Horse Project

4-H Registration is Open

Start by picking a 4-H Club. Learn more about how to choose your club. 

The Larimer County 4-H Horse program is designed to provide you an opportunity to handle, care for, and ride horses.

4-H members may own or lease a horse for this project. There are many ways you can get involved, such as entering riding events or knowledge competitions. You can compete in a Western or English riding event, or even enter your horse in the Musical Freestyle competition. The possibilities are endless!

This project includes four disciplines:

  • Western
  • English
  • Ranch Horse
  • Gymkhana
4-H Horse Project
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Horse Project Workshop

Mark your calendars for this educational workshop on December 4 at 6:30 p.m.  This workshop will be classroom style (no animals) and cover Horse Selection and Tack. 

Date: December 4, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room, in the 4-H, Youth & Community Arena Building at The Ranch

Please contact Bailey Schilling with questions; schillbw@co.larimer.co.us

Open Rides

Please plan to join us for some open rides in the 4-H, Youth & Community Indoor Arena this fall!  These rides are free and open to all current 4-H Horse members.  Make sure to enroll or re-enroll in the 4-H Horse project before the Open Rides.  These will be open rides only, no instruction is planned.

  • October 30th, 2024,  6:00 - 7:30 pm
  • November 20th, 2024, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Please RSVP

Starting Out - Beginner

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn about the requirements of the 4-H Horse project
  • Learn tips for choosing the appropriate horse
  • Learn safety in horse groundwork.
  • Identify common horse breeds, colors, and markings
  • Learn feeding and healthcare basics.
  • Develop beginner horsemanship and riding skills
  • Keep records and set goals
  • Learn to assume responsibility.

Learning More - Intermediate

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn about characteristics and uses of different horse breeds
  • Learn about equine nutrition, digestion, and pasture management
  • Learn about common health problems and preventative care
  • Develop intermediate horsemanship and riding skills
  • Develop sportsmanship when exhibiting
  • Keep records and set goals
  • Develop public speaking skills
  • Identify lameness, unsoundness, and blemishes

Exploring Depth - Advanced

Inspiring youth to:

  • Learn how to deal with current issues and explore career opportunities in the horse industry
  • Learn about diseases, horse conformation, and structure
  • Develop advanced horsemanship, riding skills, and try new disciplines
  • Gain leadership skills by helping others learn about horses
  • Learn about types of feed and their nutritional values
  • Build lifelong friendships

4-H Record Books are also called e-Records. Each project has its own record book that members are required to complete each year.

Record Book Check-In Sheet

  • Coming Soon

E-Record:

Project Letter

  • Coming Soon

 

Effective January 1, 2005, all participants in 4-H horse activities in Larimer County will be required to wear ASTM/SEI approved protective headgear with secured harness while mounted.

It is the responsibility of riders and parents or guardians of riders to ensure that the headgear worn complies with ASTM/SEI standards, carries the proper seals and is properly fitted and in good condition. The Larimer County 4-H program, Colorado State University, Extension personnel, volunteer leaders, show committees, officials and judges are not responsible for checking headgear for compliance with ASTM/SEI standards.

A helmet must be worn by riders when mounted at all times at all 4-H events or when representing 4-H or a 4-H club, with no exceptions. Examples of 4-H events include, but are not limited to, county workshops, 4-H open horse shows, practices, open rides, trail rides, drill teams, fairs and parades. A helmet must be worn every time, every ride.

The helmet rule applies to all riders under 19 years old at 4-H club sponsored open shows, even if the riders are not 4-H members.

At any 4-H equestrian activity, the official activity manager (e.g. show manager, clinic organizer, club leader) may, at his/her discretion, check a participant’s equestrian helmet for proper standards. If the participant is found to be wearing an unapproved, defective or improperly fitted helmet, he/she will not be permitted to participate in any mounted activity until a proper helmet is acquired.

Failure to comply with the helmet rule may result in disqualification from the activity. Repeated offenses may result in disqualification from all 4-H Horse activities, including the county fair 4-H Horse Show.


Failure of a leader to properly enforce the helmet rule may result in loss of leadership status.

Thinking about signing up for the Horse Project?

Already enrolled but have questions? Contact:

Diane Kern

4-H Program Coordinator
970.498.6016

 

To print all upcoming events, select "Agenda" and then "Print"


Larimer County Colorado State University Extension

Send email

ADDRESS     
1525 Blue Spruce Dr.     
Fort Collins, CO 80524-2004

Phone: (970) 498-6000

 

HOURS  
7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.    
Monday - Friday

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Our office follows the Larimer County Holiday Calendar for office closures.