Youth Horse Projects: Your Responsibilities

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Youth Horse Projects Your Responsibilities

• The Pennsylvania State University
• Department of Dairy and Animal Science

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This educational program was created to ensure
that youth animal programs are conducted with the
highest possible quality, safety and integrity.
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Program Development

• Bob Mikesell (rem9_at_psu.edu 814-865-2987)
• Specie Contacts
• Dairy, Dale Olver (dolver_at_psu.edu, 814-863-3914)
• Horse, Pat Comerford (pcomerford_at_psu.edu, 814
  863-3657)
• Livestock, Bob Mikesell (rem_at_psu.edu,
  814-865-2987)
• Small Animal, Nancy Dreschel (nad5_at_psu.edu,
  814-863-4197)
• Poultry, Phil Clauer (pclauer_at_psu.edu,
  814-863-8960)

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The following six Key Areas of Responsibility
are fundamental to the success of youth horse
projects.
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Six Key Areas of Responsibility

• Animal Care and Ownership
• Honesty and Sportsmanship
• Animal Health, Biosecurity Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Human Health Safety
• Ethics and Conduct

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Responsibility

• Animal Care and Ownership
• Honesty and Sportsmanship
• Animal Health, Biosecurity Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Human Health Safety
• Ethics and Conduct

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Animal Care and Ownership

• I will own or lease my animal by the 4-H program
  deadline and properly enroll or enter by the
  program deadline.
• I will complete appropriate project requirements
  as determined by my county.
• I will present proof of ownership/lease and age
  of animal if requested.

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Animal Care and Ownership

• I will feed, water, and care for my animals the
  majority of the time.
• If my animal is boarded, I will work with and
  care for my animal on a regular basis.
• I will groom and fit my animals with minimal help
  from adults.

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Animal Care and OwnershipYouth Responsibilities

• Benefits of youth animal programs are only
  realized when youth do the work.
• Personal responsibility
• Animal skills
• Record keeping and analysis

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Animal Care and OwnershipAdult Responsibilities

• Appropriate adult and family involvement is
  important in youth development.
• Mentoring
• Coaching
• Demonstrating
• Teaching
• But not DOING!

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Animal Care and Ownership Situation I

• You plan to show your new horse in 4-H shows this
  year. Your 4-H leader distributed your county
  rules, policies, and the 4-H Horse Show Rule Book
  at your first club meeting in January. On June 2
  you remember that you have not submitted your
  project/animal enrollment form(s) to your county
  extension office.
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Animal Care and Ownership Situation II

• You observe a trainer riding another 4-H members
  horse at a 4-H show. The horse is nervous,
  excited, and frightening the youth and other
  horses.
• Is this a problem?
• What should you do?

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Animal Care and Ownership Situation III

• This is my first year in showing in Grooming and
  Showmanship. I have done most of the work with my
  horse. My horse does not like to have her ears
  clipped. The more I try, the worse she gets and I
  am afraid of getting hurt. My mother and I hold
  my horse while my father clips her ears.
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Responsibility

• Animal Care and Ownership
• Honesty and Sportsmanship
• Animal Health, Biosecurity Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Human Health Safety
• Ethics and Conduct

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Honesty and Sportsmanship

• I will act with honesty, integrity, and display
  good sportsmanship at all times.
• I will not interfere with show officials, program
  sponsors, other exhibitors, or judges.
• I will treat everyone with courtesy and respect.

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Honesty and Sportsmanship

• I will do my best in competition, but realize
  that I may not always win or get a blue ribbon.
• When I compete, I will have a performance goal,
  not a beat everyone else goal.
• I will not, nor will I allow anyone else, to
  criticize officials, sponsors, other exhibitors,
  or judges.

