Local Youth Compete at State 4-H Horse Show | UGA Extension Forsyth County

Each year, Georgia 4-H hosts the State 4-H Horse Show at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia. Classes are offered in five divisions:

Stock Seat (Western)
Ranch Horse (Western)
Hunt Seat (English)
Saddle Seat (English)
Contest Events (Running)

All classes are offered in three age groups:

Cloverleaf (4th grade, 5th and 6th grade students with limited experience)
Junior (5th and 6th grade students with demonstrated skills, 7th – 8th grade students)
Senior (9th – 12th grade students)

A champion and reserve champion are named in each division and age category. In addition to traditional horse show classes, the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show also provides the opportunity for 4-Hers who are exhibiting or who are not exhibiting horses to take part in the week through participation in educational contests. These include method demonstrations, public speaking, drawing and painting contests, and photography. All exhibitors must be enrolled in and carrying out a 4-H Horse project and must be the person primarily responsible for the care of the horse, which teaches responsibility and self-motivation. The State 4-H Horse Show provides an opportunity for members to exhibit their project and receive input on their accomplishments. In order to compete, 4-H’ers are required to complete numerous entry requirements which include the Novice Horseman 4-H Horse Project manual, the first in a series of three manuals offered to document Horsemanship skills gained through the Georgia 4-H Horse Program.

A young man holding a blue ribbon, standing next to an adult woman — Kate Whiting, Extension Specialist for Animal Science Programs, poses with Timothy Laszol after announcing that he placed 1st in the Cloverleaf Ranch Pleasure division.

This year’s contest was held May 31-June 3. Timothy Laszlo and Dustin Thomas, along with certified volunteer leader Lynn Brecht, represented Forsyth County at this year’s event. Timothy and his horse, Rosie the Riveter, placed 6^th in the Cloverleaf Walk-Trot Western Pleasure division, 8^th in the Cloverleaf Walk-Trot Western Horsemanship division, 5^th in the Cloverleaf Ground Handling division, 7^th in the Cloverleaf Ranch Trail division, and 1st in the Cloverleaf Ranch Pleasure division. Dustin and his horse Hollywood N Dry (AKA Jasmine) placed 10^th in the Senior Western Pleasure division, 10^th in the Senior Western Horsemanship division, and 7^th in the Senior Trail division.

A young adult male with Downs Syndrome and his brown horse — Dustin Thomas and his horse Jasmine are all smiles as they enter the ring for competition. Image by Josie Smith, State 4-H Public Relations Coordinator

Forsyth County 4-H is very proud of all these amazing 4-H’er and their hard work this year. For more information about the Forsyth County 4-H Horse program, please contact Forsyth County 4-H Agent Heather Haines at heather.haines@uga.edu. We are always looking for amazing adults who would like to help local youth expand their knowledge about horses.