Piedmont PFHA Youth Activities

Piedmont Paso Fino Horse Association

2012 PFHA Youth Leadership Camp

The PFHA office staff is finishing plans for our Youth Leadership Camp that will be held the summer of 2012 at the Kentucky Horse Park. Some of the events being planned are:

• team building exercises
• leadership seminar
• a tour of the Horse Park
• a tour of Hagyard Veterinarian Hospital
• a class on horsemanship
• pizza party
• classes on judging

There is a possibility that if space is available at the Horse Park the students may be able to bring their horses to have some one work one on one training with an instructor. We already have $2,500 donated by the Humane Society of the United States and we believe that after the first of the year we will receive another $2,500 that we have requested from another organization here at the Horse Park. There will be a small fee of $75.00 per student to help defray some of the cost of this camp. It will also be the responsibility of the students to pay their own way to and from the camp. Based on the availability of space at the Horse Park, the camp will last 3-5 days. All expenses including hotel rooms and food will be covered by the donations and sign up fees. We will also be looking for several chaperones to help with the camp; their expenses will be paid. We will be getting more information out to you after the start of the New Year. Catherine King our Editor will be the staff coordinator for this project. 

Please let me know if you are interested in helping with the camp and also let me know when schools in your area are out of school for the summer.

Don Vizi
PFHA Executive Director

2011 Piedmont Youth News

The NC State Fair Horse Show's Youth Day is Saturday, October 15th. There are many youth classes offered for Non-Trotting horses, such as "Fitting and Showmanship", "Go as You Please - English or Western", and Championships broken down for different youth ages. Paso Fino youth can participate in Youth Day (I did as a Youth many years ago ... Lynn Gallup) and also promote the Paso Fino as a youth horse, and then stay over enjoy the fair and show in the Piedmont Paso Fino PFHA Show on Monday October 17th! There are 10 Youth specific Paso Fino PFHA/USEF classes for the Paso Fino Show.

Members of the East Equine Explorer 4-H Riding Team had a very successful and fun day at the NC 4-H State Championships July 9. Attending with their Paso Finos in the nontrotting division were Hannah Barringer with Dusty (Estrellita de Oro), Micah Furr with Castile Centellas, Noah Reid with Zip (Zafiro de Paloma )and Maria Weber with Rockwater San Antonio.

Highlights for the Jr. Division were: Micah won two classes and placed 2nd in Showmanship, Hannah placed 6th in equitation and 2nd in non-trotting 3 gait, and Noah took home a hard earned first place out of 15 horses in equitation, which includes a pattern. For the Sr. division, Maria won overall Reserve Sr. Champion. Congratulations to all for showing our beautiful Paso Finos off! Keep it up!

The West Central District 4-H Horseshow was held May 21st at Latta Park. Several youth from our region participated in the non-trotting division. Classes include showmanship, equitation and pleasure. Qualifying for the NC 4-H State Horseshow were Hannah Barringer, Maria Weber, Micah Furr and Noah Reid. This show will be held July 9th in Raleigh.

Clemson Show Youth Update: Once again, it was great to see all of the youth enjoying seeing each other again and supporting each other 's showing efforts at our Clemson Show. The Youth Pleasure classes were among the best of the show. After competition on Friday, eight youth took the "Hippology Challenge", identifying types of hay, equipment, and answering questions about general horse knowledge. They enjoyed an Easter cupcake as a reward!

Attention Piedmont Youth: Participate in the Hippology Challenge at the April 22nd - 23rd Clemson, SC PFHA Show. Practice and be able to identify tack, parts of the horse, feeds, horse related equipment and take a short written test. Prizes awarded!

The East Equine Explorers, a 4-H club based in the West Central District won the NC 4-H Junior Division Horse Bowl held March 5th, 2011 at NC A&T University. Team members were Micah Furr, Erin Christner, Noah Reid, and Hannah and Luke Barringer. Micah was also reserve high point individual. The team also placed third in the team Hippology contest. Savannah Williams, and Caroline and Alexandra Sinaden of McDowell County reached the semifinal round of horse bowl. Congratulations to all of these Paso Fino youth for representing us so well!

The East Equine Explorers 4-H club, representing Rowan County, won the West Central District Horse Bowl held in Statesville on Feb. 12. The Rowan Junior division team went undefeated through 3 rounds and will advance to the State competition in March. Good luck to Micah Furr, Erin Christner, Luke and Hannah Barringer and Noah Reid. All five children ride Paso Finos!

2010 Piedmont Youth News

Piedmont Youth have once again had a successful year in 2010!
Several Piedmont youth claimed ribbons at Nationals and represented our association with good sportsmanship. Over the last four years, we have had youth clinics on trail, country pleasure, showing and first aid at Clemson, as well as ice cream and pizza. Asheville youth clinics on equitation, youth nationals, and practicing for the spectacular 2009 youth Dinner in the Arena entertainment kept us busy; as well as raising money for a youth clinic with Robin Ratliff through a colt raffle.

Thank you Angela and Jerry Dotson for promoting friendship through time together and pizza parties at Asheville every year! The NC Fair, Asheville and Clemson show flag presentations gave a chance for all youth to gain confidence in their horsemanship skills. A clinic on keeping your Paso a healthy weight, pole bending class and a youth trail class made our fall fair show something different and fun for our youth. Some of our youth even took a trail ride on the NC coast, a day we will never forget!

