OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of Horse Bowl Competition is to provide an opportunity for youth enrolled in 4-H horse projects, to demonstrate their knowledge of equine-related matters in a competitive setting, where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail.  We hope that this competition will provide an educational experience for both participants and the spectators.

Team and Contestant Eligibility

1. Each state is invited to enter one (1) team of four (4) or five (5) contestants.  One team member will be designated as the alternate if five contestants are entered.

2. Teams may be selected by any procedure which a state deems appropriate.

3. Contestants must be at least 14 years of age, but not have reached his or her 19th birthday as of January 1 of the year in which this event is held.

4. All contestants must be members of 4-H in the state they are representing during the year in which this event is held and participation eligibility must be certified by the State 4-H Leader.

5.  Certification of participation eligibility should consider the following: “This contestant has not participated in post-secondary coursework in the subject area of the national 4-H competition, nor has he or she participated in training for post-secondary competition in the subject area of the national 4-H competition.”  See details below.           

A.            Post-secondary undergraduate students may participate in and/or complete freshman and sophomore level equine management or communications courses.  Students completing a junior, senior or graduate level equine and/or communications course are ineligible to participate in the National 4-H Horse Competition.

 B.            Students are ineligible to participate in a National 4-H Horse Competition if they are currently enrolled in courses that provide specific training for the competitive event in which they are participating.  For example, student participation in collegiate horse judging events, on intercollegiate horse judging teams and in intercollegiate communication events would eliminate a 4-Her’s eligibility to participate in the National 4-H Horse Competition.

6. Contestants (including team alternates) may participate in only one contest per year at the Roundup. After competing in this contest, they are ineligible to compete in the same specific contest again. Contestants must not have competed previously in this contest in the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in Louisville or the Western National 4-H Horse Classic in Denver.

REFERENCE BOOKS REQUIRED

1. NEWHOR
Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, New Horizons Education Center, Inc.
Alpine Publications, PO Box 7027, Loveland CO 80537
Phone – 1-800-777-7257      FAX – 970-667-9157

2. EVANS 2nd 
THE HORSE: (2nd edition), By Evans, Borton, Hintz, Van Vleck.
W. H.  Freeman and Company -660 Market St., San Francisco, California, 94104.
A Special price may be available if ordered from publisher. Phone: 415/391-5870

3. AYHC lst
HORSE INDUSTRY HANDBOOK - By the American Youth Horse Council
The Equine Collection – Dept. AYHC
P.O. Box 1539 Fort Lee, NJ 07024-1539
hone – 800-952-5813          FAX – 201-840-7242                           

4. LEWIS 2nd
FEEDING AND CARE OF THE HORSE (2nd edition), by Lon D. Lewis
Williams and Wilkins,  P.O. Box 1496, Baltimore, MD 21298-9724
Phone Number-(800)-638-0672

5. State Line Tack Catalog

6. Kainer 
THE COLORING ATLAS OF HORSE ANATOMY
By Robert A. Kainer & Thomas O. McCracken.
Alpine Publications Inc. P.O. Box 7027
Loveland, Colorado 80537
(970) 667-2017 or 800-777-7257

7. AYHC- YL
AMERICAN YOUTH HORSE COUNCIL YOUTH LEADERS MANUAL. By the American Youth Horse Council
The Equine Collection – Dept. AYHC
P.O. Box 1539 Fort Lee, NJ 07024-1539
Phone – 800-952-5813          FAX – 201-840-7242

QUESTIONS

Qualified question writers will write the Eastern National Horse Bowl questions.  The Executive Horse Bowl Committee will select question writers with suggestions from the full Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup Executive Committee.

One copy of Eastern National 4-H Horse Bowl questions will be sent to the State Horse Specialist for participating states.  Questions will be sent by one or more of the following methods, determined by the Eastern National Horse Bowl Event Committee:

One paper copy
E-mail attachment
Via computer disc

* These questions must be kept confidential within your state (for state use) for a period of two years after the Eastern and Western National 4-H Horse Bowl contests (no sooner than January 31 two years after the Eastern National contest).  They then may be released to the public.

