Horsing Around 4-H Style

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (July 24, 2018) -- On Thursday, July 19th, Cornell Cooperative Extension Chautauqua County 4-H Youth Development Program’s 4-H Horse Project held their annual Western and Driving Horse Show at the Chautauqua County Fair. All events were judged by Jennifer Moshier.

In the Western Horse Show youth participated in seven (7) divisions: Showmanship, Horsemanship, Pleasure, Equitation, Hack, Command and Trail Classes.There is also a Clover Bud Division called Lead Line and Walk/Halt for those just beginning the wonderful world of Horsemanship!

In Showmanship, the equine are shown in-hand by the rider and the youth are judged on their handling skills and how well they work with and know their animal.In Horsemanship classes, riders must perform a pattern and work their animals on the rail, (the pattern is 75% of the overall evaluation).In Pleasure classes, horses are evaluated on ease of handling and judges look for the animal and rider that are having the most fun and performing to the best of their abilities.In all the divisions the horse and rideralso compete in an obstacle course which challenges the rider and the horse to do various things that are usually frightening to the horse such as opening mailboxes, holding plastic bags, opening rope gates to name a few.The Miniature Horse Classes not only do the obstacle course but also a jumping course.The miniatures are not ridden, they are lead around the courses.

At Thursday’s Western 4-H Horse Show, the winners of the show were:

Montana Pope took the honors of Grand Champion Senior Division with Alyssa Graziano taking Grand Champion Senior Division Reserve Champion.

In the Junior Division, Deona Sanders took Junior Division Grand Champion.

In the Amateur Division Western Riding: Maddie Oakes received Amateur Grand Champion with Tracie Keller receiving Reserve.

In the Walk/Trot Western Division: Kinsey Witherow received Grand Champion with Jillian DelCamp taking Reserve Champion.

Chautauqua County Grand Champion Fitting and Showman for all the Showmanship divisions of Western and Driving Divisions was Montana Pope and Reserve Champion is Deona Sanders.

In the Driving Division: Alyssa Graziano received Senior Grand Champion.

NY State Qualifiers:Western qualifiers in the Senior Division are Montana Pope and Alyssa Graziano. Deona Sanders qualified in the Junior Division.

Alyssa Graziano qualified for the State Fair in the Driving Division.

Congratulations to all the award recipients and all the riders!Great job by everyone!

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua).CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

4-Her Maddie Oakes shows off her newly won ribbon at the Chautauqua County Fair. 

Last updated July 26, 2019