We want to hear from YOUth!
Email youth@nwhorsesource.com or snail-mail to 399 H Street #4, Blaine, WA 98230
· We Want More of Your Great Ideas
Thanks to all who responded to last month's invitation to send ideas for our youth page. We are excited about those who have expressed interest in reporting and writing for YOUth. We want to make sure everyone has time to respond, so we would like to extend the invitation for one more month. So get your great ideas together, talk with other friends and members of your club and email youth@nwhorsesource.com
Remember, we want a page that is compiled BY youth and FOR youth.
· Did You Participate in a Youth World Show?
We want to hear from youth who participated in Youth World Shows, or will be participating. Tell us about your experience getting ready and at the shows, the categories you qualified in, and results when you have them. Send pictures! We would love to see you and your horses.
· Are You Taking Your Horse to the Fair?
We would love to hear from fair participants. Send us information about your club, your individual entries along with pictures. We want to celebrate with you.
Be sure to watch this page next month for announcements about new directions on the Celebrating YOUth in Action page.
Youth Events
July 7-13 EES Jr/Yr Intensive Camp, Missoula, MT. A week filled with learning many aspects of horsemanship, including jumping and dressage with qualified instructors. For details visit www.equestrianeducation.org. or call 406.626.1947
July 10-12 32nd annual Palomino Youth World Championship, Tulsa, OK, Follow the results at www.palominohba.com.
July 19-20, August 9-10 and 23-24 Willamette Valley Junior Rodeo, Molalla, OR, Jackpot Rodeo for kids ages 2-19. 4 divisions: pre peewee, peewee, junior and senior. Rulls, Broncs, Bare's, barrels, poles, all roping events, goats, goat tail tying. For details call 503.678.5943 or email j.dryden@gte.net.
August 2-9, American Quarter Horse Youth World Show, Fort Worth, Texas. Follow results at aqha.com
Summer Opportunities!
July and August
Hunter/Jumper and Dressage classes for youth, beginners through advanced, Cottonwood Farms, Boardman, OR, Quality affordable sessions offered throughout the summer. For details visit www.cottonwoodfarmssporthorses.com or call 541.481.3155.
Windy Acres Day Camp, Animals as Natural Therapy, Bellingham, WA. Horseback riding, horse sense, games on horseback, working with animals, arts, crafts and writing, demonstrations. Camps available throughout July and August. For details call 360.671.3509, email wingard6@attbi.com or visit www.animalsasnaturaltherapy.org.
Horses 101 for Kids, Saddle Soar Ranch, Puyallup, WA. Learn safety, riding, horse care and understanding, CHA certified instructors, Sessions offered throughout the summer.
For details visit www.saddlesoarranch.com or call 253.927.6899
Horse Day Camp at Papetti Pastures, Bellingham, WA. Learn basic horsemanship, safe handling, grooming, tacking up and proper riding. Sessions offered throughout the summer. For details visit www.papettipastures.com or call 360.398.1255
Send your Events for Posting on this page to articles@nwhorsesource.com
YOUTH QUOTE: Keep in mind . . . neither success or failure is ever final -Anonymous
Equine Common Sense
Ranch Horses The Blue Collar Equine
By Michelle Dempsey, CSI Graduate
With their fly away manes, hairy fetlocks, fuzzy ears, and whiskers, ranch horses are probably one of the most overlooked specimens in the horse industry. Usually born outdoors in a herd situation, complete with a stallion on duty, these foals are bred for a toughness not found in their barn bred cousins. When weaned, they are halter broke and then turned out with other colts and fillies their own age to live the carefree life of horses until they reach three years old and begin training. They rarely live in a barn and scorn winter blankets. A three-sided windbreak with a roof and natures own insulation is plenty to keep the winter chill and snow away
It's the days they spend working that truly set this amazing equine apart from others in their species. The ranch horse has to be truly versatile to be competent at his job. They need to possess an amazing combination of assets; the inborn cow-sense of a cutting horse for sorting and feedlot work, the ability of a team roper to drag calves to the branding fire, a calf roper's ability to keep the rope tight while his rider doctors a cow 25 miles from the home ranch. Not to mention the need to possess the speed of a race horse to catch and turn back the yearling heifer who wants to anywhere but the right way. If that's not enough, they need the stamina of an endurance horse and the surefootedness of a trail horse to navigate every terrain from sand dunes to rocky mountain trails on an all-day round-up or a routine spot check on range and cow condition. They must be able to imitate a Pleasure horse in order to stay behind a herd of cows whose natural speed is 1/2 a gear lower than his own natural ground covering walk. To finish out the total package, they need the amazing ability to switch from one of these traits to the other and back again at moments notice.
The most popular breeds for ranch work are Quarter horses and Paints. However other breeds are used. Mustangs, Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas and cross-breeds are not uncommon. The occasional Standardbred or Arabian may also be spotted on the range. While pedigree is important, it doesn't play as important a role in the selection of ranch horses as workability and soundness. Many ranches run registered breeding stock, their bloodlines all but unheard of in the show ring circuit, but proven generation after generation in ranch country. Many of these range horses are sought after for the show ring as well since they have developed the mind, conformation and stamina needed in show ring situations as well.
Ranch horses are normally 15 to 16 hands with broad chests, deep heart girths and powerful hindquarters. Intelligence, good feet and bone, strong tendons and overall sound conformation is a requirement for the demanding tasks that these horses are asked to perform. However, the most outstanding trait these horses share is a generous and willing heart that prompts them to give 110% every day in all seasons. They are truly America's Blue Collar Horse.
