horseIQ Virtual Triathlon

Looking for some friendly competition this fall? The new horseIQ Virtual Youth Triathlon is a three-part event that will test your skills and knowledge of the horse industry for the chance to win some great prizes! Available for all youth, this virtual event will consist of prepared speaking, skills demonstration and hippology.

Eligibility

• Contestants must be 18 years old or under as of January 1 of the current year
• This contest is hosted on HorseIQ. Each contestant must use their own HorseIQ account to compete. To participate, you’ll need to create a free HorseIQ account and select the ‘HorseIQ Virtual Youth Triathlon’ course. From there, you can complete each section at any time during the allotted timeframes.

Divisions

• 14-18
• 13 & Under

The Rules

Submissions for each section of the triathlon can be accepted during the timelines below. Winners of each section will be announced via email and social media about one week after each section ends, and the overall placings will be announced around the first week of December.

By uploading your entry and making it available to APHA, you are granting permission for image(s)/video(s) to be used by APHA for publication, marketing and other promotional and educational efforts.

Prepared Public Speaking

• Submissions will be accepted September 1–22
• Video must be 2-5 minutes, and must be uploaded to a video hosting platform that will generate a publicly viewable link, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc.
• Contestants will select one of the possible topics to speak on in their division below and announce their topic at the beginning of their video.
• 13 & Under Topics: 
  • What to consider when purchasing a horse
  • Benefits of showing horses
  • Benefits of horse ownership
• 14–18 Topics:
  • Equine-Assisted Therapy
  • Horse Welfare
  • Supplement Usage in Competition
  • Decrease in Large Animal Vets

Skills Demonstration

• Submissions will be accepted October 1–21
• Video must be 2-5 minutes, and must be uploaded to a video hosting platform that will generate a publicly viewable link, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Google Drive, etc.
• Contestants will select one of the possible skills in their division to demonstrate below and will announce their skill at the beginning of their video. Contestants are expected to explain what they are doing and give directions while performing the skill.
• 13 & Under Skills:
  • Pick a hoof and name the parts
  • Polo wraps: what they are used for, how to put on and take off
  • Calculating the weight of your horse: weight tape versus actual
• 14–18 Skills:
  • Take vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration)
  • Types of shots, how to give each and where
  • Load and unload a horse into a trailer
  • Checking teeth and determining age

Hippology Test

• Test opens November 1–18
• Test will consist of six sections:
  • Tack
  • Genetics, Reproduction & Evolution
  • Coloring, Anatomy & Patterns
  • Feed & Nutrients
  • Safety & Disease
  • Judging & Conformation
• Each section of the test will display a random set of 10 questions, so each contestant’s test will be slightly different.
• Test may only be submitted once. In the event multiple tests are submitted for a contestant, only the first submission will be counted.

Tabulation & Awards

Tabulation

• Prepared Speaking and Skills Demonstration will be graded using the below rubrics with a three-person panel. 
  • Prepared Speaking Video Rubric
  • Skills Demonstration Video Rubric
• Hippology Test will be graded by adding together each test section
• Each section of the triathlon will be evenly weighted when determining the overall placings in each division. Contestants must participate in all three sections to be eligible for overall placing and prizes.
• Tie Breakers:
  • In the event of a tie, the individual placing higher in the hippology test wins.
  • In the event a tie remains, the individual placing higher in the speaking section wins.
  • In the event a tie still remains, the individual placing higher in the skills demonstration wins.

Awards

• 1st place of each part: $50 PH Barn Door Gift Card
• Overall Winners:
  • 1st Place: $100 PH Barn Door Gift Card
  • 2nd Place: $75 PH Barn Door Gift Card
  • 3rd Place: $50 PH Barn Door Gift Card