WORKSHOPS

01.

Shine Like a STAR: Mastering Job Interview Skills

This interactive workshop is designed to help teens build confidence and excel in job interviews. Participants will learn the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to craft clear, compelling answers to common interview questions. Through group activities and hands-on practice, teens will develop the skills to effectively share their experiences, highlight their strengths, and leave a lasting impression on potential employers. Whether preparing for a first job or a future career, this workshop equips participants with practical techniques to stand out and succeed in any interview setting.

Objectives

By the end of the workshop, teens will understand the STAR interview method and practice using it to confidently answer common job interview questions.

Speaker: Candi Bothum, Oregon State University

02.

Are you Sherlock Holmes or Inspector Clouseau? Determine Your Ability to be a Safety Sleuth and Learn How to Pass It On

Safety is such an important topic. We all may be able to remember someone telling us “safety first” or that “safety is number one.” But how can we make it fun to teach? It can seem like a boring topic to many who just want to get out and ride, drive or do something fun with a horse. But it really is important!

In this interactive workshop, participants will test their safety knowledge through a hands-on experience. Wrap your head around helmet safety including some recent updates. Treat yourself to an update on tack safety. Horse around to show off your horse handling skills. Evaluate the environmental aspects of safety and much more! Take the hands on tests and find out if you are Sherlock Holmes, a top notch investigator or Inspector Clouseau, needing a little work in this area. Leave with fun ideas you can implement back home.

Objectives:

Recognize safe practices.
Apply safety knowledge.
Create strategies to increase safety knowledge in youth.

SPEAKER: Dr. Jenifer Nadeau, Haley Rutstein, University of Connecticut

03.

Extension Horses, Inc: Your Source for Online Equine Educational Material

Adult leaders working with youth are often looking for quality resources for their own professional development, as well as resources to use to educate the youth they work with. In this workshop, we will present three short courses available through Extension Horses, Inc. The first course, HALTER (Horse Adult Leader Training and Educational Resource) provides content on all aspects of horse care plus content focused on working with youth. Next, , Hippology Academy, is an asynchronous course that is designed to help youth prepare for competitive events such as 4-H Hippology Contests, FFA CDE Contests, and Pony Club Horse Management competitions. The course covers 6 different content areas each year, and includes practice activities. The third short course is actually a suite of offerings focused on horse judging and evaluation, It is designed to develop selection and evaluation skills, as well as prepare youth for participating in horse judging competitions. In addition to the ‘learning to judge’ content, practice activities will also be presented.

Objectives:

Increase participants’ knowledge about general horse care and management
Increase participants’ awareness of resources available through Extension Horses, Inc.
Collect feedback from participants’ regarding the content available, and what other material they would need to effectively conduct their programs.

SPEAKERS: Dr. Colleen Brady, Purdue University Extension and Dr. Kathy Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension

04.

I Herd It Was Helpful: A Guide to Effective Coaching Techniques for the Arena and Classroom

The 4-H horse program is heavily reliant on the role of volunteer leaders to coach youth for horse events and knowledge contests. Volunteer leaders may not always be aware of resources available to them or may not be sure of where to begin when first starting a club. This workshop provides coaching strategies and resources to volunteer leaders to optimize the experience the youth receive from the 4-H Horse Program. The workshop will provide guidance for lesson plan creation and discovery of reputable resources. Other elements to effective coaching will be covered as well, including delivery of constructive feedback, how best to frame questions, accountability, real world application, defining the role of the student, and creating a learning community. These topics are not only applicable to 4-H volunteer leaders but also industry professionals looking to add to their coaching strategies.

Objectives:

Creating an appropriate lesson plan.
Developing a clear understanding of what constitutes dependable/correct content.
How to make textbook content engaging
Forging a sense of agency in the youth for their own learning
The power of peers: creating a learning community

SPEAKER: Anna Draeger, University of Kentucky

The Power of Knowledge: Experiences Outside the Arena

Utah 4-H hosts a series of horse contests each year that focus on equine knowledge, offering youth the opportunity to participate in competitive events, regardless of whether they own or ride horses. These events—Horse Bowl, Horse Judging, Hippology, Horse Demonstrations, and Horse Public Speaking—empower youth to develop and showcase their knowledge of horses, equine care, and industry standards, while also honing important life skills such as communication, critical thinking, and teamwork. This workshop will introduce participants to the different aspects of these competitions and provide practical tips and strategies for preparing for success.

