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4-H Equine Science projects help you learn and improve your knowledge of horse biology and equine competition standards. Our 4-H Horse Project leaders are dedicated to creating safe, positive experiences!
Please note that 4-H Horse projects and contests are for ages 9 and up only.
Equine Hippology
Equine Hippology
Hippology focuses around four phases: horse judging, written examination and slide identification, ID stations and team problem solving. The goal for this project is to prepare members for state and national contests.
Horses and Ponies
Horses and Ponies
Learn how to care for, feed, and ride a horse or pony. The animal may be either owned or leased. Subcategories of this project include Breeding, Draft, Drill, Judging, Driving, English, Gymkhana & Dressage, Miniature, Trail Riding, and Western.
Therapeutic Large Animals
Therapeutic Large Animals
Learn about the care and training of large therapeutic animals. Members may be training or assisting with a therapeutic animal during the animal's working hours.
Therapeutic Animals Project Sheet (PDF, 260 KB)
Horseless Horse Projects
Horseless Horse Projects
Learn about horses without a horse! This project may include educational contests such as Horse Judging, Hippology, Horse Bowl and Horse Public Speaking.
Horse Program - Health & Safety
Horse Program - Health & Safety
Animal Health & Biosecurity - Current news in equine health and biosecurity
Clover Safe Note #6 (PDF, 109.7 KB) - Working Safely With Horses
Clover Safe Note #7 (PDF, 118 KB) - Horseback Riding Practices
Horse Educational Contests - Learning Resources
Horse Educational Contests - Learning Resources
Horse Educational Contests test your knowledge on topics you learn about in your 4-H Horse Projects. Use these resources to grow your knowledge on topics such as:
Horse Anatomy and Physiology
Breeds, colors and markings
Care, feeding, health, and diseases
Equipment used with horses (tack)
Riding and training
Horse Educational Contests - Rules and Scoring
Horse Educational Contests - Rules and Scoring
All of the rules and scoring guidance shared in these documents match the National 4-H contest rules and guidelines. You can use these to host your own local contest and also to prepare to participate at the state and national levels.
Horse Bowl Study Materials
Horse Bowl Study Materials
Horse Bowl teams are required to submit questions to be used in the contest. Questions must come from the following official reference sources.
Format for the questions must include question, answer, source, and page number.
True/false, yes/no, either/or questions are undesirable.
IDET - Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms by New Horizon Equine Center, Inc., Alpine Publications, Inc.
HIH - Horse Industry Handbook (with 2021 updates), by the American Youth Horse Council (AYHC)
LEWIS - Feeding and Care of the Horse (2nd Edition) by Lon D. Lewis. Wiley - Feeding and Care of the Horse
HS - Horse Smarts - Horse Industry Handbooks and Updates, by AYHC
ANATOMY - The Coloring Atlas of Horse Anatomy, by Robert Kainer & Thomas McCracken, Alpine Publications, Inc.
EVANS - The Horse (3rd Edition), by J. Warrant Evans et al., Waveland Press, Inc. (New for 2023)
PARKER - Equine Science (5th Edition), by Rick Parker (Removed ?)
AQHA - 2023 AQHA Rulebook (71st Edition), (SHW300-SHW712); only show rules will be used. Listed as source for Western, NOT Eastern contest)
Hippology Study Materials
Hippology Study Materials
All of the information covered in the Hippology Contest may be found in one or more of the following publications.
IDET - Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms by New Horizon Equine Center, Inc., Alpine Publications, Inc.
HIH - Horse Industry Handbook (with 2021 updates), by the American Youth Horse Council (AYHC)
LEWIS - Feeding and Care of the Horse (2nd Edition) by Lon D. Lewis. Wiley - Feeding and Care of the Horse
HS - Horse Smarts - Horse Industry Handbooks and Updates, by AYHC
ANATOMY - The Coloring Atlas of Horse Anatomy, by Robert Kainer & Thomas McCracken, Alpine Publications, Inc.
EVANS - The Horse (3rd Edition), by J. Warrant Evans et al., Waveland Press, Inc. (New for 2023)
PARKER - Equine Science (5th Edition), by Rick Parker (Removed ?)
AQHA - 2023 AQHA Rulebook (71st Edition), (SHW300-SHW712) ; only show rules will be used.
Dover Saddlery - English Tack Resource
Schneider Saddlery - English and Western Tack Resource
OTHER - Grains, forages, and feed preparations used in this contest will be representative of feeds utilized in horse rations.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Horse Bowl - Study Resources
Horse Bowl - Study Resources
North Carolina State Extension - Sample Horse Bowl Questions
North Carolina State Extension - Digital Resources for Horse Bowl & Hippology
Iowa State University Extension - Preparing for Hippology and Quiz Bowl
Hippology - Study Resources
Hippology - Study Resources
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - 4-H Hippology Resources
North Carolina State Extension - 4-H Hippology Resources
University of Florida Extension - 4-H Hippology Resources
North Carolina State Extension - Digital Resources for Horse Bowl & Hippology
Iowa State University Extension - Preparing for Hippology and Quiz Bowl
Virginia Cooperative Extension - Hippology Study Materials
Horse Judging - Study Resources
Horse Judging - Study Resources
AQHA Horse Judging Manual (PDF, 4.2 MB)
North Carolina State Extension - Horse Judging Resource Material
Pacific Northwest Extension Publication - 4-H Horse Judging Manual (PDF, 334.5 KB)
University of Kentucky - Cooperative Extension Publication - Horse Judging Manual
Statewide Horse Event
Statewide Horse Event
California 4-H State Horse Classic
California 4-H State Horse Classic
July 15 to 19, 2026
July 15 to 19, 2026
11120 Bradley Ranch Road, Elk Grove, CA
July 15 & 16, 2026
July 15 & 16, 2026
Public Speaking
Team and Individual Demonstration Presentations
Hippology
Horse Judging
Horse Quiz Bowl
*Senior Division is the State Qualifier
Learn more about the California 4-H Horse Program
Learn more about the California 4-H Horse Program
Join our 4-H Equine Science Program email list!
Join our 4-H Equine Science Program email list!
Receive event information and program updates!
Receive event information and program updates!
Join the 4-H Equine Facebook Group!
Join the 4-H Equine Facebook Group!
Connect with California 4-H leaders and families in 4-H Horse Projects, learn about events and opportunities.
Connect with California 4-H leaders and families in 4-H Horse Projects, learn about events and opportunities.
Questions?
Questions?
Please contact Erica Pettey at eapettey@ucanr.edu
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