County 4-H Members Compete at State Horse Show

COURT HOUSE – Congratulations to six 4-H horse club members who represented Cape May County at the New Jersey State 4-H Championship Horse Show, Aug. 21-23, at the Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern in Allentown.
2015 4-H Senior Equestrian of the Year Kelly Suter, of Lower Township represented Cape May County in the NJ State 4-H Equestrian of the Year Contest in Monmouth County Aug. 15. She was awarded a 3rd-Place Runner-Up ribbon at state horse show opening ceremonies Aug. 21.
Suter, also won the following Grand Championships in English Division competition on Saturday: English Halter, Senior Hunter Under Saddle and Working Hunter. She earned a Reserve Championship in Handy Working Hunter and the following additional placings: 5^th place Senior English Showmanship and Grooming and 4^th place Hunter Hack Horse. Suter is a member of the Shore Blazers 4-H Club and is also one of Cape May County’s Outstanding Senior 4-H Members this year.
Mackenzie Doughty, of Millville and a member of the Star Hollow Riders 4-H Club, placed 4^th in Dressage Intro Level Test A, 6^th place in the Dressage Intro Level Test B and 5^th in Pony Hunter Under Saddle.
Robbie Elwell, of Cape May and a member of the Shore Blazers 4-H Club, earned a Reserve Championship in Hunter Hack Pony, 4^th place in English Halter and 8^th place in Junior English Equitation on the Flat.
Emily Hess, of Rio Grande and member of the Shore Blazers 4-H Club, earned a Reserve Championship in Handy Working Hunter Pony, a 3^rd place in Junior English Equitation on the Flat and a 6^th place in Junior English Equitation Over Fences.
Victoria McCann, also of Lower Township and member of the Shore Blazers 4-H Club, won a Grand Championship in Pony English Hunter Under Saddle. She placed 4^th in Hunter Hack Pony.
Jessica Raymond, of Cape May Court House and member of the Star Hollow Riders 4-H Club, was Reserve Champion in the Dressage Senior Intro Level Test A and earned 5^th place in the Dressage Senior Intro Level Test B.
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. 
“The competing 4-H’ers are the best of the best from each county; they have earned the right to participate through county-level qualifying shows.” says Linda Horner, Acting 4-H Agent. She continued, “I am especially proud of our state competitors this year. It was their first trip to the championship show for all of them but Kelly Suter.”
 Over 212 4-H members from throughout New Jersey gathered to compete in the English, Western, Dressage, Driving, Very Small Equine, Challenged Rider and Game Divisions.
The State 4-H Championship Horse Show is sponsored in part by the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board as well as by many businesses, organizations and individuals from throughout the state.
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. 605.