Welcome to all new and returning Dane County 4-H Horse & Pony project members and Non-4H Organization Members. Please carefully review the Horse & Pony educational requirements for the 2025-2026 project year.

• All youth planning to show at the Dane County Fair must complete and meet at least one of the education requirements listed to the right and submit their education card online by June 1 in FairEntry with your horse entries - portal to open in April.
• NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED
• Contact the Fair Office at entries.danecountyfair@gmail.com to receive approval for educational opportunities not listed.
  • If attending a pre-approved event not sponsored by the Dane County Horse & Pony Education Committee, the participant must have the clinician sign the education card.
• Those in grade 13 are exempt from bringing their horse to a 4-H approved clinic, provided they have fulfilled this requirement for the previous three (3) Fair years. Please contact the Fair office at entries.danecountyfair@gmail.com by June 1 to request the exemption in order to verify Fair involvement.
• All horses that will be exhibited at the Dane County Fair must be declared by May 1. (The same horse declared must be the same horse used in the clinics.)
• Dane County Fair entry forms have a separate process. Please refer to the Department 6 Rules & Regulations & Guidelines and times below for additional information related to Fair deadlines and processes.
  • 6 Horse & Pony
    • Horse and Pony Guidelines
    • Horse and Pony Declaration (DUE by MAY 1, 2026) AND Behavior Policy
    • Walk/Trot Rule Exception Request Form - Due May 1
    • Horse and Pony Trailering-In Request Form
    • Horse & Pony Stall Mat Order Form
      
    • Dane County Fair Horse & Pony Department Facebook group page
      

Non-4-H organization members

• Those in grade 13 are exempt from bringing their horse to a 4-H approved clinic, provided they have fulfilled this requirement for the previous three (3) Fair years. Please contact the Fair office at entries.danecountyfair@gmail.com by June 1 to request the exemption in order to verify Fair involvement.
• All other Participants must sign the roster for each Dane County Horse & Pony Education Committee event attended.
• If attending a pre-approved event not sponsored by the Dane County Horse & Pony Education Committee, the participant must have the clinician sign the education card.

Three FREE Horse & Pony Clinics have been added for this year! These are open to all youth, not just those participating in Fairs* or State Expo*. More information and registration in the links below. Attend one or all clinics.

Location for clinics: Alliant Energy Center Pavilion 1

Cost: Free

***2026 COGGINS: A Original and one copy is required the day of the clinic to participate. Premises ID also required. ***

Proper attire is required for participants: Boots, long pants, and SEI approved helmet.

Session 1 – 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Showmanship

Session 2 – 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM Walk Trot Equitation and Pleasure

Session 3 – 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Walk Trot Canter Equitation and Pleasure

REGISTER HERE FOR 5/9 – REGISTER BY MAY 6, 2026

5/30/2026

Session 1 – 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Showmanship

Session 2 – 1:45 PM – 3:15 PM Walk Trot Horsemanship, Ranchmanship, and Pleasure

Session 3 – 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM Walk Trot Lope Horsemanship, Ranchmanship, and Pleasure

REGISTER HERE FOR 5/30 - REGISTER BY MAY 27, 2026

Session 1 – 10:00am-11:45am - Biomechanics for the Rider Clinic Objective: The purpose of this clinic is to help riders find their position, balance and weight distribution through different exercises. There is no limit to the number of riders. Riders will break into groups to work on skills with other riders.

Session 2 – 12:00-2:00pm - Fun with Obstacles – This event will not have a professional clinician. There will be trail obstacles set up for practice and familiarization.

REGISTER HERE FOR 5/31 – Register by May 27, 2026

Additional details on parking, etc. will be sent to those who register. Contact Jolene Doerfer with questions about clinic logistics - 608-220-9466 or jodoerfer@yahoo.com.

*For those showing at the Dane County Fair or State Horse Expo, the addition of these clinics does not change the requirements for 2026 that were shared earlier in the month, noted below.

4-H and Non-4H education requirements for Horse and Pony and Horseless Horse members to show at the Dane County Fair

All members Grade 3 or higher are required to attend a Dane County 4-H Horse and Pony Education Safety Orientation and at least one session of education at an approved 4-H Horse and Pony in-person clinic prior to showing at the Dane County Fair. Members who have successfully completed a safety orientation in prior years do not need to repeat the training.

Required Education to Exhibit at the Fair Changes for 2026 Only

The Dane County 4-H Horse & Pony Committee has run into some bumps with scheduling in-person clinics this year so we have worked with the Dane County Fair team to adjust the education requirements for this year.

The requirement still includes attending an in-person event with your horse by June 1. For 2026 only, exhibitors can use events that they attended between April 1, 2026 – June 1, 2026.

These are some approved options:

Midwest Horse Fair – participating in a 1 hour clinic or demo

Open Shows

Other in-person clinics

Practicing trailering your horse and getting your horse off property is key to making them more comfortable with events like the Dane County Fair. We encourage all youth to meet this minimum requirement. If you have other options you are interested in suggesting for pre-approval or if getting your horse off property for one of the options above is a hardship, please reach out to me and I will work with the fair team to answer questions – curley.lisa@danecounty.gov or 608-224-3702.

After attending the event, youth will share what they learned and how they will share the information on the Horse and Pony Education Requirement Card .

• Private lessons, farrier appointments, and vet appointments do not count toward the educational requirement.