In order to compete in this State contest, you must qualify in the top 35% or 12 teams at an Area Contest.	Christal Mulder, Co-Superintendent cmulder@excel.net Liv Sandberg, Co-Superintendent sandberg@ansci.wisc.edu

IMPORTANT

The form below must be signed by all Horse team participants and turned in to the Horse Contest Supervisor on the day of State competition. Students will not be able to compete in the contest if this form is not turned in.

Horse Competition Release & Hold Harmless Agreement (MS Word)

Horse Competition Release & Hold Harmless Agreement (Pdf)

State Contest Location
Bristol Equestrian Estates
7041 County Road N
Sun Prairie, WI 53590-9627
Click below for map:

Horse Contest Map (MS Word)

Horse Contest Map (Pdf)

Contest Purpose

1. Stimulate the study of equine science as a viable alternative to the traditional curriculum.
2. Increase understanding of form-to-function evaluation and its vital function within industry.
3. Educate future professionals of WI's growing equine industry.
4. Provide recognition and incentive for those who have demonstrated competencies in evaluation and management as a result of instruction in equine science.

Objectives

1. To instill leadership and motivate learning in the classroom while developing student skills in cooperative learning, observation, analysis and communication.
2. To develop and exercise competitive spirit in a team atmosphere.
3. To promote career choices by providing an opportunity for contestants to become acquainted with professionals within the industry.
4. To advance knowledge in selection and management of horses.
5. To develop proficiency in communicating effectively in the terminology of the industry.
6. To provide the opportunity to evaluate, make a decision and justify those decisions on conformation traits and performance of horses.
   
   

Event Rules

1. Team Make-Up: A Team consists of three or four members. A team score consists of the total of the top three individuals' scores plus the Team Problem Solving activity.
   
   
2. Eligibility: The top 40% of teams competing at Fox Valley, UW-Platteville, River Falls and Janesville's contests will be eligible.
   
   
3. Soundness/Attire/Tack
   
   Phase I, Halter Classes: All animals are to be judged as sound of wind, limb and eyesight; all stallions are considered to have both testicles descended.
   Phase I, Performance Classes: Students should judge the horses "AS SEEN" for soundness of wind and limb.
   Phase II & III, Awareness Questions & Reasons: These phases test students' ability to make keen observations and knowledge of rules that dictate the competitions within our industry. Therefore, students should make note of all unsoundness in all live evaluation classes, as well as any illegal attire or equipment. In addition, it helps to make note of details such as type of equipment or attire used.
   
   
4. Dress:   It is highly recommended that participants be in official FFA dress in the event. (Black jeans and warm shirts such as turtlenecks are permitted. Boots are highly recommended). HATS ARE NOT PERMITTED.
   
   
5. Tie Breakers: Total score in order: reasons, problem solving, halter, performance.
   
   
6. Rules used by official judge: USA Equestrian (USAE). This is different than the National FFA Contest which follows AQHA rules. Superintendents believe that AQHA rule book is not as comprehensive as USAE's, nor does it allow for unbiased education since AQHA represents a single breed vs. USAE representing many.
   
   
7. Disqualification: Any communication between contestants at any time they have been asked to NOT talk, will result in immediate disqualification of the offending member's entire team. 
   
   
8. Materials student must provide: Each participant must have a clean, free of notes OR paper clipboard, two sharpened No. 2 pencils, and a battery operated electronic calculator. Contest management will provide blank paper for notes.
   
   

Event Format

Phase I   

Selection Classes      

(200 Points)

• There will be a total of four classes (2 halter and 2 performance).  Each class will have four individuals which will require ranking.  Scantron score cards will be used. Perfect score is 50 points per class. 

Click below for an example of the scantron sheet that will be used:

Scantron Sheet #1

The two halter classes will consist of: One ‘Type' class:  Stock Type Halter, Hunt Type Halter, OR Saddleseat Type Halter; plus one Breeding Suitability Class (mares and/or stallions) so members learn influence judging has on future of breeds. Heritability of traits should be a factor in the evaluation of the Breeding Suitability class, as should ideal Breed Type.

• The two performance classes will be chosen from: Western Pleasure; Hunter Under Saddle; Saddleseat Pleasure; Equitation:  Riders, not horses, judged;   Reining; or Hunter Hack:  Shown on rail and over 2 fences.

