BURLINGTON – The 2024 Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup attracted 243 participants from 24 states, including twelve 4-Hers from Vermont.
photo by Mary Fay
The competitive event, held annually at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky., provides an opportunity for 4-Hers, 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 brought together like-minded peers to test their equine knowledge and have 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.
One representative on the hippology team was Adriana Leonard, East Hardwick.
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. Vermonter 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.
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.
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.
