1. Horse Project Requirements
  2. 4-H Trail & Packing Guidelines 2026

Horse Project Requirement

Printable version of the Horse Project Requirements (PDF)

Horse Project

 

To participate in the 4-H Horse project, members must comply with the following:

 

  • Have an updated Horse Card on file: by June 1. If you’ve changed horses or projects, please update your horse card. Last day to make changes to your horse project is June 1.

 

  • Have a signed Horse Project Release Form and a Horse Helmet Policy & Acknowledgement Form on file.  Watch Every Time, Every Ride Video once as a Junior member and once as a Senior member.  Find video at https://flathead.msuextension.org/eter.html. 

 

  • Assessments: Each horsemanship manual has level assessments included in them. Review these with your certified horse leader (all horse members must have a certified horse leader that they’re working with) and turn-in assessments when you’re ready to move to the next level.  Members will compete in the level they are working in; ex: if assessed out of level 2, the member will compete in level 3.  Assessments due by June 1st.

 

  • Clinics: Members must attend at least two 4-H horse clinic a year. Approximately 5-6 clinics will be offered every year. Dates & subjects of clinics will be announced throughout the year.  Last opportunity to obtain a clinic will be June 1.
  • Record Sheets: Members must have their 4-H Horse Record Sheets checked-off by August 1st to be eligible to show at the NW MT Fair.

4-H Trail & Packing Rules and Policies

Printable Version 2026 Trail & Packing Guidelines

4-H Trail & Packing 2026 Guidelines

Guidelines:
● Members must be enrolled appropriately and paid any necessary 4-H dues with the 4-H office (Zsuite) before January 15th, 2026. Trail & Packing project is considered full with 30 members.
● Trail & Packing requires an additional $25.00 fee to participate in the project. A family discount will be available, $25.00 for the first member and $12.50 for each additional family member.
● The Trail and Packing Record Book must be with the member at every clinic.
● To be eligible for the end-of-year raffle, members must attend all scheduled clinics. Only one excused absence is allowed to remain eligible.
● Members must view the helmet video and sign off on the helmet acknowledgement form, once as a Junior and once as a Senior member.
● Helmets are required for riding at all clinics.
● Members who want to participate in Trail & Packing must declare their project horses and must have their completed horse identification cards on file in the Extension Office by June 1st of each year.
● Members who want to pull pack stock on a NorthWest Montana BCH/4-H Trail Project must complete Level 3 Trail & Packing.
○ Members who want to ride along on a NorthWest Montana BCH/4-H Trail Project must complete Level 1 Trail & Packing.
● Members cannot use Stallions in 4-H Trail & Packing.
● Members must be 8 years old and not older than 18 as of Oct 1st of each 4-H year.
● Any Level 4 & 5 students with a new horse for 2025/2026 will need to bring them to Clinic III and IV for evaluation. Make sure that you let leaders know what you need to work on.

 

 

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