4-H Upcoming Events Details

Horse Advisory Meeting - monthly Oct - May

This is a meeting of the committee that helps to plan 4-H events and activities throughout Connecticut. All are welcome!

Middlesex County Extension Center, Haddam, CT, 7:30 PM

Horsin' in Stride State Workshop - usually held in December

This is an event usually held at the University of Connecticut. At this event, 4-H'ers attend interactive lectures and demonstrations in which they learn about different horse related topics. Past demonstrations and topics have including leg wrapping, judging, vaulting, animal diseases, manure management, fire safety and more.

Giddy Up Games - usually held in February

A fun contest in which youth participate as two person teams (junior-senior, 2 seniors or 2 juniors) to complete horse-related challenges like reassembling a bridle.

Quiz Bowl Contest - usually held in March

4 person quiz bowl teams at the junior and senior level answer questions in a fashion similar to Jeopardy. Novices compete individually.

Communications Contest - usually held in conjunction with Hippology

This is an event usually held at the UConn Hartford Campus in which 4-H'ers compete in public speaking, individual presentation and team presentation. For public speaking, 4-H'ers select a horse-related topic and give a speech on that topic. For individual demonstration, 4-H'ers select a horse-related topic and use props and visual aids to speak about that topic. For team demonstration, 4-H'ers select a horse-related topic and forming a team of two, give a demonstration using props and visual aids to speak about that topic. The winners of the senior competition are eligible for the Eastern National 4-H Round Up in Louisville, KY if it is a legal contest.

Hippology Contest - usually held in April

This is an event usually held at the University of Connecticut. Teams and individuals participate in hippology, an activity in which 4H'ers identify tack, equipment and horse items at stations, look at slides and identify objects, take a test on horse subjects, and solve a team problem.

Horse Judging Contest - usually held in April or May

This is an event usually held at the University of Connecticut. Teams participate in horse judging (conformation classes and performance classes) and awards are handed out after results are determined.

State 4-H Horse Show - usually held in May

This is an event usually held at the Hartford County 4-H Camp. 4-Hers compete in a variety of classes including showmanship, riding and driving.

Eastern States Exposition Try-outs - usually held in June

After applications are reviewed, participants try out for the Eastern States Exposition by meeting selection criteria of their county; this is held at the Horsebarn Hill Arena, University of Connecticut.

Eastern States Exposition Orientation - usually held in July

This is an informative meeting for participants and parents held at the Middlesex County Extension Center, Haddam, CT at 7 PM.

Eastern States Exposition Orientation - usually held in August

This is a meeting in which participants learn about Eastern States Exposition and practice bringing what they will need for the days at Eastern States.

New England States 4-H Horse Show at the Eastern States Exposition, Springfield Massachusetts - September

This is a fun 4-H horse show held at the Big E in Springfield. Participants stay in the dorms at Eastern States and bring their horses with them. They arrive on Wednesday night, and are orientated to the event. Activities begin the following morning with the general knowledge test and then fitting and showmanship. The weekend continues with riding classes and other fun activities.

New England Regional Competition in a New England State - October

This is a regional event in which 4-Hers who have qualified for the Eastern National 4-H Roundup participate in a regional competition to get to know other 4-Hers and get feedback on their progress for national competition in horse bowl, public speaking, team demonstration, hippology and horse judging. The competition is held in each New England State, with each state hosting for 2 years.

Eastern National 4-H Roundup - November

This is a national event in which 4-Hers who have qualified participate in a national competition to get to know other 4-Hers and compete for awards in horse bowl, public speaking, team demonstration, hippology and horse judging.