The Student Union at Lehigh County Community College was busy April 1 as 150 people gathered for communication classes and for testing in hippology, the study of horses.

Seventy of those gathered were 4-H’ers from Lehigh, Berks, Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties. The other half, 75 adult volunteers, were from the seven counties taking part.

Lehigh County 4-H Hippology Chair Jo Lee Muller said the event would not work without the volunteers. Twenty-three LCCC students were among the volunteers.

Nineteen 4-H members took part in the communications event.

They gave timed speeches in front of judges who scored them on categories such as Attention Getting Introduction, Content Organization, Speaking Volume and Rate of Delivery, and Strong Conclusion.

The 4-H partnered with 28 Occupational Therapy Assistant Program students from LCCC. Several of the OTA students were judges for the communications event.

Classes were for novice, junior and senior 4-Hers involved in the horse clubs in Lehigh and surrounding counties.

Members of the Lehigh County 4-H Equine Club posted the flags and led the Pledge of Allegiance and 4-H Pledge.

The first session was a written test followed by stations where various parts of a horse or horse equipment had to be identified.

The communication division had 19 presenters and, for the first time in the four years that it has been held, there were team presentations.

Written questions for the juniors included such questions as “Who holds the first permanent registration number in the American Quarter Horse Association?” (Wimpy P-1) and how many bones are in a horse’s skeletal system? (205).

In the stations farrier’s tools had to be identified, where did the various breeds originate, what are the parts of the hoof and what are the parts of the eye?

When the kids had some free time, they went to help make origami baskets to be given to Meals on Wheels or in the Occupational Therapy Assistant room they could make animal treats to be given to animal rescue units.

The treats looked like gingerbread cookies but were designed for animal nutritional needs.

Many of the 4-Hers show their horses, described as a good thing, by Muller.

Bailey Prasad said in her presentation that the Bureau of Land Management has control over the mustangs that are an iconic symbol of the West. The mustangs and wild burros share the land with livestock.

Wild Horse Annie protected the mustangs with a message to Congress. Herd management areas were set up guaranteeing humane treatment. The animals are rounded up and offered for adoption.

She said public and private partnerships are needed to solve the problem. Prisoners train some to make them more adoptable and eco-sanctuaries have been set up. Birth control is another partial solution.

Natalie Swope described the process of English saddle fitting which enables natural movement and prevents some bad habits from forming.

Chloe Sullivan told about some of the obstacles found in a trail course. The horse has to go through them showing good manners and quick response to the rider’s commands to back, open a gate, side pass and do a serpentine.

Awards were made for individual and team events. Other 4-H events decreasing attendance at LCCC were the Kiddoes Club, an agricultural conference in New York; and Capital Day.

For more information about 4-H, call 610-391-9840.