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A young horse project incentive opportunity for Alberta 4-H horse members.
The project involves a two-year commitment beginning with the 4-H member’s choosing of a weanling for a project. Members raise and train their project horse with the objective of presenting the horse as a yearling “in hand” and as a two-year-old “under saddle”.
Who Can Apply?
The project is open to 4-H members 12 years and older as of January 1 of the year of application, who have completed 4-H Horsemanship Level 3 and have an interest in working with and training a young horse.
How Do I Join Up?
Interested 4-H members apply to the project advisory committee. Participants must agree to abide by the rules and regulations of the project. Members will be approved based on age, hosemanship experience, 4-H experience and 4-H involvement. Members will be notified by December 1st whether or not they have been accepted.
How Does the Project Work?
Members must submit a cheque for $225 to gain entry to the Young Horse Incentive Program. Upon approval, the cheque will be deposited with the 4-H Foundation, who will manage the fund. One third ($75) of the fund will go in the yearling fund and the remaining 2/3 ($150) will be pooled in the two year old incentive fund.
Members receive payouts each year from the Incentive Fund by participating in the yearling achievement day and the two-year-old achievement day and adhering to the program rules and regulations.
Year One Achievement
The year one “In Hand Presentation” may consist of an evaluation of basic showmanship skills, knowledge of nutrition and health, working on a lunge line, loading in a trailer and completion of project record book (including the 4-H Yearly Diary). Members receive a score out of 250 points and a copy of their evaluation.
The dollar value of the points received will be derived from a predetermined formula that
- calculates 1/3 share of the project incentive fund for members who joined that year.
- divides that share by the total points actually earned by all the presenters to determine the payout per point achieved
- multiply the payout per point by the number of points a member receives to determine the payout for that member.
Example: Ten members with points ranging from 108 to 218, with an average of 159.4 points. 1/3 of an incentive fund for the yearling year totals $750. The $750 is divided by 1594 points is .47 cents/point. In this example the average member with 159.4 points received $74.92 from the enhancement fund.
Year Two Achievement
The year two “Under Saddle” group consists of an evaluation of individual performance over a predetermined horsemanship pattern. The elements of the pattern may consist of mounting, simple lead changes, backing, side passing, walking over logs, trotting around cones, dismounting, unsaddling for inspection by the judge (basic Alberta 4-H Horsemanship Level 1- 3) and completion of their record book (including the yearly 4-H diary). Members may also be evaluated on their knowledge of training techniques, horse health and nutrition. Members will once again receive a score out of 250 points and a copy of their evaluation.
A similar payout process is used for two year olds.
Perspectives - Why Participate?
4-H Program: Motivates intermediate and senior members to stay involved in the organization and gives them a marketable livestock animal.
4-H Parents: Great value-added 4-H Light Horse project. Members can keep their project horses or market them. Great exposure to the equine industry.
Members: A great way to tray a different project, meet other 4-H members and improve your hosemanship skills.
Project Advisory Committee: 4-H Members apply to a project advisory committee consisting of Provincial 4-H Equine Committee (PEAC) members and a representative of the 4-H Branch of Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.
I’m Selected - What Now?
4-H participants will select and/or purchase their foal by December 15th. We recommend that you have a prospect in mind prior to applying to the program.
Members must register their projects with their local clubs under the young horse project. The 4-H members complete their project record book and care for their foals through the winter.
The member presents foal as a yearling at the project first year achievement day.
Tentative Time Line Alberta 4-H Young Horse Project Option
November 1 - Deadline for Applications
December 1 - Participants - Notified if they have been accepted or not
3rd Weekend in April - Clinic - Location TBA
Saturday before Labour Day Weekend - Project Achievement Day - Location TBA
For more information contact:
Larry Baddock (YHIP 4-H Committee)
Phone: 780-853-2782 (h)
Phone: 780-853-4494 (w)
e-mail: baddocks@telusplanet.net
Send completed applications (available on-line) to:
4-H Young Horse Incentive Project Option
4-H Office
Bag 600
STETTLER AB T0C 2L0
FAX 403-742-7575 |