The Boulder Broncs 4H
Horse Club
After years of joining with the Escalante 4H Horse Club, Boulder’s 4H’ers have finally become numerous enough to create their own group: the Boulder Broncs. Formed in the early spring of 2008, the club is the first of its kind for Boulder. It has 11 members (Juniors- Miles Austin, Alexxia Johnson, Willow Ryan; Intermediates- Audrey Austin, Lindsey Coleman, Zoee Johnson, Marina LeFevre, Kyler Nelson, Kayenta Ryan, Stazia Tippetts; Senior- Kelsie Nelson) along with leader Katie Austin, making it the largest 4H group in Garfield County.
Don’t think that these kids just ride their horses, however. As part of the 4H regimen, they must demonstrate knowledge in horsemanship and horse science through a challenging mandatory test given before every show.
There are three show classes in which to participate: fitting and showmanship, where both horse and rider are required to be well groomed and in compliance with a number of rules; western horsemanship and a third class which rotates every other year. In addition, there are three speed events: barrel racing, pole bending and a third event which rotates.
Four countywide horse shows are scheduled each summer at which all Garfield County 4H youth can accumulate ribbons and points. For the second year, a Boulder show was hosted at the Robison Ranch. The top eight youth in the county qualify for the Southwest Region Show, and the top five then represent Garfield County in the 4H State Individual Horse Show.
The 2008 season was a busy one for the Broncs. Besides attending academic and mounted meetings, they sponsored bake sales to help raise money for shows and awards. They also put on a small ranch rodeo as a fundraiser, which drew in a number of local adult and youth participants. Just before the 24th of July Escalante Rodeo, the 4H’ers participated in a big cleanup of the arena, and in October, they cooked 47 prime rib dinners as part of a beef quality assurance workshop in Escalante.
To wrap up the 2008 season, the Boulder Broncs had a Barbecue and Awards Evening on October 23 at which all of the members received rope halters, grooming kits and beautiful Weaver headstalls for their horses. Those members who had gone the extra mile by producing and turning in their 2008 4H portfolios for county judging were awarded a breast collar to match the headstall. These awards were possible by the Broncs’ fundraising as well as generous donations from the Town of Boulder, Boulder Community Alliance, Boulder Mountain Lodge, Boulder Outdoor Survival School, Vivian Crosby, Bill and Adalee Muse, Burr Trail Trading Post, Anselm Spring, Peggy Carroll, John Austin and Jacqui Smalley, Mark and Katie Austin, Hills and Hollows, Randy and Shelly Ripplinger, and Brian Farm Service.
The Broncs will wrap up 2008 with he Garfield County 4H Dinner and Awards Evening on December 4. Results of the portfolio judging will be announced and great prizes and awards will be handed out to the top three finishers in each event. The county awards are made possible through youth fundraising and donations from Brent Griffin and family, Garkane Energy, South Central Communications, Garfield County and Mark and Katie Austin.
Visit the Garfield County Web page for more details.
http://extension.usu.edu/garfield/htm/horse
May 31, 2008
