2009 Contest Rules

Revised 04/04/2009

The 2009 State 4-H & FFA Horse Judging Contest is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Potomac State College of WVU, Keyser, WV

Directions:

Directions to Potomac State College of WVU are as follows:

 From Morgantown, take I-68 East to Cumberland, MD.  At Cumberland, take Exit 42 (Greene Street) to Route 220 South.  Route 220 South will bring you into Keyser, WV, ( approximately 20 miles from Cumberland, MD)  Once in Keyser, turn right on to State Street (5^th street on your right) follow the street to the top of the hill at Church McKee.  Parking will be available in the parking lot to the left of the building.

The address and phone number for Potomac State College of WVU is 101 Fort Ave., Keyser, WV 26726; phone 1-304-788-6800. Contact information: Sandra D. Smith, Agriculture & Forestry Coordinator, SDSmith@mail.wvu.edu or phone 304-788-6866 or cell 304-813-8497; Angela L. Kirk, Equine Coordinator, ALKirk@mail.wvu.edu or phone 304-788-6883 or cell 304-813-8417; and Dr. Kerry Odell, Campus Provost, Kerry.Odell@mail.wvu.edu or phone 304-788-6810.

Lunch:

Potomac State College of WVU will be providing a lunch, the cost will be $5.00.  This will be a picnic style lunch under a tent at the Arena.  Seniors will be served lunch first in a group and must remain together to eat lunch and prepare oral reasons. Once seniors have finished eating they will be taken to Church McKee for oral reasons.  Lunches may be purchased using the attached reservation form.  Lunches must be pre-ordered and pre-paid.  There will be no refunds after the registration deadline.  Deadline to order lunches is April 1, 2009.  Make checks payable to: Potomac State College of WVU.   One check per county is requested.  Cost of lunch will be $5.00.

T-shirts: Potomac State College will also be providing a complimentary t-shirt to all participants and up to two coaches/county.  Please indicate how many of the following sizes that you need.  Please indicate on the lunch form the sizes needed. T-shirt Sizes (Adults): 2XL, XL, L, M, S. Additional T-Shirts and other items can be purchased at the Potomac State Bookstore.

LUNCH RESERVATION FORM (pdf)  (text)

T-SHIRT RESERVATION FORM  (pdf)  (text)

Rules:

1. Classes: All classes will consist of four horses. 

2. Halter classes will be numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4; left to right from the rear.  Riders of performance classes will have an exhibitor number (1, 2, 3, and 4). 

3. Fifteen minutes will be allowed to place halter classes and ten minutes to place performance classes.

4. Performance horses will be shown at a walk, trot, canter, and at a hand gallop in the case of English Pleasure.  The horse will also be asked to back and stand quietly.  Horses should be judged on manners, way of going, and response to the rider.

5. The four animals in each class will hopefully be of the same breed, sex, and appropriate age.  Some classes may be mixed, via sex or ages depending upon donor horses available. 

6. The contest officials will attempt to select only horses that are serviceably sound. All halter classes will be judged as sound of limb, eye, wind, and mouth.  Performance horses will be judged as seen (unsoundness to be penalized accordingly).  All tack and attire is considered legal.

7. Breeds that may be included at the contest:

   1. Halter - Quarter Horses, Arabians, Appaloosa, Paso Fino, Draft Breeds, Miniature Horses, and Thoroughbreds

   2. Performance - Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle, Saddle Seat, and Hunter Hack.

8. The placing of Halter (2-3) classes and Performance (2-3) classes will be worth 50 points each.

9. Contestants will give oral reasons on 1-2 halter classes and 1-2 performance classes.  (Worth 50 points each)

10. There will be NO WRITTEN TEST.

11. Contestants must possess two #2 pencils and clipboard for marking scantron scoring sheets.

12. Notes will not be allowed when presenting oral reasons.

13. This contest is being held in conjunction with the State 4-H Horse Judging Contest.

 Tentative Schedule:

 Use of Technology in WV Career Development Events

The use of all electronic devices; including but not limited to cell phones, BlackBerries, PDAs, MP3 players, programmable calculators; are prohibited during all West Virginia Career Development Events.  If an event requires the use of calculators, the event coordinator will provide exact specifications on the type(s) of devices (including functions) that will be permitted.

 Failure to comply with this regulation will result in the elimination of the entire team from competition.  A letter will be sent to the school principal and superintendent by the state staff detailing the reasons for the dismissal.

 Use of Reference Materials in WV Career Development Events

Students participating in West Virginia Career Development Events are prohibited from bringing reference materials, paper, and/or other aids into the contest area unless the materials/aids are specified by the event coordinators in the official rules and regulations.  The exception, all students are permitted to use a standard clipboard.  Cover sheets will be provided for all contestants in all contests.  Contestants participating in contests with oral reasons will be provided two sheets of unlined white paper to take notes. 

 Failure to comply with this regulation will result in the elimination of the entire team from competition.  A letter will be sent to the school principal and superintendent by the state staff detailing the reasons for the dismissal.

Teams of Less than Three Members

Students may compete in a Career Development Event even if their school does not have a full team (3 or 4 members).  If a school has less than 3 team members, the students are only eligible for individual awards. A school may enter only one team (maximum 4 students) per event. (Passed 11/6/2006)

Scoresheet

Scoresheet

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