Brevard County Horse Program
The purpose of the 4-H horse program is to provide young people an opportunity to participate in a series of activities designed to improve citizenship, sportsmanship, horsemanship, character, competitive spirit, discipline, and responsibility while creating an atmosphere for learning and awareness of the life around us.
As a large animal project, the horse program is open to youth ages 8 and above as of the current year.
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Horse Program Guidelines
The Brevard County 4-H Horse program offer a 4-Her the opportunity to undertake a horse project or participate in several horse-related activities that do no require ownership or lease of a horse. There are both horse and horseless projects available. The Brevard County Horse Program Guidelines provide the information you need to participate in the horse program.
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Project Books
Record books are important as they help participants track their growth over several years in a project. In addition, record books help 4-H participants develop skills they will use throughout life. Life skills such as goal setting, money management, record-keeping, critical thinking, planning and organization, and more are all learned through completing record books.
Official Project Books - Required for participation in area and state horse show events.
Brevard Junior/Intermediate Horse Project Book
Additional Project Books - Optional record books to help enhance the horse project learning experience.
Horseless Project Books - These record books are for 4-H Youth members who do not own or lease a horse, to help them gain useful skills and knowledge about horses and horse husbandry. These project books can be requested from the 4-H office.
Love a Horse Level I
Love a Horse Level II
Love a Horse Level III
Love a Horse Level IV
Love a Horse Activity Book
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Ways to Participate in the Horse program
4-H horse program members have the opportunity to participate in a variety of educational opportunities, including horse shows, horse judging, public speaking, demonstrations, Hippology, quiz bowl, horsemanship school, and more.
Horse demonstrations and public speaking allow youth to share knowledge with others, which is the heart of the 4-H Program. These can be done at clubs, at county and district events, and at the state level. Any State-level Demonstration/Illustrated Talk or Public Speaking speech in the "Horse" category will be presented at the State Horse Events in Gainesville in June, separate from 4-H Congress. The State competition qualifies youth for Regional and National events.
In Horse Judging, youth learn to evaluate a horse's form as it relates to function, and compare it to the ideal as well as to other horses. The added benefit is that it gives youth the opportunity to sharpen their decision-making skills and their ability to defend those decisions. Brevard County offers Intermediate and Senior aged youth the opportunity to participate in horse judging and compete at the Florida 4-H Horse Judging event at the State Fair. Check out the Horse Judging Team page for more information on joining the Brevard County Team.
The term Hippology comes from the Greek "hippo", meaning horse, and "ology", meaning "the study of". Participants will be able to demonstrate their experience and knowledge gained in horse judging, quiz bowl, speeches, and practical horse management. Phases of the contest include a written exam, identification of items shown on slides, placing and/or ID of feed tags or feedstuffs, judging, ID stations, and team problems. Participants do not have to own a horse to compete in Hippology.
Each year 4-H clubs across the state hold countless county and area horse shows. In the spring, each of the three Areas host a qualification show to determine who will be able to participate at the State show. Those qualifying in their Area show go to the Florida 4-H State Horse Show. The State show typically has up to 300 entrants. Of those, the 70 highest point-earning Seniors (and Intermediates who show as Seniors) qualify for the Regional Horse Show. For more information on horse shows, go to the Florida 4-H Horse Program page.
4-H Horsemanship School is 5 days of concentrated courses in horses and in beginning and intermediate Western and English Horsemanship. Approximately 5 hours per day are spent on horseback, with riders grouped according to ability. Riders must be able to groom, tack, and mount their horse on their own. Educational topics include general health care, feeding, tack selection and care, fitting/grooming, and safety. For more information, go to Florida 4-H Horsemanship School.
The State 4-H Quiz Bowl is a quiz contest consisting of questions on horse-related topics. Four-person teams compete against each other, responding to questions asked by a contest moderator. This contest offers horse club members the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, compete head-to-head with other teams, and earn the right to represent Florida at the Regional and National competitions. State event information can be found here.
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Horse Show Information
4-H Horse Shows
The Area and State 4-H Horse Show age divisions are:
- Juniors are 8-10 as of September 1 of the current 4-H year.
