Indiana 4-H
Horse and Pony Project
Hendricks County Fair Orientation
Hendricks County Horse and Pony County Fair Schedule of Events
Saturday, July 13
Noon-3pm Senior stall set up (no horses or tack) bedding/decorating only
Sunday, July 14
Noon-5pm Senior Horse and Pony check-in (trailers use North Entrance to
Enter, and exit onto Old US 36)
Monday, July 15
7:30am, Supreme Showmanship
8am, Senior Western and Contesting
Tuesday, July 16
8am, Dressage and Jumping
7pm, Cheerleading competition in arena (arena not available for practice)
Wednesday, July 17
8am, Senior English and Versatility
4pm Senior Horse check-out (trailers use North entrance to enter, and exit onto Old US 36)
6:30pm Color Guard performance in arena before Horse Pull
7pm, Junior exhibitor Dressage and Jumping early check-in
Thursday, July 18
8-11am Junior Dressage and Jumping
8am-noon, first Junior check-in and stall decorating (trailers use North entrance to enter, and exit onto Old US 36)
7-9pm, Second Junior check-in and stall decorating (pending)
Friday, July 19
8am, Junior Western and Contesting
7pm, Color Guard performance at the Grandstands prior to Rodeo
11pm, 4-H Member Appreciation Lock-in at the horse arena.
Saturday, July 20
8am, Junior English and Versatility
4pm Junior check-out (trailers enter at North gate, exit to Old US 36)
General Information
Parking Passes and Parking Areas – make sure you read the information coming to you regarding use of parking passes and where you may park. The Fair Board has stated that they will not hesitate to have vehicles towed that are parked in restricted areas. Generally, you must park in the North Lot, behind the horse complex.
Check-in Procedures:
1. All vehicles enter at far north gate on County Road 200 East
2. Present your debit card sized Completion Card before unloading at barn
3. Horse height may be checked at the unloading area
4. Put bedding in stalls before unloading horses
Stall Set-up:
1. Mats of some form under the wood shavings is recommended, especially if your horse is not wearing shoes, to prevent lameness. You can bring actual stall mats, foam core board from a hardware supplier, or rubber garage mats.
2. Please keep two bags of bedding in stalls at all times to prevent urine run-off and for the comfort of your horse.
3. Please bring two water buckets if the weather will be hot! Buckets should be hung up with a bucket strap to keep them from being kicked over.
4. No hay nets allowed in stalls.
5. Box fans may be set up OUTSIDE of stall front or from inside your tack stall. No extension cords are to be used. Fans must be in new condition and have no repairs to cords or plugs. Fans must be securely fastened with zip ties, bungee cords, or other means so that people and horses cannot knock them down.
6. MINI HORSES AND DONKEYS may have fans INSIDE their stalls, keep cords out of reach.
7. No pets allowed, not even during set up– not even on a leash.
Check out:
1. Update your “My Record of 4-H Achievement” sheet and turn it in to a Horse and Pony club leader.
2. Clean stalls COMPLETELY. Stalls must be scooped and swept, and all bedding and feed disposed of in the correct dumpster. If the stalls on either side of you are empty, check the edges of those stalls too. Your horse may have pushed bedding under the stall walls.
3. All buckets, tubs, tack, leftover feed etc. must be removed before check out.
4. Have the Barn manager check your stall before loading your horse to go home.
5. Exit south onto Main Street/Old 36
Stall Decorating:
Junior and Senior stalls will be judged for a 1-3rd place ribbon.
· No electrical lights may be used
· Any electrical items must be out of reach of the horses
· No music may be played during the shows
· No decorations in aisle ways – no free-standing decorations in aisles or stalls
· No permanent holes, punctures or markings can be made to any Fairground property
· Concerns need to be addressed with the Fair Board Rep. or barn manager BEFORE judging
· Safety first – no toxic or possible choke hazards in stall decorations please!
· Remember, you are responsible to pick up and clean up ALL of your own decorations.
