Saturday, April 12, was a marathon day for 4-H’ers enrolled in the horse project as this year the state hippology and horse quiz bowl contests were held on the same day.

University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H sponsored the event at Rutland High School in Rutland, which attracted more than 50 horse-savvy participants from 10 counties. It was organized by Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension 4-H livestock educator, with the assistance of several volunteers.

The first contest in the 2025 combined event was hippology, which tested the participants’ equine knowledge through a written exam, slides, identification stations and two video classes for judging.

The top placements per age group in State 4-H Hippology Contest were:

Seniors (14-18): Mikayla Tobey, Fairfax (first); Allessandra Hoffman, Milton (second); Amie Thurston, West Rutland (third); Tessa Buskey, Ferrisburgh (fourth); Aleigha Riendeau, Vernon (fifth); Sydney Gorton, Milton (sixth); Aubri Richards, Georgia (seventh); Carlie Rondeau, Coventry (eighth); Brie Pikkarainen, East Wallingford (ninth); Kassie Koehler, Derby (tenth)

Juniors (12-13): Jane Curry, Burlington (first); Lochlan Bertrand, Highgate (second); Catherine Mangan, Cabot (third); Claire Romano, Fairfax (fourth); Elizabeth Stinson, Northfield (fifth); Tyley McClelland, Vernon (sixth); Paityn Paradee, Swanton (seventh); Josie Kascha-Hare, Milton (eighth); Cecelia Pearson, Mount Holly (ninth); Iris Bassett, New Haven (tenth)

Juniors (10-11): Kelsey Davis, West Rutland (first); LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott (second); Nora Kidder, Cambridge (third); Thea Chase, Mount Holly (fourth); Eva LaMothe, Barnet (fifth); Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick (sixth); Saige Prisco, Milton (seventh); Nora Dechen, Rutland (eighth); Jenna Pikkarainen, East Wallingford (ninth); Normandy Cesario, Cornwall (tenth)

Juniors (8-9): Fiona Adams, Milton (first); Alec Brown, Vernon (second);   Juliette Michael (third) and Ashlynn Pikkarainen (fourth), both from          East Wallingford; Avery Halverson, Georgia (fifth)

Scorekeepers were Martha Blades, Jericho; Stephanie Bradley, West Rutland; Jean Fay, Essex Center; Melissa Morin, Wolcott; and Ashley Prisco, Milton. Assisting with this contest were Jessie Bachmann-Lertola, Ira; Mary Fay, Westford; and Jolene Fontaine, Jericho.

For quiz bowl, points were awarded for being the first to buzz in with the correct answer to questions about horse colors, breeds, anatomy, tack and other equine-related topics.

The highest individual scorers in each age group in the State 4-H Quiz Bowl were:

Seniors (14-18): Carlie Rondeau, Coventry (first); Maddie Langlois, Westford (second); Allessandra Hoffman, Milton (third); Seanna Erickson, Florence (fourth); Viola Brown (fifth) and Aleigha Riendeau (sixth), both from Vernon; Jenesy Zwart, Barnet (seventh); Aubri Richards, Georgia (eighth); Kassie Koehler, Derby (ninth); Brie Pikkarainen, East Wallingford (tenth)

Juniors (12-13): Jane Curry, Burlington (first); Josie Kascha-Hare, Milton (second); Lochlan Bertrand, Highgate (third); Kinzi Grindle, St. Albans (fourth); Catherine Mangan, Cabot (fifth); Claire Romano, Fairfax (sixth); Jaida Jenkin, Wheelock (seventh); Penelope Longe, Newport (eighth); Iris Bassett, New Haven (ninth); Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (tenth)

Juniors (10-11): Kelsey Davis, West Rutland (first); Nora Kidder, Cambridge (second); Ian Kascha-Hare, Milton (third); Elliot Michael, East Wallingford (fourth); Anna Campopiano, Mount Holly (fifth); Nora Dechen, Rutland (sixth); Olyvia Rooney, Rutland Town (seventh); Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick (eighth); LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott (ninth); Normandy Cesario, Cornwall (tenth)

Juniors (8-9): Fiona Adams, Milton (first); Avery Halverson, Georgia (second); Ashlynn Pikkarainen (third) and Juliette Michael (fourth), both from   East Wallingford; Alec Brown, Vernon (fifth)

