4-H, the largest positive youth development program globally, is delivered by Cooperative Extension through more than 100 public universities. For over 100 years, 4-H has provided experiences where kids develop life skills by learning through doing. The University of Florida Lake County 4-H program serves 7,000 youth annually. The horse project is just one of many opportunities for youth to gain valuable life skills.
Winston Churchill once said, “There is just something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” The horse project teaches life skills such as responsibility, community service, goal setting, and healthy lifestyle choices. This year, 32 youth and 41 horses were actively involved in the Lake County 4-H horse project.
Email Dallas Meringolo at hendersond@ufl.edu for more information. You can also visit the Florida 4-H Horse website Horse – UF/IFAS Animal Sciences – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences – UF/IFAS (ufl.edu).
Unmounted Competitive Events
Do you love horses, but you do not own one? Lake County 4-H has unmounted competitive teams as well. Lake County had a Hippology Team led by Stephanie Klein, the Lake County 4-H Program Assistant. In Hippology, participants learn all aspects of equine biology, health, nutrition, genetics, reproduction, and care. They then test their knowledge in a series of tests, practical exams, and demonstrations, with the most knowledgeable team taking top honors.
2024 Lake County 4-H Horse Awards
A large part of the 4-H youth development program is recognition. Here are the placings and awards that Lake County 4-H members received in the Florida 4-H Hippology and Horse Judging Competition and the 2024 Florida 4-H Horse Show.
Hippology Team (Mikayla C, Peyton R, Drew P, & Taylor H):
Florida 4-H 2nd Place Hippology Team
2nd Place Written Test
2nd Place Senior Stations
2nd Place Team Problems
3rd Place Senior Judging
Horse Judging Team (Mikayla C, Peyton R, Drew P, & Taylor H):
2nd Place Halter Judging Team
Individual Awards:
Drew P – 4th Senior Stations
Mikayla C – 4th Senior Judging, 5th Senior Stations
Peyton R – 2nd Senior Individual, 2nd Senior Stations, 2nd Senior Written Test, 3rd Senior Judging, and she qualified to compete with the Florida 4-H Hippology Team at the National Roundup in Louisville, KY.
Huge congratulations to all the youth that participated in the Florida 4-H State horse show! Thank you for being fantastic representatives of Lake County 4-H!
County Placing:
Emerald Grand Champion Award for Large County Themed Stall Decorations
Volunteer Awards:
Orin Owen: 2024 Elaine Keir Memorial Outstanding Volunteer Leadership Award
Individual placings:
Mikayla C – Western Dressage High Point & 3rd Overall Senior
Taylor H – 5th Overall Senior
Charla B – Timed Events Reserve High Point3rd Overall Junior
7th Hali S Stock Type Mares & Geldings, 14.2 h & under
7th Hali S Western Pleasure Pony, 14.2 h & under
3rd Taylor H Stock Type Mares, over 14.2 h on Spice
1st Taylor H Sr. Western Pleasure, over 14.2 h on Spice
4th Taylor H Sr. Western Showmanship on Spice
3rd Taylor H Sr. Western Horsemanship on Spice
3rd Taylor H Sr. Ranch Trail on Hickory
3rd Taylor H Ranch Roping on Hickory
2nd Taylor H Sr. Western Trail on Hickory
7th Taylor H Working Cow Horse on Hickory
9th Taylor H Sr. Ranch Riding on Hickory
10th Leah T Jr. Western Showmanship
5th Leah T Stock Type Mares, over 14.2 h
1st Leah T Speed Ground Handling
5th Mason S Stock Type Geldings, over 14.2 h
1st Mason S Jr. Western Pleasure, over 14.2 h
2rd Mason S Jr. Western Trail
10th Miranda G Jr. Western
3rd Miranda G Jr. Western Trail
7th Miranda G Jr. Ranch Riding
1st Mikayla C Sr. Western Dressage, Basic, TOC
2nd Mikayla C Hunter Type Geldings, over 14.2
7th Mikayla C Sr. Hunter Under Saddle, over 14.2 h
3rd Mikayla C Sr. Training Level Dressage, TOC
2nd Mikayla C First Level Dressage, TOC
10th Drew P Sr. Ranch Trail
10th Drew P Ranch Roping
3rd Charla B Jr. Keyhole
3rd Charla B Jr. Stake Race
2nd Charla B Jr. Pole Bending
4th Charla B Jr. Barrels
9th Violet J Jr. Barrels
8th Savannah S Sr. Barrels
2nd Savannah S Sr. Keyhole
8th Savannah S Sr. Stake Race
8th Savannah S Sr. Pole Bending
4th Sofia C Hunter Type Mares & Geldings, 14.2 h & under
1st Sofía C Pony Hunter Under Saddle, 14.2 h & under
3rd Sofia C Jr. Hunt Seat Equitation
9th Sofia C Low Working Hunter
6th Briella B Hunter Type Mares & Geldings, 14.2 h & under
6th Briella B Pony Hunter Under Saddle, 14.2 h & under
7th Brynlee H Hunter Type Mares & Geldings, 14.2 h & under
8th Alayna H Hunter Type Mares & Geldings, 14.2 h & under
10th Alayna H Hunter Under Saddle, 14.2 h & under
10th Alayna H Pony Hunter Under Saddle, 14.2 h & under
4th Alayna H Jr. Hunt Seat Equitation
9th Alayna H Jr. Training Level Dressage, TOC
10th Stella S Hunter Type Mares & Geldings, 14.2 h & under
10th Stella S Jr. Hunter Showmanship
6th Macyn R Hunter Type Geldings, over 14.2 h
3rd Macyn R Sr. Hunt Seat Equitation
3rd Macyn R Low Working Hunter
2nd Fallon B Pony Hunter Under Saddle, 14.2 h & under
2nd Fallon B Jr. Hunt Seat Equitation
3rd Fallon B Jr. Training Level Dressage, TOC
7th Hannah B Jr. Hunter Under Saddle, over 14.2 h
7th Hannah B Jr. Hunt Seat Equitation
Lake County 4-H youth receiving awards at the Florida 4-H Horse Show.
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