RULES: Read pages 21-24 regarding General Animal/Exhibition Rules. The 4honline animal enrollment is due May 15 annually and FairEntry July 6, 2026. 

1. All 4-H members are required to wear a properly fitted ASTM or SEI standard F1163 (or above) certified helmet whenever mounted, or driving, at a 4-H horse and pony event, show, or activity. The 4-H member is responsible to see that this specified headgear is properly fitted with the approved harness fastened in place whenever mounted. Original tags must be present in all approved helmets. This policy applies to all county, area, and state 4-H horse and pony events, shows, and activities.
2. All horses may be checked in on Friday, July, 17th from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm or on Saturday, July 18th  from 8:00 am to 11:00 am.  All exhibits must arrive and be stalled by 11:00 am Saturday, July 18th.  Release time will be Early Friday morning, July 24th from 12:01 am to 8 am.  Final release time will be early Saturday morning from 12:01 am - 8 am.  All livestock and tack must be gone by 8 am Saturday.
3. 4-H exhibits must remain on exhibit at the Putnam County Fair until established release time, unless approved by the Superintendent and 4-H Youth Educator.  For any exhibit removed from display prior to the official release time, placings and prizes (ribbons, medals, trophies, etc.) will be forfeited.  The current year Achievement Program recognition for that project will be forfeited.  **The 4-H Youth Educator along with the Superintendent and club leader, can choose to make the decision for the exhibit to leave early, if there is an emergency. 
4. To be eligible for awards at the Putnam County Fair a 4-H’er should:

6. To be eligible to show at the County and State Fair, all horses must have the Eastern and Western Equine Encephalomyelitis, Rhino pneumonitis/EHV type 1 and 4, Equine Influenza, Tetanus, Rabies and West Nile vaccine. A negative Coggins test is not required, but is recommended.  However, horses coming from outside of Indiana must have a negative Coggins test within 12 months of the date of exhibition and be accompanied by an official certificate of veterinary inspection that indicates the results of the Coggins (Equine Infectious Anemia) test.  A completed certificate of Indiana 4-H Requirements for Exhibition form must be in-hand at county fair check-in and any 4-H function where a horse is used.
7. Any horse or pony exhibited must be shown and owned by the 4-Her or owned in partnership with the 4-Her’s father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent or legal guardian.  The only exception is that a leased horse or pony may be shown if the leasing follows the Putnam Co. policy regarding leases. 4-H animals must be in possession of the 4-H’er who owns/leases the animal and regular care plus records started no later than May 15th.  These animals must remain in the same continuous ownership through the Putnam County Fair and the Indiana State Fair, if exhibiting at the Indiana State Fair. 
8. Ownership shall be proven as follows.  Registered animal: provide to Leaders/Superintendents by the June club meeting, the registration certificate proving appropriate ownership.  Non-registered animal: provide to the Leaders/ Superintendents by the June club meeting 1.) statement signed and dated by parent/legal guardian for the 4-Her giving the date the animal was purchased or acquired AND 2.) a paid receipt in owner’s name from a veterinarian showing financial responsibility.   Registered or Non-registered animal being purchased on contract: provide to the Leaders/Superintendents by the June club meeting 1.) registration certificate proving appropriate ownership or 2.) the contract entered into by the 4-Her or parent/legal guardian and the seller AND 3.) a paid receipt in owner’s name from a veterinarian showing financial responsibility.
9. If a 4-H member leases a horse or pony as one’s project, this is the ONLY horse or pony that may be shown by the 4-H member.
10. The 4-H member and the leaser must both sign a lease agreement, which will be brought before the horse and ponyboard and signed by the superintendent or leader by the May meeting.  Animals must be in the 4-H member’s ownership/approved lease and records started prior to May 15th. This ownership/approved lease shall be continuous throughout the Putnam County Fair and until after the Indiana State Fair, if showing at the State Fair.
11. No stallions are eligible to show during the calendar year they are foaled.  They also cannot be brought to the fairgrounds for vaccination clinics or open arenas.  
12. No animal may be substituted or traded for the original animal after May 15, without permission of the horse and pony superintendent. If a substitution is allowed that animal will not be eligible to show at the State Fair.
13. Since no animal under 40” may be ridden, animals in performance classes listed as 56” and under MUST be over 40”.
14. All animals 56” and under must be measured by a Horse & Pony Club Superintendent, leader or someone designated by them  for the proper enrollment form on designated measuring dates or prior to county fair. Weanlings, yearlings and two-year-old animals must show at the height of the dam, except if height exceeds dam. Height will be measured from the ground up to the withers on a level concrete surface and each animal will be measured once. In determining the official measurement of an animal with shoes 1/4” will be deducted.
15. A member may exhibit only one animal per class. A member may exhibit no more than two horses plus a mare and foal (one unit) or three horses. An animal may be shown by only one 4-H member. One of the enrolled animals must be stalled during the county fair.
16. Classes will be provided for registered and grade animals as one.
17. Classes will be provided for all animals properly enrolled in the Horse and Pony Project.
18. There will be three calls for the class and participants must be in the make-up ring. Tack changes should be brought to the attention of the gate person and the ring steward. Once the gate is closed no one will be allowed to enter.
19. January 1st will be considered the birthday of all animals.
20. Contesting horses will be brought to the arena in a controlled manner as determined by the judge before beginning the pattern. Assistance may be given by one 4-H parent or Horse & Pony volunteer of contestants’ choice.  Any changes in this procedure will be announced before the class. Failure to enter or leave the arena in a controlled manner will result in disqualification, at the discretion of the judge. Running or galloping into the arena is an automatic disqualification, at the discretion of the judge.
21. Only 4-H Horse & Pony members may ride, or drive  4-H animals on the show grounds. Animals are not to be ridden on the fairgrounds except in the warm-up arena or outdoor arena at scheduled times. Failure to comply will result in loss of awards and dismissal from the show grounds. 4-H animals may only be ridden/driven by the 4-H member for which it is enrolled.  4-H members must be present when assisted by a parent/volunteer unless authorized by the Horse & Pony superintendent/leader.  If a situation arises where safety is a concern for the 4-H member, other exhibitors, or spectators, the 4-H member should be encouraged not to enter the class(es).
22. 4-H’er’s entered in over-fences classes may walk the course without their horse or pony prior to the over-fences classes. Hunter Hack entries will not walk the course.  4-Hers entered in over-fences classes must provide leader with written certification from a qualified instructor stating they are qualified to jump fences and or crossrails  The club will provide a jumping clinic for the members to become certified before the fair.  Members must choose one division per horse/rider combo: Crossrails OR 2’2’3” ( not both).  **The 4Her can only jump the horse they were certified on.  They cannot jump any other horse except the one that they were certified to jump on, no exceptions **

