Pennsylvania 4-H Junior Horse Project and Junior Horse Championship Show Guidelines

The Junior Horse Championship Show offers expanded classes and activities including in hand (conformation) and futurity classes, along with classes that will demonstrate the 4-H members' ability to train, handle and exhibit their project animals. Preliminary and championship classes will be offered at the new show to be held in July at the Centre County Grange Fairgrounds. Refer to the 2022-23 Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Show Rule Book for eligibility information, additional rules and details.

Objectives of the 4-H Junior Horse Project:

• Develop life skills in youth, including responsibility, teamwork, critical thinking, sportsmanship, and positive attitudes of self-worth
• Learn principles of safe horse handling and riding
• Develop methods for safely working with young horses
• Promote knowledge of horsemanship and responsible ethical animal care and management
• Learn principles of selection and evaluation of horses for competition, recreation or breeding
• Promote selection of high quality animals and responsible horse use and ownership

Please Note:

A 4-H member may enroll any project animal through 5 years of age in the Junior Horse Project; however, only horses that are yearlings through 5 years of age are eligible to be shown. The previous requirement that horses be enrolled by their 3 year old year has been eliminated. There is no limit to the number of horses a 4-H member may enroll as a project; however, a 4-H member is limited to showing four project animals at the Junior Horse Championship Show with only one entry per class. No stallions or weanlings are permitted to be shown. Weanling colts may be enrolled as a Junior Horse Project, but must be gelded prior to enrolling in the project their yearling year.

Safety Requirements and Precautions

All 4-H members should be able to safely and confidently control and handle their junior horse project animal(s) prior to the Junior Horse Championship Show. Judges may excuse any exhibitor due to concerns for the safety or welfare of any participant or horse. It is highly recommended that all youth are proficient in all Level I 4-H Horsemanship Skills (handling and/or riding/driving skills as appropriate) with their project animal prior to showing. All driving exhibitors will have a mandatory safety and equipment check at the Junior Horse Championship Show.

Protective headgear is required for all Junior Horse Championship Show classes, including in-hand classes. Additional safety equipment may be used without judging discrimination as noted in current rules. See current 4-H Horse Show Rule Book for details regarding protective headgear requirements and use of safety equipment.

Skills Testing Requirements for Youth Under 12 Years of Age

4-H members must be 12 years of age or older or have passed all applicable Level 1 Horsemanship Skills with each junior horse project animal to show at the Junior Horse Championship Show. Youth under 12 that are showing animals in-hand or driving only, must pass applicable Level 1 handling skills only (i.e. bridling / saddling / mounted skills are not required if the animal is not ridden). Youth under 12 that are riding animals in any classes at the Junior Horse Championship Show must pass all handling and riding skills in Level 1. Youth that are driving are encouraged to have passed the Level 1-2 Driving Skills test and all driving exhibitors will have a mandatory safety and equipment check at the Junior Horse Championship Show.

Youth under 12 years of age must retest the appropriate Level 1 skills on an annual basis with each junior horse project animal to be shown.

For 4-H members under 12 years of age, a copy of the Level 1 Horsemanship Skills Evaluation Sheet must be included with entry forms or submitted at the show for each animal. The Evaluation Sheet must include signatures of 3 approved Horsemanship Skills examiners and indicate that the youth has passed all applicable skills. Youth under 12 years of age who have not passed applicable Level 1 skills may be enrolled in the junior horse project but will not be allowed to show until they are 12 years of age (4-H age as of January 1 of current year) or meet the skills requirement.

The following are suggested guidelines for participation of 4-H members in the 4-H Junior Horse Project and Junior Horse Championship Show. All counties are strongly encouraged to implement policies to help ensure appropriate 4-H member and adult involvement in the 4-H Horse Project.

