Kids Korner > ,+ * Never Too Young To Get Hooked On Horses MIRIAM WERT This truth is illustrated by chil- Juniata Co. Correspondent dren and parents in this story. PORT ROYAL (Juniata Co.) To quote one of the mothers, Get ’em interested when they "If we can get these kids really are really young (like three interested and enthusiastic in months!), and no doubt, they will something like horses, they won’t be hooked for life and join 4-H as have time to get in trouble. SI en-year The w mlata County 4-H Pegasus Horse and Pony Club wear the new Jackets given them during the, annual banquet. (ortlno prepares to compete In an English riding event. training for them when they have to groom the horse, keep their tack and saddles clean and Also clean the barn floor or stables, or what ever is needed.” Little people often get an early start in riding from the influence and example of their mothers who were in competition in 4-H. Many mothers still compete in open horse slows. Younger sisters are often influenced and inspired by older sisters who ride and com pete, all of which makes for good family entertainment. This is the case with Leah and Mary' Foertsch, daughters of David and Rhonda Foertsch of Thompsontown. Fifteen-year-old Leah, a student at East Juniata High School, has been in 4-H for 5 years and rode before that. The family lived in Michigan, where 4- H was not nearly as well-known. In Michigan, she showed at a hunt fami instead of with 4-H. The first she knew about 4-H was when her family stayed with her grandpar ents for one year in Potter County. Since coming to Thompson town, her family has bought the Appaloosa Gelding, Style, which they keep at the Tuck-A-Way farm. Leah spends from 16 to 18 hours a week there, grooming and 2! Ten-month-old Shanna Hart had she was only three months old. Five-year-old Jessica Thomas sitting In the saddle Is led by his 15-year-old sister Holly during lead line competition. riding Style, as well as practicing jumps and other competition events in the large indoor riding arena. During this interview, Leah was very assured and confident as she worked to get Style ready to ride. When fastening splint boots in place on the horse’s lower front legs, that these were important to protect him from injuring himself if his legs were to come together when jumping. Strangely enough, splint boots are not allowed in competition, even though that seems the most likely time for a horse to injure himself. Leah constantly takes on new challenges of teaching her horse different things as she prepares for future shows. Presently she is gearing up for an event in Harris burg where six different breeds will compete in six different events. In addition to her training for 4-H competition, Leah worked for the last three summers at Christian Retreat Center near Past Waterford, where children were bused (mainly from the city). Leah taught them the care of horses, trail-riding, bam work, and how to care for cuts and scratches, etc., on the horses. Members of the 4-H Horse Clubs have to keep record books the same as members of other 4-H Clubs, and so it is not just a matter of learning to ride and then com peting. There is a lot of nitty-gritty work in keeping the horse clean and groomed and even in practic ing jumping, which was evidenced by the dust that came up in the practice arena. This is why Leah and Mary did not wear their show clothes, which are rather, expen sive to keep cleaned. Leah was in 16 shows this year and was Reserve Champion in Reedsville in English riding. She also did very well at the Center Hall show but was unable to com plete the events because her horse (Turn to POfl* B 15)
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