NC State 4-H Horse Program / Animal Science Department

NEWSLETTER

FALL 2025

Celebrating Summer Triumphs and Fall Achievements!

We are a little behind and missed our normal end-of-summer newsletter. Please indulge us as we take a moment to look back and celebrate those incredible summer achievements before turning our attention to the fantastic events and milestones our members have accomplished this fall. Get ready for a double dose of inspiration!

NC 4-H Horse Judging Team Excels in

APHA & AQHYA World Judging Contests

North Carolina 4-H'ers competed in the APHA World Championship Judging Contest in June in Fort Worth, Texas. The Horse Judging team earned Reserve Champion overall, securing 1st in Halter, 2nd in Performance, and 2nd in Reasons. In the APHA Horse IQ Showdown (similar to Hippology) Charlize Colon was named the winner and received a $1,750 scholarship, with Bryleigh Colbert placing 3rd and earning a $500 scholarship. Allee Coble finished 6th and Charli Williams 8th. Charlize also showed her artistic talent, earning 2nd place in the APHA art contest for her painting of the registered Paint Horse, HLF Zip This Hit.

North Carolina 4-H’s success continued in August at the American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Show in Oklahoma City. A delegation of ten youth, coached by 4-H Volunteer leaders Laura Harper Hollified and Samantha Taylor, competed in Horse Judging, Public Speaking, and Art and Photography contests. Highlights included: 

Judging Contest:

Limited Division Champion, Kyann Race (Rowan County) 

13 & Under Division Champion Individual, Reagan Shelton (Rockingham County)

13 & Under Division Reserve Champion Team

14-18 Division Team- 10th Overall

Public Speaking Contests:

Bryleigh Colbert soared in the 14-18 division, winning 1st place in the Prepared Public Speaking contest and 2nd place in the Impromptu Speaking contest. She was awarded a $5,000 and a $2,500 Kimes Ranch Competition Award Fund Scholarship.

Additionally, Reagan Shelton placed 7th, Shelby Taylor 8th, and Ryan Ljunggren 10th in the 13 & Under Public Speaking Contest.

Art Contest:

Charlize Colon earned 1st place in the drawing/painting category and was named Overall GRAND CHAMPION in the Art and Photography Contest

Visit this page for more detailed results

Thank you to The Dale Earnhardt Foundation for sponsoring this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these youth!

2025 NC STATE 4-H HORSE SHOW RECAP

2025 State Show Dedication

2025 NC State 4-H Horse Show Dedication recipient, Jose Silva

On Friday, July 11, during the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 NC State 4-H Horse Show, the show was officially dedicated to Jose Silva. Jose currently serves as the Maintenance/Construction Coordinator at the Hunt Horse Complex. For 23 years, Jose has been an indispensable part of the Hunt Horse Complex, and his dedication is absolutely critical to the success of every State 4-H Horse Show. He is the quiet force behind the scenes, meticulously organizing everything we need. His commitment makes our show not just run, but truly shine.  He is truly the pillar of support for our show. Thank you, Jose, for your unwavering dedication, hard work, and friendship. The NC State 4-H Horse Show would not be the same without you!

Super Senior Equine Entry Award Winner

NC 4-H Horse Program Achievement Award Winners

The NC 4-H Horse Program Achievement Award program started in 2021 and is an annual application/submission of accomplishments within 4-H, with a specific focus on horse program achievements that is cumulative beginning with the applicant’s first year in the horse program. Award levels are on a points-based system that groups like activities completed based on the level of involvement and ranks them. Bill Crouse, Rockingham County 4-H Leader, was presented with an Honorary Emerald Achievement Award jacket in honor of his past and present accomplishments and support of the NC 4-H Horse Program.

Click the button below to see the list of youth who completed a 2025 application to earn their level and patch.

2026 Applications are due March 2. 

2025 Achievement Award Winners

2025 NC 4-H Horse Program

Recreational Riding Rewards Winners

2025 NC State 4-H Horse Program

Communication Contest Results

The 2025 NC 4-H Horse Program Communications Contests were held during NC 4-H Congress at Enloe High School. Youth competed in both presentations and public speaking after qualifying through their District Activity Days. Congratulations to the youth pictured below for earning top honors in their respective divisions. To see a full list of results, click the button below.

2025 Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships

Perry, Georgia

Horse Show Results

Educational Contest Results

North Carolina Horsebowl, Hippology, Horse Judging and Public Speaking Contestants at the 2025 Southern Regional Contest

The North Carolina 4-H Horse Program had a successful showing at the 2025 Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships Educational Contests held in Perry, Georgia, July 30 through August 3, 2025.

Our teams performed exceptionally well. The Horsebowl and Judging teams placed first and second, respectively, while the Hippology teams finished first and fourth.

Individually, NC 4-H’ers earned top honors, placing first in Hippology, Horsebowl, and Horse Judging. They also did a great job in presentations and speaking, earning first place in Team Presentation, third and eighth in Individual Presentation, and first and second in Public Speaking.

We are incredibly grateful for the support of The Dale Earnhardt Foundation for sponsoring our teams and individuals for this competition.

