For 4-H’ers who love horses, the 2025 Northeast Region 4-H Horsemanship Clinic and Show was the perfect place to hone their horsemanship skills, learn about horse care and test their equine knowledge. They also got to camp overnight with their horses and friends at the Orleans County Fairgrounds in Barton, the venue for the annual event held June 20 to 22.

The weekend included fitting and showmanship instruction and competitions, English riding and jumping lessons and classes, Western riding lessons, drill team practice and judging and general knowledge contests. Many of the participants also took part in the horse show on Sunday to demonstrate what they learned at the clinic for family and friends. For the 4-H Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, and participants without horses there were craft activities, a scavenger hunt and workshops on horse care and leading.

As part of the clinic, the 4-H clubs were evaluated on the cleanliness of their stall and stable area including decorations, tidiness of tack room and condition of tack. The Kingdom Hoofbeats 4-H Club of Derby Line earned the best overall score for stable management.

The club also was recognized for its spectacular drill team performance set to music. Each rider received a special rosette ribbon.

Wolcott 4-H’er LeighAnn Judd, a member of the Blazing Bridles 4-H Club in Caledonia County, received the Shelby Noyes Sportsmanship award. The award is given annually in memory of Shelby, a member of the South Kirby Hilltoppers 4-H Club, who passed away in 2002 at the age of 12 due to injuries from a horse accident.

Placing first in their respective fitting and showmanship classes were:

  • Carlie Rondeau, Newport (Senior); Piper Parsons, Derby (Junior); Quinn Charest, Derby Line (Advanced Beginner); Devin Davidson, Barnet (Beginner); Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (Basic Beginner); Gabriella Morin, Hyde Park (Leadline)

Top placements in the 4-H project classes were:

  • Senior 4-H Project: Kassie Koehler (first) and Abby Shelp (second), both from Derby; Carlie Rondeau, Newport (third); Jenesy Zwart, Danville (fourth)
  • Junior 4-H Project: Penelope Longe, Newport (first); Taylor Peck, Sheffield (second); Piper Parsons, Derby (third)
  • Advanced Beginner 4-H Project: Jacqueline Lear, Bath New Hampshire (first); Quinn Charest, Derby Line (second); Kaylee Demars, St. Johnsbury (third); LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott (fourth)
  • Beginner 4-H Project: Eva Lamothe (first) and Devin Davidson (second), both from Barnet; Natalie Taylor, Danville (third)
  • Basic Beginner 4-H Project: Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (first)

Placements in the Trail classes were:

  • Senior Trail:  Carlie Rondeau, Newport (first) riding Watch’n Dollars Fly; Carlie Rondeau, Newport (second) with Teddy Graham
  • Junior Trail: Taylor Peck, Sheffield (first)
  • Advance Beginner Trail: Kaylee Demars, St. Johnsbury (first); Jacqueline Lear, Bath New Hampshire (second); Quinn Charest, Derby Line (third)
  • Beginner Trail: Natalie Taylor, Danville (first); Eva Lamothe (second) and Devin Davidson, (third), both from Barnet
  • Leadline Trail: Connor Laroche, Concord (first); Zayne Franko, Lyndonville (second); Gabriella Morin, Hyde Park (third); Kenna Kendrick, St. Johnsbury (fourth)
  • In Hand Trail: Maddy Cotter, Concord (first); Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (second); Jaida Jenkin, Lyndonville (third)

General Knowledge (gold, silver and bronze medal awards for first through third):

  • SENIORS (14 and older): Jenesy Zwart, Danville (gold), Carlie Rondeau, Newport (silver), Kassie Koehler, Derby (bronze)
  • JUNIORS (12 and 13): Penelope Longe, Newport (gold), Natalie Taylor, Danville (silver), Taylor Peck, Sheffield (bronze)
  • JUNIORS (10 and 11): Eva Lamothe, Barnet (gold), LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott (silver), Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick (bronze)
  • JUNIORS (8 and 9):  Alina Phillips, Newport (gold), Quinn Charest, Derby Line (silver)
  • CLOVERBUDS:  Zayne Franko, Lyndonville; Kenna Kendrick, St. Johnsbury; Connor Laroche, Concord; and Gabriella Morin, Hyde Park, all received 4-H Cloverbud participation ribbons.

Horse Judging:

  • SENIORS (14 and older): Jenesy Zwart, Danville (gold), Carlie Rondeau, Newport (silver), Kassie Koehler, Derby (bronze)
  • JUNIORS (12 and 13): Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (gold), Kaylee Demars, St. Johnsbury (silver), Maddy Cotter, Concord (bronze)
  • JUNIORS (10 and 11):  LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott (gold), Adriana Holbrook, Hardwick (silver), Eva Lamothe, Barnet (bronze)
  • JUNIORS (8 and 9):  Alina Phillips, Newport (gold); Quinn Charest, Derby Line (silver)
young child and a pony
4-H Cloverbud Connor Laroche, Concord, had fun getting dressed up along with his pony for the costume class at the 2025 Northeast Region 4-H Horsemanship Clinic and Show in Barton, held June 20 to 22. (photo credit:  Ashley LaRoche)
child riding a horse
St. Johnsbury 4-H’er Kaylee Demars gives her horse an encouraging pat during the Advance Beginner Trail class at the 2025 Northeast Region 4-H Horsemanship Clinic and Show in Barton, held June 20 to 22. (photo: Kari Demars)
child dressed as Batman on a horse
Danville 4-H’er Natalie Taylor as batman and her horse dressed as Robin were a big hit in the costume class at the 2025 Northeast Regional 4-H Horsemanship Clinic, which was held at the Orleans County Fairgrounds, June 20 to 22.
child riding a horse
At the 2025 Northeast Region 4-H Horsemanship Clinic and Show, held June 20 to 22 in Barton, Kassie Koehler, Derby (right), leads Alina Phillips, Newport, around the show ring. (photo: Sonia Koehler)

The clinic was sponsored by the Northeast Region 4-H Horse Committee and organized by University of Vermont Extension 4-H Educators Lindy Birch and Holly Ferris. Kate Stone, St. Johnsbury, served as announcer for the horse show and Barb Kristoff, Barnet, handled helmet fitting. Mary Fay, Westford, provided instruction in fitting and showmanship along with Kealey Daigle, Derby Line; Heather Emslie, Bethlehem, New Hampshire; Emily Lacroix, Barre; and Allison Patenaude, Derby.

4-H leaders Miranda Achilles, Waterford; Jillan Dargie, Danville; Jonathan Franko, Lyndonville; Sonia Koehler, Newport; Melissa Morin, Wolcott; Amanda Turgeon, St. Johnsbury; Jennifer Wood, Kirby; and several parents assisted with the clinic. The Tractor Supply Company store in Newport donated a pallet of shavings for the event.

To learn more about 4-H in Caledonia and Lamoille Counties, contact Holly Ferris at (802) 656-7562. For Essex and Orleans Counties, contact Lindy Birch at (802) 656-7572.