G: Livestock - Horse

Check General Rules for Livestock for more information.

4-H Horses must be on the grounds and ready to show by 8:30 AM, Thursday, July 9, 2026.  Horses will be ridden in designated areas and not on the track in front of grandstand, carnival or machinery areas, nor west or south of beef area. Exhibitors must also enter the showmanship contest. A 4-H member with a horse project may show their project horses in any or all classes. No one may show two horses in one class nor shall one horse be shown by two club members in one class in case of double ownership. This includes Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Showmanship.

HORSEMANSHIP ADVANCEMENT LEVEL REQUIREMENTS:  The Horsemanship Advancement Levels program is designed to serve as a guide for instruction and evaluation of each member's progress. The correct handling of horses is emphasized from the beginning to the most advanced level. Each level has particular emphases to assist in developing 4-H member's self-discipline, patience, self-reliance, responsibility, and pride of accomplishments. All 4-H Horse Project members entering the Dixon County Fair 4-H Show must have completed Level 1 (Horsemanship Advancement Levels) by June 15, 2026.  Information is located at https://4h.unl.edu/statewide-events-opportunities/horse-program/horsemanship-advancement/ or contact the extension office for more information about the 4-H Horsemanship Advancement Level Testing.  Exhibitors showing at the Nebraska State Fair must have passed Horsemanship Advancement Level II, III, or IV to compete at the state level.

DRESS CODE: Western horsemanship exhibitors should wear an all-white shirt or blouse with standard convertible collar, long sleeves will be required, no short or sleeveless shirts are to be worn. No emblems permitted except a 4-H arm band on the left arm above the elbow. Hard soled western boots are preferred as safe and appropriate footwear. Other footgear may be approved prior to show with judge's inspection. Standard, dark, blue denim (cotton preferred) without ornamentation or heavy contrasting stitching are preferred. Wider, unsafe flares are inappropriate. At the judge's discretion, inappropriately dressed horseman may be dropped one ribbon placing.

HORSE SHOWMANSHIP

Other rules of the show will be as printed in 4H 373, Nebraska 4H Horse Show and Judging Guide. 

CLASSES

   G 60 901   PONY HALTER

   G 60 902   HALTER MARES 3 AND OLDER

   G 60 903   HALTER GELDINGS 3 AND OLDER

   G 60 904   HALTER 2 YEAR OLD MARE

   G 60 905   HALTER 2 YEAR OLD GELDING

   G 60 906   HALTER YEARLING MARES

   G 60 907   HALTER YEARLING GELDING

   G 60 908   FIRST YEAR HORSEMANSHIP (1ST YR EXHIBITOR ANY AGE) 

   G 60 909   JUNIOR HORSEMANSHIP

   G 60 910   INTERMEDIATE HORSEMANSHIP

   G 60 911   SENIOR HORSEMANSHIP

   G 60 912   PONY PLEASURE

   G 60 913   RANCH PLEASURE

   G 60 914   WESTERN PLEASURE, JUNIOR (8-10) WALK TROT

   G 60 915   WESTERN PLEASURE, INTERMEDIATE (11-13)

   G 60 916   WESTERN PLEASURE, SENIOR (14-18)

   G 60 917   2 & 3 YEAR OLD SNAFFLE BIT

   G 60 918   JUNIOR-REINING 

   G 60 919   INTERMEDIATE-REINING

   G 60 920   SENIOR REINING

   G 60 921    RANCH RIDING

   G 60 922   JUNIOR-TRAIL RIDE

   G 60 923   INTERMEDIATE-TRAIL RIDE

   G 60 924   SENIOR TRAIL RIDE

   G 60 925   JUNIOR POLE BEND

  G 60 926    INTERMEDIATE POLE BEND

   G 60 927   SENIOR POLE BEND

   G 60 928   JUNIOR BARREL RACE

   G 60 929   INTERMEDIATE BARREL RACE

   G 60 930   SENIOR BARREL RACE

SENIOR HORSEMANSHIP: Judge will select pattern prior to show and all Senior riders will need to ride same pattern in front of the Judge.

ALL-AROUND HORSEMAN

1. An all-around horseman will be selected for the Junior age group (8-10), Intermediate age group (11-13) and the Senior age group (14-18) by accumulation of points in all events. An award will be given to each winner.
2. The winner will be determined using a point system based on the ribbon placing for each class. Points will be awarded in the following manner:

         Purple = 4 points

         Blue = 3 points

         Red = 2 point

         White = 1 point

         Class Champion = 1 point

3. These points will not need to be accumulated on one horse, but instead on each event the rider chooses to enter.
4. A scorekeeper will be appointed for record keeping for these awards.
5. If the scorekeeper's tally results in a tie for total points accumulated, the rider that places first in the most events will be declared the winner. If the results remain tied, the horseman with the highest placing in the horsemanship event will then be named winner.

Top Horse Award

1. Top Horse will be awarded to one exhibitor riding one horse throughout the horse show.
2. Each horse exhibitor must designate which horse will be used before the show begins.
3. The winner will be determined using a point system based on the ribbon placing for each class with the identified horse.  Points will be awarded in the following manner:

         Purple = 4 points

         Blue = 3 points

         Red = 2 point

         White = 1 point

         Class Champion = 1 point

4. A scorekeeper will be appointed for record keeping for this award.
5. If the scorekeeper's tally results in a tie for total points accumulated, the horse that places first in the most events will be declared the winner. If the results remain tied, the horseman with the highest placing in the horsemanship event will then be named winner.