For many young people, a horse is so much more than an animal. A horse can be a teacher, a teammate, a challenge, a source of confidence and a reason to show up and work hard even on the days when things do not go as planned.
As the Oceana County 4-H Program Coordinator, one of the things I love most about our horse program is that there truly is a place for everyone. Whether you have a riding horse, a driving horse, a draft horse, a miniature horse or simply a love for learning about horses, there are opportunities to get involved.
The 2026 season has been an exciting one for Oceana County 4-H horses, with youth earning state recognition, competing successfully at the state level, expanding opportunities through new programs and earning a spot at one of the biggest equine competitions in the country.
A Hippology Team Headed to Kentucky
One of the biggest highlights of our 2026 season has been the success of our Oceana 4-H Hippology Team. This year, 12 youth participated, and our Senior Team earned 1st Place Overall, qualifying them for the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup and Contest.
In November, our team will travel to Louisville, Kentucky, to compete at NAILE, the North American International Livestock Exposition, Nov. 6–8, 2026.
This is an incredible accomplishment for our youth and something I am extremely proud of as their 4-H coordinator. Hippology is not simply about knowing how to ride a horse. It is the academic side of the horse industry. Youth study anatomy, breeds, nutrition, health, equipment, management, care and so much more. They learn to identify items, solve problems and demonstrate their knowledge under the pressure of competition.
These youth have worked hard for this opportunity, and now we need our community's help to get them to Kentucky.
The cost of attending an event of this size adds up quickly with travel, lodging, registration, meals and other expenses. We are currently looking for community businesses, organizations, families and horse enthusiasts who would like to sponsor or donate toward our team's trip to Eastern Nationals.
Our youth have earned their spot. Now we want to make sure they have the opportunity to stand in that arena and represent Oceana County.
State Recognition
Our youth have also been recognized for their equine knowledge and dedication at the state level.
This year, Emery Velat, a Junior member, and Alayna Hammerle, a Senior member, both earned Michigan 4-H Equine Science State Awards. Lillian Wasson, Oceana Horse participant and Junior member also earned a Michigan 4-H State Award in Leadership.
These awards are especially meaningful because they recognize the educational side of 4-H horse projects. Our youth are learning far beyond what happens in the show ring. They are learning about horse health, nutrition, anatomy, breeds, training, management and responsible care.
Those are skills that stay with them long after the show season ends.
Creating More Opportunities for Youth
One of the things I am most proud of in our horse program is finding new ways to bring more young people into the world of horses, including those who may not have a horse of their own.
This winter and spring, we hosted a Horse SPIN Club at Paradise Ranch, made possible through funding from the Gerber Foundation. SPIN, or Special Interest, clubs give youth the opportunity to explore a specific interest without needing to own all of the animals or equipment required for a traditional 4-H project. Our Paradise Ranch Horse SPIN Club introduced youth to horsemanship and riding who may not otherwise have had the opportunity.
This spring, we also hosted a Horse Clinic at Dumaw Sands Ranch in Pentwater, featuring guest clinician Taylor Fabus, MSU Equestrian Team Coach and experienced horse show judge. Youth spent the day working on showmanship and horsemanship skills, gaining valuable instruction and new tools to take back into the show ring.
Not every child grows up on a farm or has a horse in their backyard. Horse ownership can be expensive, and access to riding and quality instruction is not always easy. By partnering with local horse owners, facilities and supporters, we can open that door a little wider.
For me, that is one of the most important parts of 4-H: creating opportunities for young people to discover a passion, build confidence and learn something they may not have had the chance to experience otherwise.
There Is More Than One Way to Love Horses
While riding is a big part of our program, it certainly is not the only way to participate.
Our hippology and horse judging programs are perfect for youth who love horses and want to learn, even if they do not have a horse of their own.
Horse judging teaches youth how to evaluate horses and explain the reasons behind their decisions. Hippology takes that learning even further, challenging youth to develop a strong understanding of the science, care, management and industry surrounding horses.
Some of our most successful equine youth are not necessarily the ones spending the most time in the saddle. They are the ones who love asking questions, studying and learning everything they can about the animal they love.
