Silver Reins 4-H Horse Club holds Achievement Day

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

2012 Silver Reins 4-H Horse Club
Verlee Hagley photos

The Pincher Creek Silver Reins 4-H Horse Club held their Achievement Day on Saturday, June 9 at Pincher Creek's Horseshoe Pavilion.

Silver Reins Club President Kelsie Simpson on Quincy
C. Davis photos

Certain club members did presentations of skills that included: reining - Taylor Wells, Young horse - Jesse Linderman, Roping - Megan McGlynn and Naomi Paridaen, and Barrels - Robyn Lively, Rebecca Taylor, and Kelsie Simpson.

Erica Mackenzie holding on for 8
C. Davis photo

The club members did their demonstrations for English classes that included English pleasure, English Equitation, and Hunters hack.  Those that were involved in the Western classes demonstrated their riding skills in Western pleasure, Western horsemanship, and command.

Other skills that the members were evaluated on included their trail riding, grooming, theory and showmanship.

Officiating the event were Judge Gerry Karchuk and Trail Judge Audrey Westrop, aided by Show Secretary Marg Gilmore, helper Joe Gilmore, Ring Steward Bridgit Graf, Photographer Dawna Coulter, and Ribbon runner Haylee Williams.

Announcer Donny Coulter performed admirably despite sporting a broken nose and blackened eyes from an unfortunate fencepost collision.

The club members seemed to be having a really good time demonstrating their skills, despite a couple of recalcitrant steeds, and an air of good sportsmanship was obvious throughout the event.

The event focused on the achievements of the individual riders, and their personal growth throughout the year. As part of their 4-H experience, each member keeps a personal record book, which documents their achievements and successes.  Judging from the display at the event, these books can be quite ornate and thoughtful in their composition.

A pony named Princess was present, looking a bit odd with post-it notes identifying various areas of her torso to be used in the theory tests.

The Silver Reins are hoping to recruit more boys for next season. They meet once a month in the wintertime, and twice a month otherwise.  "Our ride days are a bud up to this," said club President Kelsie Simpson, who another member told me was "the nicest member of our club," saying Simpson was always willing to help younger members learn and achieve.  Simpson and Rebecca Taylor taught a Level 2 theory class to other members during the season.

The 26 members of the Silver Reins 4-H Horse Club were divided into levels based on age and experience, and range in age from 9 to 18.

Levels 4-7 will be participating in a Provincial Show, to be held in Olds from August 4 to 6, 2012. Levels 1 through 7 will be participating in a Regional Show in Claresholm, tentatively scheduled for August 12 to 15, 2012.  The Pincher Creek Fair and Rodeo will be held on August 16 and 17 this year.

Group 1
Erica Mckenzie
Kassidy Bonertz
Laura Lee Jones
Marlena Coulter

Group 2
Cooper Hagley
Martyna Lively
Rebeckah Blatz
Sommer Hagley
Thomas Gilmore
Ansel Cater

Group 3
Alexandra Russell
Dakota Coulter
Ivy Friesen
Kassi Wells
Sydney Bruder

Group 4
Carly Gilmore
Jesse Linderman
Megan McGlynn
Raegan Jackson
Robyn Lively
Samantha Williams

Group 5/6
Kelsie Simpson
Logan Graf
Naomi Paridaen
Rebecca Taylor
Taylor Wells

Missing from the above list is Silver Reins member Janet Taylor, who unfortunately had other 4-H commitments on the day of the event.