48th ANNUAL 4-H SPRING
BENEFIT HORSE SHOW
Sunday May 20, 2009

 

WESTERN HORSE SHOW

!!NEW THIS SHOW SEASON!!

1. The WORKING RANCH HORSE DIVISION – Due to the great response of last year, this division in the Western Ring will continue this year with a few changes. Ranch Horse Confirmation (class#203) will be a separate class. This Division will only be offered at the Spring show.

The WORKING RANCH HORSE DIVISION (classes 203, 215, 409) is sponsored by Happy Trails Farm, in Danbury. Open to adult and junior riders.

The Division consists of three classes - a riding class, a trail class and a halter class that will judge the suitability of a horse as a western horse. The horse's movement should be natural - as would be wanted for a horse working on a ranch - rather than the slow, western pleasure gaits.

Tack and your horse should look like they are ready for a day of ranch work. Therefore, these classes require that:
• Tack should be working tack. No silver show saddles. Silver is permitted on your headstall and bit but not the reins.
• A rider’s outfit should be suitable for a day of work on your horse. (Western shirt - no rhinestones or sequins, maybe a bandanna, chinks or chaps, etc.)
• Horse should have a natural (not pulled or braided) mane, no shaved ears, tail extensions, etc.
• No horses less than three years of age may be exhibited
• No hoof polish
• Trimming the bridle path is allowed, as well as the fetlocks or any excessive (long) facial hair

2. Over the past several years, the number of people riding in the Western Division, especially in the Fall Show has decreased dramatically. Fairfield County 4-H is committed to providing a quality and competitive schooling show to area riders while also raising funds for our 4-H program. Starting in 2009, we will offer the full complement of Western classes in the Spring Show. In the Fall Show, we will only offer the Color Horse Division.

Chaps are required in Horsemanship classes.
ASTM approved hard hats with a harness are required for ALL WESTERN AND ENGLISH JUNIOR RIDERS. Western riders will not be penalized for wearing English hats. The Color Horse Division is eligible for year-end awards. To be eligible, riders must enter the entire division. In the Fall Show, the Open Western Walk/Jog, Ranch Horse, and Open Western Divisions will not be offered.

Open Western Walk/Jog Division
This division is sponsored by BACK of the MOON FARM, SOUTHPORT. Open to adult and junior riders. May not enter other classes, except Model and Junior Fit/Show. Pattern-posted.

205 Western Fitting and Showing – This class sponsored by BONNIE GERMOND, MONROE
207 Walk/Jog Horsemanship – pattern
208 Walk/Jog Pleasure
403 Walk/Jog Trail –

Western Walk/Jog Champion and Reserve

Open Western Division
This Division is sponsored by NEXT HILL FARM, NEWTOWN. Open to adult and junior riders.
206 Open Western Fitting and Showing
209 Open Western Horsemanship-w/j/l-pattern
210 Open Western Pleasure-
406 Open Western Trail

Open Western Champion and Reserve

Green Horse Division
This Division is sponsored by THE HIRSHFIELD FAMILY, TRUMBULL. Open to horses/ponies in their FIRST year of showing. May not enter any other classes or divisions

101 Green Horse Pleasure- Walk/trot.
102 Green Horse Pleasure- Walk/trot/canter.
408 Green Horse Trail
103 Green Horse Command- Horses to be judged on manners (50%), way of going (25%) and Suitability (25%). May be asked to halt and
canter.

Green Horse Champion and Reserve

Color Horse Division
This division and Year-End award is sponsored by TIMBER HILL FARMS, NEWTOWN. Open to any recognized color breed (Pinto, Paint, Appaloosa, Palomino, Buckskin, etc.) 20% of score will be based on color breed characteristics. Pattern will be posted.

204 Color Model - judged on conformation
212 English/Western Horsemanship - pattern
213 English/Western Pleasure
405 Color Horse Trail

Color Horse Champion and Reserve

Ranch Horse Division
This division is sponsored by HAPPY TRAILS FARM, DANBURY. Open to adult and junior riders. No horses less than three years of age may be exhibited. Contestant (horse and rider) should have a good working outfit. Silver show saddles are discouraged. Bridles must be of a traditional western design, silver is allowed on bits and headstalls. No hoof polish. No braided or banded manes. No tail extensions. Trimming the inside of ears is discouraged. Trimming the bridle path is allowed, as well as the fetlocks or any excessive (long) facial hair. Horses under 6 years may be shown in a snaffle bit or hackamore and ridden with a direct rein, horses 6 years and over must be ridden with one hand on the reins.

203 Ranch Horse Confirmation-to be shown in halter, judged on conformation and suitability to be a working ranch horse.
215 Working Ranch Horse - shows the horse’s ability to move at a working speed with a rider. Horses will be shown at
three gaits, walk, trot & lope in both directions, stop & back up. A horse will be given credit for traveling with his head
held in a normal position, ears alert and moving at a natural speed for the gait requested.
409 Working Ranch Horse Trail - contains obstacles and is designed to show a horse’s ability and willingness to perform several tasks that
might be asked of him during the course of a normal day’s ranch work. Obstacles that could be included: gate, bridge, log drag, mailbox,
rain slicker, ground tie, rope a cone, sidepass, back, or water crossing. Participants in this class must do the Working Ranch. Horse Trail
class between 10am-11:30am on the Trail Course.

Working Ranch Horse Champion and Reserve

Miscellaneous Classes
201 Leadline – Class sponsored by RAY STEIGER, SANDY HOOK. Eng/West. 7 years and under. May not show in other classes. All riders will
receive a ribbon.
204 Open Western Model- be shown in halter, judged on conformation.
216 0pen Command
217 Versatility Challenge – open to all riders, Western or English. There are 4 components of this class: pattern, timed barrel race; crossrail
jump, and a pleasure ride in the ring.
218 Barrel Race

 

Please Support Our Sponsors
Special Thank You to Bit and Tack for the
Wonderful Division Championship Gifts.

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