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News
NEW FOR 2020!!!
Qualification Changes for the Kentucky 4-H State Horse Show
In an attempt to make participation in the State 4-H Horse Show more accessible to people as well as to help reduce the financial burden at the District Level we have decided to change the system of qualification for the State 4-H Horse Show.
We will no longer require participation at a district horse show as a means to compete at the State Horse Show. Instead 4-H’ers will still be required to gain 6 hours of education in the specific program area that is approved by the Certified Volunteer Leader, as well as attend a recognized horse show or a 4-H camp or clinic, with the horse he or she intends to show at the 4-H State Horse Show.
Recognized horse shows include Breed and Discipline Sanctioned Shows, as well as 4-H County Shows, 4-H Fun Shows, Open Shows and Schooling shows. For qualification purposes, the 4-H’er will be required to have a form signed by the Show Secretary/Superintendent/Show Manager verifying that the named 4-H’er participated with same horse that they intend to compete with at the State 4-H Horse Show. The 4-H’er must attend the Show, Camp, or Clinic during the period of Jan. 1st to June 15th.
If the 4-H’er is unable, for whatever reason, to attend one of the aforementioned shows, the participant may attend a 4-H Camp or Clinic with the horse they intend to show at the State 4-H Horse Show between the dates of Jan 1st to June 15th. In this event, an organizer of the Camp or Clinic must sign the form verifying participation with the name of the horse.
4-H’ers will still need to submit an online Eligibility Form along with photographs of their project horse. These forms will be due on April 15th, along with the completion of the 6 hours of education.
This move is in effort to give credit to those individuals that show on a regular basis, as well as to provide opportunities for those who are new to horse showing. This system will be used for one year trial basis, and reevaluated after the 2020 State Horse Show.
Vaccination Rule for State Show
In an effort to protect all horses, due to the recent outbreaks of the neurologic form of herpesvirus, the Kentucky 4-H Horse Program has mandated that horses showing at district and state 4-H horse shows must be vaccinated against flu and rhino within 6 months of the show date. Proof of vaccination will need to be provided along with Coggins and Health Papers. We will follow USEF rules on the vaccination and verification process, which can be found here _ USEF Vaccination Rules_
This decision to require vaccination was voted on at the February 27th Spring Horse Advisory Council meeting by the district delegates. Although none of the vaccines available currently claim to prevent against the neurologic form of the disease, studies have shown that some vaccines decrease viral shedding and produce higher antibody titers. The vaccines with the greatest ability to limit nasal shedding and viremia of the neuro virulent strain include the vaccines licensed for control of abortion (Pneumabort®-K & Prodigy®), and the MLV vaccine (Rhinomune® & Calvenza®).