4-H Horse & Livestock
Horse
Horse School, the State Fair 4-H Horse Show, series points, futurity and versatility.
Livestock
Exhibitor guide, ear tag identification and brand agreement for junior livestock projects.
Horse Program
Youth, parents & leaders
4-H Horse School
Hands-on horsemanship instruction and workshops at NMSU in Las Cruces. Register through your county office.
Next School: [2027 dates]
State Fair, Albuquerque
State Fair 4-H Horse Show
Counts toward All-Around Series Awards. Rules and the premium book are below.
Next Show: [2027 date]
Series Points & Back Numbers
Two-year-old Western Pleasure Futurity
4-H members with advanced horsemanship skills may nominate a two-year-old horse for the Western Pleasure Futurity and Showmanship Classic, held each year during the State Fair 4-H Horse Show.
Horse eligibility: The horse must be completely green. No one other than the nominating 4-H member may have ridden it.
At the show: Futurity horses compete in three go-rounds of Western Pleasure.
Three-year-old Versatility
Horses properly nominated to the futurity as two-year-olds may enter the three-year-old Versatility Class the following year.
Training: Members may get advice on training techniques from others.
Riding and work: The 4-H member must do all of the riding and work with the horse.
Official Rules for New Mexico 4-H Horse Shows and the State Fair 4-H Horse Show Premium Book.
4-H Horse Show Rules (PDF) NMSF 4-H Horse Show Premium (PDF)Each horse project requires a current horse certificate on file.
4-H Horse Certificate (PDF)Livestock Resources
New Mexico Guide for Livestock Exhibitors
PDF2025–26 rules and requirements for junior livestock exhibitors
2026 Ear Tag Identification Program Instructions
PDFHow to identify and tag animals for the New Mexico Junior Livestock program
NM 4-H Brand Agreement
PDFBrand agreement form for 4-H livestock projects
Documents are also available in the Forms Library.
Questions about horse or livestock projects? Contact your county office or the State 4-H Office · 575-646-3026 · state4h@nmsu.edu