Horses

4-H Horse and Pony Project

The 4-H Horse and Pony Project offers youth a fun, hands-on learning experience that not only develops life skills but also teaches valuable information about properly caring for their animals. Topics such as general management, training, nutrition, housing, and healthcare are covered through curricular materials, workshops, and activities like Horse Bowl, Hippology, and Horse Judging. Youth also have the opportunity to develop responsibility, decision-making, nurturing, and communication skills through active participation in the 4-H Horse and Pony Project.

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St. Lawrence County Equine 4-H Clubs

St. Lawrence County's equine 4-H clubs allow local youth to work with horses, including riding, stable management, and overall care. The clubs engage in various activities such as:

• Community service
• Fundraising events
• Riding clinics
• The 4-H Gouverneur County Fair Horse Show
• Many other equine-related events

If you are interested in joining one of these fantastic clubs, please call Cooperative Extension at 315-379-9192.

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Starting a 4-H Equine Club

There is a growing demand for 4-H equine clubs in the Massena and Canton areas. If you are interested in starting a club in your area, please contact Cooperative Extension for more information.

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4-H Horse Opportunities

Hippology
Hippology in 4-H enhances learning for members by allowing them to showcase their knowledge of equine science and husbandry in a competitive setting. This activity is available at regional, state, and national levels. The Hippology contest tests a youth's understanding of equine science and the application of this knowledge in a competitive environment. For more information, visit:
4-H Hippology

Horse Bowl
Horse Bowl is a quiz game of horse knowledge played in teams of four. Competitions are held at the club and county levels to qualify for state and national competitions. It's also known as "Horse Jeopardy."

Horse Communications
The Horse Communications program is a public speaking competition where members organize and present information on a topic of their choice. Participants can present at the club and county levels, with the opportunity to qualify for regional and state competitions. This program helps youth develop public speaking skills that can be applied in various future settings.

Horse Shows
Members with a 4-H project horse/pony may compete locally and regionally, with the chance to qualify for the NYS Fair 4-H Horse Show.

Horses at the Fair!

• Rabies Certificate & Coggins Papers:
  An original Rabies Certificate and Coggins papers are required for all equines. A copy of both documents must be submitted to the office by June 1st and must also be carried with the animal when showing.
• Age Requirements:
  All equines must be at least 24 months of age. No stallions or jacks are allowed.
  Equines shown in ridden and driven classes must be 3 years of age or older.
• Animal Designation:
  All equines must be officially designated as the member’s project animal by June 1st of the current year. A completed Equine or Donkey/Mule Animal Project Certificate must be on file with your County Cooperative Extension office.
• Non-Owned Equines:
  If a member does not own or is not using a family-owned equine, they may designate up to two non-owned equines as their project animals (via Animal Project Certificates). However, only one animal may be shown.
• Showing Multiple Equines:
  If a 4-H member owns two equines, they may show both, but not in the same division (e.g., Huntseat, Western, Dressage, Gymkhana, Saddleseat, Miniature Equine, and Driving).
• Ponies Definition:
  For all divisions, a pony is defined as being 14.2 hands or less.

Rider Categories:

• Cloverbud Riders: Youth aged 5–8 (4-H age)
• Junior Riders: Youth aged 8–13 (4-H age)
• Senior Riders: Youth aged 14–18 (4-H age)

Important Dates:

• June 1st: Deadline to enroll in 4-H and submit 4-H equine identification certificates.
• July 15th: Deadline to submit the animal entry form and fair eligibility form.

Additional Resources

CCE Equine - brings all facets of eastern New York’s diverse horse industry under one program, creating a trusted resource for equine ventures and professional/business education

Horses page on Extension -  an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched horse knowledge and resources from the best land-grant university minds across America

NYS 4-H Youth Horse Programs - provides children and teens with horse related events, activities and resources

CCE Equine Fact Sheets

Getting Started

• Careers in Equine Science
• Identification of Horses
• Parts of a Horse
• Showmanship Informational Prep Sheets
• Horse showmanship info

Health and Nutrition

• Equine Vision Poster
• Factors that Affect Hay Quality
• Grains for Horses and Their Characteristics
• Hay Analysis
• Nutrients and Common Feed Sources for Horses
• The Basics of Equine Nutrition
• Odd Things that Horses Eat
• Forage Substitutes for Horses
• Analysis of Feeds and Forages for Horses
• Maintenance of the "Easy Keeper" Horse
• Feed and Forage Testing Labs
• The Role of Nutrition in Horse Colic and Laminitis

Emergency Care

• Treating Critical Injuries
• Emergency Chart
• Guidelines to Follow During Equine Emergencies
• Vaccination Guidelines
• Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities
• Treating Injuries Before the Vet Arrives

Hoof Care

• Blood Pumping Mechanism of the Hoof
• Bones of the Hoof
• Common Hoof Problems
• Evaluating the Hoof and Trim Job
• External Parts of the Horse Hoof
• How a Horse's Hoof Grows
• Leg Set
• Sensitive Structures of the Hoof

Behavior

• Abnormal Horse Behavior
• Approaching a Horse
• Catching a Horse
• Domestic Horses and Herd Instinct
• Horse Behavior at Foaling Time
• Horse Body Language
• Horse Breeding Behavior
• Fight vs. Flight Instinct
• Horse Investigative Behavior
• Management Tips Related to Horse Behavior
• Understanding the Flight Zone of Horses

Diseases

• Botulism
• Encephalomyelitis
• Equine Infectious Anemia
• Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis
• Equine Viral Rhinopneumonitis
• Influenza in Horses
• Rabies
• Strangles
• Tetanus
• West Nile Virus

Grooming and Handling

• Grooming and Handling Objectives
• Horse Senses
• Safe Ground Handling of Horses

Disciplines

• Competitive English Horse Events
• Horse Racing
• Horses Used for Work
• Polo on Horseback

Soils:

• Some Facts About Soil Basics
• Soil Testing
• Laboratories for Soil Testing and Plant Analysis
• Comparing Fertilizer Materials
• Understanding Fertilizer Labels
• Soil Acidity and Aglime
• Soil Fertility
• Soil Fertility Management for Forage Crops Pre-establishment
• Soil Fertility Management for Forage Crops Established
• Soil Fertility Management for Forage Crops Maintenance

Pasture Basics

• Equine Pasture Management
• Establishing and Managing Horse Pastures
• Four Steps to Rotational Grazing
• Pasture and Hay for Horses
• Pasture Survey Method
• Pastures for Horses

Forages:

• Forage Quality in Perspective
• Forage Quality Testing
• Species Selection
• Warm Season Grasses
• White Clover
• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Orchardgrass
• Red Clover
• Reed Canarygrass
• Ryegrass
• Smooth Bromegrass
• Tall Fescue
• Timothy

Weed Management:

• Toxic Plants
• Weed Management in Pasture Systems
• Herbicides
• Plants Poisonous to Livestock

Fencing:

• Fence Planning for Horses
• Stream Bank Fencing

Manure Management:

• Composting Manure
• Horse Stable Manure Management
• Horses and Manure

Farm Safety

• Hot Hay Alert

Last updated January 17, 2025