The Three-Year Futurity Challenge
Another unique opportunity within our program is our three-year futurity program, and this year we have two Oceana 4-H participants taking on that challenge and are in their final year.
Youth begin with a weanling or yearling and commit to raising, training and developing that horse over a three-year period. The youth are responsible for doing the training themselves, making it a tremendous hands-on learning experience.
It requires patience, consistency, responsibility and a lot of work.
At the completion of the three-year program, youth earn a futurity belt buckle, but the real reward is everything they learn along the way. Watching a young person develop a horse over several years and seeing the partnership they build is one of the things that makes programs like this so special.
Horse Camp, Memorial Show and Halloween Fun
Our horse program is also about building friendships and community.
Our Oceana 4-H Horse Camp gives youth a chance to spend time together, learn new skills and enjoy horses in a camp-style environment. It is about learning, but it is also about making memories with other young people who share the same passion.
We also host the Kaitlynn Scott Memorial Show, which gives our horse community an opportunity to come together while honoring Kaitlynn's memory.
And we are looking forward to adding some fun this fall with our Halloween Horse Show on Oct. 24, 2026. It will be a chance for our youth and families to enjoy horses in a fun and festive atmosphere and remind ourselves that while competition is important, having fun with our horses is just as important.
The Horse Barn Came to Life at the Fair
Many saw our 4-H horse youth in action during the Oceana County Fair.
Some of our youth haul their horses in and spend the fair right alongside the rest of our 4-H exhibitors. Our Light Horse participants hauled in on Thursday and begin showing Friday morning.
This year, the kids even voted on a theme for decorating the horse barn: Candyland!
The decorations are a fun example of the ownership we want our youth to have in their program. These are not just events planned for kids. We want the kids to have a voice in what their program looks like, what they want to learn and how they want to make it their own.
Community Support Makes a Difference
Programs like this do not happen without the support of our community.
This year, the Great Lakes Energy People's Fund helped Oceana County 4-H purchase a new horse show timer and equipment.
That may sound like a simple piece of equipment, but having reliable equipment allows us to provide better horse shows, practices and learning opportunities for our youth. Community support helps us build the program instead of simply maintaining it.
And right now, we have another big opportunity in front of us.
Our Hippology Team has earned the right to compete at Eastern Nationals in Kentucky. We want to give these young people the opportunity to experience that level of competition, represent Oceana County and see just how far their hard work can take them.
We are asking our community to help us get them there.
If you are a business, organization, family, horse enthusiast or community member who would like to support the Oceana 4-H Hippology Team's trip to Kentucky, we would be incredibly grateful. Every donation or sponsorship helps move these youth one step closer to standing in that national competition arena.
More Than a Horse Program
When I look at our Oceana County 4-H Horse Program, I see much more than horses.
I see kids learning responsibility by caring for an animal every day. I see youth learning how to work as a team. I see young people studying late for hippology contests, practicing their judging reasons, training horses, hauling to shows, helping each other and cheering each other on.
I see kids gaining confidence.
I see youth learning how to handle both winning and losing, how to communicate, how to problem solve and how to take responsibility for something outside of themselves.
And I see a program that is continuing to grow.
Whether you have a draft horse or a miniature, a riding horse or a driving horse, whether you are an experienced exhibitor or someone who has always wanted to learn more about horses, there is a place for you in Oceana County 4-H.
And if you do not have a horse at all, but you simply love horses and want to learn, our judging, hippology and SPIN opportunities may be the perfect place to start.
I am incredibly proud of what our youth have accomplished this year, and I am even more excited about where our horse program is going.
From Paradise Ranch to the fairgrounds, from our local horse shows to state competition, and now all the way to Louisville, Kentucky, our Oceana County 4-H youth are showing us that when young people are given an opportunity, supported by caring adults and surrounded by a community that believes in them, they can accomplish incredible things.
Our horses may be the reason they walk through the barn door, but it is the skills, friendships, confidence and memories they gain that will stay with them for a lifetime.