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Honesty and Sportsmanship Situation I

• A father of a fellow exhibitor openly criticizes
  the judge after the show because his daughter
  placed third. She had won every class this year
  with this horse, except at this show.
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Honesty and Sportsmanship Situation II

• Your horse is a little over 14.2 hands, which is
  too tall to enter the pony classes. Your parent
  suggests that the farrier should trim the horses
  hooves very short so that the horse will be
  eligible for the pony classes.
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Honesty and Sportsmanship Situation III

• Your mother and trainer are standing together on
  the rail while you are showing at the county
  roundup. This is your only qualifying show for
  the district show. You are very nervous, but rode
  your equitation pattern well, and really want to
  make it to the district show! Your trainer tells
  you to ride with more contact on the reins, look
  up, watch out for number 911, and coaches you
  every time you ride by. Your mother says, Smile,
  sit up straight, and relax!
• Can you identify with this? Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Responsibility

• Animal Care and Ownership
• Honesty and Sportsmanship
• Animal Health, Biosecurity Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Human Health Safety
• Ethics and Conduct

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Animal Health and Biosecurity

• I am responsible for the health and welfare of my
  animals.
• I am responsible for reading and following show
  regulations, and obtaining all required health
  tests and papers from a licensed veterinarian.
• I will present required health certification upon
  request of authorities.

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Animal Health and Biosecurity

• I will not violate any current biosecurity rules
  put in place by any state or local organization.
• I will not participate in a 4-H event if my
  animal shows any evidence of infectious,
  contagious, or parasitic disease, or if I am
  aware that my animal could present a human or
  animal health hazard to other participants.

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Animal Health and BiosecuritySituation I

• You arrive at your regional production show and
  go to the show office to get your number and
  class schedule. The show officials inform you
  that you did not include a copy of the negative
  EIA status (Coggins Test) for your horse with
  your entry. Since this is one of the required
  health tests, you will not be permitted to show.
  You have traveled 2 hours to compete in this show
  and you do not have a copy of the test results.
• Should you be allowed to show?
• What would you do?

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Animal Health and BiosecuritySituation II

• Even though your health papers are in order, you
  notice your horse exhibiting signs of influenza
  (high temperature, nasal discharge, cough) as you
  are loading it in the trailer to go to a show.
• Should you take the horse to the show?
• What would you do?

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Responsibility

• Animal Care and Ownership
• Honesty and Sportsmanship
• Animal Health, Biosecurity Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Human Health Safety
• Ethics and Conduct

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Quality AssuranceNon-Food Producing Animals

• I will be aware of and abide by all event rules
  regarding drugs and medications.
• For non-food producing animals, I will ensure
  that my animals are not administered drugs other
  than those allowed by laws, regulations, or other
  event rules.

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Quality Assurance

• I understand that horses in randomly selected
  classes will be drug tested at the state show.
• I will submit my horse for drug testing at the
  state show upon request.

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Quality Assurance Situation I

• Your horse becomes very nervous in the arena
  during schooling at the district horse show. A
  fellow exhibitors parent offers acepromazine (a
  tranquilizer) to calm your horse down before the
  show begins.
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Quality Assurance Situation II

• You have an 18 year old gelding that has mild
  degenerative joint disease. He is sometimes a
  little sore and slightly lame. Your veterinarian
  advises you that it is OK to ride him, and
  prescribes phenylbutazone (bute) to use before
  the show.
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Responsibility

• Animal Care and Ownership
• Honesty and Sportsmanship
• Animal Health, Biosecurity Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Human Health Safety
• Ethics and Conduct

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Human Health and Safety

• I understand that some fitting and grooming
  products contain compounds that may be hazardous
  to human health if inhaled or adsorbed through
  the skin.
• I will be prudent and cautious in handling
  fitting products that may contain potentially
  harmful compounds.
• Examples
• Methylene Chloride
• Toluene

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Human Health and Safety

• I will use fitting and grooming products only
  according to label directions.
• I will not conceal the identity of any fitting or
  grooming product!
• I will learn more about safety with horses and
  ask questions of a knowledgeable adult if I need
  help with my horse.

