Horse Showmanship Rules in 4-H

The 4-H youth development organization has been sponsoring and judging horse shows since the beginning of the 20th century. Whether pole bending, barrel running, or showmanship, there are different categories with varying rules that 4-H club expects participants to abide by.

  1. Enrollment

    • All entrants involved in the showmanship event must be enrolled by the deadline date and should include a copy of their horse enrollment form. Each deadline is different, depending upon the state where the show is being held.

    Age

    • Showmanship entrants should meet the age requirements by being older than 8, but no older than 19.

    Manager

    • The entrant does not need to own the horse, but should be the primary manager and provider of care to the horse.

    Health

    • The horse entering the Showmanship competition must be current on all vaccinations and should not show any sign of illness or infection.

    Veterinarian

    • If the horse is from another state, it will be required that a certificate of veterinary inspection be presented with the animal prior to showing.

    Novice

    • The Novice class of the showmanship competition are students in their first or second year and are also referred to as a walk/trot class. If a second year student won a ribbon in the prior year, he may not reenter the novice class.