AQHYA Members Can Earn Scholarships by Raising Weanling From AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder
Do you know a young horseman looking to earn scholarships and bolster his or her résumé? If so, you need to tell that horseman, or -woman, about the AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program.
American Quarter Horse Youth Association members have the opportunity to participate in hands-on horse training that will teach the fundamentals of horsemanship and showcase their learned skills and knowledge at designated events where they can earn scholarships and prizes through the AQHA Young Horse Development Program.
For the project, accepted AQHYA members must purchase a nominated weanling from an AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeder. From the weanling to yearling years, the AQHYA members work with and train their foals, then exhibit the foals at an AQHA show. Ultimately, the project participants have the chance to win back their investment in their foals through scholarships.
Several generous Ranching Heritage Breeders have donated weanlings to this year’s program. To receive one of these donated foals, free of charge, AQHYA members must submit an enrollment form and waiver form by September 20, 2013.
The weanlings were donated by the following Ranching Heritage Breeders:
Open Box Rafter Ranch – Faith, South Dakota
Weaver Quarter Horses – Big Sandy, Montana
KT Ranch – Connell, Washington
Raymond Sutton Ranch – Gettysburg, South Dakota
Running U Livestock – Erda, Utah
Youth members also have the option to purchase a weanling from any Ranching Heritage Breeder. To be enrolled in the program for 2013-14, AQHYA members who have purchased a foal directly from a Ranching Heritage Breeder must enroll before October 1, 2013.
“The benefits of the Young Horse Development Program are endless,” said AQHA Executive Vice President Don Treadway Jr. “Not only does the program showcase the colts being bred by Ranching Heritage Breeders – an elite group of ranchers who raise American Quarter Horses – the program also offers AQHYA members the chance to network with and learn from those breeders.
“Even better, when the program participants apply for academic scholarships, college and jobs, they will have a wide range of skills and abilities they’ve gained through this project they can hang their hats on.”
The 2012-13 project participants are vying for $5,000 in scholarships and prizes
1st place: $2,000 scholarship and a Montana Silversmiths belt buckle
2nd place: $1,500 scholarship and a pair of Justin boots
3rd place: $1,000 scholarship and a $100 Wrangler gift certificate
4th place: $500 scholarship and a $100 Wrangler gift certificate
To learn more about the Young Horse Development Program, visit www.aqha.com/aqhya.
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.