Thank you for the opportunity to work with your children; I have enjoyed it so much that I became a 4-H leader in order to continue teaching life skills through the motivation of loving horses. We will again be presenting the flags at the NC fair and have a youth trail class this year; and want to thank Ali Casey for her wholehearted support of the youth, as always.

Dr. Ann Furr
Piedmont Youth Chair

Piedmont Youth presents the Flags at the Fair Horse Show
Piedmont Youth will again kick off the evening show with the Flag Ceremony at the 2010 NC State Fair Horse Show starting at 6 pm Monday, the Paso Fino Day - October 18th. Contact Dr. Ann Furr drfurr@windstream.net, if you would like to be involved.

4-H Southeast Regional Horse Show Youth News
Micah Furr, representing Rowan County, NC, competed in July at the 4-H Southeast Regional Horse Show. Over 500 horses and riders from 14 states attended the all-breed/ discipline competition at Clemson, SC. Micah brought home the Reserve Championship for pleasure non-trotting and a 4th place ribbon in conformation with her Paso Fino mare, Castile Centellas. Micah is a member and current secretary of the East Equine Explorer 4-H Club. Congratulations, Micah and Castile! See event photo!

Congratulations to Micah Furr and Castile Centellas for winning the non-trotting pleasure Reserve Championship at the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show, held in Clemson the last week of July, 2010. Over 500 youth riders from 13 states took part in this all discipline equine extravaganza. All ages from 9 to 19 compete together and no adults are allowed to school the horses, as in all 4-H shows. The pleasure class had 27 entries and contained all the gaited breeds. Micah of Rowan County also placed 4th out of 15 in showing for mare conformation and made the final cut for showmanship out of 46 entries. It really was something to see, as every stall was filled and every trailer space taken! Please see your county extension agent if you would like to be involved in showing in 4-H. It is very reasonable cost to show and well -run, with good manners and safety being the primary concern. See Photos.

Crosby Reed of Burke County showed with her Peruvian Paso "Rico". Crosby won all phases of the Southeast Region Hippology contest.

Dr. Ann Furr

Best Wishes to Casey Fox of TEAM USA for the Paso Fino Youth Mundial ‘World Cup’ Equestrian Team. Casey Fox states: "Participating in the ‘World Cup’ is a dream of mine and this year I have the opportunity to make that dream come true. After a series of try-outs throughout the United States, I was selected to represent the United States at the Paso Fino International Equestrian Competition, also known as the Jinetes y Amazonas Relix Santiago Oliver Mundial." This competition began in 1996 with 7 countries participating at that time. Youth riders ranging in ages from 4 years old to 24 years old will participate in the competition which is being held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from July 4-11, 2010.

Best Wishes to Micah Furr at the NC State 4H Show
Micah Furr and Taylor Pence, members of the East Rowan Equine Explorers 4-H Club, recently qualified for the NC 4-H Horse Show, by winning at the district level. The West Central District show was held at Latta Plantation on May 22. MIcah qualified in non-trotting, including showmanship, and Taylor qualified in dressage. The State show will be held in July in Raleigh. Good luck to both!

Asheville ALIVE! 2010 Presents YOUTH WORKSHOPS on Wednesday, June 23rd, hosted by Judges, Stewards, Instructors and USEF. Come Learn from the Experts how to improve your Skills in and out of the Show Ring! Have lots of fun - meet new friends and improve your horsemanship skills ! Become a better equine partner and enjoy your showing experience at Asheville ALIVE 2010! Pizza Party for the Youth generously donated by Jerry & Angela Dotson - Thank you very much for your generous support of our Youth - The future of our Paso Fino Breed! Click here for Youth Workshops Flyer.

NEW Youth Scholarship Application for 2010 (PDF to print)

PIEDMONT PFHA YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP INFO & APPLICATION - 2010

Guidelines and Criteria: The Foundation Scholarship Committee has the right to award two scholarships each year. Smaller awards may be made depending on the circumstances. Scholarship grants will be paid directly to the accredited institution. The committee retains the right to withhold scholarship grants in any year if no candidate is deemed to be qualified. The decision of the committee is FINAL.

Criteria:
1. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior and a member in good standing of the Piedmont Paso Fino Horse Association.The applicant must apply as an up and coming freshman.

a. List (showing years) any clinics/horsemanship/clubs that you have participated in, especially in the Paso Fino breed.
b. List accomplishments (showing years) participation, experience in the Paso Fino breed, in and out of the show ring with emphasis on PIEDMONT activities.
c. List volunteering done during show years to help younger riders with horsemanship especially promoting the Paso Fino breed.

a. Copy of most current transcript.
b. Three recommendation/references. Two of which should be from current or former teachers and one from a current Piedmont member. (Names, addresses, and Emails).
c. Parent(s) annual income. Indicate one:
(circle) 1. Between $0-$49,999; 2. $50,000-$99,000 3. Above $100,000
d. A double spaced essay of no more than two pages addressing the Topic below:
The factors that contributed to both your successes and failures in life, mentioning any specific person(s) who have provided you with a positive role model. Include your vision of the goals toward which you would like to strive upon the completion of your formal education.

Please, list other scholarships you have been awarded or expect to be awarded during this application year.

• A capable horse to ride the Confepaso pattern

• A resume (including photo) with rider background history in EQUITATION & HORSEMANSHIP on a regional, national and international level

• All black Equitation outfit with either helmet (for 12 and under) or white straw hat

• $25 Cash/Check for Confepaso Equitation Rulebook

• Need confirmation emailed to christymeyer@charter.net and jill@startownstables.com by DECEMBER 14, 2009 if planning to attend.

• Great positive attitude