4-H Horse National Contests

Nebraska Representative Eligibility

1. The highest placing purple ribbon senior individual (public speaking, demonstration) or team in which all members and alternates are 14 and older will qualify as the Nebraska representatives to the designated national or multi-state event. All national events presently require team members to be 14 years or older. Entire team and alternates must be eligible according to the national guidelines in order to represent Nebraska at the national event.
2. Teams representing Nebraska at a national contest must be comprised of the same team members which competed at the state contest. No new team members may be added.
3. State senior division winners of all contests will be highly encouraged to represent Nebraska at the National 4-H Horse Classic contest in Denver, Co - usually held in January. Other contest options may be available if participation in this contest is not possible. A modest travel allowance will be provided for these winners.
4. Members of a team that have participated in the related national contest or designated recognition events may return and compete in state competition again as individuals, but not on a team. They are, however, no longer eligible for additional national competition or a designated recognition event unless allowed at a national level
5. Individual contest participants (Public Speaking, Demonstrations) that have participated in the related national contest or designated recognition events may not return and compete in state competition again.
6. If the winning individual or team will not be representing Nebraska at the National 4-H Horse Classic, the next highest ranking eligible individual or team may choose to attend. This will be at their own expense unless the winner's travel allowanced is unused. This offer will be made through the purple ribbon fifth place teams and MUST be approved by the State 4-H Office.
7. The individual(s) or team(s) representing Nebraska at a regional or national contest will also be eligible to choose additional contests they want to attend. Where two teams or individuals are involved, the highest ranking will choose first, the second highest ranking will choose second. They will represent Nebraska at their own expense with approval from the State 4-H Office.
8. Contestants in national 4-H competitive events must not have participated in official post-secondary (having completed one semester/quarter at a university, college, junior college or technical school) competitive events of a similar nature in the same subject matter area to be eligible for participation in national 4-H competitive events. Neither can he or she be a member of a post-secondary team undergoing training in preparation for an event. (For example, a contestant who has competed in an official collegiate horse judging contest(s), either on or off campus, is ineligible to compete in a similar National 4-H judging contest.) The state program leaders are responsible for determining the eligibility of participants in national 4-H competitive events from their state. (Nebraska interpretation of undergoing training in a post-secondary setting is having completed one quarter/semester and having received at least 12 course of college credit, a portion of which is course work related to the contest.)

National Contest Eligibility

National Western

• 3-4 members on team (lowest score dropped if 4)
• Must be at least 14 and not older than 18 by January 1st of current year
• May compete in one contest per year and may compete in that contest only once
• May have only 1 entry in each division each year

AQHA Youth World

• 3-4 members on team (lowest score dropped if 4)
• Must be members of AQHYA
• No high point individual overall or any member of a high point overall team in any division is eligible to compete in the following years.

AQHA Congress

• 3-4 members on team (lowest score dropped if 4)
• Junior contestants are eligible to compete in subsequent years if not high individual overall or on high overall team
• Contestants may not have participated in an official post secondary contest or be preparing for one.
• Eligible for Junior division if not passed 19th birthday on January 1st of current year

AYHC Youth Horse Leaders Symposium

• No funding will be provided from the 4-H Foundation or 4-H Horse Fund.
• All 4-H rules and chaperones, chaperone screening etc. apply.
• The current year winning team/individual has first choice on contest selection.
• Please refer to contest rules if repeat attendance is permitted.
• Only contests which do not require a state qualifying event are permitted.
• Please notify the Extension Horse Specialist if attending additional contest.

• 3-4 members on team (lowest score dropped if 4)
• Open (4-H) division consists of
  • Juniors (13 and under) and Seniors (14-19)
• No mixed age teams - can combine Junior and Senior team but the tam must compete in the Senior division
• No rules specified about returning teams

National Contests & Funding