Welcome to the Fillmore County 4-H Horse Project

Transcription

1 Welcome to the Fillmore County 4-H Horse Project The horse project here in Fillmore County has opportunities abound! The HPDC thought it might be helpful to create this informational booklet to help you get started with your project. WHAT/WHO IS THE HPDC? The Horse Project Development Committee is made up of horse project members, parents and community volunteers who provide guidance and support for other horse project members, leaders and parents. Their goal is a meaningful and rewarding growth and learning experience for everyone involved. They manage all aspects of the project. Anyone who is interested in helping or making decisions at the county level is welcome to join. The annual meeting is held in the month of November. WHAT IS THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE? They are the elected youth & adult officers of the HPDC: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Reporter/Historian. WHERE DO I GET THE INFORMATION I NEED FOR MY PROJECT? Extension Office: Many 4-H bulletins and informational sheets are available through the extension office for a nominal fee. MN Horse Project Website: The state 4-H horse project website has a wealth of information and downloadable materials. The address is MN 4-H Horse Library: The library is extensive with hundreds of books and videos available for rent. A deposit is required, which is held on file. The library s catalog is available on the state website. MN 4-H Program Rulebook: This is provided through the extension office and is also available on the state website. Fillmore County Addendum to Rulebook: This is also provided through the extension office. The HPDC authored this document feeling that there should be some exceptions to the official rulebook that would better serve our 4-Hers.

2 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HORSE PROJECTS? Horse: The 4-Her is responsible for the care and management of their own horse, a family horse or a leased horse, which they may take to the county fair. Horse Training: The 4-Her must be signed up for the horse project. The 4-Her does their own training starting with a foal and eventually advancing through 6 levels of training. Horse Related: The 4-Her must be signed up for the horse project. This project allows you to create an exhibit to demonstrate what you have learned in the horse project for the county fair. Horseless Horse: The 4-Her must be signed up for the horse project. This project is for 4-Hers who do not have a horse of their own. An exhibit may be created for entry at the county fair. WHAT OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE THERE IN THE HORSE PROJECT? The following activities provide excellent educational opportunities. They also provide the opportunity for advancement from regional competitions to state and national competitions. Contact the extension office if you are interested. Quiz Bowl: Some of the things members study for this activity are; breeds, diseases, nutrition, conformation, anatomy and general terms. The competition is conducted with a buzzer system and teams of 4 from one county pitting their horse trivia knowledge against another county. Regional competitions are in March, state competitions are held in April. 4-Hers must be at least in 3 rd grade to participate. Horse Judging: This activity allows a member to acquire a working knowledge of the ideal horse and/or rider. Members find this information helpful in selecting their own horses and improving their riding skills. Competitions involve members comparing their placing of a class against official judges. Members improve their confidence and speaking skills when giving oral reasons for their placements of a class. Competition is held during the state show in September. 4-Hers must have completed 6 th grade to participate at the State Show. Hippology: This activity has 4 phases of competition; a written test (previous quiz bowl knowledge is an advantage), horse judging, stations (matching terms with pictures or objects), and a team problem. Competition is held during the state show in September, so members must have completed 6 th grade to participate. Speech and/or Demonstration: The competition for horse related speeches and demonstrations is at the state show in September. 4-Hers must have completed 6 th grade to participate.

3 WHAT FORMS DO I NEED AND WHEN DO I NEED TO FILE THEM WITH THE EXTENSION OFFICE? General Enrollment Form: Best if filled out by January, so that project mailings are received. MN Horse ID Form: May 15 th. Horse Training Forms, Stalling Forms & Fair Registration: Need to be turned into the Extension Office by the 3 rd Friday in June. IS THERE A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM? Yes. If you are family enrollment member or a community club member and don t have someone to help you with your project, contact the extension office. An HPDC member will pair you with an older/more experienced 4-H horse member to help you. WHERE CAN I PRACTICE WITH MY HORSE? Educational clinics are offered in the June and July before County Fair at the fairgrounds in Preston. This is a great opportunity to learn, meet other horse members and get your horse used to other horses and the fairgrounds! Clinics are designated for different areas: showmanship, western pleasure, horsemanship, gaming and beginners. The HPDC currently requests each 4-Her attend at least 2 clinics. * Clinic cancellations notices or changes from original schedule will be announced through KFIL Radio (103.1 FM), KQYP Radio (98.3 FM). WHAT ARE SAFETY CHECKS? 4-Hers in 3 rd -5 th grade and anyone else who hasn t competed one before are strongly encourage by the HPDC to complete a safety check. Safety checks can be completed at scheduled clinics. The safety check is not a pass or fail test. It is meant as an opportunity for the new/young 4-Her to meet a HPDC member who will answer any questions and provide safety suggestions to the 4Her.

