennsylvania State 4-H Office

Pennsylvania State 4-H Office