Kittitas County 4-H Horse Policy

1. Learn how to accept responsibility by having a horse to care for regularly.
2. Learn how to feed and care for horses.
3. Learn how to train and handle horses safely.
4. Learn how to take care of equipment.
5. Learn how to cooperate with others by working with other boys and girls in their club.
6. Learn how to keep records and how to use them.
7. Learn how to judge and select horses.
8. Learn how to prepare and give a demonstration so they can show others skills and new ideas that they have learned.
9. Develop an appreciation of riding as a safe, healthy, wholesome form of recreation.
10. Develop leadership, self-reliance, and sportsmanship through club activities.

Requirements for the 4-H Horse Project are as follows:

1. 4-H is open to all youth between the ages of five (5) and (19) (4-H Age). Youth planning on showing a horse at the Kittitas County Junior Horse Fair need to be enrolled in the horse project by February 1st of the current 4-H year.
   Exception – In animal projects, it is left up to the discretion of the leader(s) and parents whether a member can handle such a project. If the leader feels a child is too young, then he/she will be advised to take another project or wait a year before enrolling in an animal project.
2. Age Divisions – 4-H Age Division is determined before October 1st of the current year.
   • Cloverbuds: 5 to 7 years of age
   • Juniors: 8 to 10 years of age
   • Intermediates: 11 to 13 years of age
   • Seniors: 14 to less than 19 years of age
   • Cloverbuds may participate in age-appropriate activities and projects. The project recommended for Horse is the Horseless Horse project. Cloverbuds may not participate in competitive activities.
3. The Kittitas County Horse Program will offer five age divisions/sections – Cloverbuds, Novice, Junior, Intermediate and Senior. NOVICE DEFINITION: First-year horse project members may choose to show the novice class within their Age Division or the regular class in their age division. Any exceptions to Novice ruling may be appealed, in writing, to the Horse Panel. Novices of all ages are required to wear helmets in Showmanship.
4. Have a horse or pony that they can use as a project, (except when approved for the Horseless Horse Project). Stallions over 12 months of age are not permitted in 4-H classes.
   To be classified as a pony, the animal must be 56 or less inches high.
5. Have suitable facilities and equipment for the project.
6. A shared project animal is defined as only immediate family members or two non-family members sharing the same animal including care and training responsibilities. These two 4-H members may not compete in the same class or lot at an event. A “Shared Animal Project Agreement” contract is to be completed and returned to the Extension Office when the Horse Certificate is signed by April 30th. This agreement is to be inserted in Record Book with the Horse Certificate.
7. Select one of the following projects:
   1. Horseless Horse
      (Youth must be at least 8 years old on or before October 1st of current year to ride, handle, or work around equine.)
      • Develop leadership, initiative, self-reliance, sportsmanship, and other desirable traits of character.
      • Develop an understanding of the responsibilities of managing a horse
      • Develop an appreciation of horseback riding as a healthy and wholesome form of recreation
      • Learn skill in horsemanship and an understanding of the business of breeding, raising, and training horses
      • Increase knowledge of safety precautions to prevent injury to themselves, others, and their mounts
      • Promote greater love for animals and a humane attitude toward them
      • Publication EM4715E Horses are Fun
   2. Horsemanship
      (For members, novice, junior, intermediate, senior)
      • Develop understanding of the responsibilities of taking care of equine
      • Increase knowledge of safety precautions to prevent injury to themselves, others, and their mounts
      • Learn skills in horsemanship and an understanding of horse behavior, competition etiquette, and sportsmanship
      • Learn and appreciate the value of all aspects of riding, including performance, western games, dressage, driving, trail riding, and other disciplines of riding
      • Learn to ride, train, and handle a horse safely
      • Understand horse behavior, colors and markings, proper riding seat, and correct use of the aids
      • Learn to catch, groom, practice horsemanship, and handle and ride a horse safely
   3. Equine Science
      • Learn how to apply scientific learning to contexts beyond equine science and/or to raise questions and identify problems to be addressed using scientific inquiry
      • Develop an animal care ethic and learn to select, care for, feed, and provide for the health of an animal
      • Learn about equine science and how it applies to the aspects of STEM science
      • Learn about different aspects of the equine science for career and/or college prep
      • Learn about responsible horse activities related to environment, pasture management, water quality, and other ecosystems
      • Demonstrate an understanding of the components of environmental stewardship as related to equines

