The 5th annual Pennsylvania State 4-H Junior Horse Championship Show was held July 28-29, 2018 at the Centre County Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, Pa. More than 140 4-H members from across Pennsylvania exhibited horses in performance and in hand classes, totaling over 450 entries for the weekend.
The Junior Horse Championship Show is the premier competition of the year for most 4-H horse members enrolled in junior horse projects. Events include breed conformation and futurity classes for yearling to 5-year-old horses, as well as barrel and driving futurities. In Hand Trail and Performance Skills classes were also part of the Junior Horse Show. Results from the show are available on the Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Program website.
All exhibitors competed at a preliminary level in each class for a merit placing. At this level each entry was evaluated against a standard of excellence and received a blue, red, or yellow merit placing. Blue merit placings then advanced to a championship class, where they competed against all blue merit winners in their division. Winners of all championship classes were awarded a neck sash and a Junior Horse Championship Show jacket. Winners of all In Hand championship classes then advanced to compete for Grand Champion honors. Andrew Welch of Westmoreland County was named Champion Master Showman which was awarded to the top exhibitor in the Master Showman championship class out of 23 preliminary entries.
New this year at the show – Friday evening following the Ice Cream Social, the PA 4-H Horse Program hosted an “Exhibiting the Halter/Conformation horse” clinic. This clinic discussed proper technique for exhibiting horses of various breeds In Hand. Tom Walker, AQHA exhibitor, and retired Penn State Extension educator was the presenter. Tom exhibited his AQHA gelding to a national high point award in 2017. Saturday evening following the conclusion of the show, a “Ride the Pattern” Clinic discussing the Western and English Performance Skills classes took place. This clinic discussed what judges look for when judging these classes at the show, tips on how to execute the pattern correctly, and common mistakes made by exhibitors. It was an interactive clinic, presented by Art O’Brien, AQHA judge and Joe Stanco, Eastern Equine Extension Associate.
Five Berks County 4-H Horse Club members participated in the PA State 4-H Junior Horse Championship Show. Grace Mayberry came away with a Champion Western Horse 4-year-old and Reserve Grand Champion Western Horse Mare with her horse Embraced. Jenna Tyson had a Champion Hunter Horse 4-year-old Mare and Grand Champion Hunter Horse Mare with her horse First Glance. Chloe Sullivan had a Champion Hunter Horse 3-year-old Gelding, English Performance Skills Champion and Grand Champion Hunter Horse Gelding with her horse Speechless. The Berks County results are the following:
Paint 4 Year Old Mare1st place – Grace Mayberry with Embraced
Western Horse 4 Year Old Mare Champion
Grace Mayberry with EmbracedReserve Grand Champion Western Horse Mare
Grace Mayberry with EmbracedHunter Type Horse 4 Year Old Mare
1st Place – Jenna Tyson with First Glace
Hunter Type Horse 3 Year Old Gelding
1st Place – Chloe Sullivan with Speechless
Hunter Horse 4 Year Old Mare Champion
Jenna Tyson with First GlaceHunter Horse 3 Year Old Gelding Champion
Chloe Sullivan with SpeechlessEnglish Pleasure Futurity Walk/Trot/Canter 3 Year Old
1st Place – Chloe Sullivan with Speechless
English Pleasure Futurity Walk/Trot/Canter 4 Year Old
1st Place – Grace Mayberry with Embraced
English Performance Skills 3 Year Old
1st Place – Chloe Sullivan with Speechless
English Performance Skills 4 Year Old
1st Place – Grace Mayberry with Embraced
English Pleasure Futurity Champion
5th Place – Chloe Sullivan with Speechless
English Performance Skills Champion
Chloe Sullivan with SpeechlessGrand Champion Hunter Horse Mare
Jenna Tyson with First GlanceGrand Champion Hunter Horse Gelding
Chloe Sullivan with SpeechlessMiniature Horse 2 Year Old Mare
1st Place – Daniel Twaddell with Hopkins Invincible Image
Miniature Horse 4 Year Old Gelding
1st Place – Ava Senseny with Zephyr Woods Treasured Bandit
Miniature Type Horse 3 Year Old Gelding
2nd Place – Daniel Twaddell with Rocs Spotz On a Deck of Cards
Miniature Horse 2 Year Old Mare Championship
4th Place – Daniel Twaddell with Hopkins Invincible Image
Miniature Horse 4 Year Old Gelding Champion
2nd Place – Ava Senseny with Zephyr Woods Treasured Bandit
Miniature In Hand Trail 2 Year Old
1st Place – Daniel Twaddell with Hopkins Invincible Image
Miniature In Hand Trail 3 Year Old
2nd Place – Daniel Twaddell with Rocs Spotz On A Deck of Cards
Miniature In Hand Trail 4 Year Old
1st Place – Ava Senseny with Zephyr Woods Treasured Bandit
There are over 5,000 4-H horse projects involving youth throughout Pennsylvania. Programs are designed to develop life skills in youth and knowledge of horse production, use, and management. For additional information on 4-H horse programs in Pennsylvania, contact your county Penn State Cooperative Extension office at extension.psu.edu/counties or visit the Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Program website at extension.psu.edu/4-h/projects/horses.
