Hippology is a Greek word with the root word “hippo” meaning horse and “ology” meaning the study of. Hippology contests have four phases: exam, identification stations, judging, and team problem solving. Contest questions are designed to evaluate 4-H member’s knowledge of a broad range of equine topics. All questions asked in our WA State 4-H Hippology Contest are taken from content within the approved sources listed below.

Table of Contents

• Objectives
• Approved Study Resources
• Contest and Eligibility
• Contest Attire
• Senior Teams – National Contest Eligibility and Information
• Contest Phases
• Score Calculations and Tie Breakers
• Awards

Objectives

The primary objectives of the Hippology Contest are to provide in a friendly but competitive setting:

• the opportunity to blend equine science and husbandry with horse judging and public speaking into one activity where 4-H members can apply their acquired knowledge and skill;
• to encourage youth to continue expanding their horse knowledge:
• to recognize youth for their comprehension of the many facets of the horse industry; and
• to teach good sportsmanship and encourage leadership.

Approved Study Resources

For approved study resources: Washington State 4-H Equine Contests Approved Source List

All questions in the WA State 4-H Hippology Contest will be sourced from these resources.

---

Contest and Eligibility

• The state contest is open to enrolled Intermediate and Senior 4-H members in WA State 4-H.
• Teams/participants may be selected by any procedure a county deems appropriate.
• Each county may register up to four seniors and four intermediates.
• Counties are encouraged to form teams of four whenever possible. Teams of three are eligible to compete.
• Having a county hippology program is not a requirement for participation. Recognizing a county may only have one or two interested, eligible members the following provisions are provided:
  • A county may combine with another county (or multiple counties) to form a team. If unable to coordinate with another county, you may register your county’s interested members as individuals. The contest coordinator will form catch teams, if possible, and notify you. If impossible to form a catch team, individuals may compete independently to complete all phases except team problem solving. All contestants are eligible for overall individual awards.

• All Coaches and Assistant Coaches must be certified enrolled 4-H Volunteers.
• Accommodation requests should be submitted through your county 4-H office with registration.
• Teams are responsible for their own refreshments and lunches. There will not be time for teams or coaches to leave the contest area. Please plan accordingly and bring lunch/snacks with you. Teams may eat throughout the day as there will not be a formal break for lunch.
• As with all 4-H activities, WSU 4-H Policy and Procedures apply. Coaches and teams are responsible for knowing and following all 4-H policies and procedures, including policies specific to traveling with youth. The WSU 4-H Policy and Procedures document can be found on the WA State 4-H Website.

Contest Attire

• As with all 4-H activities, attire is governed by suitability for the activity and considerations outlined in WA State 4-H Policies and Procedures and the 4-H Member Code of Conduct. Attire should reflect the mission and values of the 4-H program as a premier youth development program.
• Team uniforms are optional. Teams may (and often do) choose to dress similarly (e.g., matching pants, 4-H t-shirts, polos, long-sleeved shirts).
• County-identifying attire is allowed and may be worn during team problem solving.
• Boots or closed-toe shoes are recommended as live horses may be present for the problem-solving phase and contestants will be on foot in the arena for the judging phase.
• Outerwear appropriate for contest-day weather is recommended. Contestants will be walking (sometimes a bit of a distance) between buildings. Additionally, some phases (e.g., judging) may be held outside and will be conducted rain or shine.

---

Senior Teams – National Contest Information

• The first-place senior team qualifies for the opportunity to represent Washington State at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Round Up (ENRU) in Kentucky.
• The ENRU is historically held over the first full weekend in November.
• Teams of three are eligible to compete in the ENRU Hippology Contest but team scores are tabulated in a four-score format, which means, a team of three would record a score of zero for the fourth contestant. Therefore, forming a county (or mixed county) team of four for our state contest is encouraged.
• ALL senior team members of the first place hippology team must be eligible to compete at the ENRU, otherwise the team becomes ineligible to compete at the ENRU. In this case, the next place team that is composed of all eligible members will qualify.
• The ENRU-qualifying Senior team and their coach must accept or decline their ENRU qualification on the day of their qualification. If declined, the next place team that is composed of all qualified members will qualify. All teams and individuals will retain their team and individual awards, regardless of ENRU contest acceptance.
• Please be advised of the ENRU age eligibility rules, which are different from those of WA State 4-H. We include this information here to inform expectation for seniors who may have a goal to compete in the ENRU. For clarity, a senior who is 18 on Oct 1 may enroll in WA State 4-H and may compete in our state contest. However, if the senior then reaches their 19th birthday as of Jan 1, they become ineligible to compete in the ENRU. This will also affect their team’s eligibility, as outlined above.
• Seniors who qualify for and compete at the ENRU in Hippology cannot participate again in the WA State 4-H Hippology contest. Seniors who have not competed in Hippology at the ENRU, may return. · We encourage interested parties to review the Eastern National 4-H Round Up Hippology Rules.
• Please be advised, only the registration fee for the ENRU is paid by the WSU 4-H program. All travel expenses are the responsibility of the member and/or county.
• Travel for ENRU is arranged by the State 4-H Equine Coordinator. Travel information including estimated travel expense is available on our WA State 4-H Horse Program webpage.
• Information about other national contest opportunities (e.g., QH Congress) is also available on request.

---

Contest Phases

A Hippology Contest consists of four phases: Exam (written and slide exam), ID Stations, Team Problem Solving (prepared and impromptu), and Horse Judging.

