Riding Events:
The following are activities you do need to own or lease a horse, and the horse must be certified with 4-H as a project or activity horse. Youth must still be 8 as of October 1st of the current year.
Horse Shows:
The 4-H Horse Shows are competitive activities in the 4-H horse program. Contests help youth measure progress in knowledge and skill in horsemanship. They also provide opportunities to learn social skills and have fun.
Disciplines Offered:
- Performance
- Western Games
- Jumping
- Dressage
- Harness/Driving
- Green Horse
- Mini
Clinics:
4-H Beginning Horsemanship
This program is developed for beginning riders, to help them prepare and ride horses safely. This program also includes important information about the horse’s senses and social behavior. The program is devoted to provide beginning riders with the skills and knowledge to handle and ride horses safely and competently.
4-H Spring Clinic
Spring Clinic is a three day event packed with classes about all kinds of different riding disciplines. Clinics are taught by local industry professionals, with classes available for beginner riders and more experienced youth.
Camps:
There are three to choose from or you can go to all three. Camperships are available to each camp if finances are an issue. Check with the 4-H office for requirements to apply. All three camps are great. All three offer different things to do with your horse and family.
Happy Trails Horse Camp (HT)
Happy Trails is a family friendly, 5 day overnight camp that traditional happened in the last full week of June each year. HT searches for excellent clinicians to make learning fun and safe. The day is split into four classes: Trail, arena, mini and educational/free. The goal is to have your child comfortable on the trail with their horse, gain horsemanship skills and learn new equine and science related skills. In addition youth and adults gain great leadership and mentorship roles. Parents are able to ride in the classes with their children at the discretion of the clinicians and committee.
South Horse Camp (SC)
South Horse camp is a family friendly 4 day overnight camp traditionally been held in mid July at the Spokane County Fairgrounds. This camp emphasizes performance, showmanship and gaming, with lots of other fun disciplines. This is also a great camp for mentorships of older 4-Hers to younger or inexperienced ones. Parents are able to ride in the evenings.
Working Ranch Horse Camp (WRH)
The Working Ranch Horse Camp is a youth friendly 4 day overnight camp in mid August at the Triple H Cattle Company Ranch in Davenport WA. Youth earn the ability to come to camp by participating in events prior to camp to prepare themselves and their horses. The camp emphasizes on horsemanship, ranch roping, low stress sorting and animal science.
Other Events
Competitive Trail
The Competitive Trails is an annual event that traditional happened the 1st weekend in October at the Spokane River State Park. The purpose of the Competitive Trail Riding is: stimulate greater interest in the breeding and use of good saddle horses possessed of stamina, hardiness and quality to make good mounts for trail use. Demonstrate the value of type and soundness and proper selection of horses for a long trip. Learn and demonstrate the proper selection of training and conditioning horses for a long trip. Train and demonstrate the best methods of caring for horses during and after long rides without the use of artificial methods or stimulants.
Working Ranch Horse Program
The 4-H Working Ranch Horse Program is an exciting program new to the already popular 4-H Horse Program in Spokane County. It provides an opportunity for youth to be involved in traditional western horsemanship activities beyond the show ring. Participants learn the age-old techniques of handling livestock while on horseback, proper use of tools and equipment, ranch/farm management, as well as the leadership, decision making and responsibility that comes with being engaged in a working ranch setting.
4-H Educational Events:
The following are activities you do not need to own a horse. Youth must still be 8yrs as of October 1st of the current year. Youth that are under 5-8 years can do activities that don’t involve horses.
Hippology
A competitive event where youth get the opportunity to blend equine science and husbandry with horse judging, public speaking, and more! This event is all about encouraging youth to expand their horse knowledge, while gaining important life skills like team work and public speaking. Youth can qualify for State & Nationals in this competition!
Horse Bowl
Horse Bowl is a knowledge bowl-type competition where youth are quizzed on everything from equine science & health to tack to breeds of horses! Youth can qualify for State & Nationals in this competition!
Horse Judging
A competitive event where youth test their knowledge of horse conformation and usability. Youth judge equine classes such as Halter, Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, and much more! They are scored on how close their placings are to the professional judge’s official scores for the class.
Groom Squad
Youth work as a team in this competition to get their assigned horse as clean as possible before they complete a Showmanship pattern with it. While one member of the team is showing, another is taking a Equine Science written test. This event gives youth the opportunity to learn about best grooming practices, exhibiting a horse to their best ability, and gain knowledge about horse husbandry & health!
Presentations
Youth can participate in a variety of Public Presentations while in 4-H. Horse Project specifically has events for:
Presentations – A prepared demonstration, Illustrated Talk, or Power Point (individual or team 2 or more)
- A Demonstration teaches by doing. A member uses step by step directions and usually produces an end product.
- An Illustrated Talk uses visual aides to show how something is done rather than producing an end product. Uses flip charts, posters, etc.
- A Power Point is a computer slide show that guides you and the judges through your presentation.
Public Speaking – A speech (Individual) This is a prepared event where you give a speech. You will use a microphone.
Impromptus – A speech given after briefly reading a given article. Youth choose an article, have 30 mins to read and prepare their presentation on it, and then give a speech that varies between 1-10 minutes depending on the age group.
Tack Swap
Tack Swap is a fundraiser sponsored by Spokane County 4-H Horse Project Committee. It is our ONLY fundraiser for the year. The money raised is used to sponsor educational clinics, awards and other benefits for the 4-H members.
Consignments for the sale are taken on Friday and the sale is all day Saturday. People bring saddles, bridles, halters, buckets, bits, clothing, boots – just about any horse related items. Local tack supply businesses also sell new tack and supplies. The vendors pay a fee for space. The consignment fee is $1.00 and 15% of the selling price. The sale starts on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:30 p.m.
The Tack Swap is held at the Fairgrounds. An area is available to County 4-H clubs (not just horse clubs) to use as BOOTHS to raise money or just to advertise their clubs. Clubs may not sell anything that would compete with our vendors or our consignment items. Clubs also need to bring their own tables for set-up. The Tack Swap is usually held the first part of March. Watch for it! It’s a fun day for shopping for those much needed tack items at greatly reduced prices.
Check out more info at the Tack Swap website: spokanetackswap.com