4H Horsemanship Skills

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4-H Horsemanship Skills

• Pat Comerford, Extension Horse Specialist
• Donna Zang, Butler County Extension Director
• Patty Kelly, Westmoreland Co. Volunteer

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What is the Horsemanship Skills Program?

• Planned progression of horse handling and riding
  skills
• 4-H member evaluated and completes one level
  before advancing to next level
• Emphasis on safety and education, not competition!

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Horsemanship Skills Program

• Optional!
• EVERY youth can participate Youth
  may share horses

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Objectives of Program

• Develop horsemanship safety skills
• Recognize individual member accomplishment
  achievement of goals
• Educate youth, volunteers, parents
• Promote cooperation and teamwork
• Develop life skills in youth

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Why are we doing this?

• Key component of 4-H Horse Safety Program
• Initiated in 1996
• Meetings, input from volunteers, agents and
  4-H members

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Skill Level 1

• ALL members MUST start at Level 1
• Emphasizes basic, correct and safe handling and
  riding
• Beginners
• Walk-trot only
• Examples
• Catch, halter, lead, tie, bridle, saddle
• Stop, start, turn, circle
• Emergency dismount

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Skill Level 2

• Builds a solid foundation of handling and
  horsemanship skills
• Introduces use of proper aids
• Introduces canter or lope and proper aids
• Examples
• Showmanship skills, bathing, clipping, etc.
• Control of horse at canter or lope
• Transitions - upward and downward
• Begin lateral movements leg yield, sidepass

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Skill Level 3

• Uses foundation skills to learn intermediate
  horsemanship skills
• Rider expected to be balanced while using aids
  and maintaining an even pace
• More advanced control and confidence
• Examples
• Lunge horse
• Turns on forehand, hindquarter
• More lateral movements shoulder in, etc.
• Counter canter

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Level 4

• Advanced
• Balanced horse and rider
• Exhibit calmness, rhythm, suppleness,
  coordination
• Examples
• Understands trailer safety
• Lengthening and shortening of gaits
• 360 degree turns hindquarter, forequarter
• Flying lead changes

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Getting Started...

• OPTIONAL!
• Agent volunteers decide whether or not to
  implement
• County-wide or club level?
• Could be used by
• Individual members
• Local clubs
• County programs

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Next Steps

• Identify volunteer committee to plan and
  implement program
• Good working relationship with agent!!
• Identify at least 3 volunteers for testing
• Identify one volunteer to coordinate records

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Examiner Training

• Level 3 - 4 Examiner Trainers will train and
  certify Level 1-2 examiners
• Process similar to 4-H horse measurer
  certification

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Examiner Training

• Level 1 - 2 Examiners
• Screened 4-H volunteer
• MUST have agent approval completed examiner
  form
• Attend certification training
• Demonstrate ability to evaluate skills

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Level 1 - 2 Testing

• County level
• 3 volunteers required for every test
• Mix volunteers from different clubs
• County sets testing dates

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Examiner Training

• Level 3 - 4 Examiners
• Screened 4-H volunteer
• MUST have approval of PA 4-H Horse Program
  Development Committee
• Attend certification training
• Demonstrate ability to evaluate skills

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Level 3 - 4 Testing

• District, regional, or state level
• 3 volunteers required for every test
• Mix volunteers from different counties
• District or Development Committee sets testing
  dates

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Level 3-4 Testing

• Penn State or another location to be determined
• District or state event?
• Will set testing as needed

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County Implementation

• Volunteers and agent meet to develop county plans
• Need consensus on what is successful skill
  completion
• Set testing date(s) for Level 1
• Allow at least 6 - 8 weeks from introduction to
  first testing
• May cooperate with other counties

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Introduce Members

• Member Packet
• Information sheet
• Member Skill Sheets
• Reference list
• Attend meetings, educational activities

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How do 4-H members learn skills?

• Practice skills at home
• Local club meetings
• Clinics, practice sessions, mock testing
• Member, adult demonstrations
• Use reference materials

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Members can progress beyond these skills to more
specialized areas

• Jumping
• Reining
• Contest classes
• Driving
• Competitive trail riding

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Tips for success.

• Progression through these skills will vary for
  every horse and rider
• Set no time limits
• Keep evaluations friendly informative
• No one fails!
• Just need to practice and retest

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Awards

• Important to recognize member accomplishments!
• Suggested awards list
• Create your own!
• Level 3-4 in state show catalog
• State awards?

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In Summary.

• Program focuses on member development, not
  competition!
• Emphasizes safety
• Enhances existing projects
• Ties into existing skills and project requirements

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Check web site for new information!

• Penn State Horse Program web site
• www.das.psu.edu
• Click on horses - then 4-H Horse Program!

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