2021 4-H Horse Update
Otoe County 4-H Horse Program
Otoe County Fair July 21 - 25, 2021
Horse Superintendents
Gina Essink, Assistant Superintendent
Kathy Shefferd, Assistant Superintendent
Horse ID Sheets Due May 7th
4-H horses need to be listed on the 4-H Horse Identification Certificate on or before May 7. Each 4-H member is allowed to enter up to 3 horses at County Fair. If you plan to attend a show before then, the I.D. form should be submitted and approved by the Otoe County Extension Office before the show date. Other details of horse ownership and identification can be found in the Otoe County Fairbook under General Livestock Rules on pages 6- 8 and in the State 4-H Rule Book.
Extra horse ID sheets are available on the Nebraska 4-H Horse Web page which can be accessed at: http://horse.unl.edu or on the http://otoe.unl.edu website under Otoe County 4-H at https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/otoe/2020%20Horse%20Affidavit%20-%202.pdf.
ID Reminders:
- Include your town with address.
- DO NOT use M, G or F for sex. Spell it out so we know for sure.
- Make sure markings are correct.
- Height is in hands. Each hand is 4 inches. There is no such thing as 15.7. Try 15-3.
- Make sure it is complete.
4-H Horse Project Books
The following 4-H Horse Project manuals are available for purchase from the Extension Office:
- 4-H Horse Project Advancement Levels
- Giddy Up & Go Level 1
- Head, Heart, & Hooves Level 2
- Galloping Ahead Level 2
- Blazing Trails Level 3
- Stable Relationships Level 3
- Horse Project Helper's Guide
4-H Horse Show & Judging Guides
Otoe County 4-H Horse Calendar
- Horse ID Sheet - due May 7th to the Extension Office
- District Horse Show Entries due May 7th to the Extension Office
- State Horse Show Entries due May 7th to the Extension Office
- Advancement Levels must be completed by May 7th for District and State Horse Shows
- Advancement Level 1 Workshop - May 26th
- Horse Showmanship Workshop - May 27th
- Presentation Contest - June 10th
- District Horse Shows - June 14th-18th
- Cass County Advancement Level Workshop - June 18th
- State Horse Show - July 10th-14th
- County Fair Entry Sheets due July 12th to the Extension Office
- Advancement Levels must be completed by July 12th for the Otoe County Fair
- Otoe County Fair July 22 - 25
- Otoe County 4-H Horse Show July 22 @ 8:00 a.m.
- Cass County Horse Judging Contest August 13th
County Fair Entries are due July 12
Advancement Level Information
Advancement Level Changes for Otoe County
The Horse Superintendents approved requiring Horse Advancement Levels for participation at the Otoe County Fair beginning in 2021.
The Horsemanship Advancement Levels program is designed to serve as a guide for instruction and evaluation of each member's progress. The correct handling of horses is emphasized from the beginning to the most advanced level. Each level has particular emphasis to assist in
developing 4-H member's self-discipline, patience, self-reliance, responsibility, and pride of accomplishments.
The youth participants being tested must be enrolled in the 4-H horse project. During testing of each level, youth must also use a horse that has been properly identified on the 4-H Light Horse Identification Record and Owners Affidavit. 4-H'ers must own, lease, or manage the horse being used. Youth must have access to the horse and provide care and management as described in the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide. 4-Hmembers may use any of their project horses. However, a single horse must be used for the entire skills test of each level.
Level I and II must be completed before entering any District Shows or the State 4-H Horse Exposition Show. Level III and/or IV must be successfully completed before entering the coordinating level classes at the State 4-H Horse Expo.
Information about each level requirements can be found at 4h.unl.edu/horse/advancement.
Otoe County Advancement Level Requirements
- Showmanship - no level requirement
- Halter - no level requirement
- Smaller Equine - no level requirement
- Western Horsemanship - Level I - Walk-Trot Class - no level requirement
- Western Pleasure - Level I - Walk-Trot Class - no level requirement
- Pony Pleasure - Level I - Walk-Trot Class - no level requirement
- Junior Horse Western Pleasure - Level II
- Hunter Under Seat/Saddle Seat Pleasure - Level I
- Hunter Seat/Saddle Seat Equitation - Level I
- Ranch Riding - Level II
- Light Horse Reining - Level II
- Trail Horse Class - Level I - Walk-Trot Class - no level requirement
- Advanced Trail Class - Level III
- Costume Class - no level requirement
- Flag Race - Level I
- Barrel Racing - Level I
- Keyhole Racing - Level I
- Pole Bending - Level I
- Mystery Class - no level requirement
- Driving Class - no level requirement
Advancement Level Testing
- Written exams may be taken at the Extension Office.
- Online written exam option is available again this year.
- NEW: Online exams need to be proctored by an extension personnel. If planning to take online you would need to schedule a time/day to take the exam via Zoom. A Zoom link will be sent to you.
• Youth Zoom camera must be on
• Link to the exam in the Zoom chat box
- Recommend in-person skills testing.
- We are providing online skills testing again. Videos may be emailed to erin.steinhoff@unl.edu.
- Youth’s videos will be sent and evaluated by a certified level examiner.
- Demonstrations - we highly encourage youth to give their demonstrations as part of the Otoe County Presentation Contest on June 10th.
Summer Workshops
4-H Horse Advancement Level 1 Workshop
May 26th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Fair Center, Syracuse
Come learn all you need to know to pass the Horse Advancement Level 1 test. Find out what you'll need to do to put together your horse demonstration & finish up by taking the level 1 test.
