Draft Horse Project - Application Deadline Nov 1

 
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Schooled Horse Category Option
The draft horse young horse project gives 4-H members a chance to learn and raise a draft young horse while also learning the skills to successfully train, show and drive. Some 4-H members have fully trained draft horses which they would like to continue activities in 4-H.

Some members who are not certain that they would like to raise a foal but are interested in learning about draft horses. This category of the young horse project allows those members to participate on a year to year basis.

Members in this category compete in driving competitions for single and team classes.

Objectives

  • Establish an alternative and extensive draft horse project to the young horse project.
  • Help youths to learn decorating, showing, judging and driving of a draft horse.
What is the Alberta 4-H Draft Young Horse Project?
The program is set up as a three year project. During the first year a Draft Young Horse weanling is either purchased or leased for the duration of the project. The members will learn about raising and feeding a draft weanling, as well as showing, decorating and judging the draft horse. Achievement Day classes will consist of showmanship, decorating and judging.

During year two the 4-H’er will introduce the horse to harness and ground driving while reviewing and sharpening the skills developed in year one. Achievement Day classes remain the same as year one with the addition of a ground driving competition.

Year three is very exciting as this is when the horse is actually hitched to a two wheeled cart. Participants will continue to review previous materials and will compete in a driving competition at Achievement Day.

One or two clinics are organized throughout the year by the 4-H members to assist in teaching proper techniques. A video on ground driving is also available for viewing.

What are the requirements to join?
To become involved in the Alberta Draft Young Horse project you must belong to an established 4-H club. It does not have to be a horse club but your leader must be aware of your intentions. It is preferred that participants be 12 years old but exceptions have been made.

When does it start?
A new year one project begins each fall. So it is important to apply early and to make inquiries regarding the availability of weanlings.

What type of draft horse is suitable?
Any Draft Horse weanling is eligible to participate in the program. The most popular breeds are Belgians and Percherons with Clydesdales and Shires occasionally involved. You may purchase your own horse or make arrangements to lease one. It is recommended that stallions be gelded.

Project
  • Project is intended for members 12 years of age or older (completed Horsemanship 1-3) and they must be an active member in a club (does not have to be a horse club).
  • Project horse(s) may be leased or purchased but must be listed at the beginning of the year and be an obvious draft horse type. The listed horse(s) must be the same horse used for achievement day, substitution will only be allowed due to illness or death with a veterinarian certificate.
  • The project consists of the following components:
    - Decorating
    - Showmanship
    - Driving - Single (cart) and/or Team member can enter one or both
    - Judging
    - Members must compete in all components.
  • Members wishing to compete with a team driving in the driving competition are required to maintain record book for one of the two horses. All project horses require the member to maintain a record book.
  • Members must have successfully completed Horsemanship 1-3 dismounted.
  • A minimum of two Clinics will be available to learn decorating, showmanship, driving and judging.
  • Member will present the project horse(s) at achievement day and participate in decorating, showmanship, driving and judging competitions.
Application
The WRERA Horse Project application form is available to use in either Word or PDF formats. Note Word users: this document is in Word 2000, for previous versions download the Word 97/2000 viewer. Once you have downloaded the viewer you can save the document in the Word format you have. Note to PDF users: you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader to access the PDF..
Send completed applications to:
    Alberta 4-H Draft Horse Project
    4-H Branch
    Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
    Rm 200, 7000 113 Street
    Edmonton AB T6H 5T6
For more information contact
    Maggie Dube, 4-H Volunteer Co-ordinator
    Phone 403/507-6728 (C) or 403/227-3937 (W)
    e-mail wimborne@telusplanet.net

    4-H Branch
    Henry Wiegman, Provincial 4-H Agriculture Specialist
    Phone 780/422-4H4H Fax 780/422-7755
    e-mail henry.wiegman@gov.ab.ca
  
 
 
 

Other Documents in the Series

  
  Horse Project Descriptions
 4-H Horse Reference Manual
 4-H Horse Record Book
 4-H Horse Leader Guide
 4-H Horsemanship Assessment Tools
 Young Horse Industry Options
Draft Horse Project - Application Deadline Nov 1 - Current Document
Alberta 4-H Standardbred Horse Project
 Young Horse Incentive Program - 4-H Young Horse Project Option
 Young Horse Industry Project Application
 4-H Young Horse
 4-H Horse Jumping
 Reining Alberta Youth Development
 Horse Project Options - Driving, Endurance Riding, Polo, Vaulting, Showing
 4-H Horse Rodeo
  
 
 
 
For more information about the content of this document, contact Janet Kerr.
This document is maintained by Corinne Skulmoski.
This information published to the web on September 28, 2005.
Last Reviewed/Revised on February 26, 2007.