Horses
No matter what your interest in horses may be, there is something for everyone in the 4-H horse program! Youth involved in the 4-H horse program area learn responsibility and commitment to a project. The time invested in caring for, riding and training horses improves the quality of life for youth while at the same time teaching life and work skills such as time management, record keeping, problem solving, goal setting and many others.
Members do not need to own a horse to participate in the 4-H horse program. 4-H members will learn about horses at their local 4-H club meetings as well as at state 4-H horse workshops and events. In addition, 4-H members have fun competing in educational contests at the county, state and even national level. While 4-H is not a riding instruction program, members do sometimes ride horses as part of 4-H their activities and 4-H does sponsor horse shows.
For more information, contact your local 4-H office.
Horse Chat - What the Program has to Offer to Leaders & Members
Contests Rules & Resources
Hippology
- Hippology Contest rules
- Practice Hippology Exam #1
- Practice Hippology Exam #1 Answers
- Practice Hippology Exam #2
- Practice Hippology Exam #2 Answers
Horse Bowl
- Horse Bowl Contest Rules
- Junior Horsebowl Practice Questions
- Senior Horsebowl Practice Questions
- Study Resources 2021
Horse Judging
- Horse Judging Contest Rules
- 2010 Horse Judging Manual with MA 4-H Addendum
- Horse Judging Oral Reasons Scoresheet (2023)
MA 4-H Horse Roundup
Watch for 2024 dates!
APPLICATION FOR MASSACHUSETTS COACHES & ASSISTANT COACHES FOR HORSE COMMUNICATIONS AND HORSE JUDGING (2024)
Horse Show & Health Regulations
State 4-H Horse Show
June 21-23, 2024 Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton
The Regional 4-H Horse Show
September 7 & 8, 2024 Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton Entry Information on the website www.regional4hhorse.com
Franklin County 4-H Horse Show
Norfolk County 4-H Horse Show
Sunday, May 5, 2024 at Pappas Rehab Hospital for Children, Canton, MA
Class list and registration at: http://norfolk4hhorseshow.weebly.com
Big E - New England 4-H Horse Show
Watch for the packet on the Big E site
A youth applying to the New England 4-H Horse Show (Big E) needs to have on file by May 1st of the current year a Horse Verification Form. Youth exhibiting a horse, must be 13 years old as of January 1st current year and a junior leader must be 12 years old as of January 1st current year.
MA 4-H Horse Verification Form
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR SHOWS
2023 MA Animal Health Rules for Fairs
2023 New England Animal Health Rules for Fairs
Massachusetts 4-H Horse Program Policies and Forms
All volunteers running 4-H horse shows must comply with 4-H policy and procedures.
2022 New England 4-H Horse Show Rulebook
MA Addendum to NE Horse Show Rule Book May 2022 rev
2020 NE Bit Guidelines and Rules
Policy for Offering 4-H Classes at Open Horse Shows
Release Statement for 4-H Horse Shows
Horse Program Insurance Requirement
Horse Show Stewards Report
Must be filled out after every 4-H Horse Show and filed with Carrie Chickering-Sears
Other Resources
4-H Fitting and Showmanship Manual
4-H Fair and Animal Show Safety Guidelines
Horse Advisory Council
Membership for State Horse Advisory Council (HAC)
The membership list is updated each year at the Annual meeting held in January. If you are interested in representing your county at the State Horse Advisory Council meetings, please speak with your county educator.
2023-2024 State Horse Advisory Council Representatives
- Barnstable: Jennifer Lewis
- Berkshire: Open
- Bristol: Nick Barishian, Chesley Chmura
- Essex: Nancy McCarthy
- Franklin: Arthur Martin
- Hampden: Penny Blomgren, Brie-Anna Massoni Facto
- Hampshire: Anne Blizniak, Carolyn Ritter
- Middlesex: Suzanne Ferris, Lanea Tripp, Darlene Welch
- Norfolk: Shari Ackerman-Morris, Nora Reardon
- Plymouth: Molly Vollmer
- Worcester: Karla Barrows
- 4-H Staff:
Meeting Dates for State HAC
** Meetings are held either by Zoom at 7:00 pm or in-person at a site to be announced prior to the meeting.
2024 Dates
1/13/24 - Meeting - Marlborough
For further information, please contact:
State 4-H Animal Specialist
University of Massachusetts Amherst
100 Venture Way, Suite 334
Hadley, MA 01035-9462
413-545-5302