Examination Phase

Approximately 200 points possible, per contestant

The examination phase includes two components, a written exam and a slide exam.

• The written examination includes multiple-choice questions and has time limit.
  • Senior exams have 50 questions with 30 minutes to complete.
  • Intermediate exams have 25 questions with 20 minutes to complete.
• The slide exam asks questions that pictures are necessary to describe. For example,  identification of breed, color, color pattern, activity, proper appointments, etc.
• All slide exam questions are multiple-choice. There is no time limit per slide. The slide facilitator will pause to allow time for contestants to answer before moving to the next slide.
• Seniors have 50 slides and Intermediates have 25.

Identification Station Phase

Approximately 200 points possible, per contestant

The ID Station phase consists of a series of 10 stations where contestants will individually respond to the question(s) of the station by writing their answers on a score sheet. Essentially, each station is a matching game. Contestants will match (write the letter of) their answer for each picture or item on their answer sheet. The time allowed at each station will be two (2) minutes.

All contestants will start at Station One and work their way individually through the stations at the direction of the timekeeper until all 10 stations are completed.

Examples of stations which may be used include, but are not limited to the following:

• Types of saddles and/or parts of saddles, tack, bits, bridles, horseshoes, grooming equipment, horse clothing, and blankets (actual or pictured)
• Grains, feeds, supplements, and forages used in equine rations
• Parasites, life cycle charts, damage caused, etc.
• Disease processes, signs, symptoms, and prognosis
• Vaccinations and/or medications and usage
• Blemishes, unsoundnesses, conformation anomalies
• Anatomy identification, internal and external
• Common and poisonous plant identification, symptoms of poisoning
• Riding discipline information
• Identification of colors, breeds, and types of horses

Judging Phase

Approximately 200 points, per contestant

Contestants will evaluate and give their placing on a total of four (4) classes. No written or oral reasons are required in Hippology. (No written or oral reasons are required at ENRU.)

Classes may include any of the following:

• Conformation classes (e.g., Stock Type Halter, Saddle Type Mares)
• Performance classes (e.g., Western Pleasure, Huntseat Equitation)
• Please note: In the event that live classes cannot be scheduled, photographs or videos may be substituted.
• Scenario classes, such as evaluating feed or equipment for suitability may also be substituted.

Team Problem-Solving Phase

Approximately 200 points, per team (100 points per scenario)

A hippology contest includes two problem-solving scenarios: one prepared and one impromptu.

All teams will be presented with the same problems with equal time to discuss among themselves and immediately after which they will present an oral solution or series of suggested procedures relative to the problem. Each member of each team is encouraged to contribute to the oral presentation. Evaluation will be based on the understanding of the problem, and the completeness of the logic presented, presentation skills and teamwork. The judge may ask questions of any or all of the team members to clarify the presentation.

The 100-point scale is divided into the following categories.

Content – 50 points possible

• The judge(s) will have read the approved sources and will be hoping to hear as much information about the topic as the team can provide.

Presentation skills – 25 points possible

• Voice volume and projection
• Speed, rhythm, inflection
• Articulation and pronunciation
• Refrained from using ‘fillers’ (ah, like, um)
• Poised, confident, refrained from fidgeting
• Eye contact
• Natural gestures and overall posture
• Introduced topic and individuals
• Logical sequence / easy to follow
• Conclusion was clear and definite

Teamwork – 25 points possible

• Team members were attentive to one another while speaking
• Team members shared equal parts of the response
• Smooth transition between team members
• Overall team cohesiveness/cooperation
• Completed presentation within time allowed (not required to use entire 7 minutes)

Topic examples for Team Problem Solving

• Biosecurity recommendations for horse operations
• Recommendations for selecting/purchasing horses for specific uses
• Behavior problems – causes, management of, and corrections
• Management or training practices
• Evaluating equipment or tack
• Demonstrate skill or ability to use specific equipment or tack

Timing for Team Problems

• Prepared team problem allows teams 10 minutes to prepare a response, followed by 7 minutes to deliver their response, with 3 minutes allowed for questions.
• Impromptu allows 7 minutes to prepare and deliver within 3 minutes for questions.

Problem-Solving Team Instructions

The following instructions are printed on the scenario prompt:

---

Score Calculation and Tie Breakers

Individual Score is the sum of written and slide exams, identification station, and judging scores.

Overall Individual placing ties are broken in the following sequence:

1. Exam score
2. ID Station score
3. Judging score

The Team Score is the sum of all team member’s individual scores, plus the team’s problem-solving scores (prepared and impromptu added together). Overall Team placing ties are broken in the following sequence:

1. Exam score
2. ID Station score
3. Judging score
4. Team Problem Solving Score

Ties within any phase in both Individual and Team are broken using the overall score first and then the same sequence as above. If further tie-breaking is required, the scores at each station in order may be used.

Awards

Individual Awards

• The top ten overall individual scores (in each age division) will be recognized with rosette ribbons
• The top three individuals (in each age division) will also be awarded medals:
• Gold for top overall score, Silver for second, and Bronze for third
• Flat High Point ribbons will be awarded for Exam, ID Station, and Judging

Team Awards

• Each member of the top 5 teams (in each age division) will be recognized with rosette ribbons
• Each member of the Champion and Reserve Champion teams will receive Washington State 4-H Hippology patches

---

Contest Chair – Kim Baker

kim.baker@wsu.edu

---