Burlington, Vt.--The 2024 Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup attracted 243 participants from 24 states, including 12 4-H’ers from Vermont.

The highly competitive event, held annually at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky,  provides an opportunity for 4-H’ers, ages 14 to 18, to match wits with the best of the best 4-H horse members from other states in quiz bowl, judging and hippology contests.

Although none of the Vermont teams placed in the Top 10 overall at the November 8 and 9 event, the experience was rewarding in that it brought them together with like-minded peers to test their equine knowledge and have a bit of fun. Prior to the competition, the group visited Churchill Downs in Louisville, where they visited the museum and watched several races. On the return trip home, they stopped at the World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio. 

Representing the state on the hippology team were Elizabeth and Viola Brown, both from Vernon; Adriana Leonard, East Hardwick; and Renee Payton, Danville. They were coached by Jolene Fontaine, Jericho.

Teams from 16 states competed in hippology, which had several phases, including a written exam with slides, judging, team problem solving and stations where the competitors answered questions on a range of horse-related topics. Viola Brown finished second in the judging portion of the contest. The team received an honorable mention after tying for tenth place in the judging phase but lost the tie breaker.

The judging team had their work cut out for them as they evaluated classes in hunter under saddle, saddle seat pleasure, Arabian hunter pleasure, western pleasure, Arabian in hand, hunter in hand, performance quarter horse mares and performance quarter horse geldings in a field of 19 teams.

Team members were Bella Kang, Milton; Molly Larrabee, West Danville; Amie Thurston, West Rutland; and Shyanne Wedge, Shoreham. They were accompanied by their coach, Jessie Bachmann-Lertola, Ira.

Thirteen states competed in quiz bowl, a double-elimination contest where competitors scored points for being the first to buzz in and accurately answer questions about breeds, anatomy, feeds and nutrition, tack, gaits and other equine topics.

Sue Ouimet, Castleton, coached the team, which included Hannah Gendreau, Shoreham; Kelsey Paradee, Swanton; Bella Shimel, Bridport; and Mikayla Tobey, Fairfax.

Funding for the trip was provided by the State 4-H Horse Council, county 4-H foundations and local sponsors. Accompanying the delegation were long-time 4-H volunteer Mary Fay of Westford, several team coaches, adult chaperones and family members. 

To learn more about the Vermont horse program, contact Wendy Sorrell, University of Vermont Extension 4-H livestock educator, at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.