Serving as moderators were Julia Adams, Shrewsbury; Valerie Adams, Milton; Jessie Bachmann-Lertola, Ira; Jolene Fontaine, Jericho; Amanda Gifford and Mikayla Tobey, both from Fairfax; Jaimie Grindle, St. Albans; Bella Shimel, Bridport; and Catherine Thrasher, Salem, New York. Vivienne Babbott, Hinesburg, was the scorekeeper. Helpers included Mary Fay, Westford; Amy Thurston, West Rutland; and Shyanne Wedge, Shoreham.

group of 4-H'ers holding ribbons
Competition was keen at the 2025 State 4-H Hippology Contest, April 12 in Rutland, as 4-H’ers, ages 14 to 18, competed in the Senior Division for placements. 4-H’ers with the 10 highest individual scores were: Front row (left to right): Mikayla Tobey, Fairfax; Allessandra Hoffman, Milton; Amie Thurston, West Rutland; Tessa Buskey, Ferrisburgh and Aleigha Riendeau, Vernon. Back row: Aubri Richards, Georgia; Carlie Rondeau, Coventry; Brie Pikkarainen, East Wallingford; and Kassie Koehler, Derby. Missing from photo: Sydney Gorton, Milton. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)
group of 4-h'ers holding ribbons
Capturing the top 10 placements in the Junior Division, ages 12 and 13 at the 2025 State 4-H Hippology Contest, April 12 in Rutland, were: Front row (left to right): Jane Curry, Burlington; Lochlan Bertrand, Highgate; Catherine Mangan, Cabot; Claire Romano, Fairfax; and Elizabeth Stinson, Northfield. Back row: Tyley McClelland, Vernon; Paityn Paradee, Swanton; Josie Kascha-Hare, Milton; Cecelia Pearson, Mount Holly; and Iris Bassett, New Haven. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)
group of 4-h'ers holding ribbons
At the 2025 State 4-H Hippology Contest, April 12 in Rutland, competitors in the Junior Division for ages 10 and 11, proved that they know their horses. Taking the top 10 spots in this age group were: Front row (left to right): Kelsey Davis, West Rutland; LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott; Nora Kidder, Cambridge; Thea Chase, Mount Holly; and Eva LaMothe, Barnet. Back row: Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick; Saige Prisco, Milton; Nora Dechen, Rutland; Jenna Pikkarainen, East Wallingford; Normandy Cesario, Cornwall. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)
group of 4-h'ers holding ribbons
4-H’ers (left to right) Alec Brown, Vernon; Juliette Michael and Ashlynn Pikkarainen, both from East Wallingford; and Avery Halverson, Georgia; competed in the Junior Division, ages 8 and 9, at the 2025 State 4-H Hippology Contest, held April 12 at Rutland High School in Rutland. Missing from photo: Fiona Adams, Milton. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)
group of 4-h'ers holding ribbons
Top scorers in the Senior Division at the 2025 State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl, April 12, were: Front row (left to right): Carlie Rondeau, Coventry; Maddie Langlois, Westford; Allessandra Hoffman, Milton; Seanna Erickson, Florence; and Viola Brown, Vernon. Back row: Aleigha Riendeau, Vernon; Jenesy Zwart, Barnet; Aubri Richards, Georgia; Kassie Koehler, Derby; and Brie Pikkarainen, East Wallingford. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)
group of 4-h'ers holding ribbons
Placing in the top 10 in the Junior Division for ages 12 to 13 at the 2025 State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl, April 12, in Rutland were: Front row (left to right): Jane Curry, Burlington; Josie Kascha-Hare, Milton; Lochlan Bertrand, Highgate; Kinzi Grindle, St. Albans; and Catherine Mangan, Cabot, Back row: Claire Romano, Fairfax; Jaida Jenkin, Wheelock; Penelope Longe, Newport; Iris Bassett, New Haven; and Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)
group of 4-h'ers holding ribbons
Winners in the Junior Division, ages 10 and 11, at the April 12 State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl in Rutland were: Front row (left to right): Kelsey Davis, West Rutland; Nora Kidder, Cambridge; Ian Kascha-Hare, Milton; Elliot Michael, East Wallingford; and Anna Campopiano, Mount Holly. Back row: Nora Dechen, Rutland; Olyvia Rooney, Rutland Town; Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick; LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott; and Normandy Cesario, Cornwall. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)
group of 4-h'ers holding ribbons
Among those taking part in the 2025 State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl, April 12, in Rutland, were 8- and 9-year-old 4-H’ers Avery Halverson, Georgia; Ashlynn Pikkarainen and Juliette Michael, both from East Wallingford; and Alec Brown, Vernon. Missing from photo: Fiona Adams, Milton. (photo: Amanda Turgeon)

For more information about the 4-H horse program in Vermont, contact Wendy Sorrell at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.