August 2-3,
2003
Frying Pan Park,
Herndon
Open to the
Public 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The most visible and widely attended
4-H event in Fairfax County is the 4-H Fair. Held annually at Frying Pan Park
in Herndon the first weekend in August, the Fair is open to the public from 9
a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All 4-H departments are present,
including the 4-H horse program.
The barns where the exhibitors'
horses are stabled during the Fair are open for viewing, as the 4-H'ers show
their project animals and display their stable management skills.
The horse classes are run in the
Indoor Arena (located in the Activity Center), the Outdoor Arena (located next
to the 4-H Building), and the Upper Ring (located near the Activity Center
along the dirt road through the trees).
The disciplines currently offered
at the 4-H Fair are Hunt Seat (English) and Stockseat (Western). Junior riders
are 9 through 13 years old and senior riders are 14 through 19 years old.
Helmets that ASTM approved for equine
activities are required for all riders while mounted.
Visitor
Guidelines
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Visitors should never feed a
horse without the specific permission of the exhibitor.
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Be aware that horses with a
tendency to kick will have a red ribbon in their tail, those with a tendency to
bite a blue ribbon in the tail.
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Please be aware that every
horse has the potential to bite or kick.
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Please approach horses that
are out of their stalls only with the exhibitor’s permission.
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Respect the advise of the
attendant 4-H members, volunteers, and staff, as always safety is our paramount
concern.
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If at any time you have
questions regarding the show, horses, or 4-H please ask. The 4-H members and
volunteers are always eager to share their knowledge of these beautiful
animals.
Following is a brief description
of what the public can expect to see in the various classes and divisions of
each riding style. Please check the current entrants packet for current rules
and class listing.
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Showmanship
Entrants for these classes are
judged on how well the horse and exhibitor are prepared for showing. Judged on
cleanliness, correct completion of the required pattern, the correctness and
fit of the appointments. Horses are shown in hand without saddles, Hunter
entrants with the horse in bridle, Western entrants with horses in leather
halter with leather lead with chain.
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Trail
Trail classes are available for
both disciplines and all ability levels. Trail classes consist of a series of
obstacles that the entrants must negotiate calmly in a reasonable amount of
time. Classes offered are Beginner Hunter, Junior Hunter, and Senior Hunter
Trail, Beginner Western, Junior Western, and Senior Western Trail, and Trail in
Hand. The Trail in Hand class is open to entrants of any discipline, and is
negotiated with the exhibitor unmounted. This class is recommended for horses
and riders that are inexperienced in trail competition. The Junior or Senior
Western Trail is considered part of the respective Western Performance Section,
Trail in Hand may not substitute.
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Bareback Classes
A “games” class, open to Junior
and Senior Riders only. As the name implies, the horses in this class are
without saddles. Entrants should consult the current rule packet regarding
bareback pads. Entrants are required to walk, trot/jog, canter/lope, and halt.
The judge may request other tests at their discretion. Unsafe riders may be
excused from the ring, or asked to stand in the center of the ring until completion
of the class, this is at the judge’s discretion and all decisions are final.
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Command Break and Out
A “games” class, open to Junior
and Senior Riders only. “Simon Says” on horseback, commands must be obeyed
within three strides of the call. The last rider to pick up the call is “out”
and halts in the center of the ring. Entrants are required to walk, trot/jog,
canter/lope, and halt. The judge may request other tests at their discretion.
Unsafe riders may be excused from the ring, or asked to stand in the center of
the ring until completion of the class, this is at the judge’s discretion and
all decisions are final.
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Costume Class
A fun class unique to the County
Fair, the horses are dressed in costume and judged under one of the following
categories: Prettiest, Most Original, and Funniest. The club costume class
requires at least two horses and three club members from the entering club and
allows the group to costume according to a theme. Club categories include
Prettiest, Most Original, and Funniest. Costumes should be chosen wisely with
safety kept in mind, costumes should never interfere with the entrant’s ability
to control the horse. Entrants may either lead the horses in hand, or ride
depending on the costume concept. Horses should be introduced to their costumes
prior to the Fair, so that they may become used to them and any last minute
adjustments can be made.
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Barn Management
Each exhibitor is judged
throughout the fair on the overall cleanliness and appearance of the horse’s
stall area and on the maintenance performed on both horse and tack. In
addition, there is a barn management award given to the 4-H club that keeps its
barn in the best overall condition. Only 4-H members can perform the work,
including mucking out the stalls, raking aisles, and topping off water buckets.
Adult volunteers are not allowed to perform the work for the children and if
caught the individual or club assisted will be penalized. The barns are open to
the public, and the 4-H members are responsible for maintaining a courteous,
safe environment for all involved.
