Burlington--Seven Vermont 4-H club members took part in various 4-H horse events at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Sept. 22-24.

Representing the state at the "Big E" were Viola Brown and Whitney Dunklee, both from Vernon; Megan Carson, South Londonderry; Jenna Dolloph, Chester; and Adeline Ploof, Westford. Ella Dubin, Northfield, Massachusetts, also qualified but was unable to participate due to illness.

Two teen leaders (without horses), Elizabeth Brown, Vernon, and Britney Zager, Gill, Massachusetts, competed in a separate division for teen leaders from all New England states. Both Britney and Ella are members of a Windham County 4-H club.

Governor Phil Scott visited on Vermont Day, Sept. 24, walking through the barn to chat with delegates and meet their horses. The 4-H'ers also had an opportunity to take part in activities just for fun, including barrel racing and egg and spoon, water and arena races.

All delegates, including teen leaders, competed in a general knowledge contest, fitting and showmanship and judging. To determine state rankings for team judging, the judges took the top four individual scores for each state and added these together for a state team judging score. The same procedure was used for placements of states in team general knowledge. In team judging, Vermont came in third, and in team general knowledge, second.

For the Team Challenge, delegates were assigned to groups of four or five members from different states. In addition to working together to accomplish tasks, they had to learn about each other, participate in quiz bowl for their team and take part in a scavenger hunt to earn points.

Top ten placements in various horse events by Vermont 4-H club members included:

  • Elizabeth Brown: Fitting and Showmanship (third); Team General Knowledge (second); Individual Judging (fourth); General Knowledge (fifth); Team Challenge (seventh)
  • Viola Brown: Ranch Pleasure (third); Western Disciplined Rail (fourth); Western Trail (seventh); Western Pleasure (eighth); Western All Around (eighth); Fitting and Showmanship (ninth); Equitation (ninth); Team Challenge (third)
  • Megan Carson: English Trail (first); Bridle Path Hack (second); Equitation (second); Fitting and Showmanship (third); Hunter Under Saddle (third); English Pleasure (sixth); Team Judging (third); Team General Knowledge (second); Team Challenge (tenth)
  • Jenna Dolloph: Fitting and Showmanship (first); English Pleasure (first); Hunter Disciplined Rail (first); Equitation (sixth); Hunt Pleasure (seventh); Bridle Path Hack (eighth); Disciplined Rail (tenth); Team General Knowledge (second); Team Judging (third); Individual General Knowledge (first). For her first-place win in general knowledge, Jenna won a folding chair.
  • Whitney Dunklee: Hunt Pleasure (first); Hunter Under Saddle (second); Equitation (fourth); Hunter Disciplined Rail (seventh); Fitting and Showmanship (tenth); Team General Knowledge (second); Individual General Knowledge (sixth)
  • Adeline Ploof: Equitation (second); Fitting and Showmanship (third); Disciplined Rail (fourth); English Pleasure (sixth); English Trail (seventh); Bridle Path Hack (tenth); Team Judging (third); Individual Judging (sixth); Team Challenge (seventh)
  • Britney Zager: Individual Judging (second); Team Judging (third); Fitting and Showmanship (fourth); Individual General Knowledge (sixth); Team Challenge (sixth). Britney was selected as Vermont's sportsmanship delegate and went on to win the Dick Woolum E.S.E. Memorial Award for Sportsmanship. This award is presented to the 4-H'er who placed highest in judging among the sportsmanship winners from each state.

Chaperoning the Vermont delegation were Mary Fay, Westford (coordinator and horse show announcer); Cheryl Brown  and Kelli Dunklee, both from Vernon; Elizabeth Ploof, Westford, and Peg Zager, Gill, Massachusetts. Jolene Fontaine, Jericho, served as barn manager.

For information about the Vermont 4-H Horse Program, contact Wendy Sorrell at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.