Objectives

The primary objective of the Hippology Contest is to provide in a friendly but competitive setting, an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H to demonstrate the breadth of their knowledge and understanding of equine science and management, and in particular the practical application of this knowledge and skill. It is hoped that this contest will generate new friendships and be a rewarding experience for the contestants.

Rules and Regulations for State Hippology Contest
Contestants and Eligibility for State 4-H Conference

1. Counties are invited to send teams of not more than four members. The lowest score in each phase will be dropped. Teams consisting of three members will have no alternate and all members' scores will count in determining individual and team awards. On teams consisting of four members, all will compete, however, the lowest score in each phase will be dropped.

2. Teams may be selected by any means appropriate to the county they represent and must be certified as eligible by the county or area Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office. The number of teams entered is at the county's discretion.

3. Contestants must be at least 14 years of age but not have reached their 19th birthday on January 1 of the current year.

4. Contestants must be enrolled in 4-H during the current year in the county or region they are representing.

5. Contestants may not have participated in an official, post-secondary hippology contest nor have been in training in preparation for one of these contests. Any 4-H'er who has previously participated in the National 4-H Hippology contest as a team member or alternate is not eligible for this event.

6. Reference Material: The information covered in this contest may be found in one or more of the following publications:
· The Horse -- Evans, Borton, Hintz and Van Vleck, edition 2)
· Feeding and Care of the Horse -- Lewis, Lon (edition 2)
· Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms available from www.ponyclub.org
· Colorado 4-H Horse Project Member's Manual
· Colorado 4-H Horse Rulebook
· 4-H Veterinary Science Manuals (Units 1, 2 and 3)
· Horse Industry Handbook, American Youth Horse Council, Kentucky
· Youth Leaders Manual, American Youth Horse Council, Kentucky
· Coloring Atlas of Horse Anatomy (Alpine Publishing, Loveland, CO)
· Catalogs distributed by State Line Tack, PO Box 935, Brockport, NY 14420-0935 or (800)228-9208.
· Grains, forages and feed preparations used in this contest will be representatives of feeds utilized in horse rations.


Contest officials may use other references if the information is considered to be current general
horsemen's knowledge.

The Contest

1. Examination Phase -- approximately 200 points -- This phase of the contest will include (but not limited to):
A. a written exam;
B. projected slides to be identified as to breed, color, color pattern, activity, proper appointments, and so forth;
C. anatomy which may include external, skeletal, internal organs, parts of gastrointestinal tract, male and female reproductive organs, detailed anatomy of the foot and detailed lower limbs.

2. Station Phase -- approximately 200 points -- This phase will consist of a series of stations or tables where at each, all contestants will respond to the requirements of the station. Examples of stations which may be used include (but are not limited to):

A. identification of

B. Use of pulse rate, respiration rate, temperature, dehydration, anemia, and so forth, to access
horse health.

C. Measurements such as, but not limited to, wither height, show size, girth, collar size, gullet
width, seat length of saddle, and so forth, may be required.

3. Judging Phase -- 200 points -- Contestants will be required to place at least two (2) conformation classes and at least two (2) performance classes. Every effort will be made to use the same horses as are being used in the judging contest, with placings to be simultaneous with contestants in the judging contest, with the same official placings and cuts as apply to the judging contest. In extreme emergency, pictorial, video and/or movie classes may be used, in which case they would be especially prepared for the event.

4. Team Problem -- approximately 200 points -- All teams will be presented with the same problem(s). Each team will have equal time to discuss among themselves the problem, immediately after which they will have to present an oral solution or series of suggested procedures relative to the problem. Each member of each team is encouraged to contribute to the oral presentation. Evaluation will be based on the understanding of the problem, completeness of he response, the probability of success of the solution or procedures, and the logic used in making the oral response. The official may ask questions of any or all of the team members to clarify the presentation.

Examples of team problems might include:

Team problem scores will not be included in determining the rank of individuals in the contest, but they will be added to the team scores of the other three phases to determine overall team standing.

Tie-Breaking

All ties overall, individual and team, will be broken using the following sequence:

1. written scores,
2. slide scores,
3. station scores,
4. judging scores.

Ties within any phase are to be broken using the overall score first and then the same sequence as
above. If further tie-breaking is needed, the scores at each station, in order may be used.