We are happy to announce the 2024 West District 4-H Qualifying Horse Show will be on Saturday, April 27th at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher, NC.

Here you will find the information needed to register for classes, request stalls, and determine your riding division. We hope that you choose the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina as your location to show at a District 4-H Show and to qualify for the 2024 NC State 4-H Horse Show.

You will also be able to enter the West District 4-H Horse Artistic Expression Contest through this packet.

West District 4-H Horse Show Guidelines

Registration Deadline:
The West District 4-H Qualifying Horse Show requires pre-registration to avoid a $40 late entry fee. A registration packet is only complete if it has all the required items included and postmarked by April 12th. Please double-check that all of the  required items are included in your registration. Packets that do not have all of the required items included by April 12th are considered late and charged a $40 late fee. You may add up to three additional classes on the day of the show.

Patterns for classes will be posted two weeks before the show on the NC State Equine Husbandry website under Qualifying Horse Show information.

Eligibility Card and Coggins
Each entry must include a copy of your 2024 4-H Eligibility Card, with the signature of your 4-H Agent and club leader, and a copy of a current negative Coggins. The horse’s name on the Eligibility Card must match the name of the horse entered. To start the process go to the  on the NC State Equine Husbandry 4-H Horse Site: Eligibility Card Instructions. Please check with your local 4-H Agent for help with Eligibility Cards.

Show Rules
It is the responsibility of the exhibiting 4-H’er and their family to be aware of the rules. Please read over this entire packet and the current NC State 4-H Horse Program Rules and Regulations Manual. The manual explains the rules, the different divisions, and classes in detail.  One important rule to remember at a 4-H Horse Show Event is that there are to be no adults on horses for the entirety of the show. For this show, there are to be no adults on horses from the time that the horse arrives at the show facility until they return home. Any adult riding a horse at the West District 4-H Qualifying Horse Show will disqualify that horse from being able to compete for the entire show.

Class Age Groups
Cloverbud: Ages 5-7. These riders will not be placed against each other but will receive a ribbon for their class.
Rookie: Riders in their first year of showing Hunt Seat as a Junior or Senior as of January 1st of the current year. Riders are permitted 1 year to show at this level.
Short Stirrup: Riders must be ages 8-13 as of January 1st of the current year. Three years of participation in the division is allowed, with no more than 2 years showing over fences.(Hunter Hack does not count towards the 2 years over fences and may be shown all 3 years.)
Long Stirrup: Riders must be ages 14-18 as of January 1st of the current year. Two years of participation in the division is allowed. Riders in this division may not have previously shown over fences for more than 2 years.
Little Britches: Riders must be ages 8-13 as of January 1st of the current year, and are in their first 2 years of showing. Riders in this division cannot cross-enter in the Junior Western or Junior Ranch Divisions.
Junior Riders: Youth who have not reached the age of 14 as of January 1st of the current year.
Senior Riders: Youth who have reached the age of 14 as of January 1st of the current year and have not reached the age of 19 as of January 1st of the current year.

If you have any questions or would like to register for the West District 4-H Qualifying Horse Show please contact your local 4-H Agent or Shannon Coleman, at shannon_coleman@ncsu.edu or call 828-8372210 ext. 4.