Using Tennessee youth hippology contest results as a needs assessment for 4-H horse project members and development of a train-the-trainer program for Tennessee extension agents

TL;DR

This study used hippology contest results to identify knowledge gaps in Tennessee 4-H youth and created a training program for extension agents to improve equine education.

Contribution

The study developed a train-the-trainer program for extension agents based on youth contest performance data to address knowledge gaps in 4-H horse projects.

Findings

Nutrition questions were most frequently missed by senior and junior high youth.

Junior youth missed training questions most often, while health questions were least missed by them.

Significant effects were found across question categories, age groups, and years, but not related to training status.

Abstract

Land-Grant Institutions and Cooperative Extension Services seek to disseminate information to the public; however, Extension agents differ in areas of expertise, leaving some counties with minimal ability to provide 4-H horse project members with sufficient content knowledge while agents in other counties are more well versed in equine-specific areas. Results from the 2021 and 2023 Tennessee regional and 2022 Eastern National 4-H Hippology contests were used to determine areas of knowledge deficiency. Nutrition, tack, selection, health, and breeds were categories identified as areas in which 4th—12th grade youth lacked adequate knowledge and a training program and new curriculum was developed and delivered to county extension agents in effort to greater their equine knowledge and teaching strategies to disseminate this information to their 4-H Horse Project members and hippology teams. Statistical analysis was conducted using SAS v9.4 (Cary, NC). Nutrition questions were most often missed by senior and junior high youth (k = 7.8, 51.94%; k = 7.5, 44.22%) whereas junior youth missed training questions most frequently (k = 4.9, 54.14%). Of the 5 topic areas of deficiency, selection questions were the lowest percentage missed by senior and junior high youth (k = 5.9, 36.81%; k = 7.1, 39.53%) whereas junior youth missed health questions least frequently (k = 4, 39.87%). It was found that training status had no significant effect on scores from year to year. However, significant effects were found when comparing across question category (P < 0.0001), age group (P < 0.0001), and year (P < 0.0001). Despite the lack of training effect, these findings still prove valuable when assessing performance upholding the extension mission of delivering science-based information to the next generation of industry professionals.

This research identified key knowledge gaps in Tennessee 4-H horse project youth and led to the development of a targeted training program for Extension agents, enhancing equine education across counties. The findings help ensure that youth receive relevant, science-based information to better prepare for future roles in the equine industry.

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