Kaitlyn Glass
AQHA Publicity
The AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program is proud to announce its 2014-15 scholarship winners.
Earning first place, a $2,000 scholarship and a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle was Kaitlyn Glass of Energy, Texas. For the competition, American Quarter Horse Youth Association members recorded their progress training a yearling bred by an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder.
Glass’ project is the 2014 bay filly Big Madam Playgun by Big Playgun and out of Sarta Big Madam by Sarta Tari. She was bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder Sid Miller of Stephenville, Texas.
Second place was awarded to Kylie Krueger of Boyceville, Wisconsin, who worked with Lil Kota Frost, a sorrel filly by PC Cisco Frost and out of Ms Classy Sienna by Snip Of Colonel. The filly was bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders Jim and Joni Hunt of Open Box Rafter Ranch in Faith, South Dakota. For placing second, Krueger received a pair of Justin boots and a $1,500 scholarship.
Malabie Newman of Lincoln, California, placed third, working with the 2014 sorrel gelding RWS A Legendary Rio by Rios Santana and out of RWS Benito Bar Jill by Legendary Rock. He was bred by 50-year AQHA breeder Raymond Sutton Jr. of Gettysburg, South Dakota. For her hard work, Newman received a $100 gift certificate from Wrangler and a $1,000 scholarship.
Fourth place went to Mariah Voda of Tehachapi, California. Voda’s project is the 2014 bay filly Twissel N Win by Twisselena and out of Fly To Win Misty by Kings Pep N Dry. She was bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder Cathie Twisselman of Santa Margarita, California. Voda received a $100 gift certificate from Wrangler and a $500 scholarship.
The Young Horse Development Program was created to give AQHYA members an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of horsemanship. The horses used in the program were bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders, which consist of working cattle ranches with a remuda of at least five AQHA-registered mares that produce ranch horses. The participating Ranching Heritage Breeders offered weanlings for the program participants to evaluate, select or purchase, raise and train.
“The Young Horse Development Program was developed to help youth gain hands-on experience in training horses,” said AQHA Executive Vice President Craig Huffhines. “The program gives youth a mentor to learn from and showcase their hard work and dedication to their project. This will, in turn, give participants a skill set that will set them apart when applying for scholarships, college and jobs.”
For the 2015-16 Young Horse Development Program, participants will raise their weanlings-turned-yearlings and document their monthly progress; participate in monthly webinars; complete monthly management assignments; track goals, such as competing in AQHA, 4-H, FFA or local horse shows; engage in mentoring sessions with local AQHA Professional Horsemen; and compile a video of themselves with their horse completing an in-hand trail pattern. Following project completion, a select number of scholarships and prizes will be awarded.
The deadline to apply for a weanling and to earn a scholarship through the 2016-17 project is July 31. To learn more about the Young Horse Development Program, visit www.aqha.com/yhd.
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