# 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.

## Key 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.