Horse

Content

AWARDS:

Purple - $6.00 Blue -$5.00    

Red - $4.00 White - $3.00

HORSE RESOURCES

2025 Nebraska 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide (rulebook that shows will abide by): https://marketplace.unl.edu/default/4h373.html

4-H Horse Project Member Manual https://marketplace.unl.edu/extension/horsemanual.html

4-H Horse Project Advancement Level https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horsemanship-advancement/.

IMPORTANT DEADLINES 

JUNE 15

JULY 1

  • FAIR ENTRIES and Horsemanship Level Tests DUE. Any entries submitted July 2-5 by 12PM CT will pay a $10 late fee per horse, and no entries will be accepted after that. Entry forms and ID sheets are available by request or at either office. Horse ID’s DUE. No horse ID’s will be rolled over this year. Everyone must submit new horse IDs for each horse they will be showing. Members going to the state horse show will need IDs turned in June 1. Any ID’s submitted July 2-5 by 12PM CT will pay a $10 late fee per horse. 

AUG 1

  • Horse Advancement Levels due to the office. If your show is before August 1, they are due 7 days prior to your county show. 

GENERAL RULES 

To exhibit at county fair, youth are required to complete and pass the skills (riding) test for 4-H Horsemanship Advancement Level 1. To fully complete the Horsemanship Advancement Level 1, the 4-Her would need to complete a demonstration, written examination, and skills test. Youth that want to compete in 4-H roping classes must complete all components of horse levels 1 and 2. More information on the horsemanship levels can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horsemanship-advancement/.

Horse ID’s may be checked before the beginning of the show.  

Show Superintendents reserve the right to combine age divisions to be judged together if a class has three kids or less.  Combined classes will be announced before the show. All exhibitor age groups will show together in Halter Classes. 

A horse can be used in all classes by more than one 4-H member if the horse is properly identified to each member and is SHOWN IN DIFFERENT AGE DIVISIONS.  

NOTE: Clover Kids (5-7) may not participate in the Horse project in any capacity.  The 4-H Policy and Procedure Handbook (https://4h.unl.edu/policy-handbook) states horse projects are not appropriate for the Clover Kid age group. 

High point for each county fair horse show will be calculated as follows: purple ribbons will be worth 4 points, blue worth 3 points, red worth 2 points, and white worth 1 point. Placing in Western Horsemanship will break any ties. If a second tiebreaker is needed, Showmanship will be used. Only one pleasure (western, pony, futurity) class will be counted towards high point with preference given to western pleasure first. Hippology test must be completed to be eligible for high point.

Only 4-H exhibitors signed up to show at the fair are allowed to be on the horses exhibited at the 4-H horse show.

AGE DIVISIONS (4-H Age)

Junior: 8-10 years 

Intermediates: 11-13 years 

Seniors: 14-18 years

CLASSES

This list is not show order; each county superintendent will determine show order. Please consult the 2025 Nebraska 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide for rules about specific classes.

G660001L     Junior Horse Showmanship 

G660002L     Intermediate Horse Showmanship 

G660003L     Senior Horse Showmanship 

G650001L     Pony Pleasure (Under 14.2 hands)

G651001L     Junior Western Pleasure 

G651002L     Intermediate Western Pleasure 

G651003L     Senior Western Pleasure 

G651004L     2–3-Year-Old Futurity 

G651005L     3–4-Year-Old Return Futurity 

G652001L     Junior Western Horsemanship 

G652002L     Intermediate Western Horsemanship 

G652003L     Senior Western Horsemanship 

G653001L     Junior Reining- Youth may exhibit in Ranch Riding OR Reining but not in both classes.

G653002L     Intermediate Reining- Youth may exhibit in Ranch Riding OR Reining but not in both classes.

G653003L     Senior Reining- Youth may exhibit in Ranch Riding OR Reining but not in both classes.

G653004L     Green Horse Reining (Horse 4 years old or younger) - Youth may exhibit in Ranch Riding OR Reining but not in both classes. 

G654001L     Junior Pole Bending 

G654002L     Intermediate Pole Bending 

G654003L     Senior Pole Bending 

G655001L     Junior Barrel Racing 

G655002L     Intermediate Barrel Racing 

G655003L     Senior Barrel Racing 

G656001L     Junior Trail 

G656002L     Intermediate Trail 

G656003L     Senior Trail

CLASSES - HIPPOLOGY 

G658001L     Junior Hippology Contest 

G658002L     Intermediate Hippology Contest 

G658003L     Senior Hippology Contest 

LEVEL 1 

CLASSES

To fully complete the Horsemanship Advancement Level 1, the 4-Her needs to complete a demonstration, written exam, and skills (riding) test. Youth that want to compete in 4-H roping classes must complete all components of horse levels 1 and 2. More information on the horsemanship levels can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horsemanship-advancement/. Inquire with your county 4-H horse leader to see if this event will be offered at the horse show. 

G656005L     Junior Working Ranch Horse

G656006L     Intermediate Working Ranch Horse 

G656007L     Senior Working Ranch Horse

G664001       Junior Dummy Roping

G664002       Intermediate Dummy Roping 

G664003       Senior Dummy Roping

G665004       Ranch Riding- Youth may exhibit in Ranch Riding OR Reining but not in both classes. 

LEVEL 2

CLASSES

To fully complete Level 2, the 4-Her needs to complete a demonstration, written report, feed chart, written exam, and skills (riding) test. Youth that want to compete in 4-H roping classes must complete all components of horse levels 1 and 2. More information on the horsemanship levels can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horsemanship-advancement/ Inquire with your county 4-H horse leader to see if this event will be offered at the horse show. 

G661001       Junior Boxing

G661002       Intermediate Boxing 

G661003       Senior Boxing

G662001       Junior Breakaway Roping

G662002       Intermediate Breakaway Roping 

G662003       Senior Breakaway Roping

G663001       Junior Heading

G663002       Intermediate Heading 

G663003       Senior Heading

G663004       Junior Heeling

G663005       Intermediate Heeling 

G663006       Senior Heeling

HALTER

HOOKER COUNTY ONLY. Horses can only be shown in one class. Halter classes do not count towards high-point awards. 

AWARDS:

Purple - $5.00 Blue -$4.00    

Red - $3.00 White - $2.00

CLASSES

G657001L     Pony Halter (Under 14.2 hands) 

G657002L     Two and Under Fillies

G657005L     Aged Mares 

G657006L     Two and Under Geldings

G657009L     Aged Geldings 

Judging                                

Classes

G658001L    Aged Mare Judging – Youth will place a class of aged mares and compare it against the judges placing

G658002L    Aged Gelding Judging - Youth will place a class of aged geldings and compare it against the judges placing

 

HORSE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT (judged with static entries)

AWARDS:

Purple - $2.00 Blue -$1.50    

Red - $1.00 White - $.50

CLASSES

G659001L     EQUINE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT – (Not State Fair Eligible) An educational display will show something you learned in the project. It can be either vertical or horizontal, not to exceed 14" x 22" or, if a table display, a space not to exceed 24" deep x 24" high x 24" long. Pictures, drawings, short narrations, actual products, models, pictures, posters, etc. may be used. Only one (1) educational display per project may be exhibited. MAY BE ON ANY PROJECT FOR WHICH THERE ARE NO EXHIBITS LISTED IN PREMIUM BOOK.