Horses

State 4-H Horse Advisor/Volunteer Training

The State 4-H Horse Advisor Volunteer training event will be held virtually this year.  Participants can watch presentations via OSU Scarlet which is the platform where modules of information will be posted to listen to at your own pace. Registered participants will be sent a link for an optional Q&A Zoom meeting on Saturday, January 30, 2021 from 10:00am to 12:00pm with the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee. The modules will be available for viewing from 9:00am Thursday, January 28th through 9:00pm Sunday, January 31st.  Interested volunteers should preregister by January 22, 2021.  Visit horse.osu.edu to find more details and register for the event.  A link will be sent to you for the scarlet modules and zoom session link once registration is complete.

Ohio 4-H Horse Program Updates – Aug 12

Due to recent university restrictions related to COVID-19 concerns, the several changes to the remaining Ohio 4-H horse events in 2020 and the year-end awards program.  Additional updates will be posted on Ohio 4-H Horse Facebook page or refer to horse.osu.edu for complete details!

The State 4-H Competitive Trail Ride and Groom & Clean contest, in their original format, have been cancelled.  However, 4-H & FFA members may participate in designated alternative opportunities to receive participation credit towards the modified year-end awards for 2020.  A community service opportunity has also been approved by the State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee as an alternative for the Ohio State Fair Junior Horse Show that was cancelled earlier this year.  Members must complete all of the requirements to receive participation credit for each event.  Please note that these alternative opportunities require members to submit an online participation form or documentation that will need your signature or email for approval.

Since all of the Ohio 4-H Horse Program state contests were transitioned to online contests or alternative activities due to COVID-19, the year-end awards will be slightly modified.  The State 4-H Horse Advisory Committee will award certificates to all 4-H/FFA members that participated in at least 4 of the 8 state contests or alternative activities, as has been done for the past several years.  4-H/FFA members that earn participation credit for all 8 state contests or alternative activities this year will be receive specially designed year-end award t-shirts.

A pdf copy of the updates with additional details is attached here: 4-H Horse Program Update Aug12

Educational Equine Session

The educational equine session will be held on July 14, 2020 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Washington County Fair Grounds.  Social distancing will be followed and masks are expected to be worn.  Educational Equine Session are mandatory to exhibit at the Washington County Fair.  The safety videos will also be shown at this meeting for members and parents who need to view the videos.  Members must bring their own drink and snacks.  No food or drinks will be provided at this meeting.  This session is an open workout for members, and horses are encouraged but not required.  Please call the extension office for more information 740-376-7431.

Smitty’s Night

The Washington County Saddle Horse Committee is hosting a Smitty’s Pizza night.  All are encouraged to have a pizza night on Thursday June 18, 2020 and place an order with Smitty’s Pizza to help the horse committee raise some dough.  All funds raised will go toward sponsoring awards at the Washington County Fair, along with judges fees, and other horse events.

Horse Immunization Deadline Extended

Attention Horse Members.  The Washington County Saddle Horse Committee voted this week to extend the deadline for horse immunizations and coggins tests.  Horse members will have until July 1, 2020 to turn these papers in to the extension office.  Please note that a negative coggins test is required to be done in 2020.  The first equine session is scheduled for July 14 and the second session Aug 1st.  Members are reminded that they must attend one of these 2 sessions to be eligible to show at fair.  For more information call 740-376-7431.

Horse Paperwork Due

ATTENTION HORSE MEMBERS.  All horse paperwork including horse permission to participate, animal declaration, immunizations are all due by June 1, 2020.  Please mail forms to the OSU Extension Office Washington County 202 Davis Ave. Marietta Ohio 45750.  These forms are required for participation in the county and state programs. 

State Horse Judging Announced

The Ohio 4-H Program has announced the virtual state horse judging and hippology contest.  The contest will be held virtually on June 15, 2020.  Registration is due by June 8th at midnight.  Online registration is required along with payment.  Please visit the state horse website at www.horse.osu.edu for registration and details.

Horse Member Updates- State Fair Info

The Washington County Saddle Horse Committee met by Zoom virtual meeting on Monday May 4.  The committee rescheduled cancelled events and are preparing for the Washington County Fair Horse Show.  The educational equine sessions required for members to be able to participate in the county fair are scheduled for July 14  6:30-8:30pm at the Washington County Fair grounds for an open workout and August 1 from 10am to 12noon for trail obstacles.  Members are also reminded that the skillathon is scheduled for July 25 from 8:30am to 11:30am.

The State Fair has waived some requirements due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and has waived the PAS qualifying events.  Members wishing to take their horse to the Ohio State Fair must register on June 1.  More information to come on this process.  It is our understanding that preference will be given to graduating seniors or members who will age out of the 4-H program.  The State Fair horse show is limited to 850 participants and members wishing to attend must complete the county requirement to attend.  This year Washington County is requiring all members who are attending the State fair horse show to complete the EQUISTEP online training module or attend the first educational equine session being offered on July 17th.  Members may also be asked to send in a video of them riding.  If you are interested in completing the EQUISTEP online module you must email hartline.24@osu.edu to request the training.  The training module can only be obtained through the Extension Office at this time.

The horse packet is available online at washington.osu.edu and animal declarations are due June 1 to the Extension Office.  Also be aware that all Coggins test must be dated in the year 2020.  Tests given in 2019 will not be accepted, this is a state rule.  If you have questions please reach out to us via email or by calling the extension office at 740-376-7431.  The extension office remains closed however we are working from home to plan our summer events.