4-H Horse Project

• All skill levels are welcome. This program is not intended to replace private horse lessons. Youth will need some prior riding experience and/or are experiencing riding lessons.
• Youth/Families must secure your own horse whether owned or leased.
• Owned or leased horses must be ID'd in 4-H Online prior to attending 4-H sponsored horse events with your horse.
• Owned or leased horses must have an up to date coggins test completed prior to attending ride outs or county fair with your horse.
• Watch your email for horse project updates.
• Open to youth grades Kindergarten - 1 year post high school.
• Youth grades Kindergarten - second are known as 4-H Cloverbuds. Cloverbuds can participate in 4-H horse project. See Cloverbuds section below.
• Completion of 6th grade is the minimum grade eligible to compete for Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show competition. More information below.

Note: See Animal ID sheet for more information on leasing or owning animals as it related to 4-H.

Youth and families will self select what skill level to participate in. Youth of all ages are invited to participate in the skill level that best fits your riding experience. 4-H Horse Superintendents are available to assist with decision making as needed. Below are the descriptions of each skill level category to help you make your decisions. Skill levels are applied to the county fair horse competition in July.

Skills youth will need to get started include:

• maneuver horse independently in the horse arena
• horse and rider can complete/participate in walk/trot with control
• youth can safely lead their horse from the ground
• Open to youth grades 3+

Skills youth will be working on include:

• walk/trot with proficiency
• lead with confidence
• basic horsemanship skills including introduction to simple patterns
• moving from minor assistance in the horse arena toward show readiness for county fair competition
• learning arena etiquette
• focus is on completing tasks correctly not speed
• focus is on controlling your horse
• Introducing interview skills

Skills youth will need to get started in the intermediate level include:

• deeper understanding of horsemanship skills including good control with walk, trot, and canter/lope skills and knowing your leads
• complete simple patterns

Skills youth will be working on include:

• increasing pattern difficulty
• increasing obstacle difficulty with trail and games classes
• increasing speed while maintaining accuracy of skills and control of your horse
• continued practice of arena etiquette
• advancing your interview skills

Skills youth will need to get started in the advanced level of riding include:

• horse skills as identified above
• grade 6 is the minimum age youth may participate in the advanced level riding
• horse interviews are required
• Riders must participate in the advanced riding level and successfully compete in the county fair 4-H horse competition in the advanced classes to qualify for the Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show.

Skills youth will be working on include:

• fine-tuning horsemanship and showmanship skills
• proficiency of pattern completion
• proficiency of horsemanship skills including walk, trot, and canter/lope.
• well-controlled horsemanship
• advancing your interview skills

Where: Redwood County 4-H Horse Arena on the Redwood County Fairgrounds, Redwood Falls

Who: Riders grades 3+

When: 6 pm Wednesdays May - July/Redwood County Fair

What:

Ride outs begin in May and end with the Redwood County Fair. Youth/families will trailer your horse(s) onto the fairgrounds on Wednesday evenings. This is a time for youth to ride and ask questions and recieve guidance from our Redwood County Horse Superintendents. While Ride Outs are not a replacement for lessons we do invite clinicians to attend and provide support/education to our riders.

Rideouts are optional though strongly encouraged.

Attendance is also a great way for the horse to get acquainted with the arena, traveling in a trailer, and for youth to meet each other prior to county fair.

Emails: Watch your emails for specific dates, times, and additional horse related activities.

Requirements:

• Youth must be actively enrolled in Redwood County 4-H.
• All riders wear ASTM/SEI approved head gear properly worn and fastened
• Western boots/shoes with a heel
• No shorts when riding
• All riders bring pitch fork and bucket to remove manure from both the horse arena and around your horse trailers.
• Horses must have an up to date and negative coggins test prior to attending ride outs or county fair.
• Horse must have completed animal ID requirements in 4-H online.
• Attendance at ride outs is not required. We love to see the kids attend at least one prior to county fair if possible.

Important Note: Ride outs are not intended to replace your private horse riding lessons.

This event is in addition to the horse show and the horse fun show held annually at the Redwood County Fair and is optional to participate in. The horse showcase is where youth will demonstrate a skill of their choosing and have their ribbon auctioned at the same time earning a premium.

Age Requirement: Grade 3+

Click the button below to learn more about what the horse showcase is and how you can be a part of this event!

• Cloverbuds are youth grades kindergarten - second grade.

• Youth may participate in multiple projects including project bowl, horseless horse, horse related project areas and showing their horse at the Redwood County Fair.
  
• Showing a horse at the county fair includes three classes at the county fair: Cloverbud Halter/Showmanship, Cloverbud Western Pleasure and/or Cloverbud Barrels.
• Each class must be non-competitive and gives the Cloverbud the idea of what it is like to be in the ring with a judge present.

Photo Credit: JP, Brown County 4-H

• Assistance with signing up for 4-H or horse animal ID: Contact the 4-H Office at 507-637-4025
• Horse specific questions related to Ride Outs, Horse Training, and/or Horse Achievement Projects: Kris 507-220-5393 and Meghann 507-829-8647
• Sunktanka Wicayuhopi 4-H Club/Program: Contact Dakota Wicohan 507-697-6272

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