The Delaware 4-H program held their statewide 4-H Hippology contest on Saturday, December 10 at Courageous Hearts Equine Assisted Therapy Center, in Lincoln, Delaware. Hippology meaning “study of the horse” is an activity that enhances learning for 4-H members by letting them exhibit their knowledge and understanding of equine science and husbandry in a competitive setting. 26 youth ages 8-19 from across the state participated in the hands-on competition. The Delaware 4-H Horse Advisory Committee, a group composed of 4-H volunteers from all three Delaware counties that are dedicated to providing quality 4-H horse programs to members, sponsored the contest.
4-H members competed in both individual and team categories. The individual portion of the contest had competitors complete five different station-based activities focused on equine anatomy, tack, general horse equipment, horse coat color identification and equine discipline identification. In the team portion of the contest youth competed on teams of up to four individuals to complete more difficult and comprehensive team problem solving activities. The team problem solving activities focused on feeds and feeding horses and the hoof; requiring youth to identify parts of the hoof and lower leg, identify farrier equipment and the purpose, sort the stages of shoeing into the proper steps. The beginner team problem involved grooming; identifying pieces of grooming equipment, sorting them into the proper order of use, answering questions about grooming and finally grooming a horse using grooming tools provided.
4-H volunteer adult leaders coached young people in the months leading up to the competition to prepare them using specified resource materials. Special thanks to Rosemary Baughman of Courageous Hearts Equine Assisted Therapy Center for providing the location for the contest, to members of the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee and parent and coaching volunteers for helping with monitoring stations.
The New Castle County winners were:
Intermediate (11-13 year olds)
2nd place- Jordanne Retkowski- Heavenly Hooves 4-H Club, New Castle County
3rd place- Jocelyn Retkowski- Heavenly Hooves 4-H Club, New Castle County
Teams:
Intermediate (11-13 year olds)
2nd place- Heavenly Hooves Trio- Heavenly Hooves 4-H Club
Members: Jocelyn Retkowski, Jordanne Retkowski, Josiah Retkowski