County 4-H Members Capture Championship Awards at State 4-H Horse Shows

COURT HOUSE – Cape May County 4-H horse club members competed recently (Aug. 25-27) in the State 4-H Championship Horse Show held at the Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern. This is an annual event involving 4-H representatives from throughout the state competing in the English, Western, Dressage, Very Small Equine, and Game divisions.
Over 160 4-H members participated in the prestigious 4-H Championship Horse Show at the beautiful 147 acre Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown. Cape May County captured the Reserve Championship in the English Division for the third year in a row, thanks to the excellent performance of eight 4-H youth members and their horse projects.
Alexa DiPalantino, of Cape May Court House and the Star Hollow Riders 4-H Club, was the Reserve Champion in Hunter Hack Horse, 6^th in Junior English Showmanship & Grooming, 3^rd in Junior Hunter Under Saddle, 4^th in Junior Equitation on the Flat and 9^th in Junior Equitation Over Fences.
Coryn Dykhouse, who also lives in Cape May Court House and is a member of the Star Hollow Riders 4-H Club as well as the Teen Ambassadors 4-H Club, was the Reserve Champion in Senior English Pleasure Horse. She placed 3^rd in the Intro Level Walk, Trot, Canter Dressage Division and 6^th place in Senior Dressage Seat Equitation.
Robbie Elwell, of West Cape May and the Shore Blazers 4-H Club, earned Grand Champion awards in English Halter and Hunter Hack Pony as well as a Reserve Champion ribbon in in Hunter Under Saddle Pony. He placed 3^rd in Handy Working Hunter Pony and 6^th place in Working Hunter Pony and Junior Equitation Over Fences.
Kate Pantelione, of Belleplain and the Wranglers 4-H Club, placed 5^th in the Intro Level Walk, Trot, Canter Dressage Division, 8^th place in Junior English Showmanship and Grooming, 5^th place in Hunter Under Saddle Pony, 6^th in Handy Working Hunter Pony and 5^th in Working Hunter Pony.
Jessica Raymond, a Star Hollow Rider 4-H Club member from Cape May Court House, placed 8^th in both Senior English Pleasure Horse and Senior Equitation Over Fences.
Elizabeth Schalick, of Dias Creek and the Whinny Pigs 4-H Club as well as the Teen Ambassadors 4-H Club, also competed at the state horse show in Hunter Hack Pony.
Erin Schalick, of Dias Creek and the Whinny Pigs and Teen Ambassadors 4-H Clubs, competed in Senior Hunter Under Saddle and Senior Equitation on the Flat. In addition, Erin, as Cape May County Senior 4-H Equestrian of the Year, competed in the 2017 NJ State 4-H Equestrian of the Year contest.
Kelly Suter, of Erma and a member of the Shore Blazers 4-H Club did very well at her last 4-H horse show, winning Grand Championships in Senior English Showmanship and Grooming as well as Senior Hunter Under Saddle. Suter won Reserve Championships in Senior Equitation on the Flat, Working Hunter Horse and Handy Working Hunter Horse. In addition, she placed 3^rd in English Halter and Senior Equitation Over Fences and 5^th in Hunter Hack Horse.
The State 4-H Championship Horse Show is an annual three-day event that offers 4-H’ers an opportunity to compete at an advanced level and meet other 4-H horse project members from around the state of New Jersey. 
“Competitors at the state show are the best of the best from each county; they have earned the right to participate through county-level qualifying shows and lots of hard work,” said Linda Horner, Cape May County 4-H Program Coordinator.  “I am very proud of our Cape May County Team; they are all champions.”
The State 4-H Championship Horse Show is sponsored in part by the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board as well as by businesses and individuals from throughout the state, including Shellbay Campground in Cape May Court House.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth grades K – 13 on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, natural origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
Learn more about the Cape May County 4-H Youth Development Program at the 4-H Foundation website cmc4h.com or call 609-465-5115 ext. 3605.