Horse Project
Project Description 
Horse projects provide youth with an opportunity to handle, care for, ride or drive horses. There are 10 horse projects. Members must have completed levels 1-3 in Horsemanship to participate in the Advanced Horse Projects. Members are eligible to participate in Horse projects according to ability and skill level. SKILL LEVELS DO NOT NECESSARILY CORRESPOND TO YEARS. It is possible to complete several levels in a year; or youth may take several years to complete one level. Assessment sheets are provided for leaders to determine when a member completes the levels.
Project Requirements
Project Books Required? Yes
Required for your horse project. Click the links below to order your books online.
*** Please note, if you do not attend at least one workshop in your project area during the 4-H year, you will be required to complete activities in your project book and turn it in with your record book. The number of activities required to complete a 4-H year in each project book can be found here.
***We are requiring two workshops and two clinics for members to compete in Fair.
What needs to be accomplished to move on to other levels?
- Members receiving a blue or red ribbons at fair in english or western/ranch horsemanship level class must go through an assessment process in order to move up in levels to verify skills as needed.
- Members must level up after three years regardless of ribbon placement at fair.
Click HERE for descriptions of projects offered in the Lewis & Clark County(PDF, 75KB)
Project age limit? 8 and up
Colt to Maturity or Green horse must be 12 years old & completed levels 1, 2, and 3.
Dates for the 2024-2025 4-H Year
- There will be monthly meetings every first sunday of the month at 4:00 p.m in the Bill Hamilton Building.
- Last day to re-enroll and pay for 4-H o is December 31st. After this date there is a late fee
- All assessments completed by April 25th
- Horse enrollment cards due May 23rd
- Project book/record books due May 9th
- June Practice Horse Show
- July County Horse Show
Project Superintendent Information
Horse Superintendents: Beckie Graham
Contact: 406-459-8828 bbghorselover(at)gmail.com
How will you be contacted? Email, Text, or Facebook
Junior Superintendent: Alexis Baumgart, Addy FitzSimmons and Emily Gannott
Lewis & Clark County 4-H Horse Project Facebook Page
What should new members know?
- $75.00 Horse project fee
- Additional $25 project fee for the Driving project
- Additional $25 project fee for the Ranch Horse project
- All assessments completed by April 25th
- Project Book/Record Books due May 9th
- Horse ID Forms are due by May 23rd
- Horse Vaccines are due by May 23rd
- Horse Vet Checks are required for state shows
- Helmets are required for all riding clinics
- Horse equipment - saddle, bridle, halter
- Standard Western and/or English tack and equipment
- Standard Western and/or English attire for fair and state
- Potential arena fees for optional open rides
- Record books required (no cost)
- Rope for Ranch Horse
- There may be additional costs for clinics
- Two workshops and two clinics must be attended for members to compete in fair.
Information & Forms
State Horse Project Information - Has forms, project books, patterns, and events.
2019-2020 Horse Policy Manual(PDF, 477KB)
Horse Bit Guidelines
Horse ID Form(PDF, 670KB) - due May 23
Horse Patterns
Colt to Maturity/Green Horse Patterns
English Horsemanship Patterns
Hunter Hack Patterns
Showmanship Patterns
Western Horsemanship Patterns
State Entry Information
Montana 4-H State Horse Show Information and Rules
Montana 4-H Working Ranch Horse Finals Information and Rule
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI)
Awards
Junior Horse Award(PDF, 97KB)
Senior Horse Award(PDF, 99KB)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jeff Bader, Director of Extension, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.