2026 NC State 4-H Hippology & Horsebowl Contests

The 2026 NC State 4-H Hippology Contest will be held March 14 at NCSU. The Rookie division is for youth that have never competed in Hippology and is a great way to introduce new members to this event! Cloverbuds will also have a chance to participate in Hippology! This event will be held from 8:00AM-10:00 AM (before the start of Horsebowl at 10:00 AM).The entry deadline is February 28!

The 2026 NC State 4-H Horsebowl Contest will also be held on March 14 at NCSU.  Horsebowl will begin at 1:00 PM (after the conclusion of the Hippology Contest). Junior, Senior, and Mixed Division teams that qualified through their District competitions will be eligible to compete.

Cloverbud Horsebowl

There will be a Cloverbud Horsebowl event held from 10-11AM. This event is open to 4-H'ers ages 5-7. Participants must be pre-registered (no entry fee) and will be assigned a time to play two rounds of questions. To register, use the link on the Horsebowl Contest page on the website.

Daily Hippology Prep Quizzes on Instagram!

2026 AYHC Youth Symposium

Ambassador Application

The NC 4-H Horse Program is grateful and excited to partner with The Dale Earnhardt Foundation once again! Their mission is to “Continue the Legacy” of Dale through charitable programs and grants that sustain his lifelong commitment to children, education, and environmental and wildlife preservation. Through their support, we are excited to offer scholarships to send 3-4 Senior 4-H Horse Program Ambassadors to attend the American Youth Horse Council Symposium in Salt Lake City, Utah. Travel dates will be March 25-30.

More information can be found on the event website: https://www.ayhc.com/symposium

The AYHC Symposium presents an opportunity for adult and student leaders in the youth horse industry to learn, network, share ideas and grow as an industry.  

The AYHC Symposium will bring together all facets of the equine industry with a common goal of uniting kids and horses.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE February 23, 2026

LINK TO APPLICATION

2026 Eligibility Card Instructions & NC 4-H Horse Program Rules and Regulations Manual

New Year, New Rules, New Look!

We are pleased to announce that the NC 4-H Horse Program Rules and Regulations have been officially updated for the 2026 season. This isn’t just a routine update; we’ve completely revamped the document with a brand-new layout!

Our goal with this refresh was to improve navigation and accessibility, making it easier than ever for you to find the specific rules and information you need. We encourage all members, leaders, and parents to download the new version and familiarize themselves with the 2026 changes.

The eligibility card procedure will be the same as in 2019-2025. Please consult your local NC Cooperative Extension agent to be sure that you are meeting all the requirements to receive your card. Read below for a summary of the steps that need to be followed.

PLEASE NOTE: There is no specific deadline for the completion of the request form. However, youth need to be sure to have all paperwork (including eligibility cards) completed in time to meet entry deadlines for their selected qualifying show. As soon as qualifying show packets are shared with EHH, we will post them on the website at this location: https://equinehusbandry.ces.ncsu.edu/qualifying-horse-show-information/

2026 NC 4-H Horse Program Eligibility Card Standard Operating Procedures

2026 NC 4-H Horse Program Eligibility Card Request Form

2026 Educational Contest & State 4-H Horse Show Sponsorships

Get ready to saddle up for an unforgettable 2026 with the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program! We are preparing a full schedule of dynamic events dedicated to developing the next generation of confident, skilled young equestrians. To ensure these vital programs remain high-quality and accessible to all, we need your partnership!

Invest in Education: Sponsorship for Our Year-Round Events

Throughout the year, we host six valuable educational events tailored for Cloverbuds, Juniors, and Seniors. These programs do more than teach horsemanship—they instill leadership, responsibility, and teamwork.

Your generous contribution directly fuels this mission by:

• Providing awards and recognition for deserving participants.

• Funding essential national team travel experiences.

• Covering the operational costs of hosting these impactful clinics and contests.

We offer a range of flexible sponsorship levels, making it easy for you to find the perfect way to support our young members.

NC State Educational Contest Sponsorships Form 2026-Fillable PDF

Shine Bright: Sponsoring the NC 4-H State Horse Show

Save the Date! The pinnacle event of our year, the NC 4-H State Horse Show, will be held once again at the James B. Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh from July 8-12, 2026.

Exhibitor Sponsorship Incentive is Back!

We are excited to bring back our popular incentive program! 4-H’ers who actively secure sponsorships and submit the funds along with their official State Show Entry form will receive an incredible 20% discount on their total show bill. This encourages ownership and offsets the cost of participation!

