Promotional flyer (2023) in PDF and Image (PNG)

June 11-16, 2023 - Western week
June 18-23, 2023 - English week

Applications for participation are on Eventbrite.

Join us in Gainesville at the UF Horse Teaching Unit for one of two weeks of immersive education and fun with your horse!  The weeks are focused on either Western or English riding.

Read on to the next section for a synopsis!

• School Overview
  • Western Week
    Instruction places emphasis on horsemanship and equitation during morning and evening riding sessions. Ground work: safe handling, grooming, tack fit, behavior and psychology, roping, suppling exercises. Mounted work: suppling exercises, developing core strength, aids, rail work, posting, trail obstacles, patterns, and cattle work.
  • English Week
    Instruction places emphasis on horsemanship and equitation during morning and evening riding sessions. Ground work: safe handling, grooming, tack selection and fit, behavior and psychology, suppling exercises. Mounted work: suppling exercises, developing core strength, aids, rail work, posting, 2 point, dressage, patterns, cavalletti/fences, and trail riding.

  4-H Horsemanship School is open to 4H members who are between the ages of 11-18 years old as of the beginning of the 4-H year.  Registration fees (2023) are $575 for youth and $350 for adult chaperones. Fees cover five nights lodging in UF dorms, 14 meals, snacks (during riding sessions, and afternoon & evening recreation), over 25 hours of instruction (mounted & classroom), transportation to and from campus, t-shirt, stall/bedding, and 4-H insurance.

  Youth in any week are required to bring a quiet, well-mannered horse that is safe for the rider and will get along well with other horses (does not have to be project horse). Horses must tie. The Horse Health form contains advice on preparing your horse in addition to just documenting its health care. Please look through it now when you register and not right before the school.

  Please read the Information Packet and Schedule for complete details about the School.

• Chaperones

  Adults are needed to accompany youth with an ideal ratio of 1:5 chaperones to 4-Hers. Chaperones must be willing to supervise youth from other counties if needed. Members from counties that provide a chaperone will have first priority for school slots. Members from counties that do not have a chaperone traveling will be asked to assist with the chaperone fees.

  Adult chaperones must be 4-H/UF screened and approved volunteers (have completed Youth Protection Training and fingerprint background check). If they are not already approved volunteers, they need to work with their 4-H Agent to get the process completed ASAP.