What the South Carolina 4-H State Horse Show Is
The State 4-H Horse Show is the statewide championship for South Carolina 4-H riders. Youth show their own project horses over four days at the T. Ed Garrison Arena in Pendleton. The 2027 show runs Wednesday, June 9 through Saturday, June 12, 2027. Clemson Extension 4-H runs the show to foster healthy competition, strengthen relationships through statewide participation, encourage teamwork, showcase animal husbandry and support healthy living through exercise and physical activity.
It is also the qualifier for the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships. Top competitors at the State Horse Show earn the right to represent South Carolina at the regional championships in Perry, Georgia, where 4-H equestrians from 13 states compete. The 2027 Southern Regional is scheduled for July 27 to August 1, 2027 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds.
Who Can Enter and What You Ride
The show is open to all South Carolina 4-H members. Youth compete on their project horses in six areas: dressage, hunter, western, ranch, speed and gaited. Cloverbud divisions have been part of past shows, including walk/trot hunter under saddle, walk/trot equitation, pole bending and western showmanship.
Other classes seen at past State Horse Shows include junior ranch ground handling, ranch riding, versatility, western trail, ranch trail, western riding and western showmanship, plus speed events such as the stakes race, key hole and barrel race. A costume contest has also been part of the fun. Class lists change, so use the current show packet for the 2027 list.
How to Enter: Key Dates and Deadlines
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2027 | Complete the South Carolina 4-H Horse Show Packet and submit your intent to show. The packet verifies eligibility and provides the entry forms. |
| May 14, 2027 | Registration deadline for the State Horse Show and the Horse Project Creative Contest (online). |
| June 9-12, 2027 | State 4-H Horse Show, T. Ed Garrison Arena, Pendleton. |
| July 27 - August 1, 2027 | Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships, Perry, Georgia. |
The show packet and related resources are posted on the Clemson 4-H horse project page.
The Horse Project Creative Contest
Riders are not the only ones with something to enter. The Horse Project Creative Contest runs June 10-12, 2027 at the same arena and is open to all South Carolina 4-H members ages 5 to 18. Categories are:
- Horse Poster (Cloverbuds only)
- Horse Drawing
- Horse Photography
- Horse Painting
- Multi-Media Horse Craft, including woodworking, sewing and a model horse display
- Horse Poetry and Essay
The contest aims to encourage lifelong learning and appreciation of the horse, teach handicraft skills and let youth show their talent through individual expression.
Other State Horse Contests Earlier in the Year
The horse project also runs knowledge contests that lead to state teams. Horse Bowl and the Horse Communications Contest (public speaking, individual presentation and team presentation) are February 27, 2027, for ages 9 to 18, with a registration deadline of February 5. Hippology (ages 5 to 18) and Horse Judging (ages 9 to 18) are April 16-17, 2027, with a registration deadline of March 26. The top 10 individual Seniors in Horse Bowl, Hippology and Horse Judging qualify for the state teams.
Where
T. Ed Garrison Arena, Pendleton, South Carolina. The arena is also the home of the Junior Beef Round-Up and the Spring Dairy Show.
Questions
Do I have to be a 4-H member?
Yes. The State Horse Show is open to South Carolina 4-H members, and the packet is how eligibility is verified.
Can a child who does not ride take part?
Yes. The Horse Project Creative Contest at the same arena is open to ages 5 to 18 and covers posters, drawing, photography, painting, crafts, poetry and essays.
What is the first deadline?
April 30, 2027, for the horse show packet and intent to show.
Who do I call?
Holly Jewell, 4-H Equine Program Coordinator, 864-789-0148. The 4-H Agriculture and Animals office in Clemson is 706-713-6355.
Official Links
- Clemson 4-H Horse Project: State Horse Show, Creative Contest, Horse Bowl, Hippology and Horse Judging
- Clemson 4-H statewide events calendar 2026-2027: dates and deadlines
- Savannah Valley District 4-H report: classes entered at a past State Horse Show
- Clemson 4-H news: summer horse events overview
Clemson Cooperative Extension in South Carolina: The Essentials
Clemson Cooperative Extension has an office in all 46 South Carolina counties and offers research-based help on farms, gardens, families and youth programs.
Find your office
The County Office Directory lists address and phone for each county.
4-H
South Carolina 4-H is open to youth ages 5 to 18 for a $15 annual membership, with sign-up through 4HOnline, per the Get Involved page. Projects include cattle, horse, poultry, rabbit and swine.
Farm and soil help
The Livestock and Forages team runs beef cattle, forage, small ruminant, equine and backyard poultry programs. Soil samples can be dropped at a county office for the Clemson lab, where a standard test is $6.00 per sample, per the lab guidelines.
Next steps
Call your county office before you drive, and bring labeled samples.
Read the full guide: Clemson Cooperative Extension in South Carolina
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- FFA Region 1 Tool ID and Floriculture Events
Region 1 FFA contests in agricultural tool identification, leadership development events and floriculture, scheduled for February 9, 2027, at Anderson Institute of Technology.
Anderson, SC | Organizer: SC FFA Official event details - Mr. FFA Scholarship Event
Scholarship program honoring a male FFA member, scheduled for February 26, 2027, at Pendleton High School.
Pendleton, SC | Organizer: SC FFA Official event details - SC 4-H/FFA State Dairy Evaluation Contest
Youth judge dairy cattle at the state 4-H/FFA Dairy Evaluation, held March 25, 2027 at Garrison Arena in Pendleton as the opening day of the Spring Dairy Show weekend.
Pendleton, SC | Organizer: Clemson Extension 4-H and SC FFA Official event details - SC 4-H Spring Dairy Show
Youth dairy cattle show with a Let's Talk Dairy public speaking contest, March 25-27, 2027 at Garrison Arena in Pendleton.
- SC 4-H/FFA State Livestock Evaluation Contest
Teams of 4-H and FFA members place classes of beef, swine and sheep and give oral reasons at the state Livestock Evaluation on April 2, 2027 at Garrison Arena in Pendleton.
Pendleton, SC | Organizer: Clemson Extension 4-H and SC FFA Official event details
All South Carolina events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.