Example: The 2004 Eastern National HB questions can be released to the public on or after January 31, 2007.

QUESTION TYPES

1. REGULAR QUESTIONS are worth two (2) pts. during one-on-one competition, when only one member of each team may respond.  The regular question is worth one (1) pt. during OPEN questions, when any member of either team may respond.  These questions count toward individual and team scores.  All incorrect answers receive a (-1) deduction.

2. TOSS-UP QUESTIONS are worth one (1) pt. and are open for response to any member of either team.  The toss-up question is used in the OPEN part of the match.  If there is a correct answer to the toss-up question, a bonus question will be attached.  Toss-up questions are generally a little more difficult than a regular question, and may have two or three required answers.  All answers are required to be correct.  The points will count toward individual and team scores.  All incorrect answers receive a (-l) deduction.

3. BONUS QUESTIONS will be worth (3) points.  They are attached to a correctly answered toss-up question, in the OPEN part of the match.  When multiple answers are required, (3) POINTS will be awarded if ALL of the required answers are correct.  No points will be awarded or taken away if there is less than the required number of answers, or if there are no correct answers.  No part of the bonus question will be repeated, nor will any additional information be given to the contestants relative to the question.  These points will count toward team scores only.

a. A bonus question attached to an unanswered or incorrectly answered toss-up question will be transferred to the next regular open question. (which becomes the new toss-up question), until a correct answer is given.

b. The team should allow the moderator to read the complete question.  The team will be given ten (10) seconds to confer.  The acknowledger will call time at the end of ten (10) seconds.  The team captain or designee must then start giving the required number of answers within five (5) seconds.  Team members may give answers to the captain/designee during the 30-second answering period.

c. If the match ends with an unanswered bonus question, the bonus question will not be utilized.

4. ONE-ON-ONE QUESTIONS - Regular questions shall be addressed to only one member of each team, beginning with the contestants in the #1 chairs (nearest to control operator) on either team and progressing with subsequent questions going to the contestants in the #2 chairs, #3 chairs, #4 chairs, respectively, until the one-on-one questions are completed.  There will be an equal number of one-on-one questions per contestant per match.

a. The moderator shall clearly indicate the start of one-on-one play by announcing the chair number of the contestants' eligible to respond, prior to reading the question.

b. Toss-up/Bonus questions will not be used during One-on-One Competition.

5. RESPONSE PENALTY - If any contestant, other than the designated contestants, responds to a one-on-one or regular question, that contestant/team will lose two (2) points.

a. A contestant that responds more than twice to a one-on-one or regular question directed to another contestant, will be replaced at the panel by their team alternate.  If an alternate is not available, the remainder of the match will be played with less than a full team, and all one-on-one questions normally addressed to the eliminated contestant will be addressed to the contestant in the opposite numbered chair.  This contestant may return to further matches in the contest.  A third such penalty will disqualify them from the competition.  The (-2) point penalty will continue to apply for 2nd and 3rd offence.

READING AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS

1. The moderator will read all questions - identify the type and number of question and designate the chairs eligible to respond when necessary.  Five seconds will be allowed for starting a response.  If an answer is not given or wrong, the moderator will give the correct answer, and the next question read.  If the answer given is the same as or means the same as the expected answer, it will be accepted.  If the answer is different than the expected answer, it will be referred to the judges’ panel for decision.

2. Once a contestant activates a buzzer, they must be ACKNOWLEDGED before they can answer the question.  After they have been acknowledged, the contestant has five (5) seconds to start a valid answer.  First answers will be considered valid answers. It is the responsibility of the acknowledger to determine if an actual answer was started within the 5-second time limit.

3. An acknowledgement penalty of one (-l) point will be deducted from contestant's score and their team if they answer a question before being acknowledged.

The first answer given will be accepted as the official answer, including multiple response questions.  Repeating the question will not be considered the initiation of the answer.

If a question is read to completion, the judges may ask the contestant to explain, expand, be more specific, or clarify their answer.

