Youth Horse Projects: Your Responsibilities

Youth Horse Projects: Your Responsibilities The Pennsylvania State University Department of Dairy and Animal Science

This educational program was created to ensure that youth animal programs are conducted with the highest possible quality, safety and integrity.

Program Development • Bob Mikesell (rem9@psu.edu; 814-865-2987) • Specie Contacts: • Dairy, Dale Olver (dolver@psu.edu, 814-863-3914) • Horse, Pat Comerford (pcomerford@psu.edu, 814 863-3657) • Livestock, Bob Mikesell (rem@psu.edu, 814-865-2987) • Small Animal, Nancy Dreschel (nad5@psu.edu, 814-863-4197) • Poultry, Phil Clauer (pclauer@psu.edu, 814-863-8960)

The following six Key Areas of Responsibility are fundamental to the success of youth horse projects.

Six Key Areas of Responsibility • Animal Care and Ownership • Honesty and Sportsmanship • Animal Health, Biosecurity & Safety • Quality Assurance • Human Health & Safety • Ethics and Conduct

Responsibility • Animal Care and Ownership Honesty and Sportsmanship Animal Health, Biosecurity & Safety Quality Assurance Human Health & Safety Ethics and Conduct

Animal Care and Ownership • I will own or lease my animal by the 4-H program deadline and properly enroll or enter by the program deadline. • I will complete appropriate project requirements as determined by my county. • I will present proof of ownership/lease and age of animal if requested.

Animal Care and Ownership • I will feed, water, and care for my animals the majority of the time. • If my animal is boarded, I will work with and care for my animal on a regular basis. • I will groom and fit my animals with minimal help from adults.

Animal Care and OwnershipYouth Responsibilities • Benefits of youth animal programs are only realized when youth do the work. • Personal responsibility • Animal skills • Record keeping and analysis

Animal Care and OwnershipAdult Responsibilities • Appropriate adult and family involvement is important in youth development. • Mentoring • Coaching • Demonstrating • Teaching • But not DOING!

Animal Care and Ownership Situation I • You plan to show your new horse in 4-H shows this year. Your 4-H leader distributed your county rules, policies, and the 4-H Horse Show Rule Book at your first club meeting in January. On June 2 you remember that you have not submitted your project/animal enrollment form(s) to your county extension office. • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Animal Care and Ownership Situation II • You observe a trainer riding another 4-H member’s horse at a 4-H show. The horse is nervous, excited, and frightening the youth and other horses. • Is this a problem? • What should you do?

Animal Care and OwnershipSituation III • This is my first year in showing in Grooming and Showmanship. I have done most of the work with my horse. My horse does not like to have her ears clipped. The more I try, the worse she gets and I am afraid of getting hurt. My mother and I hold my horse while my father clips her ears. • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Responsibility Animal Care and Ownership • Honesty and Sportsmanship Animal Health, Biosecurity & Safety Quality Assurance Human Health & Safety Ethics and Conduct

Honesty and Sportsmanship • I will act with honesty, integrity, and display good sportsmanship at all times. • I will not interfere with show officials, program sponsors, other exhibitors, or judges. • I will treat everyone with courtesy and respect.

Honesty and Sportsmanship • I will do my best in competition, but realize that I may not always win or get a blue ribbon. • When I compete, I will have a performance goal, not a “beat everyone else” goal. • I will not, nor will I allow anyone else, to criticize officials, sponsors, other exhibitors, or judges.

Honesty and Sportsmanship Situation I • A father of a fellow exhibitor openly criticizes the judge after the show because his daughter placed third. She had won every class this year with this horse, except at this show. • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Honesty and Sportsmanship Situation II • Your horse is a little over 14.2 hands, which is too tall to enter the pony classes. Your parent suggests that the farrier should trim the horse’s hooves very short so that the horse will be eligible for the pony classes. • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Honesty and Sportsmanship Situation III • Your mother and trainer are standing together on the rail while you are showing at the county roundup. This is your only qualifying show for the district show. You are very nervous, but rode your equitation pattern well, and really want to make it to the district show! Your trainer tells you to ride with more contact on the reins, look up, watch out for number 911, and coaches you every time you ride by. Your mother says, “Smile, sit up straight, and relax!” • Can you identify with this? Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Responsibility Animal Care and Ownership Honesty and Sportsmanship • Animal Health, Biosecurity & Safety Quality Assurance Human Health & Safety Ethics and Conduct

Animal Health and Biosecurity • I am responsible for the health and welfare of my animals. • I am responsible for reading and following show regulations, and obtaining all required health tests and papers from a licensed veterinarian. • I will present required health certification upon request of authorities.

Animal Health and Biosecurity • I will not violate any current biosecurity rules put in place by any state or local organization. • I will not participate in a 4-H event if my animal shows any evidence of infectious, contagious, or parasitic disease, or if I am aware that my animal could present a human or animal health hazard to other participants.

Animal Health and BiosecuritySituation I • You arrive at your regional production show and go to the show office to get your number and class schedule. The show officials inform you that you did not include a copy of the negative EIA status (Coggins Test) for your horse with your entry. Since this is one of the required health tests, you will not be permitted to show. You have traveled 2 hours to compete in this show and you do not have a copy of the test results. • Should you be allowed to show? • What would you do?

