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Publication #4H HSR 02

Florida 4-H Horse Project Record Book1

Dr. Arden Huff, adapted by Edward L. Johnson 2

Figure 1. 

The Florida 4-H Horse Project Record Book (4H HSR 02) is an animal sciences publication for 4-H members ages 8 and older. The record book is for any 4-H member who has a horse or who manages a horse. They will be required to keep accurate records on the horse, including feed and farrier records.

Visit the 4-H Youth Development Curriculum Web Site for more information on related project material.

Click here to print or view the entire record book. An excerpt is below.

Philosophy and Goals of the Florida 4-H Horse Program

The purpose of the 4-H Program is to provide young people an opportunity to participate in a series of activities designed to improve citizenship, sportsmanship, horsemanship, character, competitive spirit, discipline and responsibility, while creating an atmosphere for learning and awareness of the life around us.

If one takes time to study this statement, the goals and implications are awesome. It is not anticipated that a child would progress at the same rate for all of these objectives; it is expected that, given the proper motivation and good leadership by leaders, parents and agents, there would be improvements in all areas. Many times, recognition by the 4-Her that they could improve in these areas is a significant accomplishment.

Most 4-Hers electing this project will already have a significant interest in, and even a passionate love, for the animal. It is the leaders' responsibility to utilize this interest to accomplish the project objectives. Though the objectives may be arranged in a different order, you will notice the first objective is not horsemanship. Horsemanship, in the broadest sense, is an important facet of the 4-H horse program, but it should be understood that the horse is only a tool to be used in the development and education of the child. There are over 50 major project areas available in 4-H, and all of them have as objectives to make better citizens of youth, to increase their knowledge in a particular subject matter area and to inspire them to explore other areas.

Horse shows are not the major objective of this program, and any leader or agent that professes this, either out of actual belief or to persuade someone to join a 4-H club, is certainly in error. In doing this, they would most certainly be setting themselves, and the club, up for disappointment and possible failure. This is not to minimize the importance of horse shows in helping to achieve our goals, but it must be understood we are in the business of education. There are many opportunities to show elsewhere and it is quite possible there will be many youth in a club that are not interested in showing. They may be interested in one or more of the many forms of trail riding, rodeoing, breeding and production or other activities involving the use of a horse.

When thinking about the horse program and its objectives, one should certainly realize that participation in horse judging, public speaking and method demonstrations is extremely helpful in achieving said goals. Participation in these activities can help a youth improve in many areas, as well as gain a better education.

In summary, there is a need for all aspects of the current 4-H Horse Program, and it is hoped that you as leaders and agents will encourage participation of your club members in all these areas.

Footnotes

1.

This document is 4H HSR 02, one of a series of the 4-H Youth Development Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date June 1, 1995. Revised June 2007. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Dr. Arden Huff, Virgina 4-H Horse Program, and adapted by Edward L. Johnson, Associate Professor, Animal Sciences, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.