62-lancaster Farming, Saturday, September 13,1986 Manheim Teen's Hard Work Is Rewarded With Gift Colt BY SALLY BAIR Lancaster Co. Correspondents MANHEIM - “I had all these mixed feelings,” Vickie Creighton says as she talks about the emotion she felt when she won a horse at the Elizabethtown Fair two weeks ago. Vickie, 15, was on the receiving end of a gift colt given by Gene Wenger of Gene Wenger’s Meat and Fine Foods, 935 Groff Avenue, Elizabethtown. A member of the Saddle Cinches 4-H Club for seven years, Vickie was selected to receive the quarter horse-Arabian cross yearling because of her outstanding par ticipation in 4-H activities, and because of her proven hard work. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Creighton, R 3, Manheim, and is a sophomore at Manheim Central High School. Kendy Allen, leader ot the cmo, said, “She had started in the club as a horseless member, with ab solutely nothing, and she had shown what she could do with the production project.” Another deciding factor in awarding it to Vickie was her outstanding showing in the com petition to receive a colt from Bob Evans, of restaurant fame. Kendy explained that each year he gives a colt to one 4-H’er per state in about 11 states. “Every year we pick out a kid to fill out the application.” This year Vickie won on the county level, on the district level and was one of three finalists in the state. “That is the farthest anyone from Lan caster County has ever gone, Kendy noted. “It was a very close contest.” In filling out the “very long” application, Vickie said she an swered the question about why she wanted the horse by saying, “I really wanted to be in the production club again.” To be in the production club a member must have a horse under three years old. Vickie had been a member with her three-year-old, the son of her first 4-H project, Sheba. However, her 23-year-old mare got sick and died in the winter, leaving her without the possibility of having a baby for a production project, Vickie says, “I was looking for another baby to raise.” That’s one reason why winning the Wenger horse meant so much to her. Another reason was that last year she won a free breeding from Gene Wenger’s Arabian stallion, but since her mare died she had not been able to use it. Wenger said it was like a “story book ending,” to have her w«n the colt since she was unable to use the breeding. For Wenger, donating the colt to a 4-H member was more than ' st Owning a horse requires a lot of hard work, and Vickie spends about one and a half hours daily with Dimples and Dumplin, her 4-H animals. Dimples is the newest addition, awarded to Vickie for her participatipnjn club, county ?n<J s>t?te activities.. good public relations for his market. He says, “It’s simple arithmetic. You have to sow seeds if you want to reap; you have to give if you want to get.” A 4-H’er himself for four years with the Boots and Saddles 4-H Club, Wenger said it was a good learning experience and he had a good time in 4-H. His 4-H project animal was his first horse, and he’s had hbrses ever since. He and his family are now “down to seven horses.” About the colt Wenger says, “He was a show colt from the day he was bom. He has excellent con formation and he is a very athletic colt.” When he decided to donate the colt, he offered it to the Saddle and Cinches Club where he and his wife Doris were leaders for four years and said he was looking for it to have a home with someone who would show him and help him reach his potential. He said, “Vickie will do an ex cellent job. I am very pleased with the selection.” Registered as Dancer’s Change, Vickie has affectionately nicknamed the colt “Dimples.” A free gelding service was also donated to Vickie by Dr. Henry Fortna of Ephrata. Vickie did not grow up on a horse farm, and, in fact, it was three years after she had joined 4-H before she got her own horse, Sheba, the mare which died last winter. She said, “Sheba was 23 years old, so she had a good life, but it was traumatic. She was my first horse. I learned on her.” She added that Sheba was an especially nice first horse because of her gentle disposition. Also, “She never got sick. I had complete trust in her.” Dumplin was Vickie’s second 4-H animal, and she proved to be very different from Sheba. She is very curious, very high-spirited and is always a challenge to show because of wanting to observe all that is happening around the ring. Vickie rides English now, though she started out riding Western, before she got her own horse. She likes English and has found that her horses are very well suited for that style of riding. She likes it, too, because, “You can jump.” Because of Dumplin’s fast trot he is not suited for Western riding. “His natural gait is fast.” She adds, “Dumplin is really spirited. He is only a baby in riding him.” She says the new horse seems calmer, adding, “He should be easier to train.” Going into the show ring used to be a scary experience for Vickie, but she says, “Kendy has helped me with schooling for my horse. She has taught me to be proud of my horse when I am in the ring.” Vickie Creighton, 15, shows off her new colt, Dimples, at her home north of Manheim. A member of the Saddle Cinches 4-H Club, Vickie won the colt which was donated by Gene Wenger, owner of Wenger’s Meat and Fine Foods, Elizabethtown Vickie’s parents admit they are learning about horses with her. But 4-H is not just riding horses. Vickie says, “I like 4-H because I like being with different people, and I like the different activities you can do with your horse.” She said her club goes on trail rides, sponsors pony rides at fairs and festivals, and often holds small shows just for club members to learn. Saddles and Cinches Club has a point awards system whereby 4- H’ers get credit for their par ticipation. They get points if they help with the fund raisers, if they help collect cans, if they par ticipate in club and county 4-H activities. Rewards at the end of the Club year are given based on these points. Vickie points out that this “encourages you” and it serves the purpose of letting those who may not have the finest horse do well because of their own initiative. Kendy adds, “Whether you have a horse or not, you can get points. ’ ’ Asked how much time she devotes to caring for the horse, Vickie says, “During the summer I spend most of my time with them. In the winter with school and field hockey I spend about IVfe to 2 hours a day.” She feeds them before going to school in the morning, and works with them when she returns in the evening. She adds, “I try to ride every day.” Often she can be seen riding Dumplin with Dimples following along. “It gives him exercise.” She Vickie enjoys the production aspect of her horse club experience, and here works on records for Dumplin. points out that she must wait until Dimples is two years old before riding him. Vickie is not just involved in horses in 4-H. She is also a member of the Mastersonville 4-H Club, where she has taken projects in candlewicking, candy making, ceramics, cake decorating, flower arranging and grapevine wreaths. Her parents are leaders, with Sandy teaching candy making and Tom teaching rocketry. She has attended Leadership Congress at Penn State, and was on the county Horse Bowl team at State Days in August. Though the team did not fare too well, Vickie says she enjoyed the experience. She said, “I learned a lot being on the farm, but I have to learn more.” With her goal of becoming a veterinarian, she said she believes the horse bowl in formation has been valuable. Without qualification she says she recommends that other young wtnesipad t/l/oies people join 4-H. She says, “I used to be very quiet. It has made me a better person.” Vickie has been a teen leader for two years, and worked with younger 4-H’ers in her club. She adds, ‘‘4-H is my whole spring and summer." Never theless, she finds time to par ticipate in school musicals, chorus and track and attends youth group at Calvary Independent Church in Lancaster. Despite her successes, she has some future goals for 4-H. Vickie says, “I want to make it to states riding. It’s a highlight and not many people make it.” Other projects she would like to take include tin punching and counted crosstitch. With her skill and positive at titude, it is certain that Vickie’s 4- H career is still on the way up. Dimples, the newest addition, will help her make some of her dreams come true. V,
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