Horse

HORSE 

Department G 

Superintendents: Jim Lesmeister, Kris Vahrenkamp, & Jules Sellman 

Junior Superintendents: Ava Pyle, Kendall Sellman, &  Skyler Edelman  

HORSE RULES AND GUIDELINES: 

  1. Rule Source: All rules and regulations governing the Dawes County Fair 4-H Horse Show will be taken from the Nebraska State 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide, 4-H 373. This includes dress code, patterns, legal equipment, etc.
  2. Ownership: Horses entered in the horse show must be solely owned by the 4-H member or immediate family by June 15th of the current year or leased as shown on the ID (affidavit) sheets. Horses need to be properly identified by June 15th to be used at the County Fair. Horse(s) used at the Dawes County Fair will be checked in before the show and verified with the ID (affidavit) sheets.
  3. Check-In and Show Time: Saturday, July 25 check in with horses at 7:30 a.m. The Horse Show will begin at 8 a.m.
  4. Back Tags: Each exhibitor will have two identical back tags. Halter / Showmanship Classes - one back tag should be on 4-H member's back. All riding classes - back tags should be placed one on each side of the saddle pad. Back tags will be available one week before fair or at the time of the show.
  5. Dress Code: Exhibitors are required to wear a plain white shirt/blouse, including buttons, thread, etc. with convertible collars (one that is meant to be folded at the seam line and may or may not be buttoned at the base of the neck). Tuxedo, turtleneck, or other stand-up collars are not permitted. Dark blue denim jeans must be worn and a belt is recommended. Heavy contrasting threading and fringe are not permitted. Minimal white or tan thread on the rear pockets is permitted. No rhinestones, silver studs, or similar embellishments are permitted. Hard-soled shoes or cowboy boots are considered safe and appropriate. Boots with waffle-type tread greater than or equal to 1/8 inch will not be allowed in riding classes. Horse exhibitors follow all horse show rules, including dress code, as stated in 4-H 373. Dress code violation reduces your placing by one ribbon. 4-H armbands will be required to be worn by all exhibitors. The 4-H Council will provide them on show day if exhibitor doesn’t have one.
  6. Hats/Headgear: Hats are optional in timed events but must stay on after crossing the starting line or rider will be fined a two second penalty. Ball caps are prohibited.
  7. Entry Information: No exhibitor shall be allowed more than one horse in each class. No individual horse shall be allowed to compete twice in the same class. No rider shall be allowed to compete twice in any class.
  8. Control and Containment: Horses may not be allowed to run freely while on the fairgrounds.
  9. Only mares and geldings may be shown at halter and under saddle (weanling studs permitted at halter).
  10. Working Ranch Horse Class and Breakaway Roping provides an opportunity for youth to focus on and receive recognition for horsemanship skills developed through ranch work. As live cattle are part of these classes, Horsemanship Advancement Level II is required to participate. Exhibitors must have passed Level I and II at time of pre-registration on July 1st to be eligible to compete. The Working Ranch Horse Class, Breakaway Roping Class, Trail Class, and Dummy Roping Class will be held on the same date from the other horse show classes.
  11. Working Ranch Horse: (Must pass Horsemanship Advancement Level II to participate)
  • Exhibitors work individually, moving an animal through a course involving 4-7 obstacles. Course will be posted prior to the fair.
  • Although there is a maximum time limit imposed, this class is NOT a timed event. Scoring will be based on completion of the pattern and not time.
  • Refer to the 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide for complete rules.
  1. Breakaway Roping: (Must pass Horsemanship Advancement Level II to participate)
  • All enrolled youth can only participate in Breakaway Roping or Dummy Roping, not both.
  • Exhibitors will be scored according to the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show Rules, taking both the roper’s time and horse’s score into account for final placing.
  • Exhibitors can be disqualified if judge deems that calves were mistreated or mishandled.
  • Exhibitors will be flagged at the start with no barrier.
  • Refer to the 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide for complete rules.
  1. Dummy Roping:
  • All enrolled youth can only participate in Breakaway Roping or Dummy Roping, not both.
  • Youth will rope the stationary dummy steer from horseback.
  • Exhibitors will be allowed 5 throws at the head with a 3-minute time limit.
  • Exhibitors must dally after each catch to demonstrate the ability to dally correctly.
  • Exhibitors will be judged on the way they handle their horse, using their reins and legs, as well as proper positioning of the horse for the throw. (Up to 5 points possible)
  • Exhibitors will also be judged on the way they handle their rope, coiling, building a loop, swinging, dallying, etc. (Up to 5 points possible)
  • Exhibitors will receive points for catches made according to the following system: POINTS: Miss – 0 Half-Head - 1 Neck Catch - 2 Clean Horns – 3 There is a total of 25 points possible - 10 from the judging and 15 from the catch value.
  1. All Around Hand Award: Will be presented to the exhibitor who accumulates the most points throughout the show using any combination of horse/rider. Excluded classes: Halter and Dummy Roping.
  • Points are accumulated using the following guidelines: Purple (4 points); Blue (3 points); Red (2 points); White (1 point). Champions will be worth an additional 2 points and Reserve Champions will be worth an additional 1 point.
  1. Pattern Book: The pattern book will be released 24 hours before the Horse Show. The pattern book will be available Friday, July 24 at 8:00 a.m. 