• Additional learning guides
• Washington State University 4-H Equine Program Rule Book
• Horse Science, Unit 2 (CO201 – available on Shop4-H)
• 4-H Horse Member Advancement Checklist (EM2790)
• Equestrian Helmet Safety (EM4849E)
• Washington State 4-H Equine Program Rule Book Horse Judging Guide (PNW575)
• The 4-H Horse Project (PMW587)
• Beginning Horsemanship (EM4842E)
• 4-H Driving Manual (PNW229)
• Hunt Seat Manual (PNW0488)

8. In 4-H, competition is for members rather than parents. All horses are to be cared for and groomed by the exhibitor. In cases where the exhibitors are too young and/or physically incapable of doing the work, assistance by other club members may be provided. These exceptions should be cleared with the club leader or the Division Superintendent. Parents and leaders cannot assist members during Junior Horse Fair competition, except in safety situations.
9. File a horse identification certificate for each horse being carried as a 4-H Horse Project with the County Extension Office by 5:00 p.m., April 30th to be eligible to exhibit the animal in the Junior Division of the Kittitas County Fair. Certificates need to be signed every year. In the case where a horse, for which a certificate is filed, dies, is severely injured, or is deemed unsafe (approval would be needed by the Kittitas County Horse Panel), making it unable to be shown at the Junior Division Horse Show of the Kittitas County Fair, a horse certificate may be filed on a replacement horse up until July 1st, at 5:00 p.m. the new certificate should be accompanied by a veterinarian certification that the original horse is injured, if applicable and a letter as to the reason for the replacement. The replacement horse shall be owned or under lease as prescribed by the Kittitas County 4-H Horse Project. The member can ride in the local Fair, but cannot go on to ride the replacement horse at State Fair. Hardship cases after July 1st must ride with their number turned.
   
