It was a busy, jam-packed day on May 15 for the 44 horse-savvy 4-H'ers who took part in two competitions: horse judging and hippology.
The day began at the Blackrose Morgan Farm in Colchester where they judged Morgan geldings in hand, stock horse in hand, English pleasure and Western pleasure. The host farm provided half the horses for the classes, and Erin Longworth Performance Horses of Milton supplied the other half.
At the conclusion of judging, the participants moved to Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction for hippology, which consisted of a general knowledge written test, slides, and identification stations. The scores of all three phases were combined for an overall score and rankings.
Up to 10 rosette ribbons were handed out in each age group in each contest.
Local 4-H'ers who won ribbons in the judging contest were as follows: 10- and 11-year-olds: Elyse Thurber, Bellows Falls (sixth); 12- and 13-year-olds: Sara DiStasio, Londonderry (fifth) and Riley Mitchell, Northfield, Mass. (seventh); seniors (14 and older): Ella Dubin, Northfield, Mass. (first); Madison Markwell, Vernon (third); Britney Zager, Gill, Mass. (fourth); Jenna Dolloph, Grafton (fifth); and Jasmine Ackley, Vernon (ninth).
Local winners in the hippology contest were: 10- and 11-year-olds: Elyse Thurber, Bellows Falls (fifth).; 12- and 13-year-olds: Sara DiStasio, Londonderry (seventh); and seniors (14 and older): Ella Dubin, Northfield, Mass. (fourth); Maddie DiStasio (fifth) and Megan Carson (sixth), both from Londonderry; Jenna Dolloph, Grafton (seventh); and Britney Zager, Gill, Mass.(ninth).
The contests were hosted by Chittenden County 4-H in collaboration with University of Vermont Extension 4-H. For information about the Vermont 4-H horse program and events, contact Wendy Sorrell at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.