- Seniors must be 14 years old on or before September 1 of the current 4-H year.
- Intermediates (11-13 as of September 1 of the current 4-H year) have the option of competing in either the Junior or Senior division. Intermediates may qualify for Regionals provided they compete and qualify in the Senior Division in both the Area and State shows. Intermediates who do not wish to compete for potential qualification for Regionals should enter the Junior division at the Area show.
Area East Horse Show - The Area East Horse Show, typically held the first weekend in May, hosts youth from Brevard, Broward, Indian River, Lake, Martin, Miami-Dade, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Seminole, Seminole-Tribe, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties. Youth participating in the Area East Horse Show have the opportunity to earn points to move on to the Florida State Horse Show. Information regarding the show can be found on the Area East 4-H Horse Show Google site. This site is updated yearly. Registration is completed in 4honline. Look for information from or contact the 4-H office for questions.
State Horse Show - The State 4-H Horse Show is held in the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center at the Florida State Fairgrounds in July. Youth who qualify from one of the three Area Horse shows compete.
Regional Horse Show - The top 80 youth in the State Horse Show representing Florida at the Southern Regional Horse Championships held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry Georgia in late July/Early August.
For more information, go to the Florida 4-H Horse Program Horse Show page.
Non-4-H Horse Shows - Youth in the 4-H program are not limited to participation in 4-H horse shows. Participation in non-4-H horse shows provides youth with extra practice and a chance to develop showmanship and skills. Youth are encouraged to talk with their club leaders to learn more.
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Scholarships, Awards, and Opportunities
Scholarships, awards, and opportunities are available through the Florida 4-H Horse Program. Youth meeting the criteria are encouraged to apply.
Youth Horse Ambassadors - The Florida Equine Ambassador Program provides 4-H members with the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, network with industry professionals, expand their equine knowledge, immerse themselves in Florida’s equine industry, and serve their respective communities. This is a service-oriented program that annually recruits a total of six 4-H members who have embodied the core values and leading principles of 4-H. Selection to represent Florida 4-H as an equine ambassador is considered a distinct honor. Applications open Sept. 1 - Oct. 15.
Horseman of the Year - The Florida 4-H Horse Program sponsors the Florida 4-H Horseman of the Year award and scholarship. The application includes a Florida 4-H State Portfolio, a narrative, a personal resume using the "What are my skills?" worksheet, official high school transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and finally a completed Florida 4-H Horse Record Book. Selected individuals will be scheduled for an interview during the Florida 4-H State Horse Events in Gainesville, FL, typically in June.
Click here for more information on these opportunities.
Area East 4-H College Scholarship - Each year the Area East Horse Advisory Committee sponsors a college scholarship in the amount of $500.00. This scholarship is open to any 4-H member in the Area East Horse Program who is a Junior or Senior in high school. Applications will be screened, and top applicants will be asked to interview. Scholarship applications typically open in early March and are due mid April.
Area East Horse Show Artwork Design Contest - The Area East 4-H Horse Show Artwork Design Contest is open to all 4-Hers. The winning design will be used on the Area East Horse Show T-shirts, and the winner will receive a free Area East T-shirt. Information for the current year will be shared by the 4-H office once available. Entries are due early March.
4-H Area East Youth Horse Council - This council is open to all 4-H horse program youth ages 8 – 18 who are interested in building leadership skills, connecting with peers, and shaping the future of Area East 4-H. Registration for the Council is through 4honline.
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Project Forms
All project animals must be declared by submitting a Brevard County 4-H Individual Horse Record (one ID record for each project animal). All Id Records must be on file with the County Extension Office/4-H Agent at least one week prior to the youth’s participation in any 4-H sponsored activity involving the use of the project animal.
In order for a youth to participate in a horse activity requiring ownership or lease of a horse outside of Brevard County, the Brevard County 4-H Individual Horse Record and the Lease Agreement (if project animal is leased) must be in effect (and on file with the County Extension Office/4-H Agent) by December 31 of the current 4-H year.
For more information on Requirements, refer to the Brevard County Horse Program Guidelines.