Animal Health and BiosecuritySituation II • Even though your health papers are in order, you notice your horse exhibiting signs of influenza (high temperature, nasal discharge, cough) as you are loading it in the trailer to go to a show. • Should you take the horse to the show? • What would you do?

Responsibility Animal Care and Ownership Honesty and Sportsmanship Animal Health, Biosecurity & Safety • Quality Assurance Human Health & Safety Ethics and Conduct

Quality AssuranceNon-Food Producing Animals • I will be aware of and abide by all event rules regarding drugs and medications. • For non-food producing animals, I will ensure that my animals are not administered drugs other than those allowed by laws, regulations, or other event rules.

Quality Assurance • I understand that horses in randomly selected classes will be drug tested at the state show. • I will submit my horse for drug testing at the state show upon request.

Quality Assurance Situation I • Your horse becomes very nervous in the arena during schooling at the district horse show. A fellow exhibitor’s parent offers acepromazine (a tranquilizer) to calm your horse down before the show begins. • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Quality Assurance Situation II • You have an 18 year old gelding that has mild degenerative joint disease. He is sometimes a little sore and slightly lame. Your veterinarian advises you that it is OK to ride him, and prescribes phenylbutazone (“bute”) to use before the show. • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Responsibility Animal Care and Ownership Honesty and Sportsmanship Animal Health, Biosecurity & Safety Quality Assurance • Human Health & Safety Ethics and Conduct

Human Health and Safety • I understand that some fitting and grooming products contain compounds that may be hazardous to human health if inhaled or adsorbed through the skin. • I will be prudent and cautious in handling fitting products that may contain potentially harmful compounds. • Examples: • Methylene Chloride • Toluene

Human Health and Safety • Iwill use fitting and grooming products only according to label directions. • I will not conceal the identity of any fitting or grooming product! • I will learn more about safety with horses and ask questions of a knowledgeable adult if I need help with my horse.

Human Health and Safety Situation I • You are preparing your horse to compete in the district show. Adults in the stall next to you are applying aerosol grooming products to a horse, and the fumes drift directly into your stall. You can not see what product they are using.. • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Human Health and Safety Situation II • It is a hot, humid, but slightly windy day at the county roundup and flies are irritating your horse. You begin to spray your horse before entering the show ring, and the wind causes the fly spray to reach you, instead of your horse! • Is this a problem? • What should you do?

Human Health and Safety Situation III • You are fitting you horse for Grooming and Showmanship. You plan to buy hoof black and white spray from a vendor at the show to use on your horse. When you look at the labels, you notice the hoof black and white spray both contain methylene chloride. Your horse’s feet and legs are not very clean, and you really need the hoof black and spray. • Is this a problem? • What should you do?

Human Health and Safety Situation IV • You are a beginner rider and can’t afford an expensive horse. Your parents have little experience with horses, but are willing to buy you a horse. A local horse breeder offers you a yearling that is very pretty and cheap, but has little training. The breeder says “you can grow up and learn together.” • Is this a problem? • What would you do?

Responsibility Animal Care and Ownership Honesty and Sportsmanship Animal Health, Biosecurity & Safety Quality Assurance Human Health & Safety • Ethics and Conduct

Ethics and Conduct • I will remember that I am involved in animal projects to develop personal and interpersonal skills, not simply to win in the show ring. • I will remember that I am involved in 4-H horse projects to learn and advance my understanding of safety, horsemanship, animal care and management.

Ethics and Conduct • My parent/guardian and I will read and discuss our county, state, event and/or Pennsylvania 4-H Code of Conduct. • I agree to abide by these codes of conduct. • I will read and abide by the current Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Show Rule Book and any other 4-H event or activity rules.

Ethics and Conduct • I will bring any questionable act I observe to my parents. • My family and I will take the issue to the proper program authority. • My family and I will display good sportsmanship and abide by that authority’s decision.

Ethics and Conduct • I understand that parents and leaders must continually influence youth by positive example. • I understand that I am absolutely responsible for my project animal and my behavior. • I understand that my conduct reflects all of 4-H and the entire agricultural industry. • I will HAVE FUN!

Ethics and Conduct Situation I • You observe a competitor in the stall next to you tying his horse “high and short” for several hours. This is done to tire the horse and cause it to carry its head lower in a western pleasure class. • Why is this a problem? • What would you do?

Ethics and Conduct Situation II • Your horse would not load in the trailer and you arrive late at the show. You rush to get ready for your first class, but forget to wear your number.Your horse works very well, but you are not placed. As you are leaving the arena, you say loudly to your mother, “Mom, you forgot to put my number on!” • Is this a problem? • What should you do?

Ethics and Conduct Situation III • You are busy working your horse for the next class. You are parked a long distance from the show ring and can not hear the announcer very well. You are late for the class, and complain to the show steward when you are not allowed to enter. • Is this a problem? • What should you do?

Ethics and Conduct Remember….. “The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it.” General H. Norman Swartzkopf

References & Resources • Horses, Kids and Ethics video • Jeff Goodwin • 4-H Horse Safety Packets, I & II • Available in each county • List of materials on web site • 4-H Horse References List • Includes ordering information for many resources

References & Resources • Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Show Rule Book and available supplements. • Available from county extension offices • Also on web site • Penn State Horse Program web site • www.das.psu.edu • Click on horses - then 4-H horse program, then references!

Youth Horse Projects: Your Responsibilities