Horses

Each year, over 400 horses are shown by their exhibitors at the Wisconsin State Fair.

The six-horse hitch competitions at the Wisconsin State Fair are qualifying shows for the North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series.

See the horses in the Livestock Horse Barn, or see them in the “Neigh”borhood Corral.

Read on below to learn more about horse terminology and the type of competitions they are shown in during their stay.

Horses at the Wisconsin State Fair

Horse Breed Clydesdale

Quick Horse Facts

Key Horse Terminology
  • Equine: the scientific name for the animal family that includes horses, donkeys and zebras
  • Stallion: a mature male horse
  • Mare: a mature female horse
  • Foal: a young horse, of either gender, that is one year old or younger
  • Colt: a  young male horse under the age of four
  • Filly: a young female horse under the age of four
  • Gelding: a castrated male horse
  • Pony: a mature horse that measures less that 14.2 hands high
  • Hand: a measurement of height for a horse, one hand is equivalent to four inches
  • Draft Horse: a large horse used for hard, heavy tasks such as plowing and farm labor
  • Light Horse: any breed of horse that is primarily used for riding or light work such as pulling carriages
  • Team: refers to a group of horses
Common Breeds Shown at State Fair
  • Draft Horse Breeds:
    • Clydesdale (shown in photo above)
    • Belgian
    • Percheron
    • Spotted
    • Shire
  • Champions Challenge (Light Horse) Breeds:
    • Quarter Horse
    • Arabian
    • Appaloosa
    • Paint
    • Buckskin
    • Halflinger
    • Thoroughbred
    • Welsh
    • Westphalian
Horse Event - Hitch Show

Horse Event Descriptions

All horse shows are held in the Coliseum. Click through the boxes below to learn what happens in each of these judging events.

In this draft horse competition, horses are led, not ridden, and judged by the correctness of the horses’ bone structure, muscle and body proportions.

In this draft horse competition, a single horse pulls a cart or teams of two, three, four or six horses pull a wagon in a series of maneuvers.

Draft horses in harnesses pull a weighted load.

In this champions challenge competition, horses and riders complete timed speed events, which may include obstacles and patterns.

An equestrian drill team is a group of horses and riders performing choreographed maneuvers to music.

In this champions challenge competition, horses and riders jump over elevated rails.

This champions challenge competition evaluates riders on riding form and ability to maneuver their horse.

This champions challenge competition evaluates horses on manners and ease of riding.

In this champions challenge competition, horses and riders maneuver through a series of obstacles.