Michigan 4-H Cloverbud Snapshot Sheet: 4-H Horse & Pony Project (4H1727)

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February 6, 2017 - Michigan State University Extension

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

The 4-H horse and pony project can provide youth with the opportunity to learn about care, selection, health and careers in the equine industry. Equine includes horses, ponies, donkeys and mules.

Learn the basic principles of animal science by caring for, working with, keeping records or owning a horse, pony, donkey or mule.

Explore knowledge, nutrition, reproduction and selection practices.

THE BIG PICTURE

Starting Out:

Identify colors, breeds and types of equines.

Identify parts of the animal.

Practice safe handling of animals.

Learn appropriate grooming techniques.

Learning More:

Describe the signs of a healthy animal.

Take riding lessons and learn different riding styles (English or western).

Learn the different gaits of a horse.

Expanding Horizons:

Practice good sportsmanship.

Know your important care management professionals (example: veterinarian or farrier).

Explore tack and equipment for your horse.

HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT CLOVERBUD PROJECTS?

Parents play an important role in helping their children find out what they like and don’t like. As a parent, you can be support­ive and encourage your child to try new things. Be there to help them figure out the answer when they have questions. Don’t just answer the question for them, but help them know where to go to find the answer. The important part of a cloverbud project is not the outcome, but the experience children have while participating. It’s OK if your child ends up not liking their cur­rent project, but they should finish it and try something else. Remember, cloverbuds are at an age where they can explore lots of different topics to try and find the ones they really want to focus on in the future.

CURRICULA & RESOURCES

National 4-H Curricula

Set of 6 Horse Books (08059) available at http://4-h.org/parents/ curriculum/horse/  includes: Giddy Up & Go (08053)

Head, Heart & Hooves (08054)

Stable Relationships (08055)

Riding the Range (08056)

Jumping to New Heights (08057)

Helper’s Guide (08058)

Other Resources

American Quarter Horse Association’s Junior Master Horseman: www.juniormasterhorseman.com

Horses eXtension: www.extensionhorses.org

Michigan 4-H Horse Programs: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/program/info/ horses_ponies

Michigan Equine News: http://msue.anr.msu.edu/program/info/michigan_ equine_news

My Horse University: www.myhorseuniversity.com

FOCUS ON 4-H HORSES, PONIES, DONKEYS & MULES

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  • Identify signs of a healthy or sick horse.
  • Practice identifying coat colors of different horses.
  • Practice identifying different breeds of horses.
  • Identify the different types of horse feeds (sweet feed, oats, pellets, corn, hay, etc.).
Communication
  • Do a presentation to your club about your horse or a horse you would like.
  • Pick a part of the horse and create a display exploring it.
Citizenship & Leadership
  • Visit a farm to help with the daily chores such as feeding, stall cleaning or grooming.
  • Teach one of your friends your favorite thing about horses. This is a great opportunity for show-and-tell at school.
Life Skills
  • Learn responsibility through the daily care an animal needs. Discuss daily chores done on the farm.
  • Keep records on your project.
  • Learn to stay safe around these large animals.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

  • Contact your local Michigan State University (MSU) Extension office for workshops, activities and events.
  • Join a local 4-H club.
  • Tour a horse farm. Try the MSU Horse Teaching and Research Center, which is open to the public five days a week (www.msuarabians.com).
  • Attend a horse show and observe the participants and judges and their techniques.
  • Visit a state-level 4-H horse event such as the State 4-H Horse Show, 4-H Equine Educational Expo and State 4-H Trail Ride. Visit http://www.ans.msu.edu/ans/youth_extension_programs  for many more opportunities.
  • Complete a Michigan 4-H Cloverbud Animal Science Project Record Book to track your experiences in 4-H.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

  • What was your favorite part of this activity/project?
  • What do you know now that you did not know before?
  • What do you want to explore more/ next?

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Tag List
  • 4-h,
  • 4-h animal science,
  • 4-h cloverbuds,
  • 4-h cloverbuds (ages 5-8),
  • animal science,
  • science & engineering,
  • msu extension
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