Levels of learning
Get started with 4-H'ers in your area
- Find a club near you or contact your local 4-H office for more info.
Get started on your own
- National 4-H horse activity books (for sale)
- Horse activity sheets from Utah State 4-H (free download)
- Horse and pony hot sheets from Iowa 4-H (free download)
- Horse Science
- Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms
- The Horse
- Horses and Horsemanship
- All about horse breeds (Oklahoma Extension)
- Ohio 4-H Animal Science - Horse
- Member Achievement Book
Horse Library
We have a lending library of more than 400 horse-related books and video recordings. It was established and built through funding from the Minnesota Horse Council, memorials and donations.
How to order
- Complete the library request form.
- Email Carrie Frantzick before you order to find out if a book or video is available. Or, name at least one alternate book.
- Mail your check to Carrie Frantzick, Minnesota 4-H horse librarian,
26046 Limpopo St NE
Stacy, MN 55079
Costs
- Shipping: $3 (Rush orders: additional $2)
- Deposit: $60 per book, video or game
- Late fees: 60 cents per day per book, video or game
Make deposit checks out to the Minnesota 4-H Horse Association library. You do not need to be a member of 4-H to order. We will ship the order after we receive your deposit. You can leave the deposit with us for future orders or request it back after you return the book.
Contact
Carrie Frantzick, 651-249-7765, frantzickfarm@hotmail.com
Interlibrary loan
Search for a horse book in a library near you by using WorldCat.
With a current Minnesota library card, you can use interlibrary loan to get books from farther away using MNLINK, Find this search engine on your local library's website or MNLINK Gateway: Basic Search.
Search hints: an ISBN (international standard book number) search works best. Ask for help at your local library.
Horse associations and groups
- Minnesota Horse Council
- Minnesota Horse Expo
- Minnesota Trail Riders Association
- Arabian Horse Association
- Morgan Horse Association
- National Extension website and resources
- US Equestrian Foundation
- American Quarter Horse Association(AQHA)
- American Saddlebred Horse Association(ASHA)
- Appaloosa Horse Club (ApHC)
- Pinto Horse Association (PtHA)
Already enrolled in the horse project?
What you'll do
- Oversee the program for the benefit of all members
- Serve on a sub-committee, such as awards, marketing or judges training.
Join the 4-H Horse Project Development Committee (PDC)
This is a leadership opportunity for 4-H members in grade 9 and up. Represent your fellow 4-H'ers on the PDC, serving with adult volunteers.
How to apply
See complete details and apply on our volunteer site.
To volunteer with 4-H in your area, contact your local 4-H office.
4-H shows, fairs and exhibits
You may choose to compete in the horse project at your county fair. If you do well, you may win a trip to the Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show.
Find 4-H horse shows near you! Check with your local 4-H office.
You can exhibit
Your horse
See the Horse Program Rule Book for full details. Contact your local 4-H office for sign-up deadlines and more info about how to get started showing in these categories:
- English Equitation
- English Pleasure
- Western Horsemanship
- Western Pleasure
- Pole Weaving
- Jumping Figure 8
- Key Race
- Barrel Race
- Trail Class
- Horse Showmanship
- Miniature Horses
Challenged riders may compete in many categories. See the Horse Program Rule Book for details.
Your knowledge
See the Horseless Booklet for full details of how to compete in these categories:
- Horseless horse
- Horse-related
Interview
Answer questions about your horse knowledge.
Display
Create a display, demonstration, poster or video about:
- Breeding
- Health and diseases
- Production (care and feeding)
- Other horse topics, such as biosecurity
County fairs
You can take a horse project to the county fair. Check with your local 4-H office to sign up.
Minnesota 4-H State Horse Show
If you do well at the county fair, you might qualify for the state horse show. See the Horse Program Rule Book for details and what a judge is looking for.
Record keeping and evaluation
You can exhibit a horse-related project at the Minnesota State Fair.
- Veterinary science. Find out what a judge is looking for.
- Exploring animals. Find out what a judge is looking for.
4-H youth record keeping
Reflect on your project and what you've learned. You may use your records in your fair exhibit.
Find a judge for your 4-H horse event
Reviewed in 2020