Nearly fifty (50) 4-H horse club members from 10 counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem, and Warren) competed in the New Jersey State 4-H Hippology & Horse Judging Contests held virtually on April 10 and April 11.
The New Jersey 4-H Hippology Project is a unique and challenging aspect of the 4-H Horse Program. This educational project allows 4-H’ers to demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have acquired in the Horse Bowl and horse judging projects as well as their competency in practical horse management.
Hippology combines horse judging, the technical knowledge learned in Horse Bowl, and the practical application of various horse related skills. 4-H members put their knowledge to use as they complete an examination phase, a station phase that includes identifying horse-related items, a judging phase, and a team problems phase that emphasizes teamwork and planning.
The State Competition uses four different phases (horse judging, examinations, stations and team problems) in which the 4-Hers express their equine learning through written quizzes, oral presentations and hands-on stations.
For the Hipplology Contest, the High Overall Individuals in the Junior Division ranking 1st-10th place were: Sarah Kauffman (Middlesex County), Evelyn Evans (Burlington County), Sarah Irianne (Monmouth County), Gianni Tanzi (Monmouth County), Cadence Spilker (Atlantic County), Monica D’Aivto (Monmouth County), Anna Sauchelli (Ocean County), Aryanna Kuchta (Salem County), Melanie Farrell (Gloucester County), and Carleigh Haney (Salem County).
The Junior Division High Overall Teams were:
1st Place – Salem/Middlesex Team. Team members included Jaycee Redrow of Salem County, Carleigh Haney from Salem County, Aryanna Kuchta of Salem County, and Sarah Kauffman from Middlesex County.
2nd Place – Monmouth Team A. Team members from Monmouth County were Gianna Tanzi, Emmaleigh Cutrona, Kaitlyn Waterman, and Sarah Irianne.
3rd Place – Atlantic/Burlington Team. Team members included Bailey Passalaqua from Atlantic County, Cadence Spilker from Atlantic County, and Evelyn Evans from Burlington County.
4th Place Team – Monmouth Team B. Team members from Monmouth County were Anthony Paolello, Emmalyn Irianne, Monica D’Aivto, and Tea’ Gallucci.
High Overall Individuals in the Senior Division ranking 1st-10th place were: Samantha Ingerson (Atlantic County), Christina Piparo (Hunterdon County), Alex Fontaine (Warren County), MacKenzie Esposito (Atlantiic County), Abbey Schneider (Burlington County), Kimberly Kolibas (Warren County), Alexa Cook (Hunterdon Countyy), Caitlin Crawford (Cumberland Countyy), Jordan Paolello (Monmouth County), and Megan Connelly (Hunterdon County).
The Senior Division High Overall Teams were:
1st Place – Hunterdon/Warren Team. Team members included Christina Piparo, Alexa Cook, and Megan Connelly from Hunterdon County and Alex Fontaine from Warren County.
2nd Place – Atlantic/Cumberland Team. Team members were MacKenzie Esposito and Samantha Ingerson from Atlantic County and Julia Moreno and Caitlin Crawford from Cumberland County.
3rd Place – Monmouth/Middlesex Team. Team members included Isabella Boffardi, Jordan Paolello, and Jacqueline Tanzi from Monmouth County, and Annabella Sefa from Middlesex County.
4th Place Team – Warren Team. Team members from Warren County were Kimberley Kolibas, Lianna Vence, and Olivia Santini.
The 4-H Horse Judging Project provides youth with a wonderful opportunity to develop and/or improve their ability to envision the ideal horse and acknowledge undesirable characteristics associated with judging horses. This project also provides 4-H’ers with the opportunity to excel and be recognized for skills (such as verbal communication and deductive reasoning) which are not dependent upon a live horse project.
In horse judging, 4-H members make a careful study of animals measuring them individually against a commonly accepted ideal. 4-H members learn to look at a group of four horses (a class) and compare the balance and type, as well as the correctness of the structures of the horses. Generally, 4-H members also have an opportunity to give oral reasons for why they rated the classes the way they did. 4-H members who participate in horse judging become keen observers, poised and confident speakers, and learn that doing their best is a positive contribution to the team.
In the Horse Judging Contest, the High Overall Individuals in the Junior Division ranking 1st-10th place were: Jaycee Redrow (Salem County), Bailey Passalaqua (Atlantic County), Evelyn Evans (Burlington County), Cadence Spiker (Atlantic County), Melanie Farrell (Gloucester County), Anna Sauchelli (Ocean County), Carleigh Haney (Salem County), Sarah Kauffman (Middlesex County), Kelly Farrell (Gloucester County), Aryanna Kuchta (Salem County)
The Junior Division High Overall Teams were:
1st Place – Atlantic/Burlington Team. Team members included Bailey Passalaqua of Atlantic County, Cadence Spiker from Atlantic County, and Evelyn Evans from Burlington County.
2nd Place – Salem/Middlesex Team. Team members were Carleigh Haney from Salem County. Jaycee Redrow of Salem County, Aryanna Kuchta of Salem County, and Sarah Kauffman from Middlesex County.
3rd Place – Gloucester/Ocean Team. Team members included Melanie Farrell and Kelly Farrell from Gloucester County and Anna Sauchelli from Ocean County.
High Overall Individuals in the Senior Division ranking 1st-10th place were: Kimberly Kolibas (Warren County), MacKenzie Esposito (Atlantic County), Jordan Paolello (Monmouth County), Megan Brooks (Salem County), Lianna Vence (Warren County), Charlee Redrow (Salem County), Alex Morgan (Ocean County), Olivia Santini (Warren County), Delaney Wiggins (Monmouth County), and Grace Miller (Atlantic County).
The Senior Division High Overall Teams were:
1st Place – Warren Team. Team members from Warren County were Kimberley Kolibas, Lianna Vence, and Olivia Santini.
2nd Place – Atlantic/Ocean Team. Team members were MacKenzie Esposito and Grace Miller from Atlantic County and Alex Morgan from Ocean County.
3rd Place – Salem/Cumberland Team. Team members included Charlee Redrow, Megan Brooks, and Madison Griscom from Salem County and Julia Moreno from Cumberland County.
4th Place Team – Monmouth Team. Team members from Monmouth County included Delaney Wiggins, Tierney Wiggins, Jordan Paolello, and Jacqueline Tanzi.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. 4-H offers educational programs to all youth, grades K-13 (one year out of high school), on an age-appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. For more information about the New Jersey 4-H Program, administered by Rutgers Cooperative Extension visit the website at http://nj4h.rutgers.edu. Like us on Facebook at New Jersey 4-H.