     a.) 4-Her’s who have been jumping certified for two years in a row on the same horse and rider combination will receive a permanent certification if the following are met: 1). The 4-Her completed their jumping classes at the fair the prior year on the same horse 2). The 4-Her has not fallen off during a jumping activity at the fair or clinics in the prior two years 3). No other safety concerns as observed by the leader, barn superintendent or jumping certifier.  If any of these items are not met, the 4-Her must be recertified for two years to be reconsidered for a permanent card. 

23. All animals must be shown by the 4-H member with no assistance from any other person unless approved by Horse & Pony Superintendent/ leaders.  If the 4Her has assistance in a class, they cannot be placed above a 4-Her that was unassisted in the class.

• If a 4-Her has a diagnosed, physical or mental disability that impacts their ability to compete in the standard equestrian classes, unassisted, the 4-H Youth Educator along with the Horse & Pony Superintendent and leader will work with the 4-her to provide reasonable accommodations for the 4-Her to compete. 

24. 4-H members must show their own animals.  For confirmation classes only, the owner may have their animals shown by another 4-H Horse and Pony exhibitor approved by the Horse and Pony Barn Superintendent.  This should only be allowed if the 4-Her is exhibiting another 4-H project at the same time.  Requests will only be granted for medical emergencies, conflicts with showing other animals, or desperate circumstances deemed unavoidable by the 4-H Horse & Pony Superintendent.
25. The decision of the judges will be final. Questions concerning terms and conditions are to be presented to the 4-H Horse & Pony Superintendent for consideration.
26. Read 4-H program policies in the 4-H Horse & Pony Handbook which covers member classification, animal classification, measurement procedures, approved protective attire, show guidelines, ownership and ISF show eligibility requirements and ownership requirements.  Especially note headgear and animal well-being (ie: Body Score).
27. 4-H animals purchased, sold or offered for sale after the enrollment deadline and prior to the Indiana State Fair (including animals that have gone through a “Premium Only Auction”), shall not be eligible to show in the 4-H show at the Indiana State Fair.
28. The State Fair show committee reserves the right to measure and verify the I.D. of any horse or pony entered in the State Fair Horse and Pony Show. Only one (1) measurement will be made, and that measurement will supersede previous measurements.
29. Winners of the Versatility Classes are not eligible to compete in that class in future years.  The winner of Junior Versatility may show in that year’s Senior Versatility class and are only eligible to show in Senior Versatility in future years. 
30. Each animal must be entered in 4-H online.  Animals only need to be entered one time for each family.  Each 4-her must have one animal associated with them, but animals may be changed between family members.  No one animal may be shown by multiple exhibitors.
31. October will constitute a new year with meetings being held in October, January, February, March, April, May, June and July for 4-H members.  October will also constitute a new year for board members.  A special board meeting will also be scheduled in August (adults only, fair debrief) and November (new year planning).
32. The Superior Horse Award may NOT be won by the same 4-H member/horse combination.  Once won by child/horse combo, that child/horse combo is no longer eligible.
33. Supreme Showmanship. Representation for the Supreme Showman will be chosen from the Horse and Pony barn, by competing in and winning the Supreme Showmanship class.  This class is open for all Intermediate and Senior 4-Her’s.  4-Her’s will be required to complete a pattern as well as answer at least one question from the judge before the winner is chosen.  The judge's decision is final and that 4-Her will go on to compete against other barns for Supreme Showman. 
34. Champion Showman. The winner of each showmanship class is automatically entered in this class.  A Champion and Reserve Champion showman will be chosen.  This class will immediately follow the last of the age group showmanship classes.
35. High Point Awards. High Point Awards will be given for Contesting and Performance based on 4-Her’s age and animal’s height.  Walk Trot will also receive a high point award.  (7 total) High Point Forms are due at the last 4-H club meeting before fair.  Each horse may be signed up for only one high point division. 
36. Each 4-Her is guaranteed one stall during fair week.  An enrolled horse must be stalled by the designated haul in time deadline, and an enrolled horse must remain at the fair and may not be released from the fair until the designated release time. 
37. Inhumane treatment of animals, including a body Condition Score of less than 3.0, impolite behavior, poor sportsmanship, or disruptive actions (as deemed by the Educator, Leaders and/or Barn Superintendent) may result in the disqualification and/or removal from the grounds. 

 

THE LEVEL OF THE 4-H MEMBER FOR SHOW PURPOSES SHALL BE:

       JUNIORS - Grades 3 through 5

       INTERMEDIATES- Grades 6 through 8

       SENIORS - Grades 9 and Up

       As of January 1st of the current year.