Burlington--Ten Vermont 4-H horse club members recently returned from West Springfield, Massachusetts, where they competed in the 4-H horse show and other equine events at Eastern States Exposition. The 4-H horse events took place Sept. 21-23.

Vermont’s delegation (with horses) to the “Big E” included Viola Brown, Vernon; Anna and Megan Carson, South Londonderry; Madeline Langlois, Westford; Kelsey Paradee, Swanton;  Shyanne Wedge, Shoreham; and Britney Zager, Gill, Massachusetts.

Three 4-H teen leaders (without horses), Jasmine Akley and Elizabeth Brown, both from Vernon, and Madison Trudell, Fairfax, competed in a separate division with other teen leaders from the other New England states.

All delegates, including the teen leaders, took part in a general knowledge contest, fitting and showing and judging. In addition to individual scores, each state’s four highest individual scores were combined for a state team judging score and a state team general knowledge score.

In team judging, Vermont’s team, made up of Megan Carson, Kelsey Paradee, Shyanne Wedge and Britney Zager, captured first. The general knowledge team included Elizabeth and Viola Brown, Kelsey Paradee and Shyanne Wedge. They came in fifth.

 The 4-H’ers also participated in Team Challenge, where groups of four or five members from different states worked together to complete tasks, compete in quiz bowl and take part in a scavenger hunt for points. Jasmine Akley and Kelsey Paradee were on the winning team. Other just-for-fun horse events included barrel racing and water, egg and spoon and arena races.

Vermont 4-H club members placed in the top 10 in several classes at the 4-H horse show, as indicated below. For some classes, two judges evaluated the riders, so two scores are listed.

Jasmine Akley: Teen Leader General Knowledge (seventh); Teen Leader Judging (sixth) 

Elizabeth Brown: Teen Leader Fitting and Showing (fourth); Teen Leader General Knowledge (fifth); Teen Leader Judging (first)

Viola Brown: General Knowledge (tenth); Judging (tenth); Ranch Pleasure (third and second); Western Discipline Rail (second and fifth); Western Equitation (third and second); Western Fitting and Showing (tenth); Western Pleasure (fourth and sixth); Western Trail (fourth and sixth); Western All-Around (second and second)

Anna Carson: In-Hand All-Around (second and fifth); In-Hand Discipline Rail (fifth and fifth); In-Hand Hunter (sixth and sixth); In-Hand Obstacles (fifth and fifth); In-Hand Suitability (fourth and fourth); Small Equine Fitting and Showing (fourth)

Megan Carson: Hunt Seat Discipline Rail (sixth); Hunt Seat Equitation (eighth); Hunt Seat Fitting and Showing (sixth); Hunt Seat Pleasure (seventh and tenth); Hunter Under Saddle (ninth and fifth)

Madeline Langlois: Equitation Champion; Fitting and Showing Champion; Hunt Seat Equitation (first and first); Hunt Seat Fitting and Showing (first); Hunt Seat Pleasure (second and second); Hunter Under Saddle (second and second)

Kelsey Paradee: Hunt Seat Discipline Rail (fourth and first); Hunt Seat Equitation (third and second); Hunt Seat Fitting and Showing (second); Hunt Seat Pleasure (first and first); Hunter Under Saddle (first and first)

Madison Trudell: Teen Leader Fitting and Showing (first); Teen Leader General Knowledge (eighth); Teen Leader Judging (ninth). Madison was selected by her peers as Vermont's sportsmanship delegate for the Dick Woolam E.S.E. Memorial Award for Sportsmanship.

Shyanne Wedge: General Knowledge (sixth); Judging (sixth); Western Discipline Rail (ninth and second); Western Equitation (sixth and seventh); Western Fitting and Showing (sixth); Western Pleasure (seventh and fourth); Western Trail (second and second)

Britney Zager: Ranch Pleasure (fifth and sixth); Western All-Around (fourth and seventh); Western Discipline Rail (fourth and ninth); Western Equitation (eighth and eighth); Western Fitting and Showing (third); Western Pleasure (ninth and ninth); Western Trail (fourth and fifth)

Mary Fay, Westford, served as the coordinator for the Vermont delegation and 4-H horse show announcer. Chaperones were Cheryl Brown, Vernon; Amy Carson, South Londonderry; Krista Paradee, Swanton; and Peg Zager, Gill, Massachusetts.  Jolene Fontaine, Jericho, was barn manager.  Adult volunteers Tara Taylor, Athens, and Tina Wyman, Cambridgeport, decorated Vermont’s section in the horse barn.

For information about the Vermont 4-H Horse Program, contact Wendy Sorrell, University of Vermont Extension 4-H livestock educator, at wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.