Working Ranch Horse Finals

The Montana 4-H Working Ranch Horse Project is a heritage-based, activity-rich program designed to pass on to today’s youth traditional practices of safe livestock handling from horseback. This is not a rodeo project, but instead a practical and exciting opportunity for youth to use horses for handling, sorting and moving cattle. This project also teaches mounted roping skills as a humane and useful livestock handling tool as well as branding techniques, housing and care of cattle and horses. Like all 4-H projects, Working Ranch Horse members will develop the qualities of leadership and responsibility that come with being engaged in4-H. In today’s world, managing cattle from horseback is a disappearing tradition. Ranches are increasingly automated, using four-wheelers and other machines instead of horses. Many of the skills once learned for necessity are being lost. The 4-H Working Ranch Horse Program is designed to teach and preserve the age-old skills and traditions.

Photo Credit: Tom Aldrich

2024 Working Ranch Horse Finals

The 4-H Ranch Horse Competition will begin Friday, September 13th starting at 2:00PM at the 406 Arena in Vaughn, Montana.

Saturday’s competition is open to any 4-H youth enrolled in the 4-H Working Ranch Horse project (Levels 1-4).  There is no requirement that youth compete at a county level or qualifying show to participate in WRHF. The 4-H youth is required to be enrolled in the same county level as the level entered in at WRHF and be in good standing as a 4-H member. One horse must be used for all classes within the level. Horse must be an approved project horse for the current 4-H year. 

Each competitor will exhibit in 5 classes:  

• Knowledge Test 
• Riding a Pattern 
• Sorting Cattle 
• Roping Heading 
• Roping Heeling 

Colt classes are for horses 5 years old and younger.  

Classes include ranch pleasure/riding, ranch reining, working cow horse, and ranch trail. Exhibitors may enter any number of classes. Different horses may be ridden for separate classes. However, for overall competition winners in each division, points will only be counted from one horse/rider combination that demonstrates exceptional versatility in many areas. Exhibitors show by age or enter by age of horse in colt classes. 

Registration Opens 7/31/2024

Registration will be available online via Zsuites. A quick link for payment will be made available via email, facebook and below. Payment can be mailed to the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development (address below) or completed at event check-in by check or cash. 

Zsuite Registration Link (Internal): https://4h.zsuite.org/event-registrations/31069

Zsuite Registration Link (External): https://4h.zsuite.org/external-event-registration/31069

Payment Submission by Mail

Make checks payable to MSU Extension and mail to:

MT 4-H Center

Attn: WRHF

PO Box 173580

Bozeman, MT 59717 

Registration Deadline: Friday August 30, 2024

Contact Information

If you have questions or need assistance call Lisa Jassen at 406-781-3678 or email LJassen77@gmail.com. Any questions regarding registration, please contact Sadie Woller at 406-994-3501 or email at sadie.woller@montana.edu. 

2024 Schedule

Friday, 9/13 Schedule: 

Saturday, 9/14 Schedule:

Sunday, 9/15 Schedule:

Stalling

Stalls will be available at the 406 Arena. There are 20 indoor stalls and 50 outdoor covered stalls available. There will not be group pens for multiple horses at the facility this year due to all pens being occupied by boarding horses. Stalls are reserved by a first-register and pay basis. Bulk shavings will be available for stalls at no charge. Bagged shavings are available at $10/bag. Extra shavings will be available for purchase on site or you may bring your own.

Stall Outdoor Covered: $25 per day 

Indoor Stall: $35 per day

Accommodations

There are certain number of camping sites with electric plug-ins available at the 406 Arena. They will be assigned on a first-registered basis.  

13 RV hookups with electricity: $25 per day

Dry camping is also available

Great Falls offers many hotel options and is a short drive down the interstate from the arena.

Hotels with easy access include:

Comfort Inn - 1801 Market Place Drive 406-455-1000

Crystal Inn - 3701 31st St SW 406-727-7788

Heritage Inn - 1700 Fox Farm Road 406-761-1900

Days Inn - 280 14th Ave NW 406-727-6565

Awards and Prizes

The WRHF committee has collected a wide variety of fabulous awards and prizes. The awards and prizes are made possible by a great number of generous sponsors and donors. Please make sure you send a thank you note for each award and prize you are awarded. A card with the sponsor’s name and address will be on the award or prize and sponsors will be listed and made available during the event.

Personal Safety and Helmet Policy

Please remember to be safe around horses and wear the proper riding gear. Do not communicate with strangers and be aware of your settings. Please make sure you are accompanied by an adult. If you would like to report an incident, do so immediately to the show office. Reference the Montana 4-H State 4-H Horse Rulebook for helmet policy. 

Grievance Committee

Grievance committee shall consist of three committee members of the Montana State 4-H Working Ranch Horse Committee.  A fee of $25 must accompany all protests. 

2024 Working Ranch Horse Finals Results