PA 4-H Horse Cloverbud Program Frequently Asked Questions

Enrollment and Fees

Q: What ages are allowed to enroll in the 4-H Horse Cloverbud Program?
A: Any child 4-H age 5-7 (as of January 1st) may enroll as a Cloverbud member.

Q: How do I enroll a Cloverbud Member?

A: All Cloverbud members are required to complete the 4-H member enrollment forms
per county requirements as well as complete the PA 4-H Horse Program Member
Acknowledgement of Risk Form (updated this year to include a Cloverbud section).
Please contact your local extension office for complete details on member and horse
enrollment.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members required to pay the $25 Program Fee?

A: 4-H Horse Cloverbud Members are considered part of the Pennsylvania 4-H Horse
Program; therefore, they are required to submit the annual PA 4-H Horse Program Fee.
While Cloverbud Members are not allowed to participate in riding events beyond the
county level, many opportunities are still available to these members at the county level
and beyond.

Q: Are Cloverbud members required to enroll a project by June 1 like regular members?
A: Yes. Health requirements are also required to be on file prior to a horse participating
in county events.

Q: Will Cloverbud program rules and guidelines be added into the next rule book?
A: The Cloverbud Policy and Safety Guidelines document serves as the official rules and
guidelines for the program. As the program evolves, this document may be updated;
however, no specific Cloverbud section is planned to be added to the current rule book at
this time.

Q: If Cloverbud Members share a horse with an older member, who enrolls the horse?
A: The horse should be enrolled as the older members project horse. For Cloverbud
members, the important enrollment information is the health requirements that must be
on file for a horse to participate in events.

Evaluation

Q: What horses are suitable for the Cloverbud Program?

A: The PA 4-H Horse Rule Book states that any horse over the age of 2 may be enrolled
for mounted activities and any horse under the age of 2 may be enrolled for grooming and
showmanship only. Although a horse may be of the required age, they may still not be
suitable for a Cloverbud Member. Safety and suitability for a child are the most important
criteria when considering a Cloverbud mount. The horses disposition and training level
should be appropriate for a young rider. In most cases this is an older, seasoned horse.
Q: Which Cloverbud Members need to be evaluated?
A: The Horse Cloverbud Evaluation Form is required for all 4-H Cloverbud youth in the
PA 4-H Horse Program who plan to participate in any mounted exhibition-only events or
county mounted activities. It is recommended this form be used for all Cloverbud
members participating in mounted club activities as well.

Q: Why do the Cloverbud members need to be evaluated?

A: The Horse Cloverbud Evaluation is necessary to determine the suitability and safety of
the horse and rider combination and to ensure that the member and their horse are placed
in the appropriate category that corresponds to their skill level.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members required to pass Horsemanship Skills Level 1 prior to

mounted participation?
A: Cloverbud Members must be evaluated using the Horse Cloverbud Evaluation Form
and this form must be on file in the county prior to participation in county mounted
events. The evaluation is not necessary prior to mounted club level activities to promote a
learning environment to prepare members for future evaluation or events. Cloverbud
Members are at no time required to pass Horsemanship Skills Level 1; however, they can
work on skills required to pass Level 1.

Q: When are Cloverbud Members required to be reevaluated?

A: Cloverbud Members are required to be reevaluated if they are going to be changing
horses or if they wish to switch levels.

Q: Can Cloverbud Members use a mini for a project horse?

A: Yes a Cloverbud Member will be allowed to use a mini as their project animal. They
will still be required to be evaluated on horse suitability and handling skills prior to
countywide events.

Q: Can Cloverbud members drive a mini?

A: Cloverbud Members are not allowed to drive in the program.

Q: Can multiple Cloverbud Members ride the same horse?

A: Yes, more than one Cloverbud Member may ride a horse as long as they are
participating in different levels. A horse may be used within a level with a single rider
only. To participate beyond the club level, each member/horse combination must be
evaluated.

Q: Can Cloverbud Members participate in both the leadline and walk/jog evaluation
levels?
A: No. Cloverbud members are required to be tested at one level and designate which
level they will participate in; however, if safety concerns become an issue a rider may
always step down a level. To move up a level, the member must be re-evaluated.

Q: What are the restrictions on evaluators when evaluating Cloverbud members?

A: Three evaluators are required to evaluate Cloverbud members and one evaluator must
be a Level 1/2 Horsemanship Skills Examiner. The only current restriction is that a parent
of a Cloverbud member may not evaluate their own child.

Q: What is considered a passing score on the Cloverbud Evaluation Form?

A: Currently, there are no specific pass/fail score requirements. Each evaluator should
use the provided questions and related scores to determine the appropriate level for the
member to participate in. The suggested guidelines for evaluators is that members being
evaluated for the walk/trot with supervision division should have a score of 70 or higher
and a member that is being evaluated for the walk/trot with handler division should have
a score of 50 or higher. Additionally, if any of the safety check or horse suitability
questions are answered with a no, then these issues should be addressed either prior to
the mounted portion of the evaluation or before the member is allowed to participate at
the county level. Remember that safety is the key component of the evaluation!

