March 14, 2026, NC State 4-H Hippology Contest
Forms and Schedule
2026 NC State Hippology Contest Online Entry Form (must be completed by 2/28/26)
NC Hippology Contest Scantron Form (Please download and use in your practices)
Hippology Scantron - Example of How to Complete
Please thoroughly read the Hippology Contest rules: 2026 Hippology Contest Rules
Educational Event Donors Needed! If you would like to sponsor the hippology contest, please complete this form: NC State Educational Contest Sponsorships 2026-Fillable PDF
The NCSU Western Equestrian Team will be selling concessions during the State Horsebowl and Hippology Contests. If your team or individuals are interested in ordering pizza for lunch, please complete the pre-order form below!
Purpose
The purpose of the Hippology Contest is to provide participants with the opportunity to blend knowledge and skills acquired in horse judging, bowl, demonstrations, public speaking, and showing into one activity. Additionally, the Hippology Contest will encourage participants to continue expanding their horse knowledge and participation, recognize participants for their total involvement in the horse industry and their comprehensive knowledge of the horse industry, and teach good sportsmanship through a friendly and competitive environment.
Any 4-H member is eligible to participate in the 4-H Hippology Contest. Participants do not need to own a horse.
Each county is eligible to enter any number of Junior or Senior teams of four members in the state contest. The total individual scores for the three high team members will constitute the team score and be used in determining team awards. Individual entries will be accepted. All participants in the contest will be eligible for individual awards or recognition.
Senior and Junior members are also able to compete in a special Rookie division for first-time Hippology competitors.
Cloverbud members (ages 5-7) will be able to compete in a special Cloverbud division. This will be a non-competitive event and all participants will receive recognition of participation. There is no cost to enter, but youth must be pre-registered on the contest entry form.
Senior teams will be composed of participants who have reached age 14 and have not reached age 19 as of January 1. Junior teams are composed of members who have not yet reached age 14 as of January 1. Junior and Senior teams will complete an impromptu team problem to a judge. The score from the team problem will be added to the top three team members' scores to determine the total score for the overall ranking. In addition, the top six scoring teams in the team problem will also be recognized.
Members of the champion team in the Junior or Senior (who were not selected to participate on the state team) divisions will be eligible to compete on future teams in that division as long as they meet the age and educational eligibility requirements. Members of the state team selected from the Senior Division and participating at the National 4-H Roundup or Quarter Horse Congress will be ineligible to participate as individuals or members on any future county hippology teams.
The highest-ranking overall Senior individual will be designated Horseman-of-the-Year. The winning Senior individual will be ineligible to compete in future North Carolina 4-H Hippology contests. Junior individual awards will be separated by ages 8-10 and 11-13.
Suggested References
There are Hippology materials (Exams and Slide IDs) from past state contests available on the website. Exam questions are written from the approved references for each division. Please have your 4-Hers practice using the sample scantron form so they are comfortable with the format of that document. Scantrons will be used for Judging, Slide IDs, Exam, and Stations.Additional resources that may be used in preparation for the contest are also found on the Educational Materials page on the website.
Scoring Details
Exam /ID= 200 points
Exam (Multiple Choice/Matching/True-False Questions)
Senior= 50 Questions (2 points each)
Junior= 25 Questions (4 points each)
Rookie Junior= 25 Questions (4 points each)
Rookie Senior= 50 Questions (2 points each)
Slide IDs (Multiple Choice Questions)
Senior= 25 Slides (4 points each)
Junior= 25 Slides (4 points each)
Junior Rookie= 20 Slides (25 total questions, including 1 station slide with 5 questions=4 points each)
Senior Rookie= 40 Slides (50 total questions, including 2 station slides with 10 questions each=2 points each)
Stations (Matching/Identification Questions)= 200 points
Seniors and Juniors= 10 Stations, 10 Questions per Station, 2 Minutes to Complete each Station, 2 points per question
Rookies will not have a separate category of points for stations; they will be part of the slide IDs.
Junior Rookie= 1 station format slide on slide IDs
Senior Rookie= 2 station format slides on slide IDS
Judging= 200 points
Juniors and Senior= 4 classes. The classes can be any combination of halter and performance. For example 2 halter/2 performance or 1 halter/3 performance
Rookies= 2 classes
Rookies will have 1 Halter and 1 Performance Class (the combined score of both classes will be multiplied by two)
Team Problem=100 points (for junior and senior teams only)
All teams within their division will be presented with the same problem. Each team will be given ten minutes to prepare, organize, and present their team problem. The team will be required to present an oral solution or series of suggested procedures relative to the problem. Each member of each team should contribute to the oral presentation. The official may ask questions of any or all of the team members to clarify the presentation.
Awards
Individual Awards 1st-10th place Junior (8-18 and 11-13) and Senior (14-18) Division:
- Exam/Id (200 points)
- Stations (200 points)
- Judging (200 points)
- Overall (1st place Senior is Horseman of the Year) 1st & 2nd overall in the Senior Division get a belt buckle. 1st place 8-10 and 11-13 juniors receive a belt buckle.
Junior and Senior Rookie: Overall top ten high individuals
Team Awards
1st-10thplace Junior & Senior Division: Overall
1st-6th place Junior & Senior Team Problem
Hotel Accommodations
A room block has been set up with:Holiday Inn Express & Suites Raleigh West – Lenovo Center 6115 Corporate Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC 27607 Ph: 919-809-8660 Fx: 919-809-8488
Book By: 02/27/2026 Standard King $125 Queen/Queen $135
