DEPARTMENT 16-YOUTH HORSES
SUPERINTENDENT Melissa Muma
Fair check in is Sunday, August 2, 2026 8a-4p
RULES FOR THE CLARE COUNTY HORSE PROJECT
GENERAL
- Exhibitors must attend at least six (6) meetings of the local horse club and 2 clinics during the club year. Clinics will be put on by a person designated by the CCYEA.
- Exhibitors must complete all required project records.
- Exhibitors must own or have access to and designate a project animal by May 1st. A project sheet with the full side photograph must be to the fair office by May 1st.
- Exhibitors must do the grooming,/care of horses and stall work and as much training as possible.
- A Pee Wee and Walk Trot exhibitor may share a horse with a regular division a regular division rider.
- Exhibitors may show only one animal per class.
- The 1st place Showman in the senior and junior Fitting and Showing will be entered in the appropriate age division of the Overall Livestock Contest and receive an award equivalent to the livestock showman.
- 1st-6th place in all classes will receive a ribbon along with an ABC rating.
- Points for Grand and Reserve Senior and Junior Divisions will be computed on one horse one rider, for both Pleasure and Speed. a. Division Grand and Reverses are as follows: Senior Pleasure, Junior Pleasure, Senior Speed, Junior Speed. b. Walk/Trot and Pee Wee exhibitors are NOT eligible for classes listed in C below. Walk/Trot and Pee Wee will have their own awards. c. The following classes do hot have points calculated for Grand and Reserve: i. Halter ii. Versatility iii. Ranch Riding iiii. Green Western Riding/Reining
- Versatility consists of Western Pleasure, English Pleasure Cloverleaf and a 3 minute period to completely change horse and rider appointments. Two helpers are allowed for the 3-minute change of appointments per child. A disqualification for any one segment of versatility will be a disqualification form the entire versatility class.
- Horses are allowed to be exercised in the arena during daylight hours only. no loose horses allowed in the main arena. Horses may be turned loose in the small arena up top with a parent or leader present.
- Exhibitors may show 1 animal at the fair. a. One may bring a second pleasure horse if one is under the age of 2 and used for Halter Class only. b. Pee Wee and Walk/Trot may only bring one horse. c. Weanlings and yearlings may be brought in for their specific class and do not need to be stalled all week. The same paperwork must be turned into the fair office.
- All horses must be on the grounds by 4pm on the opening Sunday of fair. Horses may not be released until 8pm the following Saturday of fair by the Superintendent.
- Any unbecoming or unsportsmanlike conduct by an exhibitor may result in a disqualification from the event and or the remaining events as deemed necessary by the Fair Board, Superintendent and/or Clare County Youth Equine Association.
- Exhibitors must be residents of Clare County, enrolled in Clare County School District or be reenrolled in the Clare County Youth Equine Association.
- Members must be deemed safe and have leader and parent permission to enter all classes. Leader and parent signature is required on project sheets.
- Proper show attire must be worn for all classes and awards ceremony (allowance will be made to proper attire if exhibitor is showing in another area of the fair), Judges discretion if attire changes made for weather.
- All ribbons will be handed out at the end of the show day. Trophies and awards will be handed out at the Awards ceremony on Thursday.
- The Clare County Youth Horse Program follows the modified 4-H Horse Show Rules.
- The minimum age of a member is 8 years old except pee wee classes and the maximum age is 19 years. Age is determined as of January 1st of the fair year.
- An Exhibitor six (6) to seven (7) years old may trailer a horse in for the Pee Wee. If an exhibitor chooses to do this, they are ineligible to enter any other classes.
- The age groups will be as follows:
Junior - Age 8-12
Walk/Trot - Age 8-19
Pee Wee 6 - 7 years old.
Lead Line 6 - 25 years old
Developmentally Disabled 6-25 paperwork needs to be in the fair office.
PEE WEE GUIDELINES:
- An exhibitor 6 to 7 years of age is eligible.
- Exhibitors in the Pee Wee Division may enter only Pee Wee designated classes.
- Pee wee Trail Class will have three (3) to four (4) obstacles.