Helmets that ASTM approved for equine activities are required for all
riders while mounted.
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O/F
In Over Fences classes, entrants are
judged on their form and control over a course of fences. The pair is also
judged on their suitability to perform hunter type work.
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U/S
In Under Saddle classes, entrants
are judged on the obedience and suitability of the horse to the rider, as well as
their suitability as a pair to the hunter ring. Entrants are judged at the
walk, trot, canter, their ability to stand quietly and back readily, and, in
some sections, may be asked to hand gallop.
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GAYP
In Go As You Please classes,
entrants are judged at the walk, trot, and canter; horses should stand quietly
and back readily. When the “Go As You Please” command is given, entrants adopt
the gait that best displays the pleasurable nature of their horse. Once this
gait is chosen, the pair must adopt this gait whenever the command is given.
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Pleasure
In Pleasure classes, horses are
judged on manners, way of going and the ability to give a pleasurable ride.
Entrants walk, trot, canter, stand quietly, back readily, and in some sections
may be asked to hand gallop.
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Equitation
In equitation classes riders are
judged on their position and control over their mount. Hands, seat, leg and
body aids are judged both directions of the ring. Entrants are expected to
walk, trot, canter, to stand quietly and back readily, and, in some sections,
may be asked to hand gallop.
Beginner Hunter Equitation is designed for riders of any age who are in their first
or second year of showing horses. Entrants may be asked to walk, trot, stand
quietly, and back easily.
Novice Hunter Equitation is open to those riders who have never previously won a
blue ribbon in an equitation class.
Intermediate Hunter Equitation is open to those riders that have won up to three blue
ribbons in previous equitation classes.
Advanced Hunter Equitation is designed for the most accomplished of riders, who will
be judged first over a short course of fences, and then on the flat.
Beginner Hunter Division
This division is open only to
those riders who are in their first or second year of showing horses. Entrants
may only walk and trot in any class they enter throughout the entire fair.
Beginner classes available include an Under Saddle class, an Equitation class,
an Over Fences class, Showmanship, Trail, and Beginner Timed Events classes.
Hunter Division
This division is designed for
experienced riders. A hunter section consists of three classes: horses are
shown in two different classes comprised of a course of eight fences each, and
in one Under Saddle class.
Baby Green Hunter is open to all riders showing horses that are in their 1st
year of showing over fences. Baby Green Hunter fences are set at 2’ for ponies
and 2’3” for horses.
Novice Hunter is open to all horses and riders. This class is intended to
foster competition where either horse or rider lack either sufficient
experience or physical ability to jump taller fences. Entrants in this section
may not enter the Jumper Division. Fences for horses are set at 2’6”, ponies at
2’.
Pony Hunter is open to all riders who show ponies 14 hands 2 inches
tall and under. Pony Hunter fences are set at 2’3”-2’9” depending on the size
of the pony.
Open Hunter Horse is open to all riders who show horses taller than 14 hands
2 inches. Fences are set at 3’.
Junior Hunter Pleasure is open to riders aged 9 to 13 years. This section
consists of two Pleasure Under Saddle classes and one Go As You Please class.
Senior Hunter Pleasure is open to riders aged 14 to 19 years. This section
consists of two Pleasure Under Saddle classes and one Go As You Please class.
Jumper Division
Entrants in this division are
judged on speed and jumping precision over three different courses. Each
section contains three classes each and each class has two rounds. In the first
round entrants must jump a “clean” (no faults) round to advance to the second
round. The second round is a shortened version of the course; the winner is the
competitor with the shortest time and least number of faults.
Pony Jumper is open to entrants with ponies under 14 hands 2 inches in
height.
Horse Jumper is open to entrants with horses taller than 14 hands 2
inches.
Helmets that ASTM approved for equine activities are required for all
riders while mounted.
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Pleasure
In Pleasure classes, horses are
judged on manners, way of going and the ability to give a pleasurable ride.
Entrants walk, jog, lope, stand quietly, back readily, and in some sections may
be asked to hand gallop.
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Horsemanship
In Horsemanship classes, entrants
are asked to work individually at the walk, jog and lope and then return to the
ring to be placed.
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Western Riding
In Riding classes, the entrant is
asked to complete a pre-posted pattern and is judged on gait quality, lead
changes, responses to the rider, disposition, manners, and intelligence.
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Western Reining
In Reining classes, the entrant is
asked to complete a pre-posted pattern and is judged on smoothness, attitude,
agility, and authority in performing the maneuvers at a controlled speed.
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GAYP
In Go As You Please classes,
entrants are judged at the walk, jog, lope; horses should stand quietly and
back readily. When the “Go As You Please” command is given, entrants adopt the
gait that best displays the pleasurable nature of their horse. Once this gait
is chosen, the pair must adopt this gait whenever the command is given.