Objectives: By the end of this workshop, participants will:

Understand the Structure and Purpose of Each Contest: Learn about the specific focus areas of Horse Bowl, Horse Judging, Hippology, Horse Demonstrations, and Public Speaking, and how these competitions help build essential life skills.
Explore Key Equine Knowledge Areas: Gain insights into the core knowledge required for each contest, including anatomy, breed identification, equine care, nutrition, health, and industry practices.
Build Confidence in Public Speaking and Presentation: Learn techniques for effectively presenting in public speaking events and delivering informative horse-related demonstrations.
Develop Teamwork and Leadership Skills: Practice collaboration, communication, and leadership in team-based contests like Horse Bowl, and understand the importance of working as a group.
Prepare for Success: Receive practical tips on how to study, prepare, and practice for each of the 4-H horse contests to improve performance and boost confidence.

SPEAKER: Utah 4-H Horse Ambassadors

Thinking Outside of the Box - Innovative Approaches to Attract and Retain Youth Members

It is no surprise that today’s youth are busier and more engaged with extracurricular activities than ever. Across the nation, 4-H horse program participation numbers have fluctuated, but are generally slowly decreasing as a whole. This session will explore innovative ways that programs can incentivize youth to participate, with a particular focus on creating attractive programming for new comers. While this program will specifically focus on the 4-H programmatic system, the scaffolding of these ideas can be applied to many different programs. This session will give insight into some programmatic developments that the NC 4-H Horse Program has used to see participation numbers increase since COVID and will have a round table discussion to brainstorm and share ideas that others have found helpful in their own programs.

Objectives:

Participants will understand the different incentive programs that the NC 4-H Horse Program provides to its participants and discuss ways that it can be adapted to other programs.
Participants will understand the trouble-shooting process of determining why participation numbers are low and/or decreasing.
Participants will be able to take the resources provided and apply them to their programs with the hopes of increasing new participation.

SPEAKER: Alaina Cross and Lori Stroud, North Carolina State University Extension/4-H

The Game of Research

Equine welfare and Social License to Operate (SLO) are hot topics in the equine industry. Equestrians do not always agree on what is or is not a concern regarding horses. A continuum comes to mind with people scattered from one end to the other in their personal or group beliefs. How is it possible to find a middle ground? Looking to evidence-based research can help support what might be or not be in an equine or rider’s best interest. Evidence based research can provide the support needed to help educate people in what may or may not spark SLO Concerns. Research can be fun and a bit of a game requiring players to analyze evidence, form hypothesis and solve questions. Fostering curiosity and honing creative problem solving allows participants to uncover insights into horse welfare, rider dynamics and the interplay between the two. The session is perfect for those working in the equine fields and will inspire new perspectives on improving outcomes while keeping research principles front and center.

Objectives:

Understand Key Concepts in Equine-Assisted Services: Participants will identify and discuss core principles that influence horse and rider dynamics within equine-assisted services.
Apply Research-Inspired Problem-Solving: Participants will use a structured approach to analyze real-world scenarios, promoting critical thinking and collaborative exploration of solutions.
Recognize the Role of Evidence-Based Practices: Participants will explore how integrating research findings can enhance outcomes for both horses and riders in equine-assisted activities.

SPEAKERS: Dr. Pebbles Turbeville, Horses & Humans Research Foundation and Lorrie Renker, Johnson & Wales University

Investing in YOUth

An interactive and engaging presentation showing participants how to fundraise, create youth scholarships and have a deeper understanding of opportunities that are offered through the Arabian Horse Youth Association. You will also have the opportunity to network and plan fundraisers that will allow you to provide grants and scholarships for your members to reach higher education or achieve their goals at competing at a higher level. You will learn about the scholarships that the Arabian Horse Association offers at both a Regional and National level, our Arabian Recreational Riding Program, and Youth Judging.

