ABILENE – The 53rd annual Texas State 4-H Horse Show, known as one of the largest in the country, was held July 18-25 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

This year’s show brought together 415 4-H members who showed 530 horses in 1,482 total entries.

Dr. Dennis Sigler, Teri Antilley and Jennifer Zoller, all with the Department of Animal Science, served as managers of the show. The entire management team was comprised of Extension specialists, agents and volunteers as well as staff from the Expo Center and the District 7 Extension personnel.

“The 2015 Texas State 4-H Horse Show was a success as a result of all the dedicated youth, families, county Extension agents and volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the week.  Additionally, numerous corporate and individual sponsors provided much appreciated support for the show through scholarships, awards, pizza parties, and more,” said Antilley.

The goal of the Texas 4-H horse program is to allow a platform for 4-H members to acquire horsemanship and horse training skills; learn about horse production, management, training, evaluation and use; and build life skills such as leadership, initiative, sportsmanship and community service.

To compete in the State Horse Show, youth members must either qualify at one of the several district shows held in June or they may enter one of the open divisions. Qualifying divisions include halter, judged western, hunter-flat, speed events, yearling halter gelding futurity, yearling halter filly futurity, yearling longe line futurity, 2-year-old futurity and 3-year-old futurity. Open divisions include roping, hunter over fences, stock horse and drill/precision riding.

Results from this year’s show can be found at https://animalscience.tamu.edu/livestock-species/equine/state-4h-show/.

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For more information regarding news from the Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, please contact Courtney Coufal at cacoufal@tamu.edu or (979) 845-1542.