Horse Judging

Judging Horses helps teach the life skill of Decision Making.  All our lives we have to make decisions based on information we gather/learn.  In judging horses, youth first learn the criteria for a class and then apply that criteria in placing the class.  An official judge then explains their official placing and their reasons thereby creating a learning experience for the 4-H members. 

There are four county level judgings each year. Each Judging has four classes with four participants in each class. The official judge gives a short explanation of how the class is to be judged; the class is presented and Members make their own decisions on placing and mark their judging cards accordingly.  Following the class, the official judge gives the official placing and the reasons for the placing. Intermediate and Senior Members (Age 11 and up) write their own reasons (written reasons) for a designated class.

Classes may be Halter (conformation), Riding (i.e. Equitation, Pleasure, Trail) or Driving (i.e Reinsmanship, Pleasure, Obstacle)

Scores of each Age Group are posted online at the Snohomish County 4-H Youth Horse Program website. Scores of the highest two Judgings for each Member are totaled in order to arrive at County placings. The Top 10 Seniors, Top 10 Intermediates and Top 10 Juniors receive County Awards. The Seniors and Intermediates represent Snohomish County at the State 4-H Horse Judging Contest in Puyallup in September. The top four scoring Senior Individuals at the State Contest compete at the National 4-H Horse Judging Contest in Kentucky.

Attendance at one Horse Judging is required in order to exhibit at the County Fair