   A certificate may be filed on an unborn foal that will be a 4-H Project by listing the name of the dam, sire and date of service.
10. Keep a record of their 4-H Horse Project in a 4-H Record Book.
11. All horses must be owned or leased and cared for by the exhibitor 90 days prior to the Kittitas County Junior Horse Fair. Approved Kittitas County Lease forms must be used. If leased, it shall be leased under the following conditions: There shall be a written lease giving the 4-H member full possession and care of the animal for a period of at least April 30 to October 1. The lease shall be signed by the owner of the horse, 4-H member leasing the horse, a parent of the member, and the leader. A copy of the lease is to be filed with the horse certificate.
12. Members are required to participate in one Kittitas County 4-H Horse Leader sponsored judging event to be eligible to compete at the Kittitas County Junior Horse Fair and complete the 4-H year. There will be three divisions/sections –Junior, Intermediate and Senior for members to be eligible to judge in the state event, they must judge in two county events completing oral reasons at both.
13. Members are required to give a demonstration in the Horse Project area at the club or county level.
14. The Junior Horse Show of the Kittitas County Fair provides an opportunity for the members to evaluate their progress and accomplishments in the horse project. It should be viewed as more than just another horse show. Members are encouraged to participate in the Kittitas County Junior Horse Fair but are not required to participate in order to complete their project.
15. Showmanship – 4-H Horse members enrolled in Horsemanship projects are required to participate in at least one county 4-H sponsored showmanship event. All members participating at Kittitas County Junior Horse Fair must participate in at least one showmanship at Kittitas County Junior Horse Fair. Intermediate and Senior members intending to go to the State Fair will need to participate in showmanship at the Kittitas County Junior Horse Fair. The member must get permission from both the leader and the 4-H Horse Panel to be excused for sufficient reason. Members with a physical, mental, or sensory disability may complete Showmanship at a safer opportunity.
16. A green horse will be identified as a horse under 6 years old that has not been shown in a shank bit. An aged green horse will be identified as a horse 6 years old or older that has not been shown in a shank bit.
18. Horses other than green horses shown in a snaffle bit: Please refer to the “Washington State 4-H Equine Rule Book “for rules and regulations regarding 4-H policy for Washington 4-H horse programs.
19. “First-year” horse members shall not be allowed to show a mare and foal without prior approval of the 4-H Horse Panel. All members choosing to show a mare and foal will have the leader’s approval and must have an approval sheet submitted. All foals being shown must be halter broke and trained to leave the mare and at all times must be in hand or in confinement. Mares must be handled by a competent handler. Either the superintendent or the judge (with the judge’s decision overriding in the ring) may excuse a handler for unsafe conditions.
20. All first-year horse project members are required to complete Level 1, Units #1, 2, and 4 and all second- year horse project members are required to complete Level 1, Units #3, 5, and 6 of the Horse Quality Assurance and Animal Care program and exhibit the completed form in their record book with the permanent record.
21. All 4-H horse project members are required to include the “4-H Horse Member Advancement Checklist” EM2790 as part of the youth’s project record book. The basic advancement program is divided into nine steps, with all skills required in each step. Each step builds on the previous step; they must be completed consecutively. Youth can practice skills for higher steps while they are working on skills for lower steps. However, they cannot complete the higher step until they have qualified for all preceding steps. Most of the information to complete these skills is in extension bulletins listed in EM2778, 4-H Projects, and Publications.
22. Equestrian Helmets. All Washington 4-H members and non-member youths participating in all equine projects and activities must wear American Society Testing Materials (ASTM) and Safety Engineering Institute (SEI) approved headgear when riding or driving. The headgear must have a chin strap and be properly fitted. Additionally, all equestrians (including adults) are strongly encouraged to wear protective headgear at all times when riding or working around horses.
23. All Around Showmanship/Round Robin participation at the Kittitas County Fair is determined by the highest- scoring horse or pony per age group. In the event the highest-scoring youth cannot participate; the second- highest will move into the vacated position.
24. The Hippology team can consist of 8 members per age group, all can compete, but the designated team of four members will be determined by county staff or faculty. Practices will be open to anyone enrolled in 4-H, including juniors.
25. Kittitas County Horse policies supplement Kittitas County 4-H Policy. Differentiation between Horse and Council policies shall be resolved by the County 4-H Council.
26. Horse policy amendments intend to improve the youth program for the benefit of all youth members.
    • In September it will be announced that anyone who has proposed amendments to horse policy should submit said proposal to the Extension Office before the October Horse Leaders Panel meeting. This will be the only opportunity every year to submit changes or amendments to the Horse Policy.
    • First reading of any proposed amendments to the horse policy will be at the October meeting.
    • Second reading of any proposed amendments to the horse policy will be at the November meeting.
    • Vote on horse policy and any proposed amendments will take place following the second reading.

1. Two county judging events
2. Spring 4-H Horse show
3. Club-sponsored 4-H horse shows
4. County demonstration contests
5. Kittitas County 4-H Horse Training Day
6. Kittitas County Fair Junior Horse Show
7. Horsemanship & Safety Training Day
8. Monday Night Rides
9. Kittitas County 4-H Horse Pre-show

1. Must have submitted an up to date 4-H Record Book by the required date.
2. Must have given a 4-H demonstration during the current 4-H year.
3. Must have been an active 4-H member and have met the 4-H club’s requirements for attendance at club meetings.
4. Must have attended and completed at least one Kittitas County 4-H Horse Leader sponsored county horse judging contest.
5. File a horse identification certificate by April 30th of the current year.
6. Must have attended and participated at a minimum of one of the following events:
   1. Bits & Buckles Fall or Spring Show
   2. 4-H Leaders Show
   3. Training Days
   4. Pre-Fair/July Show

1. Do not miss more than three club meetings per year (Business meetings, not practice or work meetings).
2. Give at least one demonstration in horse.
3. Participate in at least one-horse showmanship event.
4. Complete a record book prior to the fair.
5. Participate in one Kittitas County 4-H Horse Leader-sponsored horse judging event.