Horse Judging
Florida State Fair Contest: February 8, 2025, Tampa - registration open until January 31
State 4-H Contest: April 5, 2025, Gainesville - registration open until March 28
In Horse Judging, youth learn to evaluate a horse's form as it relates to function and compare it to the ideal as well as to other horses. The added benefit is that it allows youth to sharpen their decision-making skills and their ability to defend those decisions.
The State 4-H & FFA Horse Judging Contest is held in Gainesville in the covered arena at UF's Horse Teaching Unit. The contest at the State Fair is the preliminary contest for FFA (pg. 2) with a small 4-H division. To help prepare for the State contest, a Reasons Workshop is offered in March for 4-H and FFA where youth can get individual instruction and practice on reasons.
First and second-place teams in the State 4-H Horse Judging will earn the right to compete at the Regional competition in Perry, GA. The top-4 scoring individuals at the State Contest will be combined to create one team that will represent Florida at Eastern Nationals in Louisville, KY in November.