Young Horse Development Program
The Young Horse Development Project was launched in 1998 from a partnership forged between Manitoba 4-H and the Manitoba Equine Ranching Association (MERA). This program has since expanded to Saskatchewan, where it includes participation of other youth groups.

Participating equine ranchers offer youth group members a selection of weanlings to inspect, judge, select, purchase and train. Participating youths obtain hands-on experience, assume the responsibilities associated with horse ownership and develop skills required for setting and achieving goals. It is also an opportunity to showcase quality horses bred and raised on equine ranches.


2009 4-H Young Horse Development Project Presentation Day Highly Successful


The 11th annual presentations of the Manitoba 4-H Young Horse Development Project (YHDP) were held September 7, 2009, at the Westoba Agricultural Centre of Excellence, in Brandon, Manitoba. The YHD Project, launched in 1998, is a joint initiative of Manitoba 4-H and the Manitoba Equine Ranching Association (MERA) and the Saskatchewan Equine Ranching Association (SERA), both members of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council (NAERIC). The project provides a venue for senior 4-H members to demonstrate their knowledge gained through the 4-H Equine Program, as well as to showcase the stock being bred and raised on Manitoba’s equine ranches

Each year, interested senior 4-H members (14 years of age by January 1 of the current year) apply to the YHD Project’s Working Committee. Upon selection, members are given a list of participating MERA and SERA ranchers from whom they may purchase a weanling. Prices are pre-set and ranchers receive half of the purchase price; the balance is placed in that year’s Project Enhancement Fund.

The YHD Project involves a two-year commitment, and teaches 4-H members valuable life skills about taking responsibility, setting goals, and applying their knowledge gained. Members raise and train their horses with the objective of presenting them as a yearling “in hand”, and as a two-year-old “under saddle”. Members receive payouts by participating in the yearling presentations (1/3 of the Enhancement Fund); participating in the two-year-old presentations (the remaining 2/3 of the fund); completing their project books; and by adhering to the rules and regulations. Formal placings for the presentations are irrelevant. Members receive an Enhancement Fund payout based on their individual efforts so that the experience of their presentation will be self-achieving.

In 2009, eleven 4-H members exhibited their yearlings, Quarter Horses, a Paint Horse and a cross-bred Thoroughbred/Percheron “in hand”. They were evaluated on the elements of basic showmanship skills, conditioning of the horses, and their abilities to teach their horses to work on a longe line and to load into a trailer. Scores ranged from 159 points to 192 points, out of 250 possible points. The members earned a share of the $1,283 in the 2008 Enhancement Fund. As a group, they accumulated 1979 points, averaging 180 each, and will be paid $0.65/point, based on their individual scores.

Monica Coffey, 16, of Ethelbert, Manitoba is in Grade 10 and home schooled. Monica said, “Riley (DF Quincy Kid) is my second YHD project horse. I presented one in 2007 as a yearling and in 2008 under saddle. I also bought a weanling filly this year, so I plan to come back with her in 2010 and 2011. I bought Riley from Dean and Debbie Fenty, D5 Performance Horses at Miniota. I chose him because he had really nice conformation and was a real eye catcher. His breeding was also what I was looking for. I really like this YHD project because I like learning how to train and work with young horses. I learned you really need lots of patience, and the stuff you do with the yearlings - the groundwork and longing, makes it a whole lot easier when you get into the saddle. I’m hoping to turn Riley into a barrel racing horse and I’d like to keep him around. He’s so good minded.”

Classic Jade-Tequila, owned and presented as a yearling by Aaron Lewis, was bred by Candace Bergeson and Bruce Farquhar of Rafter F Ranch at Birtle, Manitoba. Candace said, “Bruce and I have been involved in equine ranching since 1992. In addition to the horses, we also have cattle and produce hay. We have four children, Robert, Tara, Kris and Jackie who are all grown now, but they showed horses and competed in High School Rodeo. We began participating in the YHD project in 2006 and have had five weanlings go through the program. We chose to participate because we enjoy watching young people become actively involved with horses. As equine ranchers, the project increases our exposure and is thus a part of our overall marketing plan. The YHD project creates the opportunity for 4-H youth to focus their efforts, develop their horsemanship skills and work intensely with one horse. The presentations act as goals and encourage members to set time lines for their own training schedules.” Candace is a member of the YHD Project Working Committee. She said, “Being part of the YHDP provides me with an opportunity to work as part of the organizational team.”

Evaluator Bob Olyarnyk of Band F Quarter Horses at Brandon, Manitoba, has been training, showing and breeding horses for about 20 years and judging for about 10 years. “We raise a couple of good babies each year for the high end market. We coach youth and amateurs, and I ride a couple of horses for clients.” On May 23, 2009, Olyarnyk conducted a one day clinic at the Keystone Centre, sponsored by NAERIC, for the 2009 YHD Project participants. “Basically, for the group showing yearlings, I gave them tips on grooming, feeding, and presentation, and provided longe line practice. For the group who were starting to ride their two-year-olds, I taught them supplying and bending exercises, and explained how to maintain the horse’s respect on the ground and in the saddle.”

