NYS Fair 4-H Horse Show Information

Participating in the NYS Fair 4-H Horse Show

How to qualify:

• Each County is allowed to send 4 Horse/rider pairs in each division to the NYS Fair.
• Horse and riders must be evaluated and qualify. Educators have the discretion as to how to select those that qualify. Please only send youth prepared to show. Riders must receive blue ribbons and no more than one red in a division to be considered for qualification to show at the State Fair.  Riders who received white ribbons are not prepared to compete at the state level.

How to Enter:

• New - Youth/parents must register online not educators. There are two different online forms, both need to be completed to enter. (We hope to streamline this process next year, thank you for taking this extra step this year.)
• Exhibitors must receive endorsement of a county 4-H Educator, FFA Advisor or other breed organization to compete at the NYS Fair. Any entry that does not receive endorsement may be scratched.  Exhibitors should contact their local CCE Association before you enter to make verify eligibility and carefully follow any instructions provided.
• All entries must be submitted online to both NYS Fair and NYS 4-H Animal Science by 12:00 midnight on August 4, 2023.
• Exhibitors will need to complete both of the following entry forms:
  • 1) The NYS Fair 4-H Horse Show Entry Registration Form
  • 2) The NYS Fair ShoWorks Entry Form
  • 3) Instructions on how to enter via ShoWorks can be found here.
• Once registered, County Educators will receive an email to confirm that who registered qualify for the fair.
• If the educator does not confirm that a registrant qualified for the fair, that registrant will receive an email notification that they will not be able to participate.
• If your show is after the August 4th deadline, please work with your county educator. (Educators - please contact Brieanna at bh548 [at] cornell.edu if your show is after August 4th for instructions.)

Obtaining Tickets and Parking Passes

• All exhibitors should contact their county educator to obtain parking passes and entry tickets. NYS 4-H Horse Program does not receive tickets for exhibitors.

Contest Rules and Premium Books

Official NYS Fair contest rules, information, schedule and Premium books are updated regularly. Exhibitors should regularly consult the NYS Fair How to Enter website for the most recent changes and deadlines.  Youth exhibitors should contact their local CCE Association before entering to verify eligibility to participate at the State Fair and follow carefully any instructions provided.

2023 NYS 4-H Horse Class Schedule

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

• 1:00 pm - NYS 4-H Horse Show Office & Stables Open to Gymkhana Exhibitors

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Gymkhana, Silver Spurs Arena

Thursday, August 24, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Gymkhana, Silver Spurs Arena
• 5:00 pm - Stables open to Mounted Games Exhibitors

Friday, August 25, 2023

• 1:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Mounted Games Team Competition, Silver Spurs Arena
• 3:00 pm - Stable open to Drill/Parade/Quadrille Exhibitors

Saturday, August 26, 2023

• 1:00 pm - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Parade, Quadrille & Drill Teams, Silver Spurs Arena

​Sunday, August 27, 2023

• 7:30 am - Hippology & Judging Contests Check-in, Youth Pole Barn Arena 
• 8:00 am - Hippology & Judging Contests begin, Youth Pole Barn Arena
• 10:00 am - Stables open to Western Ranch Exhibitors  
• 4:00 pm - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Western Ranch Fitting & Showmanship and Trail, Silver Spurs Arena 

Monday, August 28, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Western Ranch Division, Silver Spurs Arena
• 9:00 am - Stables Open to Western Exhibitors

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Western Division, Coliseum
• 5:00 pm - Stables open to Driving & Miniature Exhibitors

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Western Division, Coliseum
• 10:30 am - Stables open to Driving Exhibitors who have not already arrived.
• 2:00 pm - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Estimated time for Driving Competition, Coliseum
• 5:00 pm - Stables open to Miniature Exhibitors who have not registered.

Thursday, August 31, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show: Miniature, Silver Spurs Arena
• 5:00 pm - Stables open for Western & English Dressage

Friday, September 1, 2023

• ​9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show:  Western & English Dressage, Silver Spurs Arena            

Saturday, September 2, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show:  Western & English Dressage, Silver Spurs Arena
• 6:00 pm - Stables open to Hunt & Saddle Seat

Sunday, September 3, 2023

• 9:00 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show:  Hunt Seat & Saddle Seat, Silver Spurs Arena

Monday, September 4, 2023            

• 9:30 am - NYS 4-H Horse Show:  Hunt Seat, Coliseum