- Exhibitors in a Pee Wee Class must wear ASTM -or- SEI approved helmets for all classes.
- Lead-line participants may enter either Lead line or PEE WEE classes, NOT BOTH.
- Exhibitors at least 8 years of age may show in Walk Trot classes more than one year, eligibility will be determined by the leader and parent.
- Participants in Walk Trot may enter only Walk Trot designated classes.
- Exhibitors in Walk Trot Class must wear ASTM - or SEI approved helmets for all classes.
- Points will be accumulated in all classes.
- Points may be accumulated on only one horse.
- Cantering in the Walk Trot classes will result in disqualification if the rider does not bring the horse back to trot in 3 strides. There will be a sixty (60) second penalty for leading or having the horse follow a handler through any pattern. Standard gymkhana rules apply.
Grand and Reserve Grand Senior and Junior will be awarded.
Points are based on how many horses were shown in the class. No more than 6 placings, points as follows:
# Horses in Class 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
6+ 6 5 4 3 2 1
5 5 4 3 2 1
4 4 3 2 1
3 3 2 1
2 2 1
1 1
These classes are not included in age group high points and will have their own awards.
i. Halter ii. Versatility iii. Ranch Riding iiii. Green Western Riding/Reining
All other classes are counted as age group high points based on one horse one rider,
Fun day classes have no premiums
Tuesday 2:00pm
Halter - HORSE AND PONY F
1600 - 2 and under
1601 - 4 and over Mare
1602 - 3 and over Gelding
Grand/Reserve Halter
PREMIUM A---10.00 B---8.00 C---6.00
Fitting and Showing Horse and Pony
1603 - Senior 1605 - Walk/Trot
1604 - Junior 1606 - Pee Wee
In Hand Trail - Horse and Pony
1607 - Senior 1609 - Walk/Trot
1608 - Junior 1610 - Pee Wee
Trail - Horse and Pony
1611 - Senior 1613 - Walk/Trot
1612 - Junior 1614 - Pee Wee
Western Horsemanship - Horse and Pony
1615 - Senior 1617 - Walk/Trot
1616 - Junior 1618 - Pee Wee
Lead Line Horsemanship
1619
Western Pleasure - Horse and Pony
1620 - Senior 1622 - Walk/Trot
1621 - Junior 1623 - Pee Wee
Ranch Riding
1624
Green Western Riding -even years/ Reining odd years
1625
Western Barback Horsemanship - Horse and Pony
1626 - Senior
1627 - Junior
WEDNESDAY - 2:00pm
Dressage - Qualifying participants names need to be giving to fair office by 7/1 .
1628-Dressage - Introductory Level - Test C
English Equitation- Horse and Pony
1629 - Senior 1631- Walk/Trot
1630 - Junior 1632 - Pee Wee
English Pleasure - Horse and Pony
1633 - Senior 1635 - Walk/Trot
1634 - Junior 1636 - Pee Wee
Versatility
1637
Cloverleaf - Horse and Pony
1638 - Senior 1640 - Walk/Trot
1639 - Junior 1641 - Pee Wee
1942- Cloverleaf- Lead line
Indian Flag Race - Horse and Pony
1643 - Senior 1645 - Walk/Trot
1644 - Junior 1646 - Pee Wee
Pole Bending - Horse and Pony
1647 - Senior 1649 - Walk/Trot
1648 - Junior 1650 - Pee Wee
Keyhole - Horse and Pony
1651 - Senior 1653 - Walk/Trot
1652 - Junior 1654 - Pee Wee
Speed and Action - Horse and Pony
1655 - Senior 1657 - Walk/Trot
1656 - Junior 1658 - Pee Wee
Down and Back - Horse and Pony
1659 - Senior 1661 - Walk/Trot
1660 - Junior 1662 - Pee Wee
Record Keeping
1663- Senior 16-19 1665 - Junior 10-12
1664 - Intermediate 13-15 1666 - Beginner 6-9
THURSDAY
Awards Ceremony Thursday 10am -
FUN SHOW - starts 30 minutes after awards ceremony
Classes will be posted by 9am Monday morning of fair.
Classes decided by CCYEA. Subject to change yearly.
