4-Hers get tips on horse showmanship

A Frenchtown man volunteered his time last week to provide a free clinic to 4-H members with horse projects.

Tyrell Burklund gave a special three and a half hour lesson to a dozen 4-H kids from the Hot Springs Wranglers, the South Side Sparks, the Whitepine Happy Workers, and the Trout Creek Mavericks at the 4-H horse arena at the Sanders County Fairgrounds last Thursday. Burklund spent three hours with the kids, juniors and seniors, of five different levels of expertise, giving them showmanship and halter tips, such as correct leads, sitting correctly in the saddle, leg cues, and patterns, all things they would be expected to perform during the western horsemanship level competition at the fair.

Wendy Carr, the Sanders County Extension Office's agriculture, horticulture, and part-time 4-H and Youth Development specialist, said they have sponsored other clinics for the kids this year. Ed VonHeeder of Plains gave a roping clinic and veterinarian Stephanie McIntyre of Plains provided a first aid and vet clinic, and 4-H leader Liz Eason gave a fair day prep clinic.

There will be a fitting and horsemanship clinic at Havens Arena in Trout Creek on Aug. 17 from 6-8 p.m. and on Aug. 22, the Rocky Ridge Saddle Club will be giving a free 4-H basic horsemanship clinic in Noxon, where Dani Ede will go over walking, trotting, cantering, stopping, and backing up, as well as leads, simple lead changes and transitions, equitation, and patterns.

Carr said they appreciated Burklund's time with the kids in helping to prepare them for the fair. She said that the livestock committee paid for his gas money. "One of the things he stated is that he loves teaching others how to ride and loves to share his passion for riding," said Carr. "The horse leaders seemed impressed with what they were hearing and thought he was doing a good job," she said.

Carr added that she is thankful for all the 4-H Sanders County horse leaders - Shannon Chojnacky, Morgan Perego (Beech), Marsada Sweet, Mindi Wilson, Susan Walker, and Lisa Read - and all they've done to help out the kids this year. "We've had a great group of volunteer leaders helping this year," she said. The 4-H members included: Lainey Erwin, Georgia Suess, Kyla Warnes, Isabella Pardee, Hannah Warnes, Addyson Deal, Sophia LaFriniere-Thornhill, Brooklynn Crain, Hailey Roofener, Marina Tulloch, Mackenzie Tulloch, and Madison Chojnacky.