Nebraska State Horse Show and Rodeo Rules

NOTE: The following entry rules pertain only to the Nebraska4-H State and 4-H Rodeo Horse shows. County or local 4-H shows may or may not follow these class entry rules at their discretion.

  1. To participate in state and rodeo 4-H horse events, 4-H’ers must be 4-H members enrolled in the 4-H horse project in the county they represent.

Age Requirements

  1. All State and Rodeo Horse Show participants must be 10 years of age and be under 19 years of age by January 1st of the current calendar year. Where age groups are offered, an elementary is 10 years of age and no older than 11 years of age as of January 1 of the competition year. A junior is 12 years of age and no older than 14 years of age as of January 1 of the competition year; with the exception of Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation classes, where a junior would be ages 10-14 years old as of January 1 of the competition year for those classes. A senior is 15 years of age by January 1 of the competition year and has not reached the age of 19 years on or before January 1 of the calendar year of competition. Please refer to State Horse Contests section for age requirements for Horse Bowl, Hippology, Horse Judging, Demonstrations, Public Speaking, Art, and Photography.

Class Entry Restrictions

  1. A single horse may not be entered or ridden in a class or event by more than one person, even though the horse is jointly owned by two members of the same family. At the state horse shows, an individual and/or horse may enter some of each of the following classes meaning one Western Pleasure, one Hunter Under Saddle, one Horsemanship, one Equitation, one Ranch Pleasure, one Pole Bending, and one Barrel Racing class. An individual may enter both Western Pleasure and Ranch Pleasure, but they must ride a different horse for each class (a horse may NOT cross-enter both Western Pleasure and Ranch Pleasure. At state, an individual in addition to the previous rule may choose one Advanced Hunter Under Saddle, one Advanced Western Pleasure, and one Advanced Horsemanship, and one Equitation as long as they ride a different horse for their Level II and Level III class. (i.e one must ride a different horse in western pleasure and advanced western pleasure).
    • Exception: An exhibitor may enter 2-Year-Old and/or 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure in addition to another Pleasure class on a separate horse (Western Pleasure/Hunter Under Saddle/Saddle Seat or Advanced Western Pleasure/Hunter Under Saddle/Saddle Seat). However, the horse ridden in the 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure class may NOT be ridden in any other class. The horse ridden in the 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure class may NOT be ridden in any other Pleasure or Hunter Under Saddle class.
  2. Certain classes at Nebraska state and/or rodeo shows are classified as either Nebraska Level II (Intermediate Horseman), Nebraska Level III (Horseman) or Nebraska Level IV (Advanced Horseman). Thus, a Nebraska 4-H horse member must pass the requirements of Level II (Intermediate Horseman), Level III (Horseman) or Level IV (Advanced Horseman) as listed in 4-H426 (4h.unl.edu/horse) before entries are turned in to the Extension office for the respective classes at state and/or rodeo shows.

State 4-H Horse Show

  1. To be shown, all horses must have been properly identfied on 4-H form F 2-97-77 by June 1. this identification certificate must be presented to the state show entry clerks upon check-in for examination. A 4-H horse may be substituted between entry time and state 4-H show if the substituting horse was properly identified by June 1.
  2. All advancement level requirements must be completed by June 1 in order for exhibitors to enter the class.
  3. Classes offered at the Nebraska State 4-H Horse Show include:
    • Level I in-hand classes
      1. Halter and Showmanship
        1. A contestant may enter a total of three "in-hand" classes. (Example: two halter and one showmanship.)
    • Level II classes
      1. Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Pleasure Ponies, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Ranch Pleasure, Barrel Racing, Pole Bending
    • Level III classes
      1. 2-Year-Old Western Pleasure, 3-Year-Old Western Pleasure, Advanced Horsemanship, Advanced Hunt Seat Equitation, Advanced Hunter Under Saddle, Advanced Pleasure, English and Western Dressage, Hunter Hack, Ranch Riding, Reining, Trail, Working Ranch Horse
    • Level IV classes
      1. Western Riding Note: Classes with fewer than five entries may be combined with another appropriate class (i.e., Western Pleasure Ponies with Western Pleasure).
  • Classes offered at the Nebraska 4-H Rodeo include:
    1. Level II classes
      1. Barrel Racing, Pole Bending, Goat Tying, Break-A-Way Roping
    2. Level III classes
      1. Tie Down Roping (Calf Roping), Dally Team Roping (Heading, Heeling)
        1. An individual may enter either Break-A-Way Roping or Calf Roping but not both.
  • The Nebraska Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Exposition and 4-H Rodeo are held for Nebraska 4-H horse exhibitors. If 4-H exhibitors are physically able to exhibit their horses, they also are expected to prepare their horses for all events. Family and/or friend assistance is welcomed and expected BUT warm-up riding, etc., by persons other than the exhibitor may require immediate and appropriate action by the show superintendent and the Nebraska 4-H Horse Advisory Committee.