Cost: $10 - includes level book
Instructors: Grace Kim, 4-H Extension Assistant East Campus; Jill Cary and Rachel Crook, 4-H Volunteers; Autumn Cary, 4-H youth
Morning Session includes:
- Grooming – Getting Your Horse Ready For Show; the tools & tack you will need, clipping your horse
- How to Dress for Show: proper western and 4-H wear
- Ground Work – how & what to prepare for your skills test
- Mock Level I Riding Test – watch what will be required to complete the riding test
Lunch Hour:
- Parent &/or leader can join us to get all of your questions answered.
- What to expect for District & State Competitions
- What to expect for County Fair
- How & when to sign up for fair entries
- Demonstrations
Afternoon Session includes:
- Exam prep
- Those that feel ready, may take the paper exam
- Those that are ready, may give their demonstration
Horse Showmanship Workshop
Grab your horse! Learn, practice and improve upon basic horse showmanship techniques!
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Location: Fairgrounds Horse Arena
Ages: 8 & up
Cost: $3.00
Instructor: Rachel Crook, 4-H Volunteer
Cass County Advancement Level Workshop
Pawnee County Horsemanship Clinic
Otoe County Fair Information
Horse Check-In at Fair
Herdsmanship & General Show Rules
https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/otoe/2021%20Fair%20Book%20Final%20Copy.pdf
County Fair Parking
Fair Clean-Up Day
Class Name Changes
The 2021 Otoe County Fairbook and Entry Forms will be updated to match the class names as they are printed in the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide. Hopefully these changes will make it easier when referring to the guide.
- Pleasure will now be Western Pleasure
- English Pleasure will become Hunter Under Saddle/Saddle
- Seat Pleasure
- English Equitation will be Hunter Seat/Saddle Seat Equitation
- Ranch Horse Pleasure will become Ranch Riding
- Reining will be Light Horse Reining
- Trail will become Trail Horse Class
- Cloverleaf Barrel Race will become Barrel Racing
High Point Exhibitor
High Point Exhibitor will be given to the exhibitor that accumulates the most points in all events excluding Halter Classes, Costume Class, and Driving Class. All divisions are eligible including the walk-trot exhibitors.
In addition, exhibitors must choose to use their points earned in EITHER Western Horsemanship OR Hunter Seat/Saddle Seat but NOT BOTH.
This choice must be made by July 12 and noted on the entry sheet for the chosen class. Exhibitors are not limited to using just one horse.
Super Horse Award
The Super Horse Award will be given after the last class of the Otoe County 4-H Horse Show.
Five classes will be considered in placing for the SUPER HORSE AWARD. THE REQUIRED CLASSES ARE: Showmanship, Horsemanship, and Trail.
In addition, any two (2) of the following classes must be chosen and submitted by July 12 and
noted as such on the official entry sheet for that class (Pole Bending, Barrel Racing, Light Horse Reining and Ranch Riding). All preceding show rules apply with the following additions specific for this award.
- Only one horse per exhibitor will be considered for the Super Horse Award and only one exhibitor per horse will be considered for this award. The ideal is: same horse, same exhibitor, all 5 classes.
- The exhibitor can still show up to 3 horses, but only 1 of those horses will be eligible for the Super Horse Award.
- The horse and rider may compete in any additional classes for which they are eligible, but only the placings in selected classes will be considered for the Super Horse Award.
Otoe County Fairgrounds
4-H Horse Attire
4-H Arm Bands
District 4-H Horse Shows
The District 4-H Horse Shows are opportunities for 4-H members to demonstrate their skills and abilities with their horse in a variety of classes, including hunter under saddle, western pleasure, hunt seat equitation, western horsemanship, reining, barrels, and poles. Youth must have passed Horsemanship Advancement Level II in order to participate at any of the five district shows. The district shows are held as qualifiers for corresponding classes at the State 4-H Horse Show.
FOR THE 2021 YEAR:
All exhibitors will be required to wear a mask while at the show(s) unless mounted.
All other attendees are recommended to wear a mask when on the show grounds.
- Scottsbluff - June 14th
- Burwell - June 15th
- Columbus - June 16th
- Lincoln - June 17th
- McCook - June 18th
More details can be found at: https://4h.unl.edu/state-horse-expo-district.
Entries due May 7th to the Extension Office
State 4-H Horse Expo
July 10 -14, 2021 in Grand Island
FOR THE 2021 YEAR:
All exhibitors will be required to wear a mask while at the show(s) unless mounted.
All other attendees are recommended to wear a mask when on the show grounds.
New Classes: Ranch Pleasure, 11 & older Halter Geldings and Mares, and elementary division added to speed events.
All details can be found at https://4h.unl.edu/state-horse-expo-show.
Entries due May 7th to the Extension Office.
Nebraska Extension in Otoe County
Deb Weitzenkamp, Unit Leader, Extension Educator, deb.weitzenkamp@unl.edu
Erin Steinhoff, Extension Assistant, erin.steinhoff@unl.edu
Cheryl Goff, Office Manager, cheryl.goff@unl.edu
Email: Otoe-County@unl.edu
Website: www.otoe.unl.edu
Location: 620 1st Street, Syracuse, Neb, USA
Phone: (402)269-2301
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nebraska-Extension-in-Otoe-County