Equipment

Q: What safety equipment is required?

A: Cloverbud Members are required to wear an ASTM/SEI-approved helmet at all times
when working with horses, either mounted or un-mounted. For mounted activities, long
pants and a sturdy boot with a definite heel are required. For un-mounted activities,
members are required to wear sturdy shoes or boots with closed toes.

Q: What other equipment is acceptable?

A: Use of other appropriate safety attire is acceptable and encouraged. These items
include but are not limited to a safety vest, safety stirrups, and other protective gear.

Q: Can a Cloverbud member ride with buddy stirrups (stirrups that hook over the saddle
horn)?
A: The use of buddy stirrups is strongly discouraged; however, if they must be used, they
will be allowed in the lead line division only.

Q: Can English stirrups be utilized on a western saddle?

A: Yes this is an acceptable adaptation provided all leather and stirrups fit and are
adjusted properly and in good, working condition.

Events

Q: Can Cloverbud Members participate in competition?

A: No, Cloverbud Members are not allowed to participate in competitive events. All
Cloverbud activities must be exhibition-only and if prizes are given, all prizes must be
the same for all participants.

Q: If Cloverbud Members are completing a contest class at a walk/trot, do they get a

time?
A: A time may be recorded, but should not be announced and no ranking shall take place.
In the spirit of self-improvement, a member may request their time for their own
knowledge.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members permitted to do a trail or obstacle course?

A: Cloverbud Members are allowed to participate in trail or obstacle course classes and
events as long as the pattern is inside of a fully enclosed arena, all participants in the ring
are Cloverbud age, and the appropriate supervisory ratios are satisfied.

Q: Can Cloverbud Member classes be placed?

A: No, Cloverbud classes are exhibition-only and all awards/prizes should be the same
for all members.

Q: Is there any limit on the types of classes Cloverbud Members are allowed to
participate in?
A: The types of classes are not limited under the condition that all classes are walk/trot
only and must be in an enclosed arena.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members allowed to participate in club trail rides?

A: The safety guidelines state Cloverbud members are required to be in a fenced in area;
therefore; Cloverbuds are not allowed to participate in trail rides.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members allowed to participate in overnight camps?

A: Guidelines, rules, and requirements vary from camp to camp. Please check with
specific camps to determine if suitable Cloverbud curriculums are available. If Cloverbud
members are planning to participate in mounted instruction, the evaluation form must be
completed and on file in the county office.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members allowed to school with other 4-H members at the county
shows?
A: No, Cloverbud Members can only ride with other Cloverbud Members; therefore,
Cloverbud schooling should be scheduled separately prior to any Cloverbud exhibitions.

Q: Can Cloverbud Members progress to the District Shows?

A: No. Cloverbud Members may only participate in mounted activities at the club and
county level.

Q: Will 3 classes be offered at the county level?

A: Because the 4-H Horse Cloverbud Program is not a mandatory offering, addition of
Cloverbud events at the county level are up to the county.

Q: If our club is holding a 4-H Open Horse Show, what should we call the Cloverbud
classes? Would 5-7 year olds not in 4-H be allowed to participate?
A: Naming the classes for open shows will be left up to the discretion of the governing
body. Because in this case the show is sponsored by a 4-H entity, only registered
Cloverbud Members that have been evaluated and have their evaluations on file in the
county office will be allowed to participate in the exhibition classes.
Q: Will Miniature Horse or Pony Driving be considered for future events for Cloverbud
members?
A: Currently, driving is not an acceptable Cloverbud activity. There are no plans for this
to change in the near future.

Q: If a Cloverbud member and a regular member are sharing a horse, can they cross
divisions?
A: Yes. There are no division restrictions placed on Cloverbud Members.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members required to wear a helmet on field trips, etc. where they will
be in contact with horses?
A: As per program guidelines, when a Cloverbud Member will be working directly with
or around a horse or pony they are required to wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet.

Curriculum:

Q: What curriculum pieces are available for the Cloverbud Program?

A: Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Cloverbud Activity Books are being developed. The books
will be used on a three-year rotation, with all Cloverbuds in a club participating in the
same book throughout the year. Activity Book A is currently available on the website or
through your county extension office.

Q: Are Cloverbud Members required to participate in Quality Animal Management

training?
The Cloverbud curriculum has been designed to teach basic horse safety, science and
management skills at the educational level of youth ages 5 to 7. This curriculum will also
serve as the required Quality Animal Management training for Cloverbud members,
making them exempt from the Quality Animal Management training and test for
traditional members.

Q: Are Cloverbud Activity Books available through Publications?

A: Cloverbud Activity Books are not currently available through Ag Publications. When
all three activity books are completed, publication will be pursued.