Young Horse Development Scholarship Winners
Audrey Moody, photo courtesy of AQHA.
From AQHA:
Since January, American Quarter Horse Youth Association members have recorded their progress training yearlings bred by an American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Breeder. Recently, four AQHYA members were named scholarship winners through the 2024 AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program, proudly presented by SmartPak and John Deere.
In first place, earning a $2,000 scholarship and custom belt buckle from Montana Silversmiths is Audrey Moody of Sour Lake, Texas, with her filly, Olena Outlaw. Olena Outlaw is a 2023 bay filly by Shiney Outlaw and out of TRR Olena Iron by TRR Big Iron. Moody participated in the 2024 program with “Mocha,” who she obtained through private treaty after her application acceptance.
Second place goes to Lindsey Thomas of Henry, Nebraska. She receives a $1,500 scholarship and a Justin Boots gift certificate. Thomas worked with Rafters Golden Cisco, a 2023 palomino gelding by Mi Cisco Frost and out of Firewater Seville by Firewater Time. Rafters Golden Cisco was bred and donated by the Open Box Rafter Ranch in Faith, South Dakota.
Megan Sagner of Chugwater, Wyoming, was third with her filly, Frenchman Lady Drift. The 2023 buckskin filly is by Flit Drift and out of French Angel Lady by Frenchmans Mr Tuff. The filly was bred and donated by the Open Box Rafter Ranch in Faith, South Dakota. Sagner receives a $1,000 scholarship and a $100 Wrangler product gift certificate.
Fourth place goes to Madeline Spreeman of Ithaca, Nebraska. She receives a $500 scholarship and a $100 Wrangler product gift certificate. Spreeman worked with Driftininthelimelite, a 2023 sorrel gelding by Driftin Pep San and out of Concho Socks by Cee Heart Concho. The filly was bred and donated by the Open Box Rafter Ranch in Faith, South Dakota.
“The Young Horse Development Program connects youth members with quality Ranching Heritage-bred horses and walks them through a detailed record-keeping program for nine months,” said AQHA director of youth development and AQHYA Katie Reynolds. “Participants keep their horses at the end of the program, but just as importantly this program challenges youth to build a solid foundation for their horsemanship education and skills that apply to any future career path. In turn, their experience in the program turns into a valuable set of experiences that will carry them forward as members of our industry.”
The Young Horse Development Program was created to give AQHYA members an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of horsemanship. Since the program’s inception in 2011, nearly 450 horses have been donated, with an estimated value of $1.7 million. The horses used in the program are bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders, which are ranches whose remudas must consist of American Quarter Horses used primarily to work cattle. The ranch must own at least five American Quarter Horse mares that are used to produce the remuda, and the ranch must have received at least an AQHA 10-year breeder award. The participating Ranching Heritage Breeders donate weanlings for the program participants to evaluate, raise and train. Young Horse Development Program participants get to keep their horses.
“We are very grateful to our Ranching Heritage breeders for their continued support of this program,” said AQHA senior director of member programs Karen McCuistion. “Through their generous donations, we are able to provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a group of very deserving youth participants.”
To learn more about the program, visit www.aqha.com/young-horse-development.
About the Program
The Young Horse Development Program participants raise their weanlings-turned-yearlings and document their monthly progress; participate in webinars; complete monthly management assignments; track goals; engage in mentoring sessions with local AQHA Professional Horsemen; and compile videos of themselves with their horses completing assignments including trailering, an in-hand trail pattern and more. Following project completion, a select number of scholarships and prizes are awarded.
