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30th
Annual Alabama 4-H Horse Show Opens
Auburn, June 28,
2002 --- The Alabama State 4-H Horse Show celebrates its 30th
birthday this year, and interest and entries are up. More than 230
young people from 29 Alabama counties will participate in the show
July 9-12 at the Garrett Coliseum Complex in Montgomery.
Participants will compete in one or more of 66 show classes.
"The 4-H Horse Show
is a wonderful opportunity for young people to compete," says
Dr. Cindy McCall, an animal scientist with the Alabama Cooperative
Extension System. "And you don't have to have a horse to
participate. In addition to riding classes, there are a number of
classes for young people who are horse enthusiasts but may not own a
horse."
There are 12 classes in
which the competitor does not need an animal to participate. They
include public speaking, individual and team demonstrations,
photography, artistic expression, quiz bowl and horse judging.
A new event this year
will be hippology. Hippology is the science of horses, and the event
will test young people's knowledge of horses. A written quiz will
test participants on subjects such as anatomy, breeds, feeds and
equipment. The event also includes team activities where four young
people must evaluate a scenario, develop a solution or management
plan, and then make an oral presentation of their solution to the
judges.
"These events
really are another way to reinforce the learning and knowledge
aspects related to riding and horse ownership," says Bob Ebert,
an Extension animal scientist who coordinates youth animal science
events. "They help drive home the lessons that being a
responsible rider and owner go far beyond sitting in the
saddle."
In the classes involving
horses, young people will be able compete in English or hunt seat,
saddle seat and Western riding styles. Visitors can see competition
in classes ranging from showmanship, where young people are judged
on their ability to show their horses, to riding classes, where
riders and their horses are evaluated on their abilities to perform
certain skills.
"There will also be
traditional Western events, such as breakaway roping, barrel racing
and pole bending, as well as jumping and dressage among the English
events," says Ebert.
In addition to the
competition, he says young people learn more skills than just
horsemanship with their involvement in 4-H horse clubs and events.
"Young people
develop skills they will use the rest of their lives," says
Ebert. "These activities foster responsibility, sportsmanship
and time management. The horse depends on the youngster to provide
for its needs, and that builds maturity in the young person. Young
people also learn the importance of being considerate of fellow
competitors and judges even when they may not win."
Winners at the Alabama
4-H Horse Show will compete at the 4-H Regional Horse Show July 31
through August 4 in Memphis, Tenn.
Four-H is the oldest and
largest publicly funded youth development organization in the United
States. Begun in the early part of this century, it was a way to
extend the learning of land-grant universities to children in rural
communities. Today, 4-H has a presence in every county in the
nation.
In Alabama, more than
80,000 young people between 9 and 19 are involved in
4-H. Four-H is one of
the most visible program efforts of the Alabama Cooperative
Extension System.
Source: Dr. Cindy
McCall, Animal Scientist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System,
(334) 844-1556
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