McKee takes part in 4-H young horse project

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Published on Thursday, October 22, 2015

Submitted photo. Minnedosa 4-H member Daisy McKee of Minnedosa, with her yearling filly Flashy Carma.

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The 18th annual presentations of the Manitoba  4-H Young Horse Development Project (YHDP) were held in September at the Westoba Agricultural Centre of Excellence, in Brandon. 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 advisory committee. Upon selection, members are given a list of participating Manitoba Equine Ranching Association (MERA) and Saskatchewan Equine Ranching Association (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 the 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 through their yearling presentations (1/3 of the Enhancement Fund) and through their 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 the experience is self-achieving.

In 2015, three 4-H members exhibited their yearlings “in hand”.  Three 4-H members also exhibited two-year-olds under saddle. 

Minnedosa 4-H member Daisy McKee, 16, is in grade 11 at Elton Collegiate in Forrest. This is Daisy’s first involvement with the YHD Project, although as she said, “I’ve been a 4-H member for many years.  I wanted to try something new and thought it would be a cool idea and an opportunity for me to train a horse the way I would like. It’s been an awesome experience and met my expectations and more, through the success I’ve had teaching my yearling."

When asked why she chose Flashy Carma from Bridgeman Land & Livestock, Daisy said, “I was not looking for a specific colour or breeding. I wanted one with a quiet temperament which I felt confident would be easier to work with. She was very quiet and friendly. What I have learned from this project is that the first steps are the most important and if a good foundation is there – it makes it easier later. I plan to keep training my mare to become an all-around horse for future MGRA gymkhanas and working cow horse competitions”. Daisy added, “In the future, I am leaning towards a career as an animal science and health technician.”

Kirk and Gail Bridgeman, who own and operate Bridgeman Land & Livestock Ltd., at Rapid City, Manitoba, have been equine ranchers for 34 years. They are second generation equine ranchers, as Kirk’s late parents, Ken and Janie Bridgeman were pioneers in the business. Gail said, “We farm about 2,200 acres of grain, hay and pasture and have some commercial cattle. Our breeding operation consists of approximately 150 horses, of which 10 are stallions. Quarter Horses make up 75 per cent and Appaloosas make up 25 per cent of our herd. We have been offering weanlings to 4-H members in the YHD Project since the beginning. We feel it gives young people a chance to learn all about raising a horse. We attend the event every year to see them present their horses. For us, it’s a measure of enjoyment, and we feel they are the future of our horse industry. A lot of these members have gone on into the agricultural field. And, a lot of the horses have ongoing careers in barrel racing and roping events.”  Two yearlings and one two-year-old were presented at this year’s event from the Bridgeman Land & Livestock’s breeding program.

Meghan Sprung, 4-H and Youth Specialist, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, Brandon, said, “We have a total of 2,196 Manitoba 4-H members in 2014-15 and 514 equine projects were undertaken. The YHD Project’s Working Committee manages enrollment in the project, provides the project materials, and directly administers the project. The project provides an opportunity for members to establish relations with Manitoba and Saskatchewan equine ranchers and to own and develop a young horse. ”