Equine Extravaganza provides opportunities for all youth in grades 4-12 to demonstrate their knowledge of equine-related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. Depending on the event, youth can participate both as an individual and as part of a team.
Participatory Events – Creative Writing, Digital Story, Clothes-Crafts-Woodworking, Drawing, Painting, Poster, Model Horse, Photography, Scrapbooking are for grades 3-12.
Hippology, Quiz Bowl, Horse Judging, Public Speaking and Presentations Contests are for grades 4-12
Team & Individual Events Rules
Study Materials and Resources for Teams and Coaches
Previous Years Exams
- Extravaganza Contests
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- Hippology - Hippology is the study of horses. The hippology contest provides the opportunity to blend equine science and husbandry into one activity where youth can apply their acquired knowledge and skill.
- Youth may participate in the hippology contest either as an individual or as a team. Juniors are 10-13 years of age and seniors are 14-18 years of age as of January 1 of the current year
- Each team shall consist of not less than three and not more than four members.
- Each county is eligible to enter any number of junior individuals, junior teams, senior individuals, and senior teams
- Counties may, with prior approval, (by March 1) combine 4-H members to form teams.
- The winning senior division team will be eligible to represent Iowa at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY and the second-place team at the Quarter Horse Congress Youth Horse event in Columbus, OH
- Horse Quiz Bowl - The Horse Quiz Bowl provide an opportunity for youth to demonstrate their knowledge of equine-related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. Competing as team members assists youth with the development of social skills, cooperation and managing feelings, as they become comfortable with working alongside others toward a common goal; integrity and sportsmanship are also developed through the Horse Quiz Bowl experience.
- Each team shall consist of not less than four and not more than five members. Only four participants shall be seated at the panel at any one time. One team member will be designated as the alternate if five are entered.
- Each county is eligible to enter two junior teams and two senior teams. Juniors are 10-13 years of age and seniors are 14-18 years of age as of January 1 of the current year
- Counties may, with prior approval, (by March 1) combine 4-H members to form teams.
- The winning senior division team will be eligible to represent Iowa at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY and the second-place team at the Quarter Horse Congress Youth Horse event in Columbus, OH
- Horse Judging - The event challenges youth’s skills and knowledge in horse judging. Participants will learn to evaluate and make decisions while improving their knowledge of horses, horse management, horse training and horsemanship.
- Youth may participate in the horse judging contest either as an individual or as a team.
- Each team shall consist of not less than three and not more than four members.
- Each county is eligible to enter any number of junior individuals, junior teams, senior individuals, and senior teams. Juniors are 10-13 years of age and seniors are 14-18 years of age as of January 1 of the current year
- Counties may, with prior approval, (by March 1) combine 4-H members to form teams.
- The winning senior division team will be eligible to represent Iowa at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY and the second-place team at the Quarter Horse Congress Youth Horse event in Columbus, OH
- Communications - Communications consists of either a presentation talk or public speaking
- Age Divisions - Juniors are 10-13 years of age and seniors are 14-18 years of age as of January 1 of the current year
- The winning senior individual or team are eligible to represent Iowa at the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY and the second-place team at the Quarter Horse Congress Youth Horse event in Columbus, OH
- Presentations
- Juniors are 10-13 years of age and seniors are 14-18 years of age as of January 1 of the current year
- Youth may participate in the communication contest either as an individual or as a team.
- Public Speaking
- This is an individual contest.
- Contestants must not have participated in official post-secondary (university, college, junior college, or technical school) competitive events of a similar nature in the same subject matter area. Neither can the contestant be a member of a post-secondary team undergoing training in preparation for an event.
- Hippology - Hippology is the study of horses. The hippology contest provides the opportunity to blend equine science and husbandry into one activity where youth can apply their acquired knowledge and skill.
- Extravaganza Participatory Events
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- Creative Writing, Visual Art and Horse-Clothes, Accessories, Crafts and Woodworking
- Age Divisions: Beginner division grades 3-5; Junior division grades 6-8; Senior division grades 9-12.
- These can be conference or non-conference judged. Exhibits may still be exhibited at the County Fair in the summer
- Model Horse Show (Novice and Regular Division)
- Showing model horses can be very fun, if you know the rules, and how best to show off your favorite model horses. Youth bring their model horse (ex. Breyer) and exhibit it in a class that best fits that model. A judge evaluates them just like in a show of live horses. There are halter classes divided by breed and also performance classes. Check out YouTube for some examples.
- Age Division: Open to youth in 4-12 grade.
- Creative Writing, Visual Art and Horse-Clothes, Accessories, Crafts and Woodworking
- Resources
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- Hippology, Horse Judging & Quiz Bowl
- TX hippology resources including practice tests
- North Carolina State Extension – 4-H Hippology Resources
Neat Games Sites for Study Resources - On these sites you need to make sure the questions and answers are correct. Great way for the senior team members to double check for the junior members.
2023 Rules
4-H Member Resources
Iowa 4-H Contact