4. If a question is INTERRUPTED during the reading of it, the moderator will stop reading as soon as a buzzer is activated.  The contestant responding, has five (5) seconds AFTER BEING ACKNOWLEDGED, TO BEGIN THEIR ANSWER.  If the answer given is correct for the way the question was written, it will be accepted.  If the answer given is correct for only the portion of the question heard, but wrong for the way the question was written, the answer will not be accepted.  If the question was interrupted, the judges will not be allowed to ask for any type of clarification of the answer given.

5. The judges panel will be allowed to verify an answer, or the validity of a question.  If verification cannot be made, the question will be replaced.

PLAYING TEAMS AND ALTERNATES

1.  Only four (4) contestants shall be seated at the panel at any one time.  Seat position must be declared prior to competition and youth must remain in this seat for the duration of the entire contest.  The only exception is when an alternate replaces a seated player during a match or the competition.  See #2 below.

2. During any match, only one (1) alternate may be replaced at the panel when:

a. The moderator, team captain, team coach deems it impossible for one of the seated members to continue.

b.  The captain/coach of a team requests the replacement of a team member.

3. The team member removed from a match becomes ineligible to return to that particular match.  The team member removed and the replacement member are both eligible to participate in further matches.  A five-member team is strongly recommended.

4. Members removed from the game table for disciplinary reasons, may not come back to any more matches in the competition.

5. All official members of a team, whether actually seated or not during the contest, become ineligible to compete in future Eastern National 4-H Horse Bowl Contests.

DOUBLE ELIMINATION

1. TEAMS - Each team will play in a pre-numbered position, according to the position number drawn by the team captain.

2. A total of two losses will automatically eliminate a team from the competition.

INDIVIDUAL SCORES

1. Scores will be kept for each individual contestant, with the high 10 individual contestants to receive special recognition.

2. Only those contestants who have participated in three or more matches will be considered for the top individual awards.

a.  The high three match scores for each individual will be used in cases where individuals participate in more than three matches.

3. Ties for individual awards will be broken on the basis of:

• First tie breaker: high average score for the entire contest

• Second tie breaker: high individual match scores.

• Third tie breaker: Total number of points earned in the contest.

SCORE KEEPING

1.             The point value of correct/incorrect responses, bonuses, penalties are as follows:               

2. During the second half of the match, all regular/open questions will be worth one (1) point, open to all members seated at the game table.  All toss-up questions will be worth (1)point and all bonus questions will be worth three (3 pts.) if the number of required answers given are correct.

TEAM PARTICIPATION BONUS

1. In order to encourage full team participation, each team member will have a bonus card at the game table.  When a team member gives a correct response to a one-on-one, regular, or toss-up question, that member will turn their card around to face the score keepers, A bonus worth two (2) points will be awarded to the team, when all four bonus cards face the score keepers.  The value of the question (1 or 2 pts.) will also be added to the score of the individual who answered the question, thus making that question worth three (3) or four points depending on the value of the question.

Example: The score keeper will add four (4) pts. to the team score [two (2) pts. for correct answer to a one-on-one question and two (2) pts. for the team bonus].  The contestant will receive the value of the question on their individual score and the team will receive both the individual points and the bonus points on the team score.

a. When an alternate comes to the game table, if a bonus card is showing for that chair, it must be forfeited (turned around) and earned by the contestant coming into the game. 

b. When a team bonus has been earned once - the bonus cards will be turned around and the team has an opportunity to earn it again.  A team may earn this bonus as many times as possible within a match.

TIME OUTS

1. The team captain, coach or any staff member may call for a “time out" for clarification of a rule, score, to seat an alternate, or to allow for any unexpected problem.  “Time outs" may be called only after a question has been answered and before the next question starts.

HOLDING ROOMS

1.  All teams, alternates, and coaches must remain in the designated holding area until it is their turn to play.

After their round match is played, they must go to an appropriate designated area, until the conclusion of the round in progress.

After the round is completed, all teams/alternates and coaches (not eliminated from the contest) must return to the designated holding area to await their next match.

