814-LancttWr Farming, Satunfey, Novtmbtr 19,1988 Representing mnsylvanla at. »gy contest were, from left, Melissa Harris; Sheila Krayblll; Saranna Miller, leader; Jen Eckel, and Sharon Harnlsh. 4-H’ers Not Just Horsin’ Around BY USA RISSER LITITZ (Lancaster) Any thing you ever wanted to know about horses can be learned from Melissa Harris, Sheila Kraybill, Sharon Hamish, or Jennifer Eckel. Well, almost. These four talented 4-H’ers recently pooled their knowledge and competed nationally in hippol ogy (the study of horses). They came away as eighth-place winners. Now eighth place is no big deal, you may say. but think again. These girls have been studying for two years, versus an average of six or seven years for competitors from other states. In addition, they were only 10 points out of first place, with one point separating the places, and Sheila placed sec ond as an individual in the judging phase. The hippology contest, which was introduced to Pennsylvania 4-H’ers only about two years ago, tests teams on a myriad of subjects. “We studied everything. Every thing,” stated Jen with a groan. They had to learn veterinary medicine, breed types, equine law, breeding, riding styles, training methods, equipment, feed, bone structure, lameness versus sound ness, and equine history to name a few topics. The competition was divided into four categories: judging, feed and equipment identification, detailed questioning, and hay eva luation and identification of other factors. In addition, they had two team problems. “We had a heap of leather straps that we had to assemble into three different bridles, and in 10 minutes,” recalled Melissa. “There were extra parts too,” addition to being members of the Horsin' Around 4-H jb, the glrl. In various 4-H horse clubs that Involve production and riding. added Sharon. “Not only did we have to find the proper pieces, but we had to match leather, color, thickness, and style.” The other team problem con sisted of, in IS minutes, designing a horse facility in a planned deve lopment meeting a list of detailed specifications. Then the group had five to 10 minutes to present their plan to a panel of two judges. The four girls acquired their knowledge by combining resour ces. Books and magazines gleaned from private libraries provided reading material. Then there were visits to various horse .farms for hands-on experience, which all four described as fun. “You learn more by doing,” added Jen. “When you’re actually seeing and doing, you learn better than if you were reading a book. A book is just words.” Veterinarians and farriers were yet another source of information. Saranna Miller and Rose Fellen baum, leaders of the Horsin’ Around 4-H Club, to which the four girls belong, are very proud of their team’s performance. “I’ve shown a copy of last year’s written test to veterinarians, far riers, and other horse leaders,” said Miller. “They said they couldn’t do it I’m especially proud of these girls because they had no financial support” Unlike some states, Pennsylva nia doesn’t provide study mater ials, trips to compete in pre nationals contests, or the trip and room and board for the national 4-H competition, which is held in Louisville, Ky., in conjunction with the North American Interna tional Livestock Exposition. What is particularly astonishing is that none of the four girls comes from a history of horse breeders. In fact, each is the first in her family to become involved with horses. They didn’t have an environment that fostered easy accumulation of equine knowledge. Sharon, IS, is the daughter of Nancy and Rod Hamish of Lititz. Her 4-H project horse is a 13-year old Appaloosa-Thoroughbred named Misty. She’s always been horse crazy and belonged to sever al horse clubs before settling with Boots & Saddles Club and Hosin’ Around Club. Her enthusiasm has hooked her younger sister, Lori, and together the two have six horses. Jen has been a 4-H’er for the past eight of her 18 years. The daughter of Karl and Sharron Eck el in Lancaster, Jen has loved horses ever since she was little. “My parents wanted me to join a club and learn about horses before they bought me one. So I was a horseless 4-H’er during my first year,” Jen explained. Currently Jen’s mount is an eight-year-old Saddlebred gelding named Vanity’s Sir Grande Lancer. Seventeen-year-old Melissa Harris of Manheim didn’t discover her love for horses until after she moved with her parents, Tom and Melanie Harris, and the rest of her family to the area from Georgia. “Our friends here had horses, so I asked to ride and work for them and I developed a strong interest,” recalled Melissa. She and her siblings have about seven horses. Her 4-H project horse is an 11-year-old registered Quarter Horse, called Don’t Skip Town. But her favorite right now is a yearling paint gelding named Jake. Iclpated Dealer for Dependable Equipment and Dependable Service: PENNSYLVANIA Annvtlla, PA B.H.M. Farm Equipment, Inc. R.D. 1 717-867-2211 Belleville, PA Ivan J. Zook Farm Equipment Belleville, Pa. 717-935-2948 Baavartown, PA B&R Farm Equipment, inc. RD 1, Box 217 A 717-658-7024 Canton, PA Hess Farm Equipment 717-673-5143 Carlisle, PA Paul Shovers, Inc. .35 East Willow Street 717-243-2686 Chambarsburg, PA Clugston Implement, Inc. R.D. 1 717-263-4103 Davidsburg, PA George N. Gross, Inc. R.D. 2. Dover, PA 717-292-1673 Elizabethtown, PA Messick Farm Equipment, Inc Rt. 283 - Rheem’s Exit 717-367-1319 Gettysburg, PA Yingling Implements, Inc. 3291 Taneytown Rd. 717-359-4848 Greancastla, PA Meyers. Implement's Inc. 400 N. Antrim Way P.O. Box 97 717-597-2176 Halifax, PA Sweigard*Bros. R.D. 3. Box 13 717-896-3414 Hamburg. PA ShaiHesville Farm Service R.D. 1. Box 1392 215-488-1025 Hanover, PA Sheets Brothers, Inc 1061 Carlisle St Hughesvitle, PA Farnsworth Farm Supplies, Inc. 103 Cemetery Street 717-584-2106 Lebanon, PA Keller Bros. Tractor Co. RD 7, Box 405 717-949-6501 Loysvllle, PA Paul Shovers, Inc. Loysvllle, PA 717-789-3117 New Holland, PA A.B.C. Groff, Inc. 110 South Railroad 717-354-4191 New Park, PA M&R Equipment Inc. P.O. Box 16 717-993-2511 Olay, PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros. R.D. 2 215-987-6257 Pitman, PA Schreffler Equipment Randy L Schreffler Pitman, PA 717-648-1120 Quakertown, PA C.J. Wonsidler Bros R.D. 1 215-536-1935 Quarryville, PA C E. Wiley & Son. Inc. 101 South Lime Street 717-786-2895 Ringlown, PA Ringtown Farm Equipment Ringtown, PA 717-889-3184 Tamaqua, PA Charles S. Snyder, Inc. R.D. 3 717-386-5945 West Grove, PA S.G. Lewis & Son, Inc. R.D. 2, Box 66 215-869-2214 MARYLAND Churchville, MD Walter G. Coate, Inc. 2849-53 Churchville Rd. 301-734-7722 Frederick, MD Ceresville Ford New Holland, Inc. Rt. 26 East 301-662-4197 Outside MD, 800-331-9122 Hagerstown, MD
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