AjPHA Youth Team Tournament: Hippology, Knowledge Relay, Performance Classes
Photo courtesy of APHA.
PHJ press release by: Jessica Hein
Thinking of heading to Fort Worth, Texas, for the 2015 AjPHA Youth World Championship Show? Grab your BFF and saddle up for the 2015 AjPHA Youth Team Tournament, a team competition that tests your horsemanship skills in a mix of horse show classes and brainteasers.
All regional Paint Horse clubs are invited to send teams to compete in the Youth Team Tournament, which takes place in conjunction with the Youth World Show June 23–July 4 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. Team sizes can range from two to 20 Youth members, and Youth must be active members of their representative club. Make plants to take part in fun events filled with camaraderie and state spirit by entering your team by May 15.
The Youth Team Tournament has three components: Performance Classes, Hippology and Knowledge Relay. These phases test competitors’ knowledge of horses, teamwork and horsemanship.
Performance Classes: Designated team members participate in five classes: Showmanship, Hunt-Seat Equitation, Western Horsemanship, Barrel Racing and Walk-Trot Pleasure. Up to two contestants per team may compete in any one class, and top-placing contestants earn points for their team’s overall ranking.
Knowledge Relay: This phase of the competition takes equine knowledge to the next level by having participants navigate through an obstacle course while performing a variety of horse-related activities like tacking up a fake horse or assembling a bridle. Each team consists of up to five members, and participation from each age group—including even the youngest Walk-Trot exhibitors—is encouraged in this fun events that emphasizes the importance of teamwork.
Hippology: The hippology portion of the contest truly puts team members’ horsey know-how to the test. Up to eight members per team collectively complete a hippology—general horse knowledge—test as a group. Questions range from equine anatomy and physiology to situational questions and everything in between. Test scores are added to the team points.
Photo courtesy of APHA.
Entry fees are $100 per team, regardless of the number of participants. Teams must compete in two out of the three main events. Top teams—based on the most collective points earned throughout the YTT competition—wins great prizes, along with having a ton of fun along the way. Entries must be postmarked by May 15, so enter today!
For more information, contact Director of Youth Activities Christine Henry at (817) 222-6436 or chenry@apha.com.
Ready to brush up on your AjPHA and general horse knowledge for the YTT Hippology contest? Crack open these study guides:
English Saddle Parts/Info, Equusite.com/Cheryl Sutor
Western Saddle Parts/Info, Equusite.com/Cheryl Sutor
Body Condition of Horses by David Freeman, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fact Sheet F-3920
Horse Health: Vital Signs and Hoof Care/Problems
