It's learning tiny steps with close guidance while graduating toward major independence.
It's picking up rocks to make an arena safe.
It's generations of teaching and inspiring other generations.
It's teaching each other.
It's success, often with a healthy dose of failure leading toward that success.
It's success, often with a healthy dose of failure leading toward that success.
It's frustration at first and satisfaction with practice.
It's picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and climbing back into the saddle.
It's picking yourself up, dusting yourself off and climbing back into the saddle.
It's the passing along of knowledge through example and teaching.
It's racing to the fence to get sprayed by the water truck.
It's setting the bar high and reaching for the stars.
It's setting the bar high and reaching for the stars.
It's waiting and worrying.
It's a connection with friends and family.
It's setting goals and instituting the plan to reach those goals.
It's fun.
It's teamwork.
It's lifelong friendships.
It's little brothers and sisters watching and waiting for their time.
It's teamwork.
It's lifelong friendships.
It's little brothers and sisters watching and waiting for their time.
It's frustrating.
It's learning to listen and to say thank you.
It's learning to listen and to say thank you.
It's sharing what you've learned so others can learn.
It's hours and hours and years of work which can lead to a winning that first horse show ribbon or that fancy championship garland and trophy.
It's blood, sweat and TEARS.
It's dreams come true with TEARS of joy.
It's blood, sweat and TEARS.
It's dreams come true with TEARS of joy.
Pretty much all of the people pictured today have had some connection with 4-H. Many are current 4-H'ers, while others were 4-H'ers a while back or even "way back when."
Today's photos represent the many attributes of a program for youth which many of the "way back when's" will tell you formed the foundation for many successes they've had in life.
In this case, it's the 4-H horse program in Bonner County, Idaho, still thriving and still providing young people with a wide range of skills that will equip them for their respective life journeys.
That program is 61 years old, at least. I know cuz I was a 4-H horse member that first year at the old fairgrounds down by the Pend Oreille River.
That program is 61 years old, at least. I know cuz I was a 4-H horse member that first year at the old fairgrounds down by the Pend Oreille River.
Today's photos include 4-H'ers, active with their horses in two different venues on a beautiful Sunday in June.
In one case, the Gold n' Grouse 4-H Club met at Brian Wood's arena off Woodside Road. What an advantage to be riding in an arena where the owner has a water truck for spraying down the dust.
Plus, there's lots of open space in the midst of all-around beauty.
Yesterday's agenda included picking up rocks and presenting 4-H demonstrations, where you give your name, your age, your club, how many years you've been in 4-H and the title of your topic before beginning the actual demonstration.
Leader Krissy Wood Peck also outlined the guidelines for next week's county wide 4-H trail ride. Then, members saddled up and headed for the arena for work on walk, trot, lope and coming into line at the end of a class.
Many young horse folks followed Brian, a former 4-H'er, on his horse, to the mountain trail overlooking the arena for a 30-minute ride and the chance to practice some trail riding tests.
The volunteers, as always, generously gave of their time for about three hours, while parents and friends enjoyed watching the activities.
Meanwhile, over in Auburn, Wash., another longtime former local 4-H'er from almost "way back when" waited until the exact time for her two tests involving Western dressage.
It was a regional show, where my sister Laurie and brother Kevin had been since Thursday, where a pre-show was followed by the main event over the weekend.
When the day ended, Laurie and her flashy Half Arabian Ravenwood Hot Stuff aka Pache, picked up two Regional championships, including plaques and colorful garlands to go along with her other winnings at the two shows.
I'm sure Laurie will be the first to tell anyone that "all of the above" examples of the key ingredients associated with 4-H have played into her success over the years, with horses and with her teaching career.
And, that is why 4-H is such a phenomenal program. It's life skills learned in the best venues, with the best people, with the most influential opportunties and with many dreams achieved during and long after our 4-H years.
Hats off to all who play a part and hats off to Laurie for providing yet another example for those youngsters in various stages of learning at Brian Wood's arena yesterday:
DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE, if you're willing to stick with the steps leading their way.
Happy Monday.
In one case, the Gold n' Grouse 4-H Club met at Brian Wood's arena off Woodside Road. What an advantage to be riding in an arena where the owner has a water truck for spraying down the dust.
Plus, there's lots of open space in the midst of all-around beauty.
Yesterday's agenda included picking up rocks and presenting 4-H demonstrations, where you give your name, your age, your club, how many years you've been in 4-H and the title of your topic before beginning the actual demonstration.
Leader Krissy Wood Peck also outlined the guidelines for next week's county wide 4-H trail ride. Then, members saddled up and headed for the arena for work on walk, trot, lope and coming into line at the end of a class.
Many young horse folks followed Brian, a former 4-H'er, on his horse, to the mountain trail overlooking the arena for a 30-minute ride and the chance to practice some trail riding tests.
The volunteers, as always, generously gave of their time for about three hours, while parents and friends enjoyed watching the activities.
Meanwhile, over in Auburn, Wash., another longtime former local 4-H'er from almost "way back when" waited until the exact time for her two tests involving Western dressage.
It was a regional show, where my sister Laurie and brother Kevin had been since Thursday, where a pre-show was followed by the main event over the weekend.
When the day ended, Laurie and her flashy Half Arabian Ravenwood Hot Stuff aka Pache, picked up two Regional championships, including plaques and colorful garlands to go along with her other winnings at the two shows.
I'm sure Laurie will be the first to tell anyone that "all of the above" examples of the key ingredients associated with 4-H have played into her success over the years, with horses and with her teaching career.
And, that is why 4-H is such a phenomenal program. It's life skills learned in the best venues, with the best people, with the most influential opportunties and with many dreams achieved during and long after our 4-H years.
Hats off to all who play a part and hats off to Laurie for providing yet another example for those youngsters in various stages of learning at Brian Wood's arena yesterday:
DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE, if you're willing to stick with the steps leading their way.
Happy Monday.
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