North Carolina 4-H Presentation Guidelines:
Horse Public Speaking

Purpose/Objectives:

• Acquire skills, confidence and poise in speaking to groups by the use of an interesting and familiar topic.

• Expand 4-H member's horse knowledge and increase their research and study techniques.

• Teach 4-H'ers how to organize thoughts and express ideas in a logical and concise manner.

• Increase 4-H'ers knowledge and control of the English language in expressing ideas.

• Reward and recognize 4-H members for accomplishments they have made in a friendly and competitive atmosphere.

• Each contestant must be an actual 4-H club member interested in horses. Members are not eligible, however, to participate in a horse public speaking contest if by the date of the district contest they will have participated in official post secondary competitive events of a similar nature in the same subject matter area. Neither can the participant be undergoing preparation for such an event. Participants do not need to own their own horses.

• The horse public speaking contest will be divided into 9-10, 11-13 and 14-18 divisions. Each county will be allowed to enter two (2) individual's in each division in district competition during District Activity Days. The winners in 9-10, 11-13 and 14-18 divisions in each district will compete in the state finals which will be held during the STATE 4-H HORSE SHOW. District Activity Day rules will apply to participation in other activities.

• The state winner and runner-up in the 14-18 division will be eligible to represent North Carolina in the Southern Regional contest. The state winning 14-18 division individual will be eligible to represent North Carolina in other national contests if such contests are offered in accordance with the rules of those contests. The state is not responsible for providing expenses to these contests but will attempt to assist.

• Previous state winners of the 9-10 division will be ineligible for future junior division competition in horse public speaking. Previous 14-18 division state winners or participants in the Southern Regional or national contests are ineligible for further competition. Previous state winners in any age division are ineligible to compete in the same division of Horse Public Speaking.

Resources:

North Carolina 4-H Horse Program Rules and Regulations Manual. 1995. 4-H 0- 5-19. Pages 93-96.

N.C. 4-H Horse Presentation Score Sheet. Extension Horse Husbandry, NCSU, Box 7523, Raleigh, NC 27695-7523. Phone: 919/515-5784; Fax: 919/515-8518.

Public Speaking and You (4H M-1-34) will be helpful in preparing youths for this contest. Available from the office of 4-H and Youth Development at North Carolina State University.

Rules/Regulations:

• Speeches must pertain to any area of the horse industry.

• Notes may be used. Speakers should not read their speeches or give speeches which sound memorized. No visual aids or posters are allowed. References should be cited at the conclusion of the speech prior to questions.

• A public speech must be a minimum of 4 minutes (9-10, 11-13) or 8 minutes (14-18); and not longer than 10 minutes. One point will be deducted per judge for each minute, or fraction thereof, under 4 minutes (9-10, 11-13) or 8 minutes (14-18) or over 10 minutes.

• Speeches will be judged on the following basis:

  Choice of Material (10 points)

  Organization (15 points)

  Content & Accuracy (20 points)

  Stage Presence (15 points)

  Delivery (20 points)

  General (10 points)

  Conclusion (10 points)

See NC 4-H Presentation Regulations.

Presentation Ideas:

Selecting a Broodmare or Stallion

Important Points in a Breeding Contract

Types of Breeding Systems

How to Tease Mares

Breeding Records

Solving Breeding Problems

Handling and Equipment for Breeding

Care of Mare and Foal

Artificial Insemination

Fertility or Disease

Management Practices for Broodmares

Anatomy and Function of Reproductive Tract

What to Look for in Good Quality Hay

Nutrients-- How They are Used and Supplied

Nutrient Requirements

Balancing a Horse Ration

Digestive Organs in the Horse

How to Select a Supplement

Vitamin Requirements

Feed Management Practices

Pasture Selection, Renovation and/or Fertilization

Types of Pasture

Poisonous Plants

Vaccination Program

Control of Internal Parasites

Control of External Parasites

Founder -- Cause and Treatment

Colic -- How to Recognize, Treat and Prevent

Azoturia or Typing-Up

Sleeping Sickness -- What It Is and How to Prevent It

Respiratory Diseases

How to Recognize a Sick Horse

What to Know Before Calling

Your Veterinarian

How to Bandage a Horse

Emergency First Aid

What is Needed in a First Aid Kit (Barn, Trailer, Breeding Farm)