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Human Health and Safety Situation I

• You are preparing your horse to compete in the
  district show. Adults in the stall next to you
  are applying aerosol grooming products to a
  horse, and the fumes drift directly into your
  stall. You can not see what product they are
  using..
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Human Health and Safety Situation II

• It is a hot, humid, but slightly windy day at the
  county roundup and flies are irritating your
  horse. You begin to spray your horse before
  entering the show ring, and the wind causes the
  fly spray to reach you, instead of your horse!
• Is this a problem?
• What should you do?

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Human Health and Safety Situation III

• You are fitting you horse for Grooming and
  Showmanship. You plan to buy hoof black and white
  spray from a vendor at the show to use on your
  horse. When you look at the labels, you notice
  the hoof black and white spray both contain
  methylene chloride. Your horses feet and legs
  are not very clean, and you really need the hoof
  black and spray.
• Is this a problem?
• What should you do?

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Human Health and Safety Situation IV

• You are a beginner rider and cant afford an
  expensive horse. Your parents have little
  experience with horses, but are willing to buy
  you a horse. A local horse breeder offers you a
  yearling that is very pretty and cheap, but has
  little training. The breeder says you can grow
  up and learn together.
• Is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Responsibility

• Animal Care and Ownership
• Honesty and Sportsmanship
• Animal Health, Biosecurity Safety
• Quality Assurance
• Human Health Safety
• Ethics and Conduct

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Ethics and Conduct

• I will remember that I am involved in animal
  projects to develop personal and interpersonal
  skills, not simply to win in the show ring.
• I will remember that I am involved in 4-H horse
  projects to learn and advance my understanding of
  safety, horsemanship, animal care and management.

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Ethics and Conduct

• My parent/guardian and I will read and discuss
  our county, state, event and/or Pennsylvania 4-H
  Code of Conduct.
• I agree to abide by these codes of conduct.
• I will read and abide by the current Pennsylvania
  4-H Horse Show Rule Book and any other 4-H event
  or activity rules.

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Ethics and Conduct

• I will bring any questionable act I observe to my
  parents.
• My family and I will take the issue to the proper
  program authority.
• My family and I will display good sportsmanship
  and abide by that authoritys decision.

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Ethics and Conduct

• I understand that parents and leaders must
  continually influence youth by positive example.
• I understand that I am absolutely responsible for
  my project animal and my behavior.
• I understand that my conduct reflects all of 4-H
  and the entire agricultural industry.
• I will HAVE FUN!

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Ethics and Conduct Situation I

• You observe a competitor in the stall next to you
  tying his horse high and short for several
  hours. This is done to tire the horse and cause
  it to carry its head lower in a western pleasure
  class.
• Why is this a problem?
• What would you do?

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Ethics and Conduct Situation II

• Your horse would not load in the trailer and you
  arrive late at the show. You rush to get ready
  for your first class, but forget to wear your
  number.Your horse works very well, but you are
  not placed. As you are leaving the arena, you say
  loudly to your mother, Mom, you forgot to put my
  number on!
• Is this a problem?
• What should you do?

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Ethics and Conduct Situation III

• You are busy working your horse for the next
  class. You are parked a long distance from the
  show ring and can not hear the announcer very
  well. You are late for the class, and complain to
  the show steward when you are not allowed to
  enter.
• Is this a problem?
• What should you do?

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Ethics and Conduct

• Remember..
• The truth of the matter is that you always know
  the right thing to do. The hard part is doing
  it.
• General H. Norman Swartzkopf

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References Resources

• Horses, Kids and Ethics video
• Jeff Goodwin
• 4-H Horse Safety Packets, I II
• Available in each county
• List of materials on web site
• 4-H Horse References List
• Includes ordering information for many resources

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References Resources

• Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Show Rule Book and
  available supplements.
• Available from county extension offices
• Also on web site
• Penn State Horse Program web site
• www.das.psu.edu
• Click on horses - then 4-H horse program, then
  references!