AHASFV Youth Report
By Meaghan Shaffer
Cal Poly Pomona Ag Field Day – Horse Judging Contest
The youth group has been going strong this year! The kids involved have been having twice a month study groups, traveled to the Rancho show to judge classes, put on a fun show fundraiser in March, went to a judging contest at Cal Poly Pomona, and were treated to a special day in Santa Ynez, and received new t-shirts from AHASFV. So much going on!!
The latest group field trip was up to Santa Ynez where 14 youth judging and hippology kids traveled to four different Arabian ranches and had horses presented for them.
Judging Practice!
It was an amazing and full day that all enjoyed, even the parents and chaperones! A special thanks to Kelly Elm and her daughter Flora for organizing the event.
Ta Da Barns
The first stop was to High Star Farms in Los Alamos with Tammy Burkman of Ta Da Equine. Tammy and clients presented us a class of hunter pleasure horses for us to judge. She also allowed us to roam the barn and tack rooms, and feed rooms to expand our hippology knowledge.
AHASFV Youth Group at Daydream 2015
We then journeyed to Santa Ynez to meet Carol Steppe, the owner and breeder at Day Dream Arabians. There, we were all treated to a picnic lunch on a shady lawn in front of pastures of with mares and their new foals.
Foal – Daydream 2015
After lunch, Carol brought out four mares for us to judge in the arena and discussed type, conformation, and form to function. Next we had the special pleasure of meeting four foals, and a petting a foal session for anyone interested. Of course, they were all interested. The kids learned about color, embryo transfers, the story of the “bloody shoulder” and more!
Next up was a visit to Jade Creek Arabians with trainer Greg Harris. Greg had four beautiful western pleasure horses for us to judge. There were no dinks in that group! However, the easy winner for the class was Capt Jack Sparrow PGA which is a gazillion time National winner. Now they know what an awesome western horse looks like. After the western class presentation, the youth sat on the grass under oak trees and prepared a set of reasons. Each child gave an oral presentation to either Meaghan or Kandice, the judging team coaches.
Arroyo Youth Meeting 2015
Finally, the day ended with a trip to Arroyo Arabians with trainer Kelly Elm. Kelly showed us a class of Half Arabian Country Pleasure horses. It was a great chance to see the different crosses bred to Arabians including a Hackney, Saddlebred, Friesian, and Dutch Harness horse. Flora also gave an equitation demonstration and performed one of the AHA equitation patterns for us to critique. Our happy day ended with a pizza party at Arroyo Arabians and a Region 2 youth meeting. Several new youth members signed up for committees and ideas for fun classes and fundraising were discussed.
Ta Da Group
What a wonderful day and educational day we had. The Arabian community is a kind and generous one. It’s awesome to expose all these new horse crazy youngsters to our breed. Now we just need to keep them!
Our next get together is at the Region 2 spring qualifier in Santa Barbara on May 9 and 10. The region is sponsoring the youth judging and hippology teams this year and the teams will be at the show volunteering to help all run smoothly. After that is the judging contest in Del Mar on May 29. See you all there!