The AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program (YHD) showcases the stock being bred and raised by AQHA Ranching Heritage members by matching donated weanlings with AQHYA members. Youth in this program are engaged in the horse industry at a fundamental level that is both fun and educational.
Participating Ranching Heritage breeders donate young horses for Young Horse Development participants to raise and train. Young horsemen and women learn responsibility and goal-setting, important components of horse ownership - and life skills that can follow them for years to come. Encouraged by good fun, as well as key education in the horse industry, youth learn to raise and train their weanlings.
About the Young Horse Development Program
Developing Horsemanship Skills
Through the Young Horse Development program, AQHYA members 13 years and older receive a hands-on horse training opportunity focusing on the fundamentals of horsemanship. The program is not only an excellent educational experience, it is also a lot of fun! Prizes and scholarships are at stake. Participants can showcase the skills and knowledge they have acquired for chances to win scholarships and awards.
Prioritizing Equine Wellness
Throughout the program, participants further their knowledge in horse health by prioritizing equine wellness.
Participants are encouraged to help ensure their horse’s health by working closely with a veterinarian and completing the Zoetis Good Start Equine Wellness Certificate. The certificate outlines key aspects of horse health care to help build a solid foundation of equine wellness for both horses and youth members. The Good Start certificate records veterinary wellness exam details, including core and risk-based vaccinations, to help the weanlings excel in both health and performance.
Program Details and Deadlines
The priority application deadline for the 2022 program will be August 15, 2021, and the late application deadline is October 1, 2021. Apply by the priority deadline for the best chance of admission into the program and the most likely match with a horse closest to your home. Participants may be selected and matched with horses any time after August 15, with the majority being selected and matched with horses October through December 2021.
Youth can participate in the Young Horse Development Program with a donated foal or purchasing a Ranching Heritage Challenge-enrolled foal from a Ranching Heritage Breeder.
The 2022 Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program Application Form is now available!
To learn more about program requirements and guidelines, please view the 2021 YHD Program Record Book.
2020 Scholarship Winners
In first place, earning a $2,000 scholarship and custom belt buckle was Mattie DeBord of Bristol, Virginia. DeBord’s Ranching Heritage-bred horse is SJQC Arual Blanton, a 2019 sorrel mare by SJQC Frosty Blanton out of SJQC Laku Blanton by Prime Time Blanton. The filly was bred by Roger and Joan Timmerman of Timmerman Quarter Horses in Kimball, Nebraska.
Second place goes to Leah Goldade of Columbus, Minnesota. She receives a $1,500 scholarship and Justin Boots gift certificate. Goldade worked with Shiny Candy Meow, a 2019 bay roan mare by Shinycolonelfreckls out of Lonsum Pansy by Lonsum Joe Reed 00. Shiny Candy Meow was bred by Leroy and Shirley Wetz of Wetz Stirrup Ranch in Vale, South Dakota.
Emma Fehlen of Dresser, Wisconsin, was third with her mare, RWS Just A Rumchata. The 2019 dun mare is by Just A Silver Duck out of RWS Rios Margarita by Rios Santana. The filly was bred by Georga Sutton and Raymond Sutton Jr. of Raymond Sutton Ranch in Gettysburg, South Dakota. Fehlen receives a $1,000 scholarship and $100 Wrangler gift certificate.
Fourth place goes to Shannon Coffman of Douds, Iowa. She receives a $500 scholarship and $100 Wrangler gift certificate. Coffman worked with Jak Mr Val Blue 584, a 2019 blue roan colt by Roan Bar Valentine out of Jak Ms Blue Leo 397 by Jak Blue McCue 118. The colt was bred by Jan Oleen of Oleen Brothers in Dwight, Kansas.
In 2020, 44 youth participated in the Young Horse Development Program. The program was highly competitive, and the excellence achieved by participants was impressive. In addition to recognizing the four scholarship winners, AQHYA would like to acknowledge youth placing fifth thru tenth in the program. These individuals will be awarded a rosette from AQHYA.
