Please read the Marias Fair 4-H Horse Show Rule Book and the fair book for a complete list of rules. This is a summary of pertinent information to know prior to entering the fair. 

Marias Fair 4-H Horse Show Rule Book

Marias Fair 4-H Horse Show Rule Book PDF

Age and enrollment requirements

  • To participate in Colt to Maturity or Green Horse, the member must be 12 years of age or older during the current 4-H year, have completed Horsemanship levels 1, 2, and 3, AND have completed a standard written test and/or demonstrated ability to handle the project to the county horse leader. 

Safety requirements

  • The State 4-H Helmet Policy will be enforced. A certified equestrian helmet with safety harness fastened in place is encouraged in all 4-H horse activities and required for all speed events.
  • Boots must be worn when riding.
  • All horses are to be ridden with bridles, no halters.
  • Run irons on English saddles.
  • 4-H horses may be exercised in the 4-H horse arena and/or in the exercise arena. Horses may be ridden only in designated areas. Horses may only be ridden at a walk en route to warm up or to the event arena.
  • Horses that kick must have red ribbons tied on their tails at all times.
  • Safety rule violations may result in disqualification. Please check the rule book to ensure all safety rules are being followed. 

Entry requirements

  • Members enrolled in either English or Western Horsemanship may enter Bareback Equitation, Western Pleasure, and/or English Pleasure in the level that corresponds to their Horsemanship project level. Members wishing to show a Green Horse or Colt to Maturity must enter under the member’s most current Horsemanship level.
  • Two-year old horses may be entered to a) ride, b) lunge or c) drive.
  • Cross entries will not be allowed, with the exception of a colt in the fifth year of the Colt-to-Maturity project may cross enter to Horsemanship Level 7 if the member has been assessed out of Horsemanship Level 6.
  • A member may ride only one horse per Western and one horse per English Horsemanship Level. Members may ride only one level apart if riding in both Western and English Horsemanship. 
  • Only a 4-H project horse may enter event classes at the Marias Fair Horse Show.
  • All horse members must complete an interview.
  • Showmanship is not a required class. However, members exhibiting at the Marias Fair Horse show must show in their project class to participate in any and all optional classes and other 4-H horse exhibitions.
  • For consideration for herdsmanship, horses need to be stalled by Wednesday at noon until Saturday at the checkout time. All other horses are due at the fairgrounds by 7:00 a.m. Friday of the fair.

Registration requirements

  • A Pre-Show Equipment Check by a Horse Project Leader in your county or reservation is required. Bring your showmanship halter and lead ropes, all bridles and attachments, and the age of your horse to a designated horse project leader BEFORE the Fair registration deadline in June. Your horse leader must approve your tack before registering for fair. 
  • The Marias Fair 4-H Horse Committee requires each competing 4-H member to submit current year assessments with their entry fees by the deadline in June.
  • A $20.00 per stall fee will be required at the time of registration. 4-H horses may be stalled for the entire fair, a portion thereof or brought in and removed the day of the show. The length of stay must be noted at registration prior to fair.  Fee will be refunded after the stalls are cleaned. If stalls are not cleaned by Sunday at 5 p.m., fees will be forfeited to the Horse Committee. 

 Forfeit of entry

  • A member may be asked to remove a horse from the fairgrounds and forfeit their entry in the horse show for any of the violations named below:
    • Excessive use of a whip on any horse by any person. Any striking of the horse’s head with the whip shall be deemed excessive;
    • Rapping the legs of a horse with the butt end of a riding crop or other implement;
    • Use of any substance to induce temporary heat;
    • Use of an electric device in schooling or showing;
    • Use of shackles (not to be construed as rubber or elastic exercising devices);
    • Showing a horse with raw or bleeding sores around the coronets, pasterns, or legs;
    • Withholding feed and/or water for prolonged periods;
    • Letting blood from a horse for other than diagnostic purposes. 

Other

  • A veterinarian’s slip must accompany a request to change horses BEFORE the start of the horse show. The Horse Committee must decide whether to allow the change of horses.
  • All major clipping/trimming should be done prior to the fair and all minor clipping/trimming at the fair should be done by a qualified adult or with adult supervision in the designated area. For safety reasons, an exhibitor may have his/her horses shod on the fairgrounds anytime during the fair by a qualified adult or with adult supervision.  All washing and trimming will be supervised by adults.
  • No activities are allowed at the barns, wash rack or arena after 10:00 p.m., including but not limited to riding 4-H horses in or out of the facilities.
  • Scratches will be done Friday morning at check-in.

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