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Equitation
In equitation classes riders are
judged on their position and control over their mount. Hands, seat, leg and
body aids are judged both directions of the ring. Entrants are expected to
walk, jog, lope, to stand quietly and back readily, and, in some sections, may
be asked to hand gallop.
Beginner Western Equitation is open only to those riders who are in their first or
second year of showing horses. Entrants may be asked to walk, jog, stand
quietly, and back easily.
Junior Western Equitation is open to riders aged 9 to 13 years.
Senior Western Equitation is open to riders aged 14 to 19 years.
Beginner Western Division
This division is open only to
those riders who are in their first or second year of showing horses. Entrants
may only walk and jog in any class they enter throughout the entire fair.
Beginner classes available include a Horsemanship class, a Pleasure class, an
Equitation class, Showmanship, Trail, and Beginner Timed Events classes.
Western Pleasure Division
Entrants are judged on how well
the horse and rider work as a team. Control of the horse should be through
subtle movements. Entrants walk, jog, lope, stand quietly, back readily, and in
some sections may be asked to hand gallop.
Junior Western Pleasure is open to riders aged 9 to 13 years. This section
consists of one Pleasure class and one Go As You Please class.
Senior Western Pleasure is open to riders aged 14 to 19 years. This section
consists of one Pleasure class and one Go As You Please class.
Western Performance Division
Performance classes judge the
ability of a horse to perform a variety of movements. Riders must display skill
and precision while working with their mounts. Entrants are expected to walk,
jog, lope, to stand quietly and back readily, and, in some sections, may be
asked to hand gallop.
Junior Western Performance is open to riders aged 9 to 13 years. This section
consists of one Horsemanship class, one Reining class, and one Riding class.
Senior Western Performance is open to riders aged 14 to 19 years. This section
consists of one Horsemanship class, one Reining class, and one Riding class.
Three different Timed Events
classes are offered each year. The Fairfax County 4-H Fair uses an electronic
timer whose beam the competitors cross to start the timing. To stop the timer,
riders must cross back through the beam. Riders who go off course or pass too
close to the timer beam are at risk of “breaking” (accidentally stopping) the
timer, resulting in no time for the run. The rider that correctly completes the
course in the fastest time wins. Helmets that ASTM approved for equine activities are
required for all riders while mounted.
The classes offered change from
year to year but may include the following:
Barrel Race – Three barrels are set and run in a cloverleaf pattern.
Pole Bending – Entrants cross the timer in the start area and travel to
the far end of the arena, then weave through the poles, make a sharp turn
around the final pole weave back to the far end of the arena, and then come
back across the timer.
Flag Race – Two barrels are placed in the arena with buckets on top.
The rider removes a flag or dowel from one bucket and places it in the other
bucket, and then re-crosses the timer.
Keyhole Race – Riders enter a small marked area at the far end of the
arena, turn the horse without stepping out of the “keyhole” and come back
across the timer.
Plug Race – A barrel is placed at one end of the arena; entrants cross
the timer, round the barrel and re-cross the timer.
Herring Bone – A series of short fences are placed diagonally across the
length of the arena. Entrants go over the first fence, circle, take the next
fence, circle, etc. and then come back through the fence pattern to cross the
timer. As it is unsafe for Western riders to jump, this particular game is
typically avoided when the timed events classes are selected.
Beginner Timed Events classes are open to both Hunter and Western riders who are
in their first or second year of showing horses. Beginners may only walk, trot
or jog and are penalized for breaking into a faster gait.
Junior Hunter Timed Events is open to Hunter riders aged 9 to 13 years.
Junior Western Timed Events is open to Western riders aged 9 to 13 years.
Senior Hunter Timed Events is open to Hunter riders aged 14 to 19 years.
Senior Western Timed Events is open to Western riders aged 14 to 19 years.
Volunteer Timed Events may or may not be offered at the County Fair each year. Check
the current year’s list of classes. This class is attended for 4-H Adult
Volunteers. Competitors may use either English or Western tack, and may compete
at any gait, including walk. Helmets that ASTM approved for equine activities are
required. It is recommended that only experienced 4-H Adult Volunteer riders
enter these classes.
Last Revised June 25, 2002
* Protected Under 18 U.S.C. 707
Virginia Cooperative
Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color,
religion, sex, age, veteran status, national origin, handicap, or political
affiliation. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
If you are a
person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services, or other
accommodations to participate in Extension activities, please contact the local
Extension Office during regular business hours to discuss accommodations 14
days prior to the event.
All 4-H Horse
Program members of all disciplines must wear helmets that are ASTM approved for
equine activities when mounted.