Ag News
GFB applauds senior division champions of State 4-H Horse Show
Posted on Jul 09, 2025 at 12:12 PM
By Jennifer Whittaker
Georgia 4-H’ers with a love of horses competed in the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show June 3-7 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry. Some 134 students in 4th through 12th grade registered for the 61st annual event first held in 1964.
Georgia Farm Bureau supported the show by providing Show Your Passion t-shirts for each participant and awarding belt buckles to the four 4-H’ers in the senior age bracket who won their category division to become a Master 4-H’er.
“Thanks to a recommendation by Georgia Farm Bureau’s Equine Advisory Committee and with the encouragement of Stephanie Branch, the 2024 GFB Women’s Leadership Committee chairman, our organization began supporting the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show this year,” GFB President Tom McCall said. “All of the 4-H’ers who participate in this show work long hours caring for and training their horses to compete in the style or styles of riding they choose to pursue, so we wanted to reward them with a t-shirt. Farm Bureau believes it’s important to recognize the champion division winners in the senior age category with belt buckles, so they’ll have a keepsake of the many years they spent participating in the 4-H Horse Project and working with their horses to win their respective divisions.”
Congratulations to Coffee County 4-H’er Andi Unger, Elbert County 4-H’er Bailee Seymour, and Thomas County 4-H’ers Emily McBrayer and Jenna McBee for being named the champions of the Stock Seat Division (Western), Contest Events Division (racing), Hunt Seat Division (English), and Ranch Horse Division (Western), respectively in the senior 4-H age category (9th-12th grade).
In addition to the champion belt buckle courtesy of Georgia Farm Bureau, each division champion will receive a $500 scholarship redeemable upon completing a college semester courtesy of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Equine, and a ribbon, medallion and customized stall bag paid for by the show entry fees. Each of the senior division champions also earned the status of being a Master 4-H’er.
No qualifying shows were required to compete, but participants had to be a 4-H’er and have owned or leased the horse they showed by March 1. All horse show exhibitors are required to take an online short answer test of 25 questions covering the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show Rulebook and general horse care. For senior 4-Hers, the quiz score counts 25% of the total points used to determine division champions; quiz points are added to the points an exhibitor earns from placings in three classes of their division. Test scores do not count toward the computation of championship points for the Cloverleaf or junior 4-H’ers but may be used as a tie breaker for division placings.
The senior 4-H’ers also had to complete the Novice Horseman 4-H Horse Project Manual by May 6, while Cloverleaf and junior 4-H’ers had to complete at least half of the manual. The Cloverleaf category is for 4th-6th graders with limited riding experience. The junior category is for 5th-6th graders with demonstrated riding skills and 7th-8th graders. Age eligibility is based on the grade a 4-H’er is in when they register for the show in the spring.
Visit https://gfb.ag/4Hstatehorseshow for a list of all show winners and to learn more about the show.
Ranch Horse Division – Jenna McBee, Thomas County
Jenna McBee and her American Quarter Horse “Star of Texata” won the senior Ranch Horse Division. The general purpose of this division is to showcase a horse and rider team that can perform the type of work required on a working ranch. The division emphasizes function over flash, valuing versatility, responsiveness, and athletic ability in a horse that is useful for everyday ranch tasks, including working cattle.
Thomas County 4-Her Jenna McBee & her horse "Tex", center, accept prizes from Georgia 4-H Animal science Specialist Kate Whiting, left, and Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Committee member Lauren Dye, right, for winning the senior Ranch Horse Division at the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show in June. Georgia Farm Bureau provided the champion belt buckle Dye presented. / Photo provided by Lauren Dye
Jenna and "Tex" showed in the following classes of their division: Ground Handling, Working Ranch Rail, Ranch Riding, Ranch Reining, Ranch Trail, Working Cow Horse, Herd Work, Ranch Roping and Ranch Sorting. Eighteen high school students competed in the Ranch Horse Division. Rhonda Replogle from Florida judged the division.
“Tex is very athletic and has a lot of power, but he is fairly easy to work with and does not require a lot of training,” Jenna said of her partner. “When I found Tex, I was looking for a ‘step-up’ horse that could take me to a higher level. He has taught me to slow down and to trust him. He has also taught me to have a better seat.”
Jenna, who competed as a 10th grade Thomas County 4-H’er with Cindy Wynn as her 4-H agent, has been showing horses for six years. You could say showing horses is in Jenna’s DNA as her mom, Jodie, and her grandparents showed horses.
“I love all of the life lessons that come from showing horses,” Jenna said. “I also enjoy spending time with my horse show friends.”
The daughter of Patrick McBee and Jodie McBee of Quitman, Jenna will be a junior at Georgia Christian School this fall. In addition to showing horses, she has also shown hogs.
Hunt Seat Division Champion - Emily McBrayer, Thomas County
Emily McBrayer and her Quarter Pony “Timbukto” won the senior Hunt Seat Division. This division demonstrates a rider’s ability to effectively communicate with a well-trained, responsive and balanced horse while showcasing style, athleticism and safety while performing on the flat and over fences (jumps) in English tack.
Thomas County 4-Her Emily McBrayer and her horse "Timbukto/Timmy" center, accept the prizes they won for winning the senior Hunt Seat Division at the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show in June from Georgia 4-H Animal science Specialist Kate Whiting, left, and Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Committee member Lauren Dye, right. Georgia Farm Bureau provided the champion belt buckle Dye presented. / Photo provided by Lauren Dye
This duo competed in the following classes: Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, 2’ Over Fences, 2’ Equitation Over Fences. Twenty-one high school students competed in the Hunt Seat Division. John Abbott from South Carolina judged the division.