Phase II  

(100 Points)

A.  Awareness Questions (50 points)

A set of awareness questions will be asked in lieu of additional reasons presentations.  These questions will test each member's ability to recall specific facts from each class. Members will be allowed to use their notes when answering the questions.  Thus, special emphasis is placed on each member learning how to take detailed notes on EACH class.  Only questions of an objective nature will be asked.  (Examples:  Which horse in class #1 had a bone spavin on its right hock?  Which horse in the Western Pleasure class missed its right lead?  Which two horses in class #3 were mares?  Which rider in the Hunter Equitation class missed a diagonal the first direction?  Which horse in class #6 was lame? Which horse in class #4 was shown in illegal equipment?) Answers will be given in multiple choice form.

B.  Oral Reasons (50 points)

There will be one oral reasons class (1 halter or 1 performance).   The combined process of placing horses, then defending those placing, teaches students to be totally objective, honest and fair in their approach to evaluating horses. Reasons will be judged on:  Organization, relevancy, accuracy, terminology and presentation. No Show (0);  Tried (20);  Fair (25-30);  Average (31-35);  Good (36-40);  Very Good (41-45);Excellent (46+). Perfect score is 50 points.  Maximum score of 30 points if notes are used.  Minimum score of 20 points for unstructured reasons (i.e., trying).  Reasons should be completed within two minutes. Penalty points will be taken for time over two minutes.

Phase III

Management Team Problem Solving  

(100 Points)

This is team activity that requires members to work cooperatively to complete the test.  30 minute time limit.  Approximately one-third of the team score is added to individual scores.

This activity is intended to encourage development of higher level thinking skills.  It will be a "common sense" type of activity that will allow students the opportunity to apply knowledge learned in the areas of selection, management and production/breeding. 

This phase may consist of: a) Multiple-choice exam, b) Industry Scenarios -- Nutrition, Management priority/decision-making, Reproduction, Purchasing decisions and Selection of stallion as ‘best' cross to mare with specific breeding goals in mind c) Identification -- Breed, Tack/Equipment, Feed, Colors and/or markings.

Scoring

• Team Score consists of top three individuals' scores on Phases I & II plus the team total on Phase III.
   
• Individual Scores consist of the participant's total score on Phases I & II plus approximately 1/3 of the team score on Phase III.
  
  

Farm Policies

Bristol Equestrian Estates is honored to host the WI FFA State Horse Evaluation and Management Skills Event.  They are donating their facility. So we ask that you treat their facility with the respect it deserves. We simply ask that you read these policies carefully and agree to follow them before coming to the contest.  These are basic safety rules.

Safety

This is our number one concern for everyone in the contest.  Courtesy and safety must be first and foremost in everyone's minds.

1. Do not walk into any area where a horse is being groomed, tacked up or simply standing.  This includes, but is not limited to:  stalls, cross ties, and grooming stalls.
2. No running or loud activity in the barns or around the horses.
3. No smoking anywhere on Bristol Equestrian Estates premises.  (Anyone caught smoking will be disqualified - as will entire team.)
4. Do not reach into stalls to pet any horses.
5. Do not feed the horses ANYTHING.

References

Team Problem Solving Will Be Based Upon:

• Horse Lover's Encyclopedia, published by Storey Books Communications. Available through most internet book sales sites such as Amazon, Borders, etc.
• Texas A&M Curriculum materials on horse science.  http://animalscience.tamu.edu/main/youth/pubs.html
• Equine Science Curriculum – special project, National Council for Agricultural Education. http://www.ffa.org/programs/cde/documents/cde_career_horse.pdf

  Additional Resources to Help Prepare for Phases I & II

•   Notebook for Competitive Horse Judging, by John Wolf of Illinois Blackhawk College.  Call John at 1-309-852-5671, ext. 6264.

•  Most breed associations offer exemplary guides to youth judging contests hosted by their association. Do a website search for breeds most likely to be included in a contest: Arabian, Quarter Horse, Morgan, Warmbloods, colored breeds (Paint, Pinto, Palomino…)

•  USEF (United States Equestrian Federation) Rule Book.  Rule book that guides most major breeds of horses shown in US, except Quarter Horse, Appaloosa and Paint (these breeds don't belong to USEF). All breed and discipline showing regulations are provided on line.

•  Beginner Horsemanship Manual by Nikki Cohen-Wichner.  $15 from IHC.  Send address above. Excellent basic information for Team Problem Solving.  Call  1-608-873-0572.

Videos

•  Creative Educational Videos.  See their catalog mailed to all ag departments. COOP EX: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/media

•  Videos from Blackhawk College in Illinois.  See phone # in publications list.

Many universities with equine science programs now market judging videos. Do a web search for sites (Fort Collins in CO, OK University, Cal Poly Tech in CA, TX A&M, KY, Kansas State University -- CDs on judging various types of horses can be purchased from some university sites, breed associations and multimedia production companies).