FALL COMPETITION WRAP UP

North Carolina 4-H Teams Excel at 2025 Quarter Horse Congress and Eastern National Horse Roundup

The 2025 North Carolina State 4-H Horse Program Educational Teams recently completed a highly successful fall contest season at the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio, and Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup event is recognized as the country’s largest youth equine educational competition, and this year’s event was attended by over 270 youth from 26 states. North Carolina demonstrated exceptional performance across the board by securing the top spot in all four major team categories:

• Hippology
• Communications
• Horsebowl
• Horse Judging

Noteworthy Achievements

• Three North Carolina 4-H’ers were awarded $500 scholarships based on their high scores in their respective events at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup.
• Emmy Creek (Wake County 4-H) earned the recognition of high-scoring individual in Hippology at both the Quarter Horse Congress and Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup.
• Sophia Haislop and Abigail Poirrier (Currituck County 4-H) won first place in Team Presentation at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup.
• Bryleigh Colbert (Nash County 4-H) won first place in Public Speaking and was the High Overall Individual in Horse Judging at the Quarter Horse Congress.

The NCSU Extension Equine Husbandry staff is incredibly proud of the dedication, hard work, and effort that all our youth and their coaches poured into representing North Carolina at these competitive events.

A colossal thank you is owed to The Dale Earnhardt Foundation for their generous support, which was instrumental to our teams' competitive endeavors this season.

We also extend our deep appreciation to the North Carolina State Animal Science Department, North Carolina 4-H, and North Carolina Cooperative Extension for their continued, vital support of the North Carolina State 4-H Horse Program.

To review the detailed individual results from Quarter Horse Congress and Eastern Nationals, please use the provided hyperlinks.

2026 NC 4-H Horse Program Rules & Contest Updates

The NC 4-H Horse Program Rules and Regulations Manual is in the process of being updated and will be available on the Extension Equine Husbandry Website before January 1. Here is a summary of updates and changes that were voted on and approved during the NC State 4-H Horse Program Advisory Council Meetings:

HORSE SHOW RELATED ITEMS:

• Two, new, non qualifying divisions: Miniature and Drill Team

• Hunter Horses and Ponies will compete together by age level (junior/senior).

• In Working Hunter and Equitation Over Fences, riders may show one horse and one pony in the same class and the pony must be measured.

• For over fence classes, riders select one of three fence height options based on the combined ability of the rider and their mount: A= 2’-2’3”; B=2’3”-2’6”; C=2’6”-2’9”

• The Little Britches Division at the NC State 4-H Horse Show has been officially renamed to the Rookie Western Division. This division is designed to be inclusive of any rider ages 8-18 who is in their first two years of showing Western.

• New Division: The Rookie Ranch Division is specifically designed for inexperienced Ranch riders (ages 8-18) who are in their first two years of showing Ranch, excluding Cloverbud classes.

• Western/Ranch Cross Entry Rule: The same horse/rider combo cannot cross enter into Ranch and Western Division classes.

• New class for Stock-Type Hunter and Western: All Around Pleasure Pattern. 

• Two new Dressage Division classes: Dressage Equitation and Dressage Suitabillity

• Due to an increase in the rental rates charged by the Hunt Horse Complex, the stall rate for the 2026 show will be $80 per stall. We appreciate your understanding as we adjust our rates to cover the increased facility costs. We are committed to keeping costs as low as possible for our exhibitors to maintain the affordability of this event

• The overall schedule of the State Show has been modified substantially, see the graphic below for a summary by day.

2026 Youth Training Clinic

Get Ready to Compete!

Registration is officially OPEN for the January 17, 2026, Youth Horse Judging, Hippology, and Horsebowl Training Clinic at NC State! Please note: Registration is limited by group (Cloverbud- 20, Rookie-80, Non-Rookie 100). Priority and preference will be given to NC 4-H and NC FFA members. If space remains after January 2, out-of-state participants will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Are you or your team looking to take your skills to the next level? This clinic is designed to help:

• Horse Judging: Refine your reasons and evaluation skills.

• Hippology: Dive deeper into equine science and identification.

• Horsebowl: Practice your buzzer speed and knowledge recall.

Who Should Attend?

• Individuals seeking high-level training

• Teams preparing for upcoming contests

• Coaches looking for new teaching techniques

🗓️ Save the Date: January 17, 2026

VISIT THIS PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THE REGISTRATION LINK

EXPLORE THE EVENTS & EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THE NC 4-H HORSE PROGRAM HAS TO OFFER!

Are you new to the NC 4-H Horse Program or know someone interested in joining 4-H? Be sure to check out the handout linked below that outlines all the different events, programs, and educational opportunities that are available!

2025 NCSU Open Horse Show Judges' Certification List

The 2025 NCSU Open Horse Show Judges' Certification List is now available and includes twenty-one new names, many of which are certified in multiple disciplines.

The individuals listed in this publication attended the 2022, 2023, or 2024 North Carolina Open Horse Show Judges’ Clinic and indicated they would be available to judge shows. The area of expertise (X) indicates the judges’ preference in judging assignments and is not necessarily representative of their clinic performance. Judges receiving an (*) in their judging preference area indicate they scored 90% or better in that respective division (a minimum of the top one-third of participating judges certified in each division, regardless of score).  Participants were also required to take a written exam for each division. Scores for the exams were based on a 0-50 score, and those scores were included, along with class scores, in each of the respective divisions.

CERTIFICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE EXPERTISE IN JUDGING AN ACTUAL SHOW. WHEN APPROPRIATE, SHOW MANAGEMENT IS ENCOURAGED TO REQUEST REFERENCES TO CLARIFY JUDGING ABILITY, SIZE AND NUMBER OF SHOWS JUDGED, PERSONAL APPEARANCE, AND ATTIRE WHILE JUDGING.

2026 Events

View the EEH Website for more information on all these events.

The 2026 NC 4-H Horse Program Calendar of Events is available for viewing/download.  The link provided on the webpage is a dynamic link to a Google Sheet that updates in real time. Be sure to periodically check for updates or changes!

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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