4 WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE COUNTY FAIR? 1. It is usually held the third week in July. 2. Camping is available on the fairgrounds. 3. There are 3 days of horse shows. Tuesday (opening day of fair): State show qualifying classes of Horse Training, Showmanship, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, English Equitation and English Pleasure class are the usual classes. Wednesday: State show qualifying classes of Trail, Jumping Figure 8, Barrel Racing, Pole Weaving and Key Hole are the usual classes. Saturday: This is our fun show. Members sign up for these classes the day of the show. There is an entry fee for this show. 4. Everyone shares in the work of putting on these show days. Show day co-chairs organize work lists and contact people to work. 5. What to wear for the show: please refer to the rulebook. 6. What tack do I need? Tack must be clean, fit well and be in good repair. Please refer to the rulebook for specifics. 7. Horses are stalled for the duration of the fair. If a horse leaves early, premiums and any state show trips earned are forfeited. 8. Herdsmanship: Butt ropes are required, eye hooks are provided at the back of the stalls to attach them to. Stalls should be kept as clean as possible. Water buckets should be kept full and hung at chest level. If hay bags are hanging in the stall, they should be hung high enough that your horse can t get his hoof caught and they should have hay in them. Many choose to decorate their stalls, but it isn t required. Herdsmanship is judged on a point system. Winners get first pick for stall location the following year. 9. Clubs and Family Enrollments are assigned a night of Barn Watch. A few parents and 4-Hers are needed each night to sleep in the barn, to be available for any emergencies. 10. Health concerns: A negative coggins test is required to show at the county fair. To receive your show number; you must turn in a copy of this test result. Deworming and vaccination of your horse is strongly recommended. 11. Any complaints/problems should be directed to a HPDC member. Official complaints should be filed with the extension office on the fairgrounds. 12. How are state show trips awarded? Please refer to the Fillmore County Addendum to the Rulebook.

5 WHAT IS THE STATE SHOW? The MN State 4-H Horse Show is the equivalent of a state fair trip for other projects. This 4-day show is usually held 2 weeks after Labor Day weekend at the State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. A 4-Her must have completed 6 th grade to participate. ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION BESIDES SHOWING AT THE FAIR? Yes!! At the beginning of the year you will receive a Horse Project points sheet. Point Sheets You keep track of all of your horse activities, with or without your horse. The sheet is turned in at the end of the year. Points will be assigned for all of your listed activities, with 4-H activities usually receiving more points. The Horse Project Annual Banquet is usually held in January or February. Awards are given to everyone who turns in a points sheet! Hours in the Saddle This is a chance for member to earn recognition for members time on their horse. This may include trail rides, working your horse, etc. Points are awarded for time spent actually riding, not just participating in events. A different sheet needs to be completed and turned in for each horse that you ride. WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM TO RUN THE COUNTY PROJECT? We have sold candy bars and worked tip nights. WHAT IS THE MONEY USED FOR? The money raised is used to buy equipment, pay for clinic instructors, team apparel, horse show expenses, trophies for the fair fun show, exhibitor fees, support national trips etc. We hope you have a ton of fun learning about your horse, improving your horsemanship skills and making new friends within the Fillmore County Horse Project. Remember if you have any questions, the extension office can connect you with a Horse Project Development Committee member who will be more than happy to help! February, 2004 Revised March, 2014