Rowan County 4-H has many members who are involved in 4-H horse competition.

On July 4-8, 13 4-H members representing three Rowan County clubs competed in the North Carolina 4-H State Horse Show at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh.

In order to compete at the state level, these 4-H’ers had to first qualify at a district level horse show.

The East Equine Explorers 4-H Club, lead by Ann Furr, was represented at the show by Jaysa Causby, Micah Furr, Nicole Lackey and Madisyn White. As part of the nontrotting division, members showed in several classes, including gaited pleasure, equitation, western pleasure, dressage and showmanship, and versatility.

Showing in the senior division (ages 14-18) was Lackey, who took blue in equitation, and Furr, who was overall Senior Grand Champion.

In the Junior division (ages 9-13), Causby was Junior Reserve Champion and White was third overall.

Especially fun was the costume class held Saturday night. The club represented “the Original HorsePower” by dressing in racing gear and simulating a pit stop on White’s horse, Castile Centellas. The group checked her tires (hooves), checked the engine (listened to her heart) and gave the “driver” water.

It was a fun way to end the day of competition as the club worked as a team.

As a result of their performance at the state horse show, Causby, Furr and Lackey will compete in the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show held this week in Georgia.

The BCR Trailblazers 4-H Club, lead by Brandy Hampton, was represented by Emily Barlow, Josie Correll, Baylee Hampton, Kayla Hampton and Madison Hampton.

Barlow competed in the senior division for hunter under saddle, hunter equitation and bridle path hack.

Correll was involved in senior barrels, Texas barrels and senior pole bending.

Baylee Hampton competed in Cloverbud pleasure/equitation, which is for ages 5-8.

Kayla Hampton competed in the senior division for hunter under saddle, hunter equitation and bridle path hack, while Madison Hampton competed in the junior division for barrels, Texas barrels, short stirrup hunter under saddle, short stirrup hunter equitation and short bridle path hack.

The BCR Trailblazers spent several days competing in these events.

The Blazing Hooves 4-H Club, lead by Sherry Hill and Pearl Lund, was represented by Livvie Hill, Charlene Holt, Tiffin Jacobs and Baydn Sweatt.

All of these 4-H’ers participated in the speed events, which included barrels, pole bending, Texas barrels, flag race and stake race.

Hill, Jacobs and Sweatt have competed in the State Horse Show for a few years and each has exceeded their personal best each time.

This was Holt’s first time competing with her horse, Roscoe.

All of these 4-H members have put in many hours of learning and practice in order to prepare for the horse shows.

Anyone interested in getting a child involved in Rowan County 4-H should contact Agent Laura Allen at 704-216-8970 or laura_allen@ncsu.edu.

Information is also available at the Rowan County Cooperative Extension office at 2727-A Old Concord Road, or online at https://rowan.ces.ncsu.edu/.

The Rowan County 4-H program also has a Facebook page.