June 16-18 in Fletcher, NC will be some of the best days for area 4-H horse club members and youth equestrians ages 5-18.  June 16th is the start of the 2025 West District 4-H Horsemanship Clinic.  Participating youth with get professional instruction in their horse riding discipline of their choice for the first two days and then on Wednesday we will have a full day of fun. Youth will get to test their riding skills in the arena with cattle, learning the basic of cattle sorting and this year we will have some team roping lessons with Justin Gillespie our cattle producer. Youth will also have a chance to see how their horse will handle obstacles and have opportunities to learn more about desensitizing their horse around new places and things. We will also have information about participating in Dressage and how to take a Dressage test on Wednesday.

This year the clinic is being sponsored by The Dale Earnhardt Foundation. Each youth that is a NC 4-H enrolled member will receive their registration fee($100), cattle fee, and 3 bags of shavings paid for by the foundation.

Cost for the clinic is $100 per youth and an additional $25 for sorting cattle.  Shavings, RV hook ups, and additional picnic tickets for non-participants (like parents of youth attending) are also available at an additional cost. Youth will be able to check in on Sunday, June 15th.

Riders are welcome from all across the West District and other areas of the state to participate in this fun, Learn by Doing activity.  Each morning starts with a safety meeting to insure that safety concerns and procedures are followed throughout the clinic. Then on Monday and Tuesday, they will saddled up and ride in their chosen discipline of either Cloverbud, Novice/Beginner, Ranch/Western, English/Hunt Seat, Speed Events, and Non-trotting/Gaited horse classes will be offered.  On Wednesday, we have a full day of fun cattle sorting, dressage lessons, and obstacle courses before heading home.

During the day if participants have down time they can make horse related crafts. Participants are also encouraged to make sure their stalls are clean and horses cared for by participating in the Golden Shovel Award.  On Tuesday evening, participants, their families, and volunteers, are able to share in a picnic dinner and then play horseless games, which usually ends up with a huge water gun fight.  The kids have a blast and some of our adults join in with their own water guns from the stands.

We are also offering an Unmounted Two Day Clinic experience. This is to allow our youth that participate in 4-H horse clubs or are interested in horses but do not currently have a horse of their own to bring to clinic. The cost is only $50 for this great Horse 101 learning experience.

To pre-register on our Google Form 2025 West District 4-H Horsemanship Clinic or to print off your own copy 2025 West District 4-H Horsemanship Clinic with 4-H Forms or 2025 West District 4-H Horsemanship Clinic without 4-H Forms .

For more information, contact Shannon Coleman, at shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or call 828-837-2210 ext. 4, or to receive a registration packet or for more information.  Registration postmark deadline date is June 5, a late fee applies after that date.  Do not send packets in the mail after June 5, 2025.

You can also use this QR Code to access registration: