MICHIGAN 4-H HORSE JAMBOREE
STATE FFA HORSE EVALUATION & SELECTION CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENT
OFFICIAL GUIDELINES
This contest is held in conjunction with the State 4-H Horse Judging Contest
Saturday, April 20, 2013, MSU Pavilion, East Lansing
Registration: 9:15 - 9:30 a.m.
Instructions: 9:30 a.m. -- Contest begins: 10:00 a.m.
Entry Deadline: April 1, 2013
1.
Objectives:



2.
Eligibility:
A.
B.
3.
To advance knowledge in selection and management of horses.
To develop the proficiency to communicate effectively in the terminology of the
industry.
To provide the opportunity to evaluate, make a decision and justify those decisions on
conformation traits & performance traits of horses.
Junior Division:
1)
Junior High School students
2)
Junior teams: 3 or 4 students from the same school (top 3 scores are
considered for team awards)
3)
Junior Individuals: any junior high school student participant
Senior Division:
1)
Senior High School students
2)
Senior teams: 3 or 4 students from the same school (top 3 scores are
considered for team awards)
3)
Senior Individuals: any senior high school student participant
Registration:
A.
The school advisor or representative should check in at the registration area prior
to the start of the contest. Each participant will be assigned a number and given
other pertinent items. The contest will be in progress most of the day.
Participants cannot leave once the contest begins. NO ADDITONS WILL BE
MADE THE DAY OF THE CONTEST. (Only bookkeeping corrections from State
Staff) NOTE: Contestants are responsible for providing their own notebooks for
taking notes. The notebooks cannot contain educational materials. They will
be subject to inspection by contest officials.
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4.
Talking:
A.
5.
THERE WILL BE NO TALKING TOLERATED DURING THIS CONTEST
While the contest is in progress, there shall be no talking or any other type of
communication between contestants. This also includes the reasons preparation
time in the designated area. Contestants will be required to remain seated and
will not be allowed to practice their reasons aloud. Furthermore, advisors/coaches
not assisting with the contest will not be permitted in the arena while classes are
being placed. Any violation of these rules may result in the members card (or
cards) being pulled and/or disqualification of the offending individuals or teams.
Final Standings:
A.
This shall be based upon the combined score of the Judging contest placing and
oral reasons (for seniors who choose to), and questions. Fifty points shall
constitute a perfect score in each of the placing classes, and each of the sets of
oral reasons. The sets of questions will have a maximum value of 25 points. In
the Senior Division, there will be four placing classes (classes #3,4,5,6), two sets
of questions classes, and two sets of oral reasons (for a minimum of 2 team
members of the team’s choosing, for teams wanting consideration for awards) In
the Junior Division there will be four placing classes (classes #3,4,5,6), two sets of
questions classes and no oral reasons. Ties will be broken by using the following
tie breakers in order: 1) Questions score; 3) Placing score on questions classes;
and 3) Reasons score.
Contest Format
Judging/Selection Classes:
Points
Place four classes (2 halter, 2 performance)
Questions (2 of the 4 classes)
Individual Points Possible
200
50
250
**Reasons scores (2 classes per 2 team members)
Class scores (200 x top 3 scores)
Questions scores (50 x top 3 scores)
Team Points Possible (top 3)
200
600
150
950
** Reasons are optional – A minimum of 2 members per team must give
reasons for team to be eligible for awards. If more than 2 members give
reasons the top scores will be used.
6.
Classes:
A.
Four classes of four horses each will be judged. The contest will consist of two
halter classes to be selected from the following breeds: Draft Halter, Hunter-type
Halter, Stock-type Halter, Arabian Halter, although final selection of breeds will
depend upon availability of horses. There will be 2 halter classes in the arena at
2
one time. Classes will be switched to opposite ends of arena after each class has
been judged, so participants do not have to move. In addition, the participants
will judge two performance classes to be selected from the following classes:
Western Pleasure, Saddle Seat Pleasure, Hunter Seat Pleasure (Working Hunter
Under Saddle), Western Horsemanship, English Equitation, Suitable to Become a
Dressage Horse, Western Riding, Driving and Reining. While backing horse in
performance classes, they should be lined up on center line, head to tail, only
backed one time per horse.
Tentative 2013
Class Information - FFA will judge classes 3-6
(subject to change based on horse availability)
Reasons & Questions classes will be designated on Contest Day.
Check in for FFA and
Instructions
1.
Halter
2.
Halter
3.
Halter
4.
Halter
5.
Performance
6.
Performance
Time for FFA Participants
7.
Performance
to begin Oral Reasons
8.
Performance
(Specific classes have not been determined at this time…Breed and specific
performance classes will be available by entry deadline)
B.
7.
Oral Reasons:
A.
8.
Senior Division participants will give oral reasons on one of the halter classes, and
one of the performance classes. All contestants will answer five questions each
on one of the halter classes and one of the performance classes. The contestants
will not be permitted to use notes while giving reasons, but their placing cards will
be returned to them during the time they are giving reasons. Approximately 2
minutes will be allowed for a set of oral reasons.
Questions:
A.
9.
The showman of each horse in the classes will wear an appropriate number for
identification purposes. All halter classes will be judged as sound of limb, eye,
wind and mouth. Performance classes will be judged as seen (unsoundness to be
penalized accordingly). All tack and attire is considered legal.
Contestants will be allowed to use their notes while answering the questions, but
the horses will not be present.
Clothing:
A.
Hats should not be worn in the Pavilion Arena.
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10.
Length of Classes:
A.
Approximately 17 minutes will be allowed to place each halter class, and
approximately 15 minutes will be allowed to place each performance class.
1.
Time limits for viewing horses in halter classes:
Front view
Side view
Rear view
Side view
Moving horse to view movement
Close Inspection
(2 minutes per 2 groups)
Total
11.
Horses will be judged primarily from the bleachers, and will not be handled by the
contestants. In halter classes, time will be provided for close inspection and to
observe the horse’s movement.
Official Placing and Results:
A.
14.
Contestants will be divided into several equal sized groups prior to the start of the
contest. Each of these groups will be supervised by adult group leaders. Each
contestant is to remain with his or her group throughout the contest, and is directly
responsible to the group leaders.
Judging Procedure:
A.
13.
17.0 minutes
Group Leaders:
A.
12.
1.5 minutes
3.0 minutes
1.5 minutes
3.0 minutes
4.0 minutes
4.0 minutes
As soon as the all (4-H and FFA) contestants finish giving their oral reasons, the
official placing and cuts will be announced. The official results will be distributed
from the State FFA Office the week following the contest.
Volunteers:
A.
Many adult and youth volunteers are required for this event to be possible. These
volunteers are group leaders, announcers, class chairmen, tabulators, scoring
helpers, runners, etc. All participating schools entered are expected to furnish
volunteers to assist with the contest. Coaches will not be assigned as group
leaders.
NO LUNCHES WILL BE PROVIDED FOR CONTESTANTS. TEAMS MUST PROVIDE THEIR
OWN LUNCHES. Concessions will be available at the MSU Pavilion -- But students will not be
allowed to collect their own lunch at concessions –a coach or team leader must get lunches for
contestants.
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