All coaches in the holding area are responsible for supervision of the teams.  These rules are a matter of ethics and require the cooperation of all team members and coaches.

CONTEST PROCEDURES

1.  Teams are assembled and seated at their respective panels, with the designated team captain seated in the #1 chair, nearest to the middle or the moderator.  Each contestant is given the opportunity to check the equipment.

2. All team members will have a participation bonus card facing the contestant.  They will be blank to the score keepers until that contestant gives a correct response to a question.  At that time the card will be turned around to face the scorekeepers.

3. The designated set of questions for each round is opened by the moderator and verified with the judges panel and referee before starting the game.  Prior to reading a question, the moderator will announce the number, type of question and the contestants eligible to respond.  Each succeeding question, will be read in this manner, until all of the questions for that match are read.  The correct answer will be given for all unanswered questions or wrong answers.

4. Contestants, who respond to a question, will receive the appropriate points applied to a particular question.  Appropriate penalties will be deducted as warranted.

5. If the time (five (5) seconds) in which to answer a question elapses without a contestant activating a buzzer, there shall be no loss or awarding of points to either team.  After the response time has elapsed, the answer will be given, and the next question read.

6. If the buzzer is activated and an answer is not started within the 5 second allowable time, there will be a minus two (-2) pt. penalty imposed against the contestant who activated the buzzer and their team.

7.  If, the judges elect to not use a game question, it must be replaced by another question so that the total number of questions to be asked, will remain equal in each match.

INFORMATION SOURCES

1.  No source of information is infallible.  At times there may be answers given that are in agreement with the recommended reference books, which in fact are erroneous or out of date.  Every effort is made to eliminate such questions, however, in the event one slips in, the judges may agree to:

a. To accept the answer and give an explanation of the correct or up-dated information, for future use of the question.

b. To accept only the correct answer.

c. Replace the question to the appropriate contestants.

MATCH TIES

1. In the event of a match tie it will be broken with five (5) tie breaker questions.  If a tie remains the first team to earn a point (or because of a loss of a point by the other team, has a (1) point advantage) will be declared a match winner based on the scores.

2.  Tie Breaker points do not get added to individual, team, or team bonus scores.  They are used to break match ties only.

TEAM PLACINGS

1. Team awards will be based on the predetermined procedure of play.

2. Every team will participate in a minimum of two matches

3. The rank of teams will be determined on the basis of their position within the double elimination bracket.  After two losses, the teams eliminated in the same round, will be placed on the basis of the higher scores in the eliminating round.  Fifth (5th place) to the highest score, sixth  (6th place) to the next highest score and so on.

DOUBLE ELIMINATION - TEAMS TIE BREAKERS

lst TIE BREAKER                Total average of all games played in double elimination games.

2nd TIE BREAKER              Highest match score in double elimination games.

3rd TIE BREAKER               Total score of the top two matches in double elimination games.

EQUIPMENT FAILURE

1. It shall be the responsibility of the moderator to assure each contestant that all equipment is operating correctly at the start of each match.  Back-up units will also be available.

2. If the device being used, ceases to function during a match or is believed to be malfunctioning, a “time out" may be called by any contestant, the staff, or by either coach,

3. If after checking it and it is determined that there is an equipment malfunction/failure the faulty part(s) or unit will be replaced and play resumed.

4. Scores accumulated up to the point of the "time out" shall stand and all further points awarded during the remainder of the match added to or subtracted from this total.

5. If both judges or one judge and the  moderator deem it advisable, points awarded for the two(2) questions asked immediately prior to determination of the equipment failure, may be recalled and two (2) additional questions used.

6. Under no conditions shall there be a replay of match in which there was an equipment failure.

TRANSCRIBING QUESTIONS

Transcribing contest questions by any means during the competition is prohibited.  There will be no hand-written, typing, recording, computer use, etc. in the contest rooms.  Affiliated teams will be eliminated from the competition for violation of this rule.

Copies of the questions will be supplied to the Extension Horse Specialist in each state.