Following each group’s presentations, Olyarnyk provided constructive criticism to the 4-H members, relative to the project’s scoring criteria and indicating what he, as an evaluator, was looking for in their presentations. He said, “I think they did a really good job. The yearlings were in good condition, and well mannered. I pointed out to the youth that the scoring system allots 70/250 points each for grooming and conditioning (feed). So, if they take good care with these two criteria alone, they are halfway to their overall objective. The two-year-old presenters also did a very good job. I thought they did quite well with getting their leads at the lope. I passed on some suggestions for improving the overall picture, such as blanketing their horses to keep hair coats short, and getting hoof trims about a week or two prior to showing. All-in-all, I was pleased with their turnout and the respectful behaviour of their horses. It was a pretty good day, and my only disappointment was that I wished a few more of the weanlings (purchased in prior years) had come back to show.”

Seven 4-H members presented their two-year-old Quarter Horses, and an Appaloosa “under saddle”. Each horse and rider was scored based on their individual performance over a predetermined horsemanship pattern. Scores ranged from 162 points to 189 points out of a possible 250 points. The members earned a share of the $1,866 remaining in the 2007 Enhancement Fund. As a group, they accumulated 1203 points, averaging 172 each, and will be paid $1.55/point based on their individual scores. Each member received a copy of their evaluation, a tri-coloured neck banner and a trophy horse cooler, sponsored by NAERIC.

Shannon Mullin, 16, of Cartwright, Manitoba is in Grade 11 at Cartwright School. Shannon presented her two-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, DC Jaylo, “under saddle”. She said, “I chose Jaylo as a colt because he was really cute and well put together. Both his parents are really nice to work with, so I thought he would be a good choice for my first YHD Project horse.” Shannon presented Jaylo as a yearling “in hand” in 2008. She said, “What I learned was that the ground work is really important as a foundation for what you do with a two-year-old. I had always wanted to train a young horse and I thought this was a good program to give it a try. I intend to ride Jaylo for another year. He has good cow horse breeding, so I may do some showing as a novice, in ranch horse versatility competitions next year.”

DC Jaylo was bred by Dan & Colleen Mullin, Clay Ranch of Cartwright, Manitoba, who have been equine ranchers since 1992. Dan Mullin said, “We breed 65 to 70 mares to our five studs, , each year. Equine ranching has allowed us to raise quality, cow horse-bred Quarter Horses – good-minded athletes anyone can ride. Our two daughters and I, (Ali, 17 and Quinn, 14) all ride in local fairs, ranch horse competitions and rodeo events. We have participated in the YHD Project since 2000, because it provides a tremendous learning experience for the members. And, we are big supporters of the 4-H program. Overall, we are very pleased with the YHD Project. It expands their horizons when the youth have to choose from weanlings bred by more than one rancher and not just go to their best friends or closest neighbours.”

Leanne Sprung, 4-H & Youth Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Brandon, Manitoba said, “We have a total of 2,940 Manitoba 4-H members in 2008-2009, and 601 equine projects were undertaken. This project provides an opportunity for members to establish relationships with Manitoba and Saskatchewan equine ranchers and to own and develop a young horse. The members gain advanced skills in selecting, feed and handling horses and an increased awareness of the equine industry.”

Lynn Coffey, the Chairperson of the YHD Project’s Working Committee said, “There are ten senior 4-H members who have been approved to select weanlings in 2009, since we have a commitment from MERA and SERA ranchers and NAERIC to continue this program through to the 2011 ‘under saddle’ presentations. We are grateful to MERA and SERA for sponsoring the fees to cover our project evaluator. We also appreciate the ongoing support of the individual equine ranchers who offer their weanlings, and NAERIC for sponsoring the cost of awards, facilities - including the arena and stabling, post event press releases, and colour photographs for the members and ranchers, and for administering the YHDP Enhancement funds. Each yearling presenter received a copy of their evaluation, a tri-coloured neck banner and a Horse Industry Handbook – A Guide to Education, Care and Management, published by the American Youth Horse Council, sponsored by NAERIC. Each two-year-old presenter received a copy of their evaluation, a tri-coloured neck banner and an embroidered cooler, sponsored by NAERIC.”

Parents of the 4-H members praised the YHD Project’s Working Committee, consisting of: Lynn Coffey, Ethelbert; Leanne Sprung, Brandon; Ray Salmon, Winnipeg; Susan De Yaegher of Minto; Jocelyn Kish, Brandon; Bob McCallum, Boissevain; Kristine O’Connor, Brandon; Candace Bergeson, Birtle; Chantel Colli and Melanie Colli, Hamiota; for providing this value-added 4-H Light Horse Project. Approximately one-half of the 4-H members intend to keep their project horses for pleasure or showing in the future. The other half indicated they expect to sell their project horses.

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Related Links
Manitoba YHDP
2009 YHDP Yearling and Two-Year-Old Under Saddle Presenters