Alabama 4-H

Horse Project

2 min read
A dark-brown horse grazing a green pasture.

The 4-H Horse Project teaches horsemanship skills, horse judging, tack care, and basic management. Participation will help youth understand how to manage a show horse, learn entrepreneurship and recordkeeping, become better horsemen, and recognize current issues affecting the horse industry.

Who Can Participate?

Any young person age 9 through 18 as of January 1 of the club year can participate. You do not have to be a current 4-H member, but you must complete a 4-H enrollment form if you are not a member.

State Horse Show

As a 4-H Horse Project participant, you are responsible for purchasing or leasing a horse (no stallions). You will care for your animal(s) for at least 90 days. You can enter your horse(s) in the Alabama State 4-H Horse Show. The goal is to prepare the horse to be shown in its perspective classes at the horse show. The expectation is that you will show a well-cared for horse successfully in the classes in which it fits best. Find the 2025 Alabama 4-H State Horse Show materials below:

Horse Communications, Creative Arts, and Quiz Bowl Contests

In additional to the State 4-H Horse Show and judging events held during the summer, Alabama 4-H offers communication, creative arts, and quiz bowl contests to 4-H members with and without horses. These contests include a wide variety of creative arts categories; communication contests, such as public speaking; and horse quiz bowl. The goal of these contests is to showcase 4-H members’ love of all things horse. Find the 2026 contest guidelines, study tools, and score sheets below:

Happy Trails Horseback Riding Program

The Happy Trails Horseback Riding Program is a great way for 4-H members to receive recognition for the time they spend in the saddle each year. Alabama 4-H has many 4-H club members who do not participate in the State Horse Show or compete in disciplines not offered at the State 4-H Horse Show. This is an opportunity for all 4-H Horse Project members, no matter their riding discipline or ability, to be rewarded for simply riding their horse.

More Information

For more information on this project, contact the Alabama Extension 4-H agent in your county. You can find contact information in the directory at www.aces.edu.

 

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator, employer, and provider. If you need a reasonable accommodation or language access services, contact Nancy Alexander at alexana@auburn.edu.