RECORDERS AND CAMERAS

Recording devices such as tape recorders, video cameras, movie cameras, picture cell phones, etc. are not be used during the competition.

CELL PHONES

CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF WHILE IN A CONTEST ROOM.

PHOTOGRAPHS

PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE PERMITTED ONLY BEFORE OR AFTER A MATCH.

PROTEST/VERIFICATION OF QUESTIONS AND/OR ANSWERS                          

1. Verification of a question and answer is permissible

2. ONLY PROTESTS THAT ARE MADE IN A COURTEOUS, RESPECTFUL MANNER WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED.

3. Protests must be made before the reading of the next question.

4. An "official" protest of a question or the answer to a question may be called for by a team captain or the official team coaches.  The judges and moderator will consider the protest.  Their decision in all cases will be final.

5. If an "official" protest is acknowledged, play will be stopped, and the designated officials will consider the protest and make a decision.  A (-l) point penalty will be assessed if the protest is not upheld.

6. To sustain a protest, at least two members of the designated judges panel must agree, to keep or replace a question, or to determine the validity of an answer.

7. If the protest is sustained by the officials, the moderator and/or the score keepers will take one of the following actions:

a.   If the question is determined by the officials to be a poor question, it will be replaced and open to a specific chair on each team or to all contestants seated at the game table, depending on the type of question (one on one or open).

b. If the answer to the question received a call for verification, the designated judges panel will determine the validity of the answer.  Points will then be awarded or subtracted as appropriate.

c. If a question was protested after an answer is given, the designated judges panel will determine the validity of the protested question.  If the validity of the question is allowed, points will be awarded or subtracted as appropriate.  If not, the questions will be replaced.

8.  All protests/challenges will be acknowledged by the contest staff.

ABUSE OF THE PROTEST PROVISIONS

1. In this competition, every effort will be made to be fair and courteous and understanding to the contestants and the coaches.

2. Abuse of this protest provision by any contestant, or coach, will result in one or more of the following:

a. Dismissal of team coach from the contest area.

b. Dismissal (or replacement) of any contestant from the competition.

c. Dismissal of an entire team from the competition, with forfeiture of points or standing.

SPECTATORS, PARENTS AND VISITORS

1. Spectators, parents and visitors may not protest any question, answer or procedure during the contest.  They may, however, submit in writing to the contest officials any suggestion, complaints or protests at the conclusion of the contest.

2. Any contestant, coach, family member, friends or spectators, exhibiting UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT, BEHAVIOR OR ACTIONS DETRIMENTAL TO THE CONTEST, will be subject to dismissal  from the immediate contest area.

GAME OFFICIALS AND EQUIPMENT

MODERATOR- The moderator shall assume the responsibility for reading questions and will acknowledge the chairs that are eligible to respond to One-on-One and open questions, before the question is read.  The moderator will accept all answers that are the same or mean the same as the expected answer to the question.  Any answers different than the expected answer, will be referred to the judges panel, who will make the decision to accept or reject the given answer.  Occasionally, the moderator may also by designated as the 3rd judge.

JUDGES PANEL- The judges panel will consist of two people, three if possible.  One person will be a knowledgeable horse person.  If possible, one will be a veterinarian.  The 3rd judge could be a Horse Show Judge, or the moderator may be designated as the 3rd judge. It is especially important for the judges to give reasons for not accepting an answer, because the intent of this competition is to make it a unique learning experience for young people of High School grade levels.  These young people have made a very strong commitment to this program, and above all, we want to be fair and honest with them.  This is an excellent opportunity to further educate them along these lines.  The judge’s responsibility will be to rule jointly on the acceptability of any question or answers to all questions.  In the event of a challenge to a question/answer, with two judges, either both judges or one judge and the moderator must agree on the acceptability or rejection of any question and/or answer.  When there is only one judge, both the judge and the moderator must agree on actions to be taken.

If an answer was not clearly heard, the contestant may be asked to repeat their answer.  If a question was read to completion, and the answer given is different than the one expected, if it is technically or logically correct you may accept the answer.  If the, answer given, is "in the ball park", the judges may request the contestant to be more specific, expand, explain, or clarify their answer.  If the question was interrupted, the judges may not ask for any kind of clarification.  The answer is either correct or incorrect according to the way the question was written.