Explore the diverse ways you can lend your support to the State Show, from Division and Reserve Champion awards to becoming a Major Show Sponsor. Higher-level support includes the choice between a prime advertisement in the show program or dedicated indoor vendor space to showcase your business or organization.

Find all the details and partnership opportunities here: 

NC State 4-H Horse Show Sponsorships 2026- Fillable PDF 

2026 Youth Training Clinic

On January 17th, 2026 over 240 4-H'ers, leaders, and parents attended the NCSU Youth Training Clinic. Participants attended sessions on Horse judging, Hippology, and Horsebowl. Several sessions were led by current and former 4-H horse program members. The purpose of this clinic is to prepare and get kids excited about participating in our spring educational contests. The State 4-H Horsebowl and Hippology Contests are March 14 at NCSU. On April 11, the NC State 4-H Horse Judging Contest will be held at Martin Community College. These contests develop leadership, character, work ethic, and many other important and valuable life skills.

A huge thanks goes out to all our instructors that led sessions throughout the day: Dai Akers, Makenah Allred, Katy Bissinger, EmmaRose Church, Audrey Taylor, Emmy Creek, Samantha Durham, Lillian Sproles, Morgan Grossheim, Savannah Lindsey, Beth Morgan, Stevie Sharum, Samantha Taylor, Charli Williams, Kinley Johnson, Addison Taylor, Hollis Volker, Eva Taylor, and the NCSU Animal Science Club.

This event was sponsored by the Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Visit their site to learn more about this wonderful, non-profit organization.

2026 Achievement Award Applications due March 2

The NC 4-H Horse Program Achievement Awards recognize the accomplishments of 4-H'ers, 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. (See the application form for specifics on activities/points/levels). 

There are 4 levels of accomplishment that youth can apply to earn annually. Youth can potentially earn more than level (especially the first year they apply). 

• Bronze: 150 points, bronze patch 

• Silver: 300 points, silver patch 

• Gold: 450 points, gold patch 

• Emerald: 700 points, embroidered jacket

For additional details, the application, and a video on how to complete the application, visit this page on the website: https://equinehusbandry.ces.ncsu.edu/forms-popular-links/nc-4-h-horse-program-achievement-awards/

2026 NC 4-H Horse Judging Contest- April 11

Beyond the Ribbon: How Thunder Hooves Champions Special Olympics Athletes

The Thunder Hooves 4-H club of Cumberland County has been the driving force behind the success of the Cumberland County Special Olympics Equestrian Team. Club members have, over the past 3 plus years, volunteered 7 months out of the year working with various Special Olympics athletes to teach, guide and support them in their love of riding horses. These volunteers study to become certified by, learning about Concussion Training, Protective Behaviors and the history of Special Olympics. They also are required to take a “hands on” class learning how to be Leaders and Side walkers for each athlete. The 4-H club conducts practices every two weeks (weather permitting) from March to September. Athletes are instructed on posture, how to guide their horse and learn trail patterns. These practices all lead up to the “big show” at the end of the year in September which is conducted at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Tryon, NC. Our athletes did an amazing job winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. We could not go without mentioning our amazing ponies that carry these athletes. You have seen them at various 4-H shows competing with their 4-H club owners. They are patient, kind and so willing to be the best mounts for our “Special Athletes”. Please consider looking into volunteering with this program. It is a great way to give back to your community and share your love of horses.

Recreational Riding Rewards Program Applications are due March 2

The Recreational Riding Rewards Program is an annual submission of recreational riding hours logged with an equine partner to earn awards and recognition at the state level. Hours logged follow the rider and may be completed on different horses, either riding or driving. Hours logged must be done on trails, endurance riders, or other organized group rides outside of an arena (fox hunts, beach rides, hunter paces, competitive trail rides, etc.). Arena riding, lesson hours, and horse show hours are not eligible for these awards. Hours logged are cumulative from year to year and will be added over time to achieve the levels of recognition.

When do you apply?

• Log forms are due March 2, 2026 (for hours that took place from Jan 1, 2025-Dec 31, 2025).
• Awards will be presented at the State 4-H Horse Show in July 2026. If a youth is not present, their award will be mailed to them.
• Recreational Riding Rewards Program Hourly Log Sheet for Hours Ridden in 2025

Applications for 2025 hours/rewards are due March 2, 2026

**Please note the form has been slightly modified from past years, so be sure to use the new version.
EMAIL YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO: amparson@ncsu.edu

2026 NC 4-H Horse Program Calendar of 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!