Horse Bowl trots into N.C. State University

Media contact: Justin Moore, Extension communications, 704-250-5433

North Carolina State University is hosting the 2014 State 4-H Horse Bowl and Hippology Contest on Sat., March 1, in SAS Hall on the university’s campus. Coordinated by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service’s 4-H Horse Program, the annual event invites youth from across the state to test their knowledge of all things horse.

The Horse Bowl is a quiz-style competition pitting four-member teams against one another for horse-expert glory. Contest questions explore areas like horse anatomy and physiology, breeding, equipment, history and training. Teams are divided into three age-defined divisions (junior, junior-senior mixed, senior), with 4-H participants ranging from 9 to 19 years old.

If the Horse Bowl resembles Jeopardy, then the contest in hippology – which is the study of the horse – is a decathlon. The 4-H’ers blend their knowledge and skills acquired in horse judging, identification, written exams, public speaking and showing into one comprehensive contest.

The senior division must tackle a team problem, which presents a scenario about a horse or horse farm, and the team must come up with a logical answer based on the given circumstances. (Example: “Sunny is 20 years old, but is continuing to lose weight and not shed her hair coat. How would you diagnose these issues?”)

The judging portion of hippology will take place during the State 4-H Horse Judging Contest on April 26 at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh. State-level winners of the Horse Bowl and hippology contests advance to the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in Louisville, Ky., in Nov.

“The Horse Bowl and hippology events are an opportunity for our youth to gain valuable leadership experience while continuing a tradition of equine excellence in North Carolina,” said Dr. Mike Yoder, horse husbandry specialist and assistant professor with N.C. Cooperative Extension.

“Horses are an integral part of American history – they’ve carried us through centuries of progress – and it’s remarkable to watch today’s youth demonstrate such a high level of knowledge and dedication involving horses,” Yoder said.

The event kicks off at 8 a.m. and is open to the public. Click here for the agenda. Attendees can use the parking lot located at 2311 Stinson Dr. or the old stadium lot on Boney Drive, left of the main gate to North Campus (view map). Alternate parking can be found around campus and in the Coliseum Deck. There is no permit required on the weekends.

Fast Facts

• Equine = members of the Equidae family (horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and burros).
• North Carolina’s equine industry generates nearly $2 billion in annual economic impact.
• There are more than 53,000 equine-owning households in North Carolina.
• The state houses almost 20,000 equine-related jobs.
• Tail to tail, there are about 306,000 equine in North Carolina.

About the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program
Recognized as one of the top youth 4-H horse programs in the nation, the North Carolina 4-H Horse Program offers a variety of equine related activities on the county, district and state levels. Competitive events include the Horse Bowl, hippology, horse judging, horse presentation & public speaking, and artistic expression & creative writing. The program also offers several non-competitive options like horsemanship camps, leadership opportunities and additional group activities including trail rides and retreats.