In another impressive display of skill, dedication, and equestrian expertise, Currituck County 4-H’er, Cayden Lowe, a member of the NC State 4-H Horse Judging Team, helped lead her team to victory in the Horse Judging competition at the Eastern National 4-H Roundup held in Louisville, Kentucky, November 8-9, 2024.
Competing against teams from across the country, the NC state team delivered an outstanding performance earning 1st place in conformation judging, performance judging and oral reasons, on their way to 1st place overall team honors. All four members of the NC team placed in the top 10 as individuals with their outstanding performances. In this very competitive contest Cayden led her team with high scores in conformation (2nd), performance (4th) and reasons (3rd), earning the prestigious honor of being the top individual judge in the 4-H competition.
Cayden and the NC 4-H Horse Judging Team also competed at the Southern Region 4-H Championships in Perry, Georgia (August) and the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio (October). They placed fourth in both competitions and used the experience and knowledge gained to propel them to their first place finish in their final competition of the year.
Preparation and participation in national-level horse judging competitions involves months of intense study and training and requires that individuals develop technical proficiency in horse anatomy and conformation, public speaking and analytical insight. Cayden and the rest of the NC 4-H Horse Judging Team are to be commended for their dedication and commitment to excellence!
4-H is North Carolina’s largest youth development organization, equipping more than 263,000 young people each year with the skills to succeed and improve the world around them. 4-H programs and camps encourage young people to “learn by doing,” helping them to develop into active, contributing citizens. NC State Extension and the Cooperative Extension Program at N.C. A&T State University coordinate 4-H programs statewide.