Hopkins County 4-H Report

by: Juli Hutchins
Hopkins Co. 4-H Agent

 

Horsing Around with Hopkins County 4-H

 

Brooke Bailey with her grand champion horse.

 

One of the most popular projects that 4-H offers youth is the Horse Project.  This project offers a wide variety of educational opportunities to youth who love horses.

 

Recently five of Hopkins County youth participated in the District IV 4-H Horse Show held here in Sulphur Springs at the Civic Center.  In order for members to qualify for the State 4-H Horse Show they must compete in their respective District Show.  Here are the results:

 

Brooke Bailey competed in halter geldings 5 & up winning Grand Champion Halter Gelding and placing in the following events: working cow horse – 2nd, stock horse trail – 5th, reining – 5th, hunt seat equitation – 8th, western showmanship – 13th.  She also participated in hunter showmanship, hunter under saddle, and team penning.

 

                                                                         

Brooke Hayward with her winning 4-H horse entry.

 

 

Brooke Hayward competed in 2-year old western pleasure placing 2nd.  She also participated in barrels, poles, stakes, and team penning.

 

DJ Nellis competed in halter grade geldings placing 3rd and in stock horse trail placing 7th.  He also participated in working cow horse and team penning.

 

D.J. Nellis is shown with his 4-H horse project.

 

 

Brittni Bailey competed in halter mares 4 & under placing 6th.

 

Clancy Horton from Hopkins County also participated in calf roping.

 

4-H Horse Showing offers many different events to suit any interest.  The following classes/divisions are offered:  Western Showmanship, Pleasure, Horsemanship, Riding, and Trail;  Halter – Registered and Grade Mares & Geldings;  Poles, Barrels, and Stakes;  Hunter Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, and Hunt Seat Equitation;  Futurity - yearlings, 2-yr-olds, and 3-yr-olds;  Tie-Down Calf Roping, Breakaway, and Team Roping;  Working Cow Horse, Cutting, Reining, Stock Horse Trail, and Team Penning;  Hunter Hack, Working Hunter, Equitation Over Fences, and Open Jumping;  and even Drill and Precision Teams.

 

Hopkins County 4-H'er Brittni Bailey with her winning halter entry.

 

What is most exciting about the Horse Showing aspect of 4-H is that the program offers horsemanship, reining, calf roping, and team roping schools to focus on teaching youth respective skills.

 

In addition, 4-H offers those youth horse lovers’ that do not own a horse, educational opportunities such as Horse Science Programs, Horse Quiz Bowl, Horse Educational Presentations & Public Speaking Events, Horse Judging, and the Hippology (horse skill-a-thon) Contest.  Hopkins County 4-H also offers youth who don’t personally have a horse a program where they are provided a horse to ride.

 

Many fun, exciting events are being planned for the upcoming year: riding clinics, educational workshops, camp outs & trail rides, just to name a few.

 

If you are interested, educational programs (4-H) of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, or national origin.  Contact the local AgriLife Extension Office at (903)885-3443.