5. Lauren Pursley of College Station, Texas with Miss Fergalicious bred by Lazy 8 Ranch/Zac Allen
6. Paige Pointer of LaSalle, Colorado with Play N Dynamite bred by Davis Quarter Horses/Dan and Marcy Davis
7. Ashely Wortham of Wimberly, Texas with National M Treasure bred by Waters Ranch/Louis and Wanda Waters
8. Claire Horsch of Kamloops, British Columbia with Weavers Ms Perry bred by Weaver Quarter Horses/Stan and Nancy Weaver
9. Elaine Anderson of Indianola, Iowa with Black Osage Badger bred by Broken Box Quarter Horses/Kyle and Pam Simianer
10. Morgan Lakey of Maryville, Tennessee with Dualllys Playinagain bred by Clark Farms/Jack and Tina Clark
We would like to extent a special thank you to all of the Ranching Heritage Breeders who donated weanlings to the 2020 Program:
7X Ranch/Koberstein Family, Bagley Performance Horses/Jane Bagley, Box O Quarter Horses/Jecca Ostrander, Brackett Livestock Inc./Jake Brackett, Broken Box Quarter Horses/Kyle and Pam Simianer, Campbell Ranch/Joe and Vivian Campbell, Clark Farms/Jack and Tina Clark, Davis Quarter Horses/Dan and Marcy Davis, Debnam Cattle Co./Nick and Wendy Debnam, Durbin Creek Ranch/Agar Family, Hal Bogle Estate/Stuart Bogle, Haythorn Land & Cattle Co./Kelley Haythorn, KT Ranch, KT Cattle Co./Amy Best, Lazy 8 Ranch/Zac Allen, Mahlstedt Ranch Inc./Tana Canen, Mill Iron S Ranch/Avery May, Most Ranch/Lance Most, Nixon Ranch/Mikael Nixon, Oleen Brothers/Jan Oleen, Open Box Rafter Ranch/Jim and Joni Hunt, Raymond Sutton Ranch/Georga Sutton, Scivally Ranch/Reid Scivally, Seven L Ranch/Paxton Ramsey, Spade Ranches LTD/Wesley Spade, St. Clair Farms/Michael and Kim St. Clair, Timmerman Quarter Horses/Roger and Joan Timmerman, Waters Ranch/Louis and Wanda Waters, West Brothers Inc./Scott West, Wetz Stirrup Ranch/Leroy and Shirley Wetz
2021 Program Participants
The following AQHYA members are participating in the program for 2021:
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Addison Wilson of Gilmer, TX – Freeman Family Ranch LTD/Mark Freeman
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Addyson Sherbeck of Norfolk, NE – West Brothers Inc./Scott West
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AJ Kendrick of Shallowater, TX – Spade Ranches LTD/Wesley Spade
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Allison Slaughter of Corydon, IN – Haythorn Land & Cattle Co./Kelley Haythorn
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Alora Carey of Hurleyville, NY – Clark Farms/Jack and Tina Clark
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Ana Idoeta of Burns, OR – 7X Ranch/Koberstein Family
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Anna Horsch of Kamloops, British Columbia – KT Ranch
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Ava Larson of Ponder, TX – Harlan House
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Ava Widman of Manhattan, KS – Oleen Brothers/Jan Oleen
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Avery Edwards of Wausau, WI – Raymond Sutton Ranch/Georga Sutton
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Breann Williamson of Anaconda, MT – Open Box Rafter Ranch/Jim and Joni Hunt
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Brylee Morgan of Friendsville, TN – Chesterfield Farm/John Nicely
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Charlsie Reeder of Wellsville, UT – Mill Iron S Ranch/Avery May
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Chloe Lowrimore of Woodruff, SC – Clark Farms/Jack and Tina Clark
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Cooper Nowland of Amarillo, TX – Durrett Cattle/Will and Romni Durrett
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Emma Albertson of Elberton, GA – Chesterfield Farm/John Nicely
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Emma Brents of Aspermont, TX – Nixon Ranch/Mikael Nixon
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Emma Sherwood of Clovis, NM – Nixon Ranch/Mikael Nixon
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Hana Craycraft of Keller, TX – The Daube Company/Daube Family
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Isobel Cook of Sandpoint, ID – Mahlstedt Ranch Inc./Tana Canen
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Kailey Israel of Pawnee, OK – Timmerman Quarter Horses/Roger and Joan Timmerman
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Kayla Hurl of Shandon, CA - Campbell Ranch/Joe Campbell
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Kaylee Klein of Edawall, WA – KT Ranch
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Lily Krumm of Ranchester, WY – Open Box Rafter Ranch/Jim and Joni Hunt
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Lily Thomas of Longmont, CO – West Brothers Inc./Scott West
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Luke Barber of Clarkton, NC – Clark Farms/Jack and Tina Clark
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Madison Beckham of Winchester, CA – KT Cattle Inc./Amy Best
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Madison Edwards of Leitchfield, KY – St. Clair Farms/Michael and Kim St. Clair
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Mesa Svedberg of Hardin, MT – Davis Quarter Horses/Dan and Marcy Davis
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Olivia Anderson of New Richmond, WI – Wetz Stirrup Ranch/Leroy and Shirley Wetz
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Paige Soper of Baldwin City, KS – Box O Quarter Horses/Jecca Ostrander
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Rachel Wynans of Brenham, TX – Waters Ranch/Louis and Wanda Waters
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Randi Childress of Larchwood, IA – Open Box Rafter Ranch/Jim and Joni Hunt
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Rebecca Kennedy of Godley, TX – Hal Bogle Estate/Stuart Bogle
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Rylie Weyhrich of Boone, IA – Harlan House
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Sarah Jones of Sapulpa, OK – Harlan House
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Serena Connelly of Placerville, CA – Lazy K Ranch/Sherry Knapp
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Shelby Lynch of Newell, IA – Open Box Rafter Ranch/Jim and Joni Hunt
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Sylvia Speelman of East Berlin, PA – Clark Farms/Jack and Tina Clark
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Taylor Gibson of Milo, IA – Open Box Rafter Ranch/Jim and Joni Hunt