DIVISION 950: HORSE 

G950001. Senior Showmanship.  

G950002. Intermediate Showmanship.  

G950003. Junior Showmanship. 

G950004. Senior English Pleasure.  

G950005. Intermediate English Pleasure.  

G950006. Junior English Pleasure. 

G950007. 1 Year Old Fillies. 

G950008. 2 Year Old Fillies.  

G950009. 1 Year Old Geldings.  

G950010. 2 Year Old Geldings.  

G950011. Mare and Foal. 

G950012. Senior Ranch Horse Western Pleasure.  

G950013. Intermediate Ranch Horse Western Pleasure.  

G950014. Junior Ranch Horse Western Pleasure. 

G950015. Senior Horsemanship.  

G950016. Intermediate Horsemanship.  

G950017. Junior Horsemanship. 

G950018. Green Broke 2 (2-year-old in Western Pleasure Only).  

G950019. Green Broke 3 (3-year-old in Western Pleasure Only). 

G950020. Senior Dawes County Special (pattern to be announced prior to class).  

G950021. Intermediate Dawes County Special (pattern to be announced prior to class).  

G950022. Junior Dawes County Special (pattern to be announced prior to class). 

G950023. Senior Ranch Horse Reining.  

G950024. Intermediate Ranch Horse Reining.  

G950025. Junior Ranch Horse Reining. 

G950026. Senior Trail Horse Class (pattern to be announced prior to class).  

G950027. Intermediate Trail Horse Class (pattern to be announced prior to class).  

G950028. Junior Trail Horse Class (pattern to be announced prior to class). 

G950029. Senior Barrel Race.  

G950030. Intermediate Barrel Race.  

G950031. Junior Barrel Race. 

G950032. Senior Pole Bending.  

G950033. Intermediate Pole Bending.  

G950034. Junior Pole Bending. 

G950035. Senior Working Ranch Horse (Level II Only).  

G950036. Intermediate Working Ranch Horse (Level II Only).  

G950037. Junior Working Ranch Horse (Level II Only). 

G950038. Senior Breakaway Roping (Level II Only).  

G950039. Intermediate Breakaway Roping (Level II Only).  

G950040. Junior Breakaway Roping (Level II Only). 

G950050. Senior Dummy Roping. (Level I Only) 

G950041. Intermediate Dummy Roping.  (Level I Only) 

G950042. Junior Dummy Roping. (Level I Only)  

G950047. Senior All Around Hand.  

G950048. Intermediate All Around Hand.  

G950049. Junior All Around Hand.

Dawes County Fair Book