4-H Announces State Horse Show Results

COURT HOUSE – Over 200 4-H members from throughout New Jersey gathered to compete in the English, Western, Dressage, Driving, Very Small Equine, Challenged Rider and Game Divisions at the New Jersey State 4-H Championship Horse Show, held August 22-24 at the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown.
Congratulations to local 4-Hers who represented Cape May County at the horse show. 2014 4-H Senior Equestrian of the Year Andrea-Denise Armstrong, of Burleigh, represented Cape May County in the NJ State 4-H Equestrian of the Year Contest in Monmouth County Aug. 16. She was recognized along with contestants from other counties at state horse show opening ceremonies Aug. 22.
Kelly Suter, Shore Blazers 4-H Club member from Lower Township, won Grand Championships in Senior Hunter Under Saddle, Senior Equitation Over Fences and Working Hunter. She also earned Reserve Championships in English Halter and Senior Equitation on the Flat, as well as 5th place in Hunter Hack Horse and 3rd place in Handy Working Hunter.
Andrew Heim, Cape May County’s Junior 4-H Equestrian of the Year, brought home Grand Championships in Pony Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Hack Pony and Working Hunter Pony. Andrew took 3rd place awards in both Junior Equitation Over Fences and Handy Working Hunter Pony. He also won 5th place in Junior Equitation on the Flat.
State Horse Show First Timer Jackson Schiffbauer, of Lower Township, earned a Reserve Championship in Junior Western Horsemanship, 5th in Western Halter Geldings, 6th in Junior Western Pleasure and a 9th in Junior Western Showmanship and Grooming. Andrew and Jackson are also Shore Blazers 4-H Club members from Lower Township.
Tessa Wozunk and Erin Schalick, both of Cape May Court House, rounded out the state horse show team with their first visits to the show. Both 4-Hers are members of the Healing Hooves 4-H Club.
To compete in the state horse show, 4-H members must qualify with their horse projects by riding in horse shows at the county level. The top two scoring riders in each class are then eligible to take part in the state event. Although 10 Cape May County 4-H youth qualified for the state show this year, only five were able to attend.
For more information on the 4-H horse program and many other 4-H opportunities for youth in Cape May County, attend the 4-H Open House scheduled for Wednesday, October 8th at 6:30 pm at the Lockwood 4-H Youth Center, located on the 4-H Fairgrounds at 355 Court House-S. Dennis Rd. in Cape May Court House.
The Cape May County 4-H Horse Council welcomes riders to the Fall Open Horse Show Sept. 21, beginning at 8:00 a.m. There are horse show divisions for all riding levels, including leadline and future 4-Her classes for riders 3rd grade and under. Ribbons will be given in all classes with prizes for first place and division winners. All riders are required to wear a safety helmet and provide their own horses.
The horse show entry fee is $35.00 per day or $10.00 per class if preregistered with payment by Sept. 19 and $45.00 per day or $13.00 per class on the day of the show.
The show takes place at the County 4-H Fairgrounds, on Courthouse-South Dennis Road, in Cape May Court House. The public is invited to attend this display of equestrian skill. A rain date of Sept. 28 has been set in case of inclement weather.
For additional information and entry forms, contact the 4-H office at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, (609) 465-5115, ext. 605. Horse show entry forms are also available at the extension office, located at 355 Courthouse-South Dennis Road.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of 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, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. For more information, check out the 4-H Foundation website at cmc4h.com.