Animal Science Academy - Horse

When choosing a horse for showing, you want one that you feel safe with and is easy to handle. If you don't own a horse, you may also lease. Leasing is a good option if you want to try out horse showing before you buy one.

Horses need water and hay. Some need extra grain to help with weight, feed supplements or encourage eating. Make sure at all times your horse has plenty of hay and water. Every horse is fed differently so do not try to feed another persons horse.

• All About Livestock - University of MN Extension - Link to more information here

• Animal ID - Minnesota 4-H - Link to more information here
• Leasing an animal in 4-H - Minnesota 4-H - Link to more information here
• Lease Form - Minnesota 4-H - Link to form

Spending time everyday with your horse working on skills will improve your skills.

The Redwood County 4H project also has ride outs every Wednesday from end of May to fair time from 5:30-8pm. During this time the riders work on skills and training with their animals.

• Horse Project in Redwood County 4-H - link to more information here -
• Minnesota 4-H Horse Project Page - link to more information here
• 4-H Horse Project Rule Book - link to more information here

1. Premium Book

• General Projects / animal science, vet science, exploring animals, and more - link is here
• Animal Science / all species - link is here

2. Fair Entry - Project Registration to show at county fair.

• Redwood County 4-H Fair Entry
• This is the program used to register what projects members are planning to exhibit at the Redwood County Fair.
• Use your 4honline.com account information to log in
• Fair entry link is here

3. Showmanship

• All youth are expected to participate in Showmanship Class for their age group.
• Register for showmanship in Fairentry.com when you are registering your projects to exhibit at the Redwood County Fair.

4. Interviews Wednesday evening of county fair week

• All youth are expected to participate in interviews.
• Register for interviews in Fairentry.com when you are registering your projects to exhibit at the Redwood County Fair. Interview judging occurs during the Redwood County Fair.
• Sign up for your interview time with the Barn Superintendent. Typically, sign ups happen along with the barn meeting.
• The interview will happen prior to your show and age group winners are awarded during your animal species show.
• Dress code for interviews:
• Clean clothing, shirts should be without sponsorship,
• No hats, no holes
• Show clothes are not expected

5. Pre and Post Fair Clean Up

• Pre-Fair - Wedneday week prior to fair - youth exhibiting animals at the fair are expected to attend pre-fair clean up. Clean up begins at 6 pm.
• Stall Decorating takes place Wednesday prior to fair. Stall theme is announced during Ride Outs. You do NOT have to decorate your stall but it is nice to see the barn decorated and see who shows which horse.
• Post Fair - Load out can begin at 7 pm on Sunday of the county fair. All youth must fully clean their area and stalls and remain on the fair grounds until their species building is clean and/or the species superintendent releases 4-H members to go.
• Note: Sunday morning of the Redwood County Fair from 7 am - 9 am youth may remove tac and other items no longer needed. Trailers must be off grounds by 9 am.

6. What is a show box, equipment needed, and what to bring? This is a general need list. Additional items may be needed for your species.

• Show box to keep equipment/tack in/grooming products
• Registration Papers, Coggins
• Feed
• Water pail and hose and Feed pan

• Broom, fork, wheelbarrow

• Bedding (shavings preferred)- horse barn floors are made of clay

• Fans, extension cords, zip ties, pliers, scissors, stall decorations

• Grooming products

• Approved Helmet

• Saddle and pad

• Halter and show Halter

• Bridle (see the rule book for bit rules)

7. Clothing Suggestion: Show Clothes

Bring proper show clothes to change into. Youth may use the changing station provided for use during the fair. The preferred show wear includes:

• Refer to horse rule book for dress code rules
• No sponsorships may be included on the clothing and no holes
• Rider and horse teams will wear a triple set of numbers - one on each side of the saddle and one as a back tag.
• Redwood County 4-H will provide the back tag number and safety pins.

We recommend saving your county fair t-shirt for the Horse Showcase held Sunday morning of the county fair.

8. Animal Check in at the fair - Redwood County 4-H Process

• Animals must be checked by the county fair veterinarian prior to entering the fairgrounds per MN Board of Animal Health Rules.
• The vets are available the Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning of county fair and located in the grass parking area across from the northern most fairgrounds gate.
• Details are available in the 4-H premium book
• Cloverbuds bringing their own animal must also comply with the vet check during our county fair animal science check in.

9. Truck/Trailers:

• Trailers may come onto the fairgrounds to off load your supplies and animals to their respective barns
• Horse trailers may be aloud onto grounds for the show.
• Horse trailers must be moved after the show to the back of the parking lot, by the softball fields
• Trailers must be off the fairgrounds by 10 am Thursday of county fair(Livestock trailers)
• Park trailers on the grass parking lot across from the northern most fairgrounds gate. Near the ball field.
• DO NOT set hitches onto the walking path
• DO set hitches on wood or similar barrier and place on the grass to prevent the hitch from digging into the ground.
• DO Lock your trailers.

10. Animal Exhibit Release during county fair:

• Cloverbuds may take their animal home following their species show.
• All other animal science exhibits and projects are required to remain on fairgrounds through the end of the fair.
• Exhibit dismissal is 7 pm Sunday of the county fair.

11. Turn Out Times

• Turn out times are posted by the tack room in the horse barn
• Horse are to only be let out during these times

• Sunday of County Fair starting at 8:30am with Meet and Greet, at 9am is when the auction will start.
• Effective 2026 Youth must complete Auction (communications) training to be in the showcase and complete the Horse Quality Assurance Training.

Redwood County 4-H Horse Showcase Handbook located Here: coming soon

• The fun show will be on Sunday following the horse showcase, starting at approximately10:30am (pending)
• This show is a fun event to try some different events and have some fun with your friends.
• Sign ups for the fun show will be posted in the barn on Friday or Saturday.
• Prizes will be handed out to those who compete

If you or a 4-H participant need disability-related or other accommodations to participate in this program or have questions about the physical accessibility of the event location, please contact Stacy J at 507-637-4025 or email skjohnso@umn.edu at registration or at least 2 weeks prior to the program or event. Late notice may limit our ability to provide requested accommodations.