All answers given must be correct for the way the question is written.  An answer may be correct for a portion heard of a question that was interrupted, but wrong for the way the question was written.  The judges may not ask any questions, and the answer will be counted as a wrong answer.  If the answer is correct for the way the question was written, it will be accepted.

All of the game questions, will have a reference code and page number.  The required reference books will be available to look up information or to verify answers.

3.  TIME KEEPERS - CONTROL OPERATOR - The time keeper will monitor all time intervals and designate when the time of response has been exceeded, and will handle all controls of the game equipment.  It is strongly recommended that neither the moderator nor a judge be used as a timekeeper.  Since the timekeeper has controls that verifies, whose light is on, they could also become the acknowledger.  It will also be their responsibility at the beginning of the match, to assure each contestant that their equipment is working properly.

TIME ALLOWED FOR-

To start response to a question - 5 seconds

To start answer after acknowledgement - 5 seconds

For team to confer on a bonus question - 10 seconds

4. The contest Co-Chairman will have final authority over ALL procedures protests.

5. SCORE KEEPERS- At least three or four individuals shall be used to keep accurate team and individual scores.  There will be visual score keepers/ who will record the team scores on a blackboard, overhead projector or flip chart.  Table score keepers (at least two) will keep a written record of the official team and individual scores.  The visual scores will be set up so that they are visible to the table score keepers, the contestants and moderator and spectators, if possible.  The written record of the scores must match the visual scores and will be the official records of all individual and team scores.  A special score sheet will be available for the table score keepers, plus a special sheet for tabulating individual scores.

EQUIPMENT

1. Game Panels- An appropriate device will be used which will provide a clear indication of the first contestant to respond to a question.

2. Time Recorders- A stopwatch, control panel timer, or other appropriate time device will be used.

3. Signal Device- This signal device shall be used by the time keepers and shall have a distinctly different sound for each side, or a device that has a distinct sound and lights that indicate the contestant that is responding when their buzzer is activated.  Back up units will be available, in the event of malfunction or failure.

4. Score Keeping Devices- Two devices will be used.  A blackboard, a flip chart, overhead projector, or electronic light display, will be used to maintain team scores that are visible to the contestants and score keepers and if possible to the spectators.  Special score sheets will be provided for keeping the written official individual and game scores for each match of the contest.

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Awards will be announced and presented to the top ten individuals and teams.

2. A Coaches’ Meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night in East Hall A of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center. Contest registration will start promptly at 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by the coaches meeting.

3. For further details or information, contact the Superintendents.

4. Entry Deadline: September 15 of the current year. Entry must be made on special form (OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM-EASTERN NATIONAL 4-H HORSE ROUNDUP) and signed by the respective State 4-H Leader or Extension Horse Specialist and mailed to Jennifer Elwell, Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup, 1636 Big Springs Drive, Shepherdsville, KY 40165.  Contestant entry and registration fee must accompany the entry and checks made payable to North American International Livestock Exposition.  Credit card payment is available. 

5. Headquarters and Lodging-Executive Inn, Watterson Expressway at Fairgrounds (978 Phillips Lane) , Louisville, Kentucky 40213(502-367-6161). Special rates are available for all participants in the Roundup. Reservations must be made on the reservation form that is available from the North American International Livestock Exposition and this entry packet.

6. Each state is totally responsible for lodging, meals, and travel arrangements for its contestants.

RJC 06

The Eastern National 4-H Horse 
Roundup is part of the
North American International Livestock Exposition

4-H is a youth development program of the Cooperative Extension Service and the 
United States Department of Agriculture.
The name 4-H and the clover emblem are protected by
Federal Statute Citation 18 U.S.C. 707

4-H Web Sites: National 4-H Council | 4-H USA | National 4-H Technology Programs

Copyright © Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup Management Committees

Questions or Comments?
Email Jennifer Elwell, Contest Chair

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