Cayuga County 4-H Members compete in Regional Horse Education Programs by Dorothy Slegle, Extension Educator 4H Youth Development Each year Cayuga County 4-H youth are invited to participate in Regional Horse Education Programs, including Horse Bowl and Hippology. For each of these contests, members study horserelated topics including: horse diseases, breeds, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, uses, handling and care. Members begin studying these topics in Early Fall, so that they are prepared to demonstrate information learned at the Regional Contests, which typically occur in March.
For both contests, youth team up in groups of four to six members (usually by county) and are asked a series of horse-related questions. The Horse Bowl contest is conducted similarly to a jeopardy game, where each member will “buzz in” to answer a question. In the Hippology event, members rotate throughout several stations where they are asked to identify horse parts, horse feeds, horse colors, horse breeds and perform horse judging. Both events are scored individually and as a team.
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Eight senior members of the Cayuga County 4-H program participate in Region Horse Education Program, in March 2012. Back Row-(L-R) Emily Clark, Regan Emerson, Kelly Giannone, Emily Bates, Coach Heather Whitten. Front Row-(L-R) Grittany Somes, Sarah Belz, Amy Stranger and Leah Stahl
“Happy Trails” and thanks to the Clarkson Community and hope for the future to 1,100 guests in 2011 and the Cross Over the Line Rodeo would love to have this doubled or tripled this year. They are extending an invitation to all youth patients both current and past of the area hospital burn units such as the Golisano Children’s Center at Strong Memorial Hospital and special needs children throughout the region. If anyone reading this article knows of any youth who has experienced such a life-altering situation or is living with any type of life-altering special need, please contact the Cross Over the Line Rodeo to obtain information about this event. It takes the support of many people to continue an event such as this. It is our hope that all of those businesses and individuals who have given freely to support the Special Friends event over the last 7 years will continue to support it through the new team from Cross Over the Line Rodeo. For more information contact Fred Backlas 719525-6011 or through the facebook page for Cross Over the Line Rodeo.
Page 21 • COUNTRY FOLKS MANE STREAM • May 2012
The Clarkson Rodeo Days Inc. has decided to hand over the reins to a new rodeo manager and producer for the 2012 event. After 7 years and the loss of many board members due to their other responsibilities, Pat Tooley and Andrea Louis have handed off to Cