4-H is a youth development program that provides opportunities for young people to learn, develop skills, and contribute to their communities. Head, Heart, Hands, and Health are the four H’s in 4-H, and they are the four values members work on through fun and engaging programs.
In this case, 4-H is for horses. In this program you will learn the anatomy of a horse, you will walk through the medical side of owning horses, and you will learn how to show horses. To do this you have to know how to ride a horse properly first.
In shows for 4-H, there are different classes for different skill levels. Level 1 is the lowest, then 2B, 2A, and with 3 being the highest. There are a number of different events that you can do that each have their own pattern depending on your level.
Kaydee Westbrook has been in 4-H since the summer of 2024. So far it has been a long journey that has included joy, victory, mental breakdowns, and a lot of cussing. She is in level 2B and her events were Showmanship, English pleasure, English equitation (this is the pattern part), Western pleasure, horsemanship (this is the pattern for Western), and Trail (a bunch of obstacles laid out on the ground that you and your horse have to go through). Kaydee placed high every time she was in an event which goes to show just how far someone can come from starting at a beginner and going to where she is now.
Although showing is not for her, Kaydee will never forget the memories she made and the eye opening experiences she has gone through.
(Kaydee’s little brother sleeping on Trixie the horse)
