Chambana Sun

Urbana, Ill. – Young individuals with a keen interest in horses showcased their expertise at the recent State 4-H Hippology Contest held on April 22 at the University of Illinois campus. The event is part of 4-H's educational programs that aim to enhance participants' understanding of horse health, breed characteristics, management, and feeding.

The contest tested participants' knowledge through a variety of questions covering topics such as breed identification, anatomy, tack identification, feed samples, disease management, parasite identification, and quality assessment. Additionally, contestants faced a timed problem-solving challenge judged by a panel.

Top performers in the Senior Division included Allison Burrs from Carroll County taking first place, followed by Talisa Thomas from Whiteside County in second place. In the Intermediate Division, Emily Conlee from Knox County secured first place. Lillian Elsea from DeWitt County emerged as the winner in the Junior Division.

The Illinois youth participating in the National 4-H Hippology Contest receive support from the Illinois 4-H Foundation and its donors. This year's event also featured Horse Bowl and Horse Speaking events.

According to Deb Hagstrom, University of Illinois Extension Specialist for Horses: "Horse ownership is not a pre-requisite in either the educational programs or contests."

Illinois 4-H is part of the University of Illinois Extension under the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. The program aims to develop true leaders who are prepared for future careers. Research shows that young people involved in 4-H are more likely to contribute to their communities and make healthier choices.

For further information on this topic, Deb Hagstrom can be contacted at hagstrom@illinois.edu. Carissa Nelson served as the writer for this article and can be reached at carissa@illinois.edu.