How to Treat a Leg Injury (Splint, Bowed Tendon, Muscle Sprain, Cut)

Fistula Withers -- Cause, Treatment and Prevention

Thrush -- Recognize, Treatment and Prevention

Swamp Fever

Dummy Foal

Epiphysitis -- Cause and Treatment

How to Locate an Injury

How to Determine Lameness

How to Give an Injection

Deworming Methods

Facilities Required

Medicating the Untrained or Stubborn Horses

Design Farm or Barn

Stall Requirements, Shelter, Bedding

How to Determine the Horse's Age

Make a Measuring Stick and Show How to Measure Horses

How to Prepare a Yearling for Sale

Types of Fences for Horse Pasture

Clipping the Problem Horse

Trimming the Horse's Feet Correctly

Trailer Safety

How to Keep Records on a Horse Farm Care of the Newborn Foal

Shoeing -- When to Shoe, Shoe Selection, Corrective Shoeing

Horseman's Knots -- How and When to Use Them

Conformation as it Relates to Athletic Ability

Important Points in Buying a Horse

Specific Discussion on a Structural

Unsoundness -- Bench Knees, Parrot Mouth, Etc.

How to Evaluate and Compare

Horses Objectively

How to Organize and Give Oral Reasons

How to Judge a Working Hunter Class, Western Pleasure, Reining, Etc.

Anatomy of the Front Leg

Anatomy of the Foot

Anatomy and Function of the Eye

How to Catch, Halter and Lead a Horse

How and Where to Tie a Horse

Teaching A Foal to Lead

Vices and How to Prevent Them

Loading Problem Horses

Selecting the Proper Bit

Breaking a Young Horse

Bitting Rigs

How to Train a Horse to Rein, Stop, Jump, Etc.

Training a Western Pleasure Horse, Reining, Hunter, RaceHorses, Etc.

Rider Aids

When and How to Use Draw Reins, Tiedowns, Etc.

Registration Papers -- How to Complete What They Say

Coat Colors or Markings --How to Differentiate

Genetics of Coat Color

Genetics of Speed, Conformation, Evolution of the Horse

History of Quarter Horses

Linebreeding -- Why

Crossbreeding -- Is It Helpful

Genetic Defects

Discuss Attire for a Specific Riding Style

Show and Discuss Riding Seat (Saddle, Hunt or Stock)

Tips for Showmanship

Grooming a Horse Correctly

What is Judged in Western Riding, English Pleasure, Etc.

How to Thin Manes and Tails

How to Braid Horses

Selecting the Correct Saddle to Fit

Organizing or Conducting a Horse Show

Discuss a Riding Event -- Fox Hunting, Endurance Races, Steeple Chases, Racing, Competitive Trail Riding, Polo, Etc.

How to Fix a Bridle, Halter, or Saddle

Making Your Own Equipment (Bridle, Blankets, Halter, Etc.)

History and Attributes of Morgans

Horse Psychology

How to Photograph Horses

How to Build A Creep Feeder

How to Restore, Clean, and Preserve Leather

Methods of Horse Identification

Judging:

• Judge's will review and critique each presentation prior to announcing the State winners.

• The N.C. Horse Program Horse Public Speaking Score Card will be used. (Special Score Sheet).

• Judge's will be instructed to ask questions pertaining specifically to the topic. The audience is prohibited from asking questions. Question time will not be counted toward the allotted time period.

• District Winners: District award is a certificate for each winning individual or team.

• State Winners: 9-10, 11-13 is an award. 14-18 receives travel scholarship to National Contest.

Donors: Wake County 4-H Horse Council/ Steven's Milling Company

Go to Horse Public Speaking Contest Score Cards

Return to NC 4-H Presentation Guidelines

Last updated Apr 20, 2005

September 5, 2008