What the Hippology Contest Is
Hippology is the horse knowledge contest at the State Fair of Virginia. It exists to encourage the study of equine science through the agricultural education curriculum and to recognize students who can show what they know about horses. The Virginia FFA Association runs the contest, and it is open to pre-entered 4-H and FFA members in Virginia. The 2026 contest was held on October 2, 2026, in the Blue Ribbon Tent at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell.
Divisions and Ways to Enter
| Division | Who |
|---|---|
| Junior | Grades 9 and below |
| Senior | Grades 10-12 |
Students may compete as individuals or on a team. A team has 3 or 4 members, and a chapter or club may enter two teams in each division. When a team names four members, the lowest-scoring member becomes an alternate: that score is left out of the team total, but the alternate can still win individual awards.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Entry deadline: September 16, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
- Check-in: 10:00 a.m. on contest day, October 2, 2026.
- Contest begins at about 10:30 a.m.
- Awards follow the contest in the Blue Ribbon Tent.
What Is Scored
The contest is worth 400 points.
| Phase | Points | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Horse judging | 200 | Two halter classes and two performance classes, 50 points each |
| Examination | 100 | A 50-question written exam and a 25-question slide section, 2 points per question |
| Station phase | 100 | Scored separately from judging and the exam |
Individual ties are broken by the highest written score, then the station score, then the judging score. Teams are ranked by average scores in the same order.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Open to pre-entered Virginia 4-H and FFA members.
- Members who have competed at a national hippology contest are not eligible.
- No electronic devices of any kind, including smart watches, may be worn, used or carried.
- Contestants may not talk about or discuss materials during the contest.
Fees, Awards and What You Get
No contest registration fee is charged. Each participant needs a $6 Student Competition Ticket to enter the fairgrounds unless they are already at the fair for another competition. Agricultural education instructors order the tickets through the link on the Virginia FFA State Fair page.
Ribbons go to the top finishers: rosettes for 1st through 6th place teams and individuals, and flat ribbons for 7th through 10th place individuals. Cash premiums are paid to the top 10 senior teams ($100 down to $10), senior individuals ($50 to $5), junior teams ($50 to $5) and junior individuals ($25 to $5).
The top three in each division also earn State Fair scholarships:
- Junior: $300, $200 and $100
- Senior: $400, $300 and $200
Scholarship details and eligibility are on the State Fair of Virginia website.
Where
Blue Ribbon Tent, The Meadow Event Park, 13111 Dawn Blvd, Doswell, VA 23047. The fair's student contest registration closed before the 2026 contest, and all participants needed a completed Virginia FFA permission form and active membership on the National FFA roster. Parking at the fair is free.
Questions
Can I compete alone?
Yes. Individuals and teams are both welcome, in the junior or senior division that matches your grade.
How many students make a team?
Three or four. If four compete, the lowest score is dropped from the team total.
What does it cost?
There is no contest fee. Plan on the $6 Student Competition Ticket for fairgrounds entry unless you are there for another contest.
Who do I call?
The Virginia FFA Association office at 540-231-3823. The contest superintendent is Hunter Liles.
Official Links
- 2026 Hippology contest letter
- Virginia FFA: State Fair of Virginia contests
- State Fair of Virginia: 4-H and FFA competitions
Virginia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Virginia county fairs run from late June into the fall. In 2026, fairs on one roundup ran from Orange County on June 24 to 27 to Shenandoah County on August 28 to September 5, per a fairs roundup. Dates may change.
State fair
The 2026 State Fair of Virginia ran September 25 to October 4 at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, per the fair press page. The youth beef, sheep, swine and meat goat shows were October 1 to 4, per the nomination letter.
Nomination and tags
Market animals needed nomination and DNA by July 1, and entries closed August 17 in 2026. Sheep and goats needed a scrapie tag, and cattle and hogs an 840 EID tag.
County rules
Shenandoah County required 4-H or FFA enrollment by February 1 and set ownership dates in March and June, per its 2025 rules.
2027 dates
A fair listing shows the Loudoun County Fair July 20 to 24, 2027, and the Prince William County Fair August 13 to 21, 2027. The State Fair of Virginia lists September 24 to October 3, 2027.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office or FFA advisor for the show book and tagging dates.
Weights and entry rules differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Virginia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- State Fair of Virginia
Ten-day state fair held each fall at The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, drawing more than 200,000 fairgoers. Held each year; the most recent dates were Sept. 25 to Oct. 4, 2026, under the theme Virginia's Best of Show.
- Virginia State Fair Junior Dairymen's Contest
Dairy knowledge and judging contest for youth during the first day of the State Fair of Virginia, run in the First Bank Show Ring. Held each year; the most recent date was Sept. 25, 2026.
Doswell, VA | Organizer: Virginia FFA Association Official event details - Virginia State Fair FFA Small Engines Contest
FFA-only small engines contest held in the Best in Show Tent on opening day of the State Fair of Virginia. Held each year; the most recent date was Sept. 25, 2026.
Doswell, VA | Organizer: Virginia FFA Association Official event details - Virginia State Fair Veterinary Science Contest
Veterinary science contest for Virginia students held in the Livestock Tent during State Fair week. Held each year; the most recent date was Sept. 28, 2026.
Doswell, VA | Organizer: Virginia FFA Association Official event details - Virginia State Fair Junior Forester's Contest
Forestry skills contest for young Virginians, staged at the Farm Credit Pavilion on the State Fair grounds. Held each year; the most recent date was Sept. 29, 2026.
Doswell, VA | Organizer: Virginia FFA Association Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.