Washington State 4-H Hippology Rules


What is Hippology?
Hippology is a Greek word, with the word root "hippo" meaning horse and "ology" meaning the study of. Hippology was first presented in Washington State in 1997 when Pierce County sponsored an exhibition at State Fair in Puyallup.

Objectives
The primary objectives of the Hippology Contest are to provide, in a friendly but competitive setting:

Contestants and Eligibility

  1. Team Make Up
    1. Each county may enter one senior and one intermediate team consisting of at least three (3) members but not more than four (4) members per team.
    2. On teams on which there are four (4) members, all will participate, but the member receiving the lowest overall score will be automatically declared the alternate.
    3. The scores of the alternate will not be included in any of the team totals but will be considered in making all individual awards. (Note: The alternate's scores may not always be the lowest score in a contest phase, but will be the lowest total individual score.)
    4. Teams consisting of three members will have no alternate and all members' scores will count in determining individual and team awards. All participants in the contest will be eligible for individual awards and/or recognition.
    5. Counties may combine to form an intermediate and/or senior team
  1. Teams may be selected by any means appropriate to the county they represent. Counties may combine to form an intermediate and/or senior team.
  2. Contestants must enter in either the intermediate or senior division. Intermediates are those individuals in 6th through 8th grade as of October 1st of the current year. Seniors are 4-Hers in the 9th grade and above, as of October 1st of the current year, but have not passed their 19th birthday by January 1 of the current year. All contestants must be enrolled in 4-H during the current year and eligibility must be certified by a county 4-H staff person.
  3. The senior winning Hippology Team at the state contest will be invited to represent Washington in the Eastern National 4-H Round-Up in Louisville, KY. They will be ineligible to compete in future Washington State Hippology contests.
  4. Contestants (including team alternates) on the state winning senior team that goes on to the national contest cannot participate again in the state hippology contest. All intermediate teams may return.
  5. Other eligibility requirements will be detailed in the entry form to be made available prior to the contest, including but not limited to fees involved or deadlines.

Reference Materials
All the information covered in this contest must be found in one or more of the following publications.

The Contest

  1. Examination Phase - 200 points maximum per individual, 600 points maximum per team. This phase of the contest may include:
    1. a written examination (or exams) regarding any number of horse topics.
    2. projected slides may be used and shown to the group to be identified as to breed, color, color pattern, activity, proper appointments, etc.

Example of Scoring: An examination of 50 questions containing selections of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and matching, to be completed in a 20-minute time limit, with each correct answer being worth 4 points. No half points or partially correct answers allowed.

  1. Identification Station Phase - 200 points maximum per individual, 600 points maximum per team. This phase will consist of a series of 10 stations or tables where all contestants will individually respond to the requirements of the station writing their answers on a score sheet. All contestants will be provided with a multiple-choice card at each station that contains all of the correct answers for the station. Not all answers will always be used, but only those choices on the multiple-choice card will be counted as correct answers. The time allowed at each station will be two (2) minutes. Contestants will start at any station and work their way individually through each station at the direction of the timekeeper until all 10 stations are completed. Examples of stations which may be used include, but are not limited to the following.
    1. Various types of saddles (actual or pictured) and parts of saddles.
    2. Tack, bits, bridles, horse shoes, grooming equipment, horse clothing and blankets.
    3. Grains, feeds and forages used in equine rations including various supplements.
    4. Internal and external parasites based on actual samples, pictures, life cycle charts, damage caused.
    5. Disease processes; signs, symptoms and prognosis.
    6. Vaccinations and/or medications and usage of same.
    7. Blemishes and unsoundnesses; conformation anomalies.
    8. Ages of equines based on teeth and identification of types of teeth
    9. Common weeds and poisonous plants identification. Symptoms of poisoning.
    10. Measurements, such as--but not limited to--wither height, shoe size, girth, collar size, gullet width, seat length of saddle, length and capacity of body parts, and western games arena equipment dimensions, etc., may be required.
    11. Identify and/or describe the purpose of organ systems within the horse.
    12. Riding discipline information, particular information about harness driving, western games, dressage, equitation over fences, etc.
    13. Identification of colors, breeds and types of horses.

Example of Scoring: Ten (10) Identification Stations, each with 10 objects with each correct answer being worth two (2) points. No half points or partially correct answers allowed.

  1. Judging Phase - 200 points maximum per individual, 600 points maximum per team. Contestants will be required to place a total of four (4) classes. No written or oral reasons are required. Classes may include any of the following.
    1. Conformation classes. See examples in b).
    2. Performance classes. Examples of classes could be Stockseat Halter Type, Saddleseat Mares, Western Pleasure and Huntseat Equitation.
    3. Classes of feeds.
    4. Classes of tack or appointments.
    5. In the event of an emergency where live classes cannot be scheduled, photographs or videos may be substituted.

Example of Scoring: Use regular judging score cards, with a maximum possible of 50 points per class and a total of four classes. Placings to be determined by appointed judge of this phase complete with cuts in the placings. (Note: Hippology can be easily combined with a scheduled judging event). No reasons (written or oral) required.

  1. Team Problem Solving - 200 points maximum per individual, 600 points maximum per team. All teams will be presented with the same problem. Each team will have 10 minutes to discuss the problem among themselves, making notes as appropriate on their team problem worksheets. Teams will not have access to the team problem worksheet until the timekeeper is able to start their 10 minute time limit. Prior to presentation the team's individual worksheets will be turned into the judge. The team will then present an oral solution or series of suggested procedures relative to the problem. Each member of each team will contribute to the oral presentation. The oral presentation should not last longer than six (6) minutes. Evaluation will be based on the overall presentation of the team, their understanding of the problem, the completeness of the response, the probability of success of the solution or procedures, and the logic used in making the oral response. The official(s) may ask questions of any or all of the team members to clarify the presentation. Questions from the official(s) do not impact the six (6) minute time limit. All teams will be judged by the same judge or team of judges.

    Examples of possible team problems might include the following.
    1. Balancing a horse's ration.
    2. Farm management recommendations for specific, (i.e., breeding, training, boarding, nursery, lay-up, etc.) horse operations. Considerations for the establishment of a new horse facility (stable to be used for a specific purpose).
    3. Recommendations for selecting, locating and purchasing horses for specific uses.
    4. Behavior problems - causes, management of, and corrections.
    5. Training and conditioning programs - equipment, schedules, methods, nutrition, problem avoidance.
    6. Breeding and/or leasing contracts - specific clauses for insurance, liability, payments, care, termination, transport, etc.
    7. Demonstrate skill or ability to use specific equipment, i.e. assembling a harness.
    8. Design a course to be used for equitation over fences, eventing or trail.
    9. How to rehabilitate a neglected or abused horse.

Example of Scoring: Individual scores given for presentation only (will differ among team members) of a maximum of 100 points, Organization and Content (will be the same for each team member) are worth a maximum of 50 points each for a total of 100. A further explanation for this would be: Team Member A scores 81 on presentation, Team Member B scores 73, Team Member C scores 64 and Team Member D scores 88. Overall the group's score for Organization is 40 and for Content is 48.

The following scores would be awarded:

Tie Breaking
All ties overall, individual and team, will be broken using the following sequence:


Awards
The top three (3) overall individual scores, per senior and intermediate divisions, will be awarded placing medals, gold for top score, silver for second and bronze for third. The top individual in each phase, per senior and intermediate division will receive an award (i.e., a rosette). Each member of the top five (5) teams, per senior and intermediate division, will be recognized with rosette ribbons.

Adopted February 2006

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