Biosecurity Policy

Only healthy horses are allowed to enter the facility. Entrance will require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) from an accredited veterinarian dates within the past 14 days for all new arrivals and be required to provide proof of negative coggins within the last 12 months.

All horses will be examined for signs of contagious disease and to verify that the required CVI, negative coggins, and owner/agent statement match the horses being delivered and are in compliance with the requirements.

Horses that are suspected of having contagious disease will be immediately isolated on the property. There should be an evaluation by a veterinarian to determine etiology, biosecurity risk, and containment plan. Any treatment and follow-up procedures depend on the diagnosis. Appropriate cleaning and disinfection of the vacated stall the horse resided is essential.

All horses on show grounds regardless if they are showing or not need to have a certficate of veterinary inspection (14-day health paper) for the 4-H Rodeo and State Horse Expo. Proof of negative Coggins is also required at only the State Horse Expo.

Medication Policy

Horses on prescribed treatment of phenylbutazone and/or aspirin-like products during exhibition at the State Horse Exposition and/or 4-H Rodeo must file a Medication Report in the 4-H Horse Show office before the horse can be shown. See General Show Rule 13.

During the State 4-H Horse Show, winners of randomly selected classes and additional horses from the same class may be selected for testing. Refer to General Show Rule 13.

Ribbon Guidelines

Projects exhibited at the Nebraska State and Rodeo Horse shows are awarded ribbons via a Modified Danish System. This is a group method of evaluating entries or exhibits in a particular class or contest according to the standards developed for that class or contest as stated in the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide. The entries, exhibits, or contestants are evaluated and arranged into groups for recognition of their achievement based upon how close the exhibit meets the pre-established standards. Thus, a judge is not required to give out any quota, split, ratio, number, or pattern of specific ribbons. The entries shall be awarded the placing and ribbon they merit on that particular day. For these shows to be the most educational, the judge should discuss the performance publicly.

After evaluation of each entry in the class, the entire class may be subdivided into four groups according to their own merit. All exhibits in this approach are judged in comparison with a standard as opposed to comparison with other exhibits in a class. The standard for each exhibit is established by the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide. If the performance of 4-H members is being evaluated, due consideration of their age and/or development and experience should be taken into account.

When using the Modified Danish System or Group Method of Judging, the following should be considered:

  1. The exhibit should be judged against outlined 4-H project standards and applied equally to all participants, not against other items.
  2. The exhibitor should not be judged, except in fitting, showing, and equitation, horsemanship and showmanship abilities, demonstrations, public presentations, etc.
  3. The judge should not determine what members should make, grow, etc., or enter in a competition.
  4. The judge should not assume that a member has experience because of age; or if a person makes an error, they are inexperienced.
  5. When selecting champions, the exhibit must be of the highest ribbon awarded

Awards and Descriptions

  • PURPLE — Purple denotes a superior entry. This entry exhibits superior equitation, horsemanship, or showmanship. Patterns are completed accurately, quickly, smoothly and precisely. In classes judging the horse, the entry is functionally correct, cadenced, consistent, smooth, and exhibits a high quality of movement. This entry should display a high level of professionalism.
  • BLUE — Blue denotes an excellent entry. This entry is above average and exhibits correct equitation, horsemanship, or showmanship. Patterns are completed correctly. In classes judging the horse, the entry is functionally correct and cadenced; however, entry lacks consistency, smoothness, and quality of movement of a purple ribbon performance. This is a superior entry that commits a minor fault.
  • RED — Red denotes a good or average entry. This entry exhibits average equitation, horsemanship, or showmanship. Patterns are correct; however, lack adequate style and professional presentation. In classes judging the horse, the horse is functionally correct, but lacks cadence, consistency, smoothness, and quality of movement. This is a superior entry that commits a major fault or several minor faults or an excellent entry that commits a minor fault.
  • WHITE — White denotes a very poor or below average entry. This entry commits a severe fault or two or more major faults in the performance or the execution of the pattern. Entry demonstrates a lack of handling ability and knowledge of correct body position.
  • DISQUALIFICATION — Entry is disqualified according to the rules and regulations outlined in the Nebraska 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide. Entry is to receive lowest ribbon placing (generally a white ribbon).

Protect Policy

Any complaint/protest against participants must be submitted in writing with a $25 fee. The fee is refundable if the protest committee rules in favor of the 4-H’er submitting the request.

  • Protests must be submitted to the show superintendent or state personnel.
  • Protests must be submitted in writing and presented by the 4-H’er only. Protests made by anyone other than a 4-H’er will be considered invalid.
  • The decision of the judge is final. The protest committee will not reverse the placing of a class.
  • The exhibitor or horse and the reason for the protest being filed must be designated.
  • Protests will be made with the understanding that the protester’s name will be shared with the Protest Committee.
  • In cases of protest, the exhibitor may be allowed to show, but the results of showing will be subject to change based on the outcome of the protest process. This allows for smooth operation of the show and facilitates appropriate processing.
  • Protests will not be accepted after completion of the show.

Nebraska 4-H Horse Show & Judging Guide