26 AQHA Youth Paired With Yearlings in Young Horse Development Program

AQHA Publicity

Twenty-six young horsemen and -women have been selected to participate in the 2014-15 AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program.

Twenty-six American Quarter Horse Youth Association members have been selected to participate in the 2014-15 American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program. This program engages the youth in raising yearlings, completing projects and furthering themselves as horsemen in hopes of earning scholarships and prizes.

Last fall, the young horsemen and -women received or purchased weanlings from AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders. While raising their now-yearlings, the program participants will document their monthly progress; complete 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 final project book. Following project completion, a select number of scholarships and prizes will be awarded.

The following AQHYA members are participating in the 2014-15 AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program:

• Savannah Jo Fischer of Great Falls, Montana
• Hayden Habein of Drewsey, Oregon
• Shelby Reynolds of Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Kylie Krueger of Boyceville, Wisconsin
• Cheyenne Walter of Hydro, Oklahoma
• Sierra Walter of Hydro, Oklahoma
• Allison Baker of Barnsdall, Oklahoma
• Breanna Lynn Kindred of Sand Coulee, Montana
• Shaynah Seames of Bethel, Maine
• Trevor Wade Klein of Marfa, Texas
• Ciera Barton of Cheney, Washington
• Morgan Barton of Cheney, Washington
• Sadie Geddes of Downey, Idaho
• Shandiin Farrell of Mesa, Arizona
• Nathania McKenzie of Gravette, Arkansas
• Huck Roch of Marfa, Texas
• Kaitlyn Glass of Energy, Texas
• Caydee Johnson of Manhattan, Montana
• Addison Fjelstad of Scarville, Iowa
• Brandy Sofia Rojas of Grantville, Pennsylvania
• Morgan Cummings of Moscow, Idaho
• Malabie Newman of Lincoln, California
• Hannahmarie Mae Klute of La Porte, Indiana
• Christina Weatherford of Oklahoma City
• Mariah Suzanne Voda of Tehachapi, California
• Blake Minotto of Phoenix

The Young Horse Development Program was created to give AQHYA members who want to participate in hands-on horse training an opportunity that will teach them the fundamentals of horsemanship. The horses used in the program are 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 judge, select, purchase, raise and train. The ranchers will also mentor these young horsemen, teaching them responsibility and goal-setting, which are important components of equine ownership.

The following Ranching Heritage Breeders are participating in the 2014-15 Young Horse Development Program:

• Clint Casterline of Wolf Point, Montana
• Flat Creek Ranch (Bert Brackett) of Rogerson, Idaho
• Jim and Joni Hunt (Open Box Rafter Ranch) of Faith, South Dakota
• Jack and Lois Clark (Clark Farms) of Hustontown, Pennsylvania
• Scott and Jane Bagley (Bagley Performance Horses) of Dimmitt, Texas
• KT Ranch (Donald and Pamela Pierson, Toni Meacham and Kellie Pearson-Geddes) of Connell, Washington
• Mark Freeman (Freeman Family Ranch) of Texhoma, Oklahoma
• Paxton Ramsey (Seven L Ranch) of Dever, Texas
• Stan and Nancy Weaver (Weaver Quarter Horses) of Big Sandy, Montana
• Wagon Wheel Ranch (Elaine Gist) of Lometa, Texas
• Sunup Ranch (Greg Booth, Vickie and Barbara Kettlewell) of Brainerd, Minnesota
• Raymond Sutton Ranch (Georga and Dr. Heather Sutton) of Gettysburg, South Dakota
• Madonna Inn Quarter Horses (Rowly and Cathie Twisselman) of Santa Margarita, California
• Yavapai Ranch of Seligman, Arizona
• Sid Miller (Sid Miller Ranch) of Stephenville, Texas

To learn more about the Young Horse Development Program, visit www.aqha.com/aqhya.

For more information on the Ranching Heritage program, including Ranching Heritage Breeders, visit www.aqha.com/ranching.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHAnews on Twitter, watch the AQHA Newscast and visit www.aqha.com/news.