Delaware 4-H
Hippology Contest

Saturday, December 10, 2022 

Location TBD

Registration Link:  2022 Hippology Contest 
Registration due November 11, 2022

Check-in Begins at 8:30 am
Contest Starts  at 9:00 am
Dress Appropriately to be in the Barn

Objectives:

 

1. To provide youth with the opportunity to blend the knowledge and skills acquired in horse judging, horse bowl, demonstrations and public speaking, showing and practical horse experience into one activity.
2. To encourage youth to continue expanding their understanding, knowledge and participation in equine science.
3. To recognize youth for their total involvement in and comprehensive knowledge of the horse industry.
4. To teach good sportsmanship through a friendly and competitive environment.

 

Contestants and Eligibility:

 

1. Any Delaware 4-H members is eligible. Participants must be a currently enrolled member of a Delaware 4-H club and should have some familiarity with working around horses.
2. Age is calculated as of January 1, 2023
3. Divisions: Cloverbuds- require adult supervision at the contest to participate.

• Beginner- Ages 8-10
• Intermediate- Ages 11-13
• Senior- Ages 14-19

 

Contest Rules and Regulations:

1. This is both an individual and team competition. Teams consist of 3 to 4 members.  In teams in which there are four members, all will compete but only top three scores will count.  The lowest team members’ score will be dropped in any of the team totals, but will be utilized in making all individual awards.  With a team of two (2) or less, members will be combined with another team when possible. Teams can be made up of different ages but the oldest member will determine the age division. Individual entries will be accepted.
2. Entries must be accompanied by appropriate entry fees. There will be an entry fee for each competitor. The entry fee is $5 PER person
3. All contestants, coaches and volunteers are expected to dress and act like professionals at all times. Hard-toed shoes (no sneakers, clogs or sandals) must be worn during the competition. Teams are encouraged to dress as a team but this is not required. The contest will be held in a barn setting so PLEASE dress warmly.
4. Parents, spectators and coaches will not be allowed in the competition area unless they are involved in an official position (please remember to dress for the weather).
5. While the contest is in progress, conferring between participants or between a participant and anyone else during Phase A of the contest is prohibited and may result in disqualification. Participants may speak to their station leader if they have any questions or problems.
6. No cell phones are permitted to be used while the contest is underway. The use of a cell phone may result in disqualification.
7. All contestants MUST bring their own clipboard, plain note paper and several sharpened pencils. LAWNCHAIRS recommended
8. Because this event is being hosted on a private farm, absolutely NO DOGS or PETS are permitted at the event.
9. Awards will be presented the day of the contest to the top 4 teams and to the top 4 individuals in each age division.
10. Reference material – please refer to the Study Guide provided at the end of this document for this contest. All reference material is the same as used for the Horse Bowl.

 

Contest Format Scoring:

1. Individual Score is a combination of an individual’s score from the Phase A Station Activities.
2. Team Score is calculated by tabulating the top 3 individual scores of team members from the Phase A Station Activities plus the total team score earned in Phase B.
3. Phase A – Station Activities– completed as individuals: 

Contestants should be prepared to ID horse body parts, bridle parts, tack, horse equipment, breeds of horses, coat color, color patterns, leg and face markings, feeds and feed ingredients, types of bits, farrier tools, parts of the hoof, etc.  This phase is hands on.
Examples may include but are not limited to- put together a bridle, identify which bits are leverage types, grooming tools to be identified and put in the correct order of use, horse parts ID using a real horse, etc.

4. Phase B – Team Activity -2 stations- 10 minutes each- 

This will test the skill of members to answer questions and complete problem solving team activities. Questions will be more advanced for older groups

Example – Horse trailer and/or barn safety – members will need to recognize safe and unsafe items around and in the horse trailer and barn – What important items should be included on each trip?

Example – Use the tape measure to determine the horse’s weight – give the horse a condition score and recommend a feeding program suitable for this animal. What are some ways to evaluate this horse’s health and how to keep him healthy?

Example – What should you feed your horse?  Evaluate and identify the hays – which ones will horses like to eat?  Which ones are appropriate for which types or stages of growth of horses?

Example – english bridle vs western – point out the similar parts and different parts – Can older members recognized when bit is in backwards or if a part is missing? Western Saddles – What is wrong with this? Can you assemble? Proper cleaning of tack.

Example – Basic First Aid – what is in this box?  Where do you take a horse’s temperature? Check gums? listen to heart? Gut sounds?

Example- Evaluate and judge a class of horses- put together and present a set of oral reasons to an official to justify your placing utilizing the correct format, names of body parts and terms.

Tie Breakers 

Individual–  1. Total Bonus Points Scored
—————–2. Number of 3 point Bonus Scored
—————–3.Score from a preselected station

Team– 1. Total Team Bonus points scored
———-2.  Score from a preselected team portion

Study Resources for the Hippology Contest- 4-H Horse Manuals:

 

5. “Giddy Up and Go”, “Head, Heart and Hooves”, “Stable Relationships”, “Riding the Range,” “Jumping to New Heights,” “Horse Project Helper’s Guide.,”
6. Beginner age 8-10: Your Pony, Your Horse, by Cherry Hill
7. Intermediate (age 11-13)Your Horse, a step-by-step guide to horse ownership, by Judy Chapple (and age 8-10 material).
8. Senior (14 to 19) Horses and Horsemanship – by Ray Antoniewicz, National 4-H Council,  Storey’s Horse-Lover’s Encyclopedia, edited by Deborah Burns (and age 8-10 and 11-13 material). Horse Science- by Ray Antoniewicz, National 4-H Council
9. http://www.shoreridersponyclub.org/quiz-worksheets–documents.html
10. Feed Ingredients to be familiar with- hay, hay cubes, straw, alfalfa pellets, whole corn, cracked corn, barley, beet pulp, dried molasses, oats, pelleted feed, rolled oats, salt, soybeans, soybean meal, sweet feed, trace mineral salt

If you are in need of special accommodations to participate in this program, please notify officials two weeks in advance of the event.

Cooperative Extension Education in Agriculture and Home Economics, University of Delaware, Delaware State University and the United States Department of Agriculture cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30,1914. It is the policy of the Delaware Cooperative Extension System that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex, disability, age, or national origin.

2022 Hippology Contest (printable PDF)