L to R:  Kristina Morrow, Ruthie Ruhl, David Morrow, Jessica West (Dewitt Co), Nicholas Larkin (Tazewell Co.)

Logan County 4-H members take top honors at State Horse contest

 

[April 30, 2021]   In 4-H, learning about horses means much more than learning to ride. Young people with a passion for horses participated in recent statewide educational contests related to the equine industry. 4-H’s educational programs enhance members’ knowledge of horse health, breed characteristics, management, and feeding. That knowledge and skills were tested during the April State Horse Bowl & Hippology Contests.

Horse Bowl functions much like a scholastic bowl in a school setting, with an emphasis on equine knowledge with youth competing both individually and on teams. Horse ownership is not a pre-requisite in either the educational program or contest.

The Logan/Tazewell/Dewitt Senior Horse Bowl team took first place honors at the State contest. Members from Logan County 4-H included Ruthie Ruhl, Kristina Morrow, and David Morrow. They were joined by Nicholas Larkin (Tazewell), and Jessica West (Dewitt).

In addition, two Logan members placed in the top ten individually at the Senior Horse Bowl event. Ruthie Ruhl, member of the Topper 4-H Club in Logan County, took first place and Kristina Morrow, member of the Cloverdale 4-H club, placed tenth.

Youth also participated in the State Horse Hippology contest. In Hippology, youth field a wide range of questions, ranging from breed identification, anatomy, tack identification, and feed samples to disease management, parasite identification, and quality assessment.

They also are given a timed problem-solving challenge they must solve on the spot. Ruthie Ruth took Reserve High Individual honors in the Senior Hippology division and Kristina Morrow placed tenth in the Intermediate Hippology division.

For further information about Logan County Horse Bowl or Hippology contact the 4-H office at 217-732-8289.

About 4-H: Illinois 4-H strives to help youth learn skills for living. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois. Illinois 4-H aims to impact the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs and groups and short-term programming.

[Patty Huffer, Extension Program Coordinator]