About the 4-H Horse & Pony Project
Learn about all things horses and ponies – training, nutrition, housing, health care, and more! Caring for a horse helps you develop responsibility, decision-making, nurturing, and communication skills. Horse ownership is not required to participate.
Questions?
Contact the Marion County 4-H office:
marion4h@purdue.edu
317-275-9305
Horse Project Resources
You can learn more about how to care for and show your horse by completing one of the project activity guides, based on your skill level:
- Horse 1: Giddy Up & Go
- Horse 2: Head, Heart & Hooves
- Horse 3: Stable Relationships
- Horse 4: Riding the Range
- Horse 5: Jumping to New Heights
- Horse Group Activity Helper's Guide
Project manuals may also be available to purchase at the Marion County Extension office, and older editions of manuals (if available) are free. Contact us to ask about availability!
Keep track of what you learn using a horse record sheet:
- Horse and Pony Record - Grades 3-5, Beginner
- Horse and Pony Record - Grades 6-8, Intermediate
- Horse and Pony Record - Grades 9-12, Senior
Other resources:
- Indiana 4-H Horse and Pony Handbook (PDF Version)
- Equine Science: Basic Knowledge for Horse People of All Ages from the American Youth Horse Council
- Equine Body Condition Scoring Poster
- Riding Your First Dressage Test
Showcasing What You’ve Learned
For the Marion County 4-H Showcase, you can enter a poster, notebook, or presentation highlighting what you have learned through our Animal Education project.
- Animal Education project exhibit guidelines for 4-H members grades 3-12
- Marion County 4-H poster exhibit guidelines and tips
State Fair Exhibit Guidelines
- All livestock are eligible to show at the State Fair regardless of county-level involvement.
- You must have a completed Horse & Pony Vaccination Form.
- You must have an Animal Lease Agreement if applicable.
- You must read and follow the Policies and Procedures for 4-H Animal Shows at the Indiana State Fair.
- Indiana 4-H animal identification information. Horses must be identified in 4-H Online by May 15 of the current year.
Cloverbuds (Grades K-2)
Exhibits
- You may enter a poster or notebook about horses through our Animal Education project.
- Cloverbuds are not eligible to show horses/ponies at the State Fair.
- Cloverbud projects are for exhibition only (not judged), so there are no score cards, and exhibits are not eligible to advance to the State Fair.
More Horse & Pony Project Resources
- See Indiana 4-H’s horse and pony project page for more resources, including links to their social media pages to stay up to date.