Extension agents and youth educators differ in areas of expertise, leaving some counties with minimal ability to provide 4-H horse project members with sufficient content knowledge while agents in other counties are more well versed in equine-specific areas. The objective of this project was to conduct a needs assessment using a consistent evaluation metric implemented throughout the Tennessee 4-H Horse Program. Youth (n = 224) competed in the 2021 regional 4-H Hippology contest across the Eastern (n = 59), Central (n = 93), and Western (n = 72) regions. Youth competed within their age divisions, where junior (grades 4 and 5, k = 60), junior high (grades 6 to 8, k = 100), and senior (grades 9 to 12, k = 100) divisions competed in written exam and slide identification phases. Scores from all regional contests were collected and assessed to create a baseline for current equine content knowledge of 4-H members. Based on previously established equine project area learning outcomes in place since 2018, questions were placed into categories (colors, behavior, reproduction, ownership, selection (S), breeds (B), facilities, hoof care, tack (T), health (H), nutrition (Nu), waste management, exercise, and genetics) and areas of deficiency were identified within each age division based on percentage of questions answered incorrectly. Statistical analysis was performed using the frequency procedurein SAS v9.4 (Cary, NC). Questions on Nu were the highest percentage missed by both senior and junior high youth (k = 7.8, 51.94%; k = 7.5, 44.22%, respectively) whereas junior youth missed T questions most frequently (k = 4.9, 54.14%). Of the 5 topic areas of deficiency, S questions were the lowest percentage missed by both senior and junior high youth (k = 5.9, 36.81%; k = 7.1, 39.53%, respectively) whereas junior youth missed H questions least frequently (k = 4, 39.87%). Breed related questions were consistently missed by youth across all age divisions as reflected by juniors missing 43.7% (k = 3.1), junior high youth missing 41.54% (k = 2.9), and seniors missing 40.28% (k = 1.2). Despite divisional age and agent knowledge differences, youth throughout the program are consistently missing questions in several key areas that build throughout the 4-H horse project. Evaluation should continue across state and national level contests to determine if area deficiencies are consistent across youth and contests of varying intensity. Furthermore, utilizing this assessment approach, targeted training and educational resources can be developed and shared with educators and county agents to enhance youth comprehension and application in deficient areas.