Maryland 4-H members and coaches at the 2017 Eastern National 4-H Roundup (Louisville, KY)
Centreville 4-Her Jennifer Gannon earned medals at the All-American Quarter Horse Congress’ annual 4-H Hippology contest on October 18 in Columbus, Ohio. Twenty-six teams from across the country participated in this year’s contest with the Maryland team being made up of Jennifer Gannon (Queen Anne’s County), Tara McKenna, Brianna McKenna (both of St. Mary’s County) and Phoebe Vacek (Anne Arundel County).
The one-day knowledge-based competition is made up of four sections; Horse Judging, Verbal Reasonings, Team Problems and a Written Test. The Maryland team placed fifth in the Written Test while Gannon earned fourth as an individual in Horse Judging.
The Maryland 4-H teams continued to succeed at national competitions with more medals and ribbons being earned at the 2017 Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky on November 2-5. The teams competed in four different competition events which included Horse Judging, Horse Bowl, Hippology, and Communications. Prior to competing the teams visited equine-related businesses and attractions near Lexington including the Kentucky Horse Park, Keeneland Thoroughbred Racecourse and Sale Complex, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute and the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Thoroughbred Re-schooling and Adoption Center. Following the competition events, the teams visited Churchill Downs Racetrack.
The 2017 Maryland 4-H State Communications Team is comprised of Carley Gray (Anne Arundel County) who competed in the Individual Demonstration; Brooke Howard (Anne Arundel County) who competed in Public Speaking; and Hannah Cimbaljevich and Katie Grasser (both from Carroll County) who competed in the Team Demonstration. The team was coached by Karen Scott of Carroll County. Brooke placed as 10th Overall High Individual Demonstration. Hannah Cimbaljevich and Katie Grasser earned the Reserve Overall High Team Demonstration award. The Maryland Communications Team finished as 8th High Team Overall.
The 4-H Horse Judging competition consists of participants placing nine conformation and performance judging classes and presentation of oral reasons on four classes. The 2017 Maryland 4-H Judging Team was comprised of Jaclyn Bryant (Frederick County), Aaryanne Cloutier (Montgomery County), Sierra Weatherly (Frederick County) and Grace Yingling (Frederick County). The team was coached by Christa Stibolt of Anne Arundel County. As a team, they placed 8th High Team Overall in Conformation. Sierra finished as fourth High Individual in Performance Classes and the Maryland Team was sixth High Team Overall in Performance Classes. Sierra placed as eighth High Individual in Oral Reasons with the team placing fifth High Team Overall in Reasons. Sierra placed as 10th High Individual Overall and the Maryland Team earned the fifth High Team Overall award.
The 4-H Hippology contest includes a written exam, four horse judging classes, practical stations, two team oral problems. The 2017 Maryland 4-H State Hippology Team included Jennifer Gannon (Queen Anne’s County), Brianna McKenna and Tara McKenna (both of St. Mary’s County), and Pheobe Vacek (Anne Arundel County). The team is coached by DarryllAnn Buschling of Howard County. Brianna placed as Reserve High Individual – Horse Judging Phase and the team earned the Reserve Champion High Team – Horse Judging Phase award. The team also finished as the sixth Place High Team – Problem Solving Phase.
The 4-H Horse Bowl contest is a double elimination contest in which two teams compete head- to-head to answer questions from areas of horse-related knowledge including anatomy, behavior, breeds, conformation, evolution, genetics, health and diseases, history, riding, tack, training, and trivia. The 2017 Maryland 4-H State Horse Bowl Team members are Liana Grosko (Howard County), Lesley Porterfield (Calvert County), Lesa Ramsburg (Carroll County) and Anthony Righter (Montgomery County). The team is coached by Jan Rubenstein of Carroll County. The Maryland Horse Bowl Team finished as third High Team Overall.
