Vermont 4-H held its annual statewide horse show at the Champlain Valley Expo this month.

Over the weekend of July 10-12, more than two dozen youth competed in around 70 classes, everything from equitation and road hack to jumping and gymkhana to costume and dressage. The goal for 4-H'ers is to develop experience and skills in teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership and the horse industry.

Below are the 2026 State 4-H Horse Show championship results.

4-H Beginner Division Championship

  1. Grace Peterson, with horse Little Duffer, Chittenden County
  2.  Taylor Houghton, with horse Awesome Maverick, Franklin County

4-H Junior Division Championship

  1. Josephina Kascha-Hare, with horse Buddy, Chittenden County 
  2. Saige Prisco, with horse Toy Soldier, Chittenden County 

4-H Senior Division Championship

  1. Viola Brown, with horse Snahzie Scarlet JJ, Windham County
  2. Carlie Rondeau, with horse Watch’N Dollars Fly, Orleans County 

4-H Small Equine Division Championship

  1. Ian Kascha-Hare, with horse Sunny, Chittenden County

Overall 4-H High Point Champion

  1. Viola Brown, with horse Snazhie Scarlett JJ, Windham County
A white teen girl and an older white woman stand together outside a yellow building. The older woman holds a plaque reading: "Viola Brown: In appreciation and acknowledgement of your outstanding achievements in the Vermont 4-H Horse Program." The younger woman is holding a white box that reads "America's Favorite Honor Award Plaque."
Windham County 4-H'er Viola Brown, who was the Overall 4-H High Point Champion, stands for a portrait with State 4-H Horse Middle Manager Mary Fay. Photo by Wendy Sorrell. 

Beginner Combined Division Championship

  1. Maeryn Vogel, with horse Wicked Sensation, Chittenden County
  2. Crafts Pliny, with horse Milo, Orleans County

Advanced Beginner Combined Division Championship

  1. Aubrie Houle, with horse Driving Miss Daisy, Windham County
  2. Quinn Charest, with horse Murphy, Orleans County

English 13 & Under Division Championship

  1. Taylor Peck, with horse Sir Sandstorm, Orleans County
  2. LeighAnn Judd, with horse Hudson D Bay, Lamoille County

English 14-18 Division Championship

  1. Penelope Longe, with horse Poppy N’Blues, Orleans County
  2. Holland Van Wey, with horse Cool Skip A Rock, Addison County 

Western Division Championship

  1. Tyley McClelland, with horse Snahzie Twist N Turn, Windham County
  2. Viola Brown, with horse Snahzie Scarlet JJ, Windham County

Jim Wallace Memorial Pleasure Class Perpetual Trophy

  1. Penelope Longe, with horse Poppy N Blues, Orleans County

Melissa Issler Alumni Equitation Class Perpetual Trophy

  1. Hailee Blades, Chittenden County  

Junior Senior Gymkhana Championship

  1. Viola Brown, with horse Snahzie Scarlett JJ, Windham County
  2. Tyley McClelland, with horse Snahzie Twist’N Tyme, Windham County

Beginner Advanced Beginner Gymkhana Championship

  1. Aubrie Houle, with horse Driving Miss Daisy, Windham County
  2. Jaida Jenkin, with horse Charity, Caledonia County

A big thank you to the following people who made this year's state 4-H show possible: main judge Donna Sorrell, dressage judge Sarah McCarty, dressage manager Amanda Gifford, show managers Deb Danforth and Mary Fay, on-site show secretary Stacey Walker, secretary and scorer Ellen Turnbull, scorer Martha Blades, announcer Jolene Fontaine, ring mistress Hailee Blades, veterinarian on call Large Animal Medical Associates, farrier on call Jonathan Franko and Vermont 4-H Livestock Educator Wendy Sorrell. 

To learn more about the 4-H livestock programs, email Wendy Sorrell at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu or contact your local county educator.