SPEAKERS: Hannah Hiiva, Jatelyn “Bug” Burcham, Arabian Horse Youth Association Officers

Bindii t'áá łį́į́' bee na’nitin- Translates to: Let the Horse Teach You

Across cultures, horses are respected and valued. Extension educators have adapted horse knowledge curricula to serve communities, particularly tribal youth, addressing cultural identity loss. This 4-H curriculum integrates Dine’ (Navajo) traditions, stories, and language, helping preserve both horse-related cultural significance and the dwindling Dine’ language. With over 38,000 feral horses on Navajo lands, the program also educates youth on responsible horse ownership to mitigate overgrazing and economic challenges. By blending modern horse care with cultural teachings, the curriculum fosters informed stewardship, ensuring future generations uphold both the Dine’ heritage and sustainable horse management.

OBJECTIVES:

Increase participants’ knowledge about general horse history and anatomy.
Increase participants’ awareness of resources with cultural components.
Collect feedback from participants regarding the content.

SPEAKER: Kristy Kinlicheenie, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension

It Could Happen to You - Teaching Horse Owners About Disease Transfer and Prevention

In this activity we will explore the dynamics of direct/indirect disease transmission and how a highly contagious disease can spread quickly. This simple, but powerful exercise demonstrates the speed of disease transfer between animals, and introduces zoonosis, fomites, and vector concepts. This is part of the Science Creates Real Understanding of Biosecurity (SCRUB) curriculum which was designed to provide hands-on activities to teach horse owners about biosecurity. SCRUB contains 4 modules which outline all background material, objectives, timing, activity steps, and reflection questions for instructors. The SCRUB curriculum is available at no cost online and provides an “easy-to-consume” way for youth and adults to learn about and implement these fundamental concepts

OBJECTIVES:

Define disease characteristics, disease types, and how transmission occurs.
Compare transmission types of various animal diseases.
Analyze animal susceptibility to various diseases and how to minimize risk.
Recommend animal biosecurity measures to limit disease spread.

SPEAKER: Dr. Betsy Greene and Debbie Reed, University of Arizona

Under Scrutiny: Addressing Equine Industry Challenges and Our Social License to Operate

What is the equine industry’s social license to operate? In years past, horses were a necessity of life commonly used for transportation and field work. Today, horses in many communities are seen as pets and used for sport and recreation. With this shift, there has been a change in the public perception of how horses should be used and cared for. This presentation will enlighten the audience on current challenges within the equine industry and how it is responding. Attendees will be encouraged to consider, examine, and discuss these challenges with a focus on how the industry can work together to educate the public, address misinformation, and tackle real issues of horse health and welfare.

Hands On Component: Attendees will break up into groups to discuss a few of the challenges faced by various sectors of the equine industry. Each group will be given concise summaries of the issue being faced, including facts, propaganda, and the efforts being taken to address the issue by the industry, discipline leaders, and/or state and federal entities. They will also be provided with question prompts to address in their groups and report out their conclusions to the audience. Industry sectors being discussed include horse racing, eventing, and wild horse management.

OBJECTIVES:

To develop an understanding of the “social challenges” that the horse industry faces (every day) in their businesses and as a recreational rider.
To examine what sectors within the equine industry are currently doing to address these challenges.
To determine how can we identify, address and impact the misinformation being “charged” at horse disciplines that threaten both the industry and individual livelihoods.
To strategize how can we work to educate the (majority) audience who may be simply uniformed of fact versus propaganda.

SPEAKER: Elizabeth Rogers, Robert Hartman and Dr. Betsy Greene, University of Arizona

It’s Not What You Say, It’s HOW You Say It: Perfecting Tone and Inflection for Powerful Public Speaking!

In this interactive workshop, teens will discover how tone and inflection can transform their public speaking skills. By analyzing the unique speaking styles of famous public figures, participants will learn to captivate audiences with clarity, warmth, energy, and excitement. Through hands-on practice and group activities, they’ll experiment with different vocal techniques and develop their own powerful speaking voice. Whether delivering a speech, storytelling, or making announcements, this workshop will help participants speak with confidence and impact.

OBJECTIVES:

By the end of this workshop, participants will understand how tone and inflection impact public speaking. Participants will analyze the speaking styles of famous people and practice using these techniques in a group setting.

SPEAKER: Shane Michael, University of Florida