UF/IFAS Extension Osceola County
Stop horsing around and join the Osceola County 4-H Horse Program for its Open House on Sept. 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Osceola Heritage Park’s Extension Services Building. The open house is a great opportunity to ask questions and meet the 4-H riders, volunteers, and extension agents.
The program is a great opportunity for youth to expand their knowledge and improve their horsemanship skill while having fun. The program gives local children ages 8-18 the chance to participate in activities to help improve their citizenship, leadership, sportsmanship and competitive spirit. The Osceola County 4-H Horse Program members not only gain horse knowledge, they will also gain horse friends, too! The 4-H Horse Program can be an exciting experience for both youth and their horse.
For those who don’t own a horse and are interested in joining the program, the youth can lease a horse or pony to use for the show year. The 4-H also offers a horseless program, so no horse needs to be owned or leased to participate in the program.
The Osceola County 4-H Horse Program hosts a local horse show in the spring as well as multiple educational clinics, fun shows, educational programs, and an annual awards program. The local horse shows allow youth to use the skills they have developed in the program. During these shows youth compete in halter and showmanship, western, reining, ranch riding, English, dressage, trail, hunter/jumper and speed events.
At the local horse shows, each horse and rider has an opportunity to qualify to compete at the 4-H Area Horse Show, 4-H State Horse Show and 4-H Southern Regional Horse Show. Educational workshops are provided each year to teach youth and adults about pasture management, horse health, nutrition, behavior and basic horse care. In addition to educational clinics and showing, youth may take part in horsemanship school, horse judging events, hippology contest, quiz bowl, a horse public speaking contest, all while having the chance to earn college scholarships.
For more information or if you would like to join the Osceola County 4-H Horse Program, contact Brittany Justesen, Livestock Extension Agent, at brittanyjustesen@ufl.edu.