1. All 4-H members must abide by county policies and current PA 4-H Horse Show rules for participation in the 4-H Junior Horse Project and Junior Horse Championship Show. To be eligible to compete, all 4-H members must have completed appropriate project requirements as determined by their respective county.
2. All 4-H members participating in junior horse projects must abide by current state 4-H policies and respective county 4-H enrollment and attendance policies.
3. The junior horse project is recommended for youth at least 12 years and preferably older, or more experienced 4-H members. All 4-H members should be carefully supervised when working with junior horse project animals. Supervision and guidance of younger members is especially important. Safety must be considered at all times and is especially important when youth are working with young horses.
4. The 4-H member should care for (feed, exercise and handle) the project animal(s) the majority of the time with appropriate adult supervision. In the event the animal is leased and/or stabled away from the 4-H member's home, the 4-H member should be actively involved in working with the animal on a regular basis.
5. Appropriate adult involvement is encouraged, yet adults should not perform the majority of the work with the project animal(s). Adults are encouraged to work with youth, and assist them to safely and properly handle and care for their project animal(s).
6. Parents, leaders, and experienced adults should work with youth and their junior horse project animals to teach correct handling, training, conditioning, and showing methods. Youth should understand and practice correct procedures when preparing horses for shows. Consult reputable professionals or experienced adults as needed to assist youth.
7. Youth and families are encouraged to consider the benefits of buying or leasing young horses, compared to the long-term consequences of breeding animals. Youth and their families should breed only animals that meet the highest standards for breeding stock. See judging and evaluation criteria for showing. Youth and families should consult with recognized judges, industry professionals and reputable breeders for guidance if considering breeding project animals. For information about selection of breeding animals refer to respective breed association guidelines for judging and selecting horses. Considerations and resources for responsible breeding practices are available from breed organizations, the Unwanted Horse Coalition and the Animal Welfare Council.
8. All 4-H members should present their current year project record to the county extension office prior to the Junior Horse Championship Show. Extension educator, in consultation with the club leader, may deny show entry(ies) based on incomplete project book and/or failure to satisfy county polices or requirements.
9. See page 1 for safety requirements and precautions, as well as specific requirements for youth under age 12 showing junior horse project animals. County listings of approved Horsemanship Skills Examiners are available from respective Penn State Extension offices or on the 4-H Horse Program website. Only evaluation sheets signed by three (3) approved examiners who have successfully completed Level 1-2 examiner training are acceptable to fulfill the junior horse show requirements for youth under 12.
10. All youth enrolled in a Junior Horse Project are eligible to participate at the Junior Horse Championship Show. During the Championship Show, exhibitors will have the opportunity to progress through preliminary classes to championship classes with the awarding of State Champions.

Judging Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria for the Junior Horse Championship Show

All exhibitors showing at the Junior Horse Championship Show will be evaluated on their ability to safely handle and control their horse(s).

When evaluating an entry in all halter (conformation) classes, the judge will consider:

• Handling ability of exhibitor, including ability of exhibitor to safely control and effectively present the horse to the judge - 25%
• Conformation, type and condition of horse - 75% (according to breed or type standards)

When evaluating an entry in all riding or in-hand trail classes, the judge will consider:

• Riding/handling ability of exhibitor, including ability of exhibitor to safely control, properly ride/handle and effectively show the horse to the judge - 25%
• Performance of horse - 75%

Note:

Judges may further penalize, disqualify or excuse any exhibitor due to concerns for the safety of any participant or horse in any class, separation of the horse from the rider or handler, or lack of control of the horse by the exhibitor.

Championship Show Information

Preliminary classes will be judged by the merit system with all blue ribbon winners advancing to the Championship classes. Exhibitors will also be evaluated for Master Showman awards in the preliminary in hand classes. All Master Showmen award winners will advance to compete for the Champion Showman award.

Halter, or "in hand" classes will be offered for horses yearling through 5 years of age. There will no longer be classes offered for weanlings at the Junior Horse Championship Show. As with the previous Production Show structure, classes will be divided by breed, age, and sex. In halter classes, animals must meet or exceed minimum breed and industry standards for conformation and breed type in order to receive blue ribbons at the preliminary level.

In addition to halter, or "in hand" classes, the following new classes will be offered:

• Walk/Trot Western and English Futurity classes for 2 & 3 year olds
• Walk/Trot/Canter Western and English Futurity classes for 3, 4, & 5 year olds
• Barrel Race Futurity classes for 4 & 5 year olds
• Miniature Horse Driving Futurity classes for 3, 4, & 5 year olds
• Draft Horse Driving Futurity classes for 3, 4, & 5 year olds
• Walk/Trot Performance Skills classes for 2 & 3 year olds
• Walk/Trot/Canter Performance Skills classes for 3, 4, & 5 year olds
• In-Hand Trail classes for yearlings & 2 year old horses and ponies
• In-Hand Trail classes for yearling through 5 year old miniature horses
• Miniature Horse Jumping classes for 3, 4 and 5 year old miniature horses

The Performance Skills classes will be designed to showcase the horse and rider's mastery of basic horsemanship skills. The Walk/Trot Performance Skills classes will feature a pattern with skills found in the Level 1 Horsemanship Skills test. The Walk/Trot/Canter Performance Skills classes will utilize skills from both Level 1 and Level 2 of the Horsemanship skills test.

All animals 3 years of age and older, exhibiting in a pony class of miniature horse class must be measured or have a valid PA 4-H height certificate for the current year. These animals need to be re-measured annually. The height of the animal is non-protestable. Please refer to the 2022-23 PA 4-H Horse Show Rule Book for more information on measuring requirements.

Complete rules, details and descriptions are included in the 2022-23 Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Show Rulebook. The rule book is available from your local office of Penn State Extension or on the 4-H Horse Program website.

Please check the 4-H Horse Program website periodically for updates and additional information as it becomes available.

Update March 2022