Burlington--A group of Vermont 4-H horse members just returned from a whirlwind trip to Kentucky that combined national competition with some educational sightseeing and a bit of shopping fun.
The 4-H’ers traveled by chartered bus to Louisville, Kentucky, for the 2023 Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup, November 4, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, where they competed in hippology, quiz bowl, judging and the communications contests. Vermont was among the 24 states that took part in this year’s event.
Fourteen state teams competed in the hippology contest, which had several phases, including a written exam with slides, judging, team problem solving and stations. For the latter, the 4-H’ers visited a series of stations to answer questions on various equine-related topics. The team placed tenth overall, eighth in the written phase and ninth in stations. They did not place in the Top 10 for the judging phase.
Team members were Natalie Jackman, Vergennes; Emma Sibley, Milton; Mikayla Tobey, Fairfax; and Shyanne Wedge, Shoreham. Haileigh Demers, Essex Junction, made the team but was unable to attend, so Mikayla took her place with less than a week’s notice. Jolene Fontaine, Jericho, served as the team coach.
Jasmine Akley and Elizabeth Brown, both from Vernon; Lillian Kascha-Hare, Milton; and Britney Zager, Gill, Massachusetts (member of a Windham County club); made up the quiz bowl team, which was coached by Sue Ouimet, Castleton. Vermont finished just out of the top 10 in the 15-team double-elimination competition, winning their first round against Minnesota and later losing to Ohio, which finished second, and then in a close match with Massachusetts.
Seventeen teams and individuals from two additional states participated in the judging contest. The Vermont team finished eighth overall with a sixth place in halter classes and tenth in performance. Members were Jenna Bennett, Swanton; Viola Brown, Vernon; Seanna Erickson, Florence; and Rose Ouimet, Castleton. They were coached by Deb Danforth, Castleton, who will be stepping down this year after coaching the state horse judging team for 17 years.
In the Communications Contest, twin sisters Lily and Samantha Provost of Milton came in sixth out of nine teams for their team demonstration. Tieghan Perry of Danville presented an individual demonstration but did not place in the Top 10. The Provosts were coached by Jessie Provost, Milton, and Tieghan by Joanne Perry, Danville.
Prior to the competition, the Vermont delegation visited two Kentucky farms that take in retired racehorses, Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, and New Vocations in Lexington. The latter farm retrains retired thoroughbred and standard-bred racehorses for new jobs to help them get adopted. They also visited the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington to watch the National Horse Show.
After the awards ceremony, they stopped at Rod’s Western Palace in Columbus, Ohio, a famous western apparel store. They left Vermont on November 2, returning home four days later.
The State 4-H Horse Council, county 4-H foundations and local sponsors helped fund the trip. Long-time 4-H volunteer Mary Fay of Westford accompanied the state delegation along with several team coaches, adult chaperones and family members.
For more information about the Vermont horse program, contact Wendy Sorrell, University of Vermont Extension 4-H livestock educator, at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.