Teams Recognized for Judging and Hippology Skills at Auburn University
Auburn, AL – The Calhoun County 4-H Horse Club and Competitive Agriculture Events Team achieved strong results at the Alabama 4-H Horse Judging and Hippology State Contest, held May 29 at Auburn University.
During the Horse Judging contest, participants evaluated two halter breed classes and two performance riding classes, then presented oral reasons to justify their rankings. The Hippology portion—focused on the study of horses—included individual activities such as an equine appraisal, examination, and equipment identification, along with a team problem-solving challenge.
The Junior Team, made up of Abbi Cone, Ella Kate Hegeman, and Lana Sprayberry, placed second overall in Judging and third in both the Team Problem Solving and Overall Hippology divisions. The Senior Team, consisting of Ethan Cone, Madison West, and Maggie West, finished third in all three categories: Judging, Hippology, and Team Problem Solving.
Newcomers Ethan Cone and Lana Sprayberry stood out as high scorers for their respective teams, contributing significantly to the group’s success.
Top Individual Results Included:
Junior Division
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Horse Judging High Point: 7th – Lana Sprayberry, 8th – Ella Kate Hegeman
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Oral Reasons High Point: 5th – Lana Sprayberry, 7th – Ella Kate Hegeman
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Overall Judging: 4th – Lana Sprayberry, 8th – Ella Kate Hegeman
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Hippology Overall: 5th – Ella Kate Hegeman, 10th – Abbi Cone
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Examination Phase: 3rd – Abbi Cone
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Identification Stations: 3rd – Ella Kate Hegeman, 6th – Abbi Cone
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Junior Record Book: 3rd – Ella Kate Hegeman
Senior Division
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Horse Judging High Point: 9th – Ethan Cone
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Oral Reasons High Point: 7th – Ethan Cone, 8th – Maggie West
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Overall Judging: 10th – Maggie West
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Hippology Overall: 9th – Ethan Cone
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Horse Evaluation: 7th – Ethan Cone
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Identification Stations: 5th – Ethan Cone, 10th – Madison West
These competitions challenge participants to expand their knowledge in equine science while building public speaking, reasoning, and teamwork skills.
