Officials with the Kansas 4-H office have announced that several popular 4-H horse shows will return in 2021.
Giddy-up: 4-H horse shows get green light beginning in April
Organizers get the go-ahead to re-start several popular events
Feb. 16, 2021
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas 4-H officials got a bit more pep in their gait recently when it was announced that the state’s largest youth organization will proceed with several horse shows in 2021.
Shannon Rogge, a 4-H youth development program coordinator, said one of the premier events each year is the horse judging contest, which will take place April 23 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson.
“We will be teaming with another horse show that weekend,” Rogge said. “We determined that the arena is large enough so that people will be spread out.”
Rogge said the event serves as the state contest for Kansas 4-H members in the senior division, or ages 14-18. The winner of the contest will be eligible to attend the national horse judging contest later this year.
Contestants will be judging halter classes and several performance classes, and then will have to justify their rankings before a set of judges.
Other 4-H horse events that have been given the go-ahead include:
- Hippology (April 10-11) – This is a quiz bowl competition where teams of four youth compete against other teams in a tournament-style bracket. The champion in the senior bracket (ages 14-18) will advance to national competition. This contest will be held online only.
- Horse Panorama (early April) – This is a compilation of several contests, including public speaking, photography and educational posters. It is open to 4-H youth ages 7-18; those in the senior division will also be competing for a spot in the national competition.
- Logo competition – 4-H youth are invited to submit a design for t-shirts that will be available during the Kansas State Fair in September.
- District horse shows (June and July) – These are the six qualifying shows to advance to the Kansas State Fair in September. Check with your local extension agent for more information.
For information on all of the upcoming horse events, visit the Kansas 4-H website.
