New Haven--Local 4-H club members recently competed in several 4-H horse events at the Addison County Fair and Field Days site in New Haven.
The 4-H'ers took part in the annual Vermont 4-H Horse Show along with hippology, judging and quiz bowl contests, all sponsored by University of Vermont Extension 4-H. The competitions, July 8-10, were open to 4-H'ers from throughout the state, and provided an opportunity for them to demonstrate their riding skills as well as their equine knowledge.
Competitions were arranged by age with 4-H'ers, 11-13, competing in the Junior Division and individuals 14-18 as Seniors.
Several area 4-H'ers won championships at the 4-H horse show in riding classes as well as the 4-H Division. For the latter, the 4-H'ers' scores from fitting and showmanship, quiz bowl, judging, a general knowledge written exam and 4-H project class were combined for a final score and rankings.
Madeline Tylenda, Essex Junction, won the Open Driving Championship at the horse show. Piper Thompson, Hinesburg, was named Junior English Champion with the Junior English Reserve Championship going to Adaline Ploof, Westford.
Senior English Reserve Champion was Vivienne Babbott, Hinesburg, who also was the Senior 4-H Champion and the High Point 4-H Champion (highest overall score in the 4-H Division). As Senior 4-H Champion, Vivienne won the Paul Quinn Memorial Award, which honors a long-time supporter of the Vermont 4-H Horse Show and 4-H horse program. The 4-H'er also received the Jim Wallace Memorial Pleasure Class Award (first-place winner in this class).
Senior Reserve 4-H Champion was Faith Ploof, Westford. Her sister Adaline won the Junior Reserve 4-H Championship. Advanced Beginner 4-H Champion was Jillian Murdough, Essex Junction.
Other awards presented at the horse show included the Outstanding 4-H Member Award (for overall achievement in the 4-H horse program) and the 4-H Club Award.
Faith Ploof, Westford, received the Outstanding 4-H Member Award. Eligibility for this award includes participation in three New England 4-H Horse Shows at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and selection three times for Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in Kentucky.
The 4-H Club Award went to the Whispering Pines 4-H Club, Westford. This award goes to the club with the highest combined scores in the general knowledge test and judging, quiz bowl, fitting and showmanship and 4-H project classes.
In the hippology contest, Adaline Ploof, Westford, came in sixth, and Jillian Murdough, Essex Junction, seventh, in the Junior Division.
The results for the Senior Division included Grace Parks, Essex Junction (second); Faith Ploof, Westford (third); Vivienne Babbott, Hinesburg (fourth); Haileigh Demers, Westford (sixth); and Madeline Tylenda, Essex Junction (eighth).
For the judging contest, the 4-H'ers judged Morgans, quarter horses and hunter under saddle classes. Jillian Murdough, Essex Junction, finished sixth, and Adaline Ploof, Westford, ninth, in the Junior Division.
Seniors placing in the top 10 were Grace Parks, Essex (second); Faith Ploof, Westford (third); Vivienne Babbott, Hinesburg (fifth); Madeline Tylenda, Essex Junction (seventh); Greta Friesan, Hinesburg (eighth); and Tucker Murdough, Essex Junction (ninth).
In quiz bowl, top contenders in the Junior Division were Jillian Murdough, Essex Junction (first); Adaline Ploof, Westford (third); and Piper Thompson, Hinesburg (fifth).
Winners in the Senior Division were Chloe Barewicz, Jericho (first); Vivienne Babbott, Hinesburg (third); Haileigh Demers, Westford (fourth); Tucker Murdough, Essex Junction (fifth); and Greta Friesan, Hinesburg (sixth).
Grace Parks, Essex, and Faith Ploof, Westford, competed in a special division against the top four individual high scorers in the contest. Both Grace and Faith were members of past state quiz bowl teams that took part in national competitions so were ineligible to officially compete in this year's state contest.
In addition, Grace was a moderator for the Junior Division competitions. Adult 4-H volunteer Amanda Gifford, Fairfax, also served as a quiz bowl moderator.
To learn more about the Vermont 4-H horse program, contact the State 4-H office at (802) 651-8343 or (800) 571-0668 (toll-free in Vermont).
