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Horse Judging Contest

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2025 NC State 4-H Horse Judging Contest

April 26, 2025

DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS April 1, 2025

Martin Community College Equestrian Center

Williamston, NC

The Horse Judging Contest is designed to teach participants good conformation (structural correctness, balance, and muscling), breed character, and performance ideals in different breeds of horses. Additionally, the Horse Judging contest will teach participants how to evaluate horses based on knowledge and facts, make a decision, and defend it. The Contest will teach participants horsemanship terms that can be used in a logical, systematic way to defend placings and will help participants gain confidence in their ability and use of the English language by giving oral reasons to a judge while learning to speak, decisively, and convincingly through the use of oral reasons.

2025 NC State 4-H Horse Judging Contest Details

2025 NC State 4-H Horse Judging Contest Entry Form

Coaches’ Q & A Zoom

Hotel Information
A block of rooms has been reserved at:

Educational Event Donors Needed! If you would like to sponsor the horse judging contest, please complete this form: 2025 NC State Educational Contest Sponsorship Opportunities

The top 10 individuals in each division will receive awards. Also, the senior and junior (8-13 and 11-13) top ten high individuals in halter, reasons, and performance will receive awards. Belt Buckles will be awarded to the high junior (8-10 and 11-13) and senior individuals. Cloverbuds will receive participation ribbons and medals.

Eligibility

Any Junior or Senior 4-H member is eligible to participate in the 4-H horse judging contest. Members are not eligible, however, to participate in a contest if by the date of the contest, they will have completed or participated in a post-secondary judging program. Senior state-winning judging team members who do not make or choose not to compete at Eastern Nationals are eligible to participate again as a team member in that division while age-eligible. Junior state-winning team members may continue to compete on a county team in that division in future contests while age-eligible. A Senior judging member who competes on a state-winning team is not eligible to compete again as a team member in that age division; however, a Junior or Senior high overall individual is eligible to return and compete on a team or as an individual in that age division.

Senior Rookie and Junior Rookie competitors are eligible only for overall top ten awards. Senior Rookie contestants are not eligible to try out for the state team to be considered for national contests.

The state team, which will represent North Carolina in regional and national competitions, will be selected according to the following procedures:

  1. The selection of team members will be restricted to the top fifteen Senior individuals at the North Carolina State 4-H Horse Judging Contest. The top fifteen individuals will receive an invitation to try out for the state team. After tryouts, the top eight individuals will form two four‑member teams and will represent North Carolina at the Southern Regional Horse Judging Contest in August. The teams will be coached by the coach of the high Senior individual at the State 4-H Horse Judging Contest and by the Extension horse specialist, who will oversee the travel arrangements.
  2. The team representing North Carolina in the national contests will be selected by the Southern Regional team coach and the Extension horse specialist after the Southern Regional contest. The national team will consist of four members. Team members who participate in national competitions will lose state eligibility. Individuals who judged at the Southern Regional Judging Contest but were not selected for the national team will be eligible to represent their county at future state horse judging contests. In addition to the Southern Regional contest, national team members will also judge at the Quarter Horse Congress and the Eastern National 4-H Horse Judging Contests. The team will also be eligible to compete in other contests, but the members must furnish their own transportation and travel money. The state office will assist in the acquisition of travel funds.

SCORECARDS

Junior & Senior Oral Reasons Scorecard for State Contest

ROOKIE Oral Reasons Scorecard for State Contest

Please thoroughly read the Horse Judging Contest section in the NC 4-H Horse Program Rulebook (pages 137-140 ) for additional information on contest rules, regulations, potential classes, etc. NEW RULES ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN YELLOW.

Additional training aids for the Horse Judging Contest are listed under Educational Materials. Please feel free to use these sources to help assist in training youth horse judging teams.

Written By

Lori Stroud, N.C. Cooperative ExtensionLori StroudExtension Asst. - Horse Husbandry Call Lori Email Lori Animal Science
NC State Extension, NC State University
Page Last Updated: 1 month ago
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