Emily describes her horse, “Timmy” as being, “very easy to work with and easy to get ready for the show ring. I was looking for a horse to rebuild my confidence. It needed to be safe for 4-H but something that would also challenge me.”
Emily, who competed as a 12th grade Thomas County 4-H’er, has shown horses for nine years. Cindy Wynn is her 4-H agent. Emily started showing after being invited to a barn for a pony ride.
“My favorite thing about showing is the bonds I have made with the people I have shown with,” Emily said. “Something I’ve learned through showing is determination and letting bad times roll off and focusing on the positive are vital to a good showing experience.”
The daughter of Shaun and Joanne McBrayer, Emily plans to attend Florida State University this fall.
Contest Events Division – Bailee Seymour, Elbert County
Bailee Seymour and Quarter Horse “KN Hugos for Cash” won the senior Contest Events Division. The purpose of this division is to showcase a horse and rider’s ability to complete timed patterns with speed, accuracy and control. Unlike other divisions that emphasize form or style, the Contest Events Division focuses on fast-paced performance, where the quickest run without knocking over a prop wins.
Elbert County 4-Her Bailee Seymour and her horse “KN Hugos for Cash,” center, accept the prizes they won for winning the senior Contest Events Division at the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show from Georgia 4-H Animal science Specialist Kate Whiting, left, and Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Committee member Lauren Dye, right. Georgia Farm Bureau provided the champion belt buckle Dye presented. / Photo provided by Lauren Dye
Bailee and “Hugo” won their division by riding in the Cone Weaving, Stakes Race, Pole Bending, Cloverleaf Barrels and Arena Race events. Twenty-two 4-H’ers competed in the Contest Events Division. Sherri Hamilton of Georgia judged the division.
Hugo and Bailee met at the barn of riding instructor Janet Burton, who also taught Bailee’s mom, Beth.
“My mom showed with Janet when she was little. I have always loved horses since I was little, so my mom went to Janet’s barn and signed me up for lessons when I was seven, and I have stuck with it since then,” Bailee explained when asked how she got into showing horses.
After riding Hugo one time, Bailee said she fell in love with the horse.
“I begged Janet to let me train him on running patterns. She finally let me, and all my work is finally coming together with him. He wasn’t too difficult to train or get ready for the shows. It just took a lot of repetition and slow work to get him to understand his job. Then, he added speed the more confident he became,” Bailee said. “We have a really strong bond, and I couldn’t ask for a better horse.”
Bailee, who competed as an 11th grade Elbert County 4-H’er, has shown horses for 10 years. She has also shown goats. Lauren Dye is her 4-H agent.
“What I enjoy most about showing is when all my hard work comes together and I have a successful outcome. Because I have to go through a lot to get to where I want to be, it’s nice when it finally pays off. I also enjoy getting to be around the other showmen and their horses.”
The daughter of Beth Seymour and Stuart Seymour of Elberton, this fall Bailee will be a senior at Elbert County Comprehensive High School and taking classes at Athens Technical College.
Stock Seat Division Champion – Andi Unger, Coffee County
Andi Unger and her Quarter Horse “Nothing Like It,” nicknamed “Murphy,” won the senior Stock Seat Division. In this division, riders demonstrate their horsemanship skills while emphasizing precision, control, and the harmony between horse and rider while exhibiting slow, collected and consistently cadenced gaits in Western tack. Fifteen high schoolers competed in the Stock Seat Division. Rhonda Replogle from Florida judged the division.
Coffee County 4-Her Andi Unger and her horse “Nothing Like It,/Murphy,” center, accept the prizes they won for winning the senior Stock Seat Division at the Georgia 4-H State Horse Show from Georgia 4-H Animal science Specialist Kate Whiting, left, and Georgia Farm Bureau Equine Advisory Committee member Lauren Dye, right. Georgia Farm Bureau provided the champion belt buckle Dye presented. / Photo provided by Lauren Dye
Andi and Murphy competed in the following classes of the division: Western Showmanship, Western Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Trail and Western Riding. Each of these classes, except for Western Pleasure, is a pattern class where the 4-H’er and horse must be accurate.
“I have had the pleasure of riding many great horses throughout my 11 years of experience. However, nothing has compared to the opportunities Murphy has provided me to learn, grow and excel,” Andi said of her horse. “He truly is my heart horse, and though our journey started off rocky at first, it has been nothing short of fulfilling.”
When she chose Murphy, Andi said she was looking for a well-rounded, but a Western-pleasure focused horse that she could depend on to carry her through the rest of her show years.
“When I first got him, there was definitely a learning curve. He wasn’t like any of the horses I had shown previously. It took a while before we grew accustomed to each other,” Andi said. “Over time, however, the challenges he presented me with helped me grow into a more confident rider.”
Andi began riding horses when she was seven, following her two older sisters into the sport. She started showing horses two years later and has continued for eight years.
She has been a Coffee County 4-H member for seven years. Madison Britt is her 4-H agent.
The daughter of Chad and Tracy Unger, of Douglas, Andi will be a senior at Coffee County High School this fall.
Many thanks to Elbert County Extension Agent Lauren Dye, who contributed information for this article & the photos.
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