Examples of items to use:
Poster Board
Crepe paper and paper cut outs
Photographs
Stickers
Markers, crayons, pens, pencils
Fabric
Staples (not to fair property)
Glue (not to fair property)
Tape, duct tape (no duct tape on stall surfaces)
Glitter
Avoid:
Cotton balls
Pom pons
Thumb tacks
Cereal, fruit or candy
Sharp or pointed items that stick out
Items that might rattle, flap, and spook a horse going by your stall
Anything a horse could pull through the bars and chew on
Barn Rules & Rules of Conduct for Youth and Adults
1. Trailers or trucks must not block entryways to the barn. Trailers leave after unloading!
2. Only one (1) animal per stall unless it is a mare/foal or two miniature horses
3. Running in aisle ways and horseplay is prohibited for safety sake
4. Wash racks are to be kept free of manure so drains do not get clogged. Clean up after your horse! Do not leave horse washing items in the wash racks!
5. All manure is to be placed in the designated area
6. All horses are to be tacked up in their stalls, and horses cannot be tied in the aisle ways for ANY reason
7. To get from the outdoor arena to the indoor holding area, riders must dismount before entering the barn
8. No pets allowed
9. All stalls are to be kept clean during your stay. Remember, there are many visitors to the horse barn and you are representatives of 4-H and Hendricks County!
10. Horses may only be exercised, lunged, trained, ridden, and driven in the outdoor arena, round pens, or covered arena. You may only use a round pen for 15 minutes, then must vacate it.
11. Horses may only be ridden at a walk in the indoor arena
12. All horse stall doors are to be kept closed at all times
13. Riding in the barn aisles or sitting on horses in stalls is prohibited
14. No overnight stays for anyone other than official show staff
15. Lights out in barn at 11pm, no horses or ponies are to be exercised, lunged, trained, ridden, and driven in the outdoor arena, round pens, indoor arena staging area, or covered arena after 10:30pm
16. All bedding and trash will be put away by 7am. Nothing will be left in the aisle ways
17. Please be sure all horses are fed, watered, and stalls kept clean. Ask others for help if needed!
18. During practice, all riders, horse/pony handlers and drivers must wear long pants and boots
19. Riding bareback, backwards or double is strictly prohibited
20. Only a 4-H Horse and Pony members may ride or drive 4-H animals at the 4-H show. Only members or immediate family members (as described in the Hendricks County Fair Handbook) may school or train 4-H animals at the fairgrounds.
21. An ASTM approved helmet is required for all riders and drivers any time they are mounted or driving
22. Equipment must be fastened correctly and used in the correct fashion
23. Alcohol or drugs strictly prohibited on the fair grounds. Anyone found with any evidence of alcohol or drugs having been in their possession will have action taken against them
24. Smoking will not be tolerated in or around the barn area under any circumstances
25. Foul language is prohibited
26. Bicycles, skateboards, mopeds, etc are not allowed on the fair grounds and especially not near horses
27. If you have any concerns about any activity taking place in or around the horse barn, please alert or ask the Barn manager about it. Please do not confront other 4-H members or parents at the County Fair!
28. If your horse becomes ill, or distressed, you may not transport your horse out without permission of the Barn Manager, the Horse and Pony Committee President, or the Horse and Pony Fair Board Representative. A veterinarian may be called to assess the situation.
29. If the length of stay at the County Fair might jeopardize your animal’s health, seriously consider not bringing that animal.
30. The covered arena is closed during certain times of the day or evening to allow for other events to take place (example: Horse Pull, Concert). There will be time to practice in the arena, and the number of horses in the arena at one time will be monitored and may be limited due to safety concerns. You may use the outdoor arena to practice.
What to Bring to the Fair:
1. A positive attitude
2. Horse and green Completion Card for check in
3. Lunge line and whip
4. Hay, feed (enough for 3 days stay at fair), electrolytes, medications or supplements if needed
5. TWO regular water bucket and a clip or strap to secure bucket to stall or a large tub (like a muck tub) If it is a tub, it must be rigid so the horse can’t bend it in and dump water all over.
6. Feed Bucket
7. Stall mats or padding if desired, especially for unshod or older horses
8. Shavings or sawdust (at least 3 bags per stall)
9. Muck bucket and pick or scoop shovel and broom
10. Fly Spray
11. Horse bathing items (shampoo, conditioner, sponges, bucket, hose, spray nozzle, scrapers, detangler, )
12. Grooming tote or bag with brushes, comb, hoof pick, mane bands, clippers, rags, etc
13. Coat polish, face gloss, finishing chalk or powders, etc as needed
14. Tail extension if needed
15. Hoof polish if needed (plastic gloves to protect hands)
16. Saddle stand and bridle rack or hook
17. Tack – saddles, bridles, show halters and leads, pads, cinches/girths, etc
18. Some form of covering to keep dust, shavings, hay off of your equipment
19. Rug to stand on while getting dressed
20. Show clothes in a garment bag (or use a large trash bag with a hole for a hanger)
21. Show helmet and hat in plastic or a hat box
22. Boots, spurs
23. Rags, saddle soap or leather cleaner, and polish for boots and spot cleaning tack
24. Silver cleaner/polish
25. Rain gear or plastic slicker (just in case of rain) and plastic cover for helmet or hat
26. Long mirror to check your attire before going in to show ring – keep it in your tack stall
27. Lawn chairs – keep in your tack stall
28. Box fan in new condition and bungees or ties to secure it to outside of horse stall
29. Small cooler with water bottles
30. Snacks to keep energy level up during showing
31. Stall decorations for outside of stall (poster with pictures, horses name, awards, etc)
32. Casual street clothing and shoes for non-showing hours
33. Safety pins and back numbers
34. Make up and any needed toiletries and medications
35. Rule book
36. Cell phone
37. Paper and pencils/pens for copying patterns
38. Extra Chicago screws, and small tools for last minute tack fixes
39. If your horse is a kicker, please bring a red ribbon and rubber band for its tail!
Care of Animals at County Fair
Everyone wants to have a great County Fair experience, and that includes your equine partners. To ensure that our horses and ponies are happy and show our pride, animals must be well-cared for while at the fairgrounds. Care includes the following: Water, Feed/Hay, and Stall Cleaning, general well-being. To help us monitor your animal and alert you to any problem, all 4-Hers must leave a contact number on their stall card.
Unfortunately, we have had unfortunate incidences and problems occasionally in the past. Most of the time, 4-Hers take great care of their animals, but we want everyone to know the policy in place to protect the animals. Failure to properly care for your animal is against the Hendricks County 4-H policy. As stated in the Hendricks County 4-H Handbook:
· Exhibition of 4-H projects in local, county or state exhibits/fairs is considered a privilege and is voluntary on the part of the exhibitor…With the privilege of exhibition also comes the responsibility for abiding by all of the terms and conditions pertaining to the respective 4-H project. Not following the established terms and conditions of the projects will be grounds for exclusion from the competition/exhibition of the project itself.
· Fraud, deception, any prohibited activities or general or departmental rules, or any activity determined to be improper or unethical by the 4-H Fair Board or 4-H Youth Council, a 4-H Fair Director and /or the 4-H Youth Educator shall not be allowed. Any exhibitor found in violation is subject to sanctions and/or disqualifications.
If you are going to be away from your animal such that care may need to be given, you are responsible for telling the barn manager or an adult leader about your absence as well as what alternative plans you have made for care of that animal. Remember, THE 4-H MEMBER EXHIBITING THE PROJECT HAS THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY!!
Examples:
Problem - Susie Senior shows both Western and English days. She has to work on Tuesday, so she can’t come in the morning to water and feed her horse or clean the stall.
Solution – Susie should talk to another 4-Her and ask for help. Then she should talk to the Barn Manager or one of the adult leaders and communicate the situation and what she has worked out. If she cannot find someone to help, she should still talk to the Barn Manager or an adult leader to work it out.
Problem – the temperatures are extremely hot, but Susie can’t be at the fairgrounds off and on all day to check water.
Solution – Susie asks another 4-Her to keep her horse’s water bucket filled.
If in the opinion of the Barn Manager or an adult leader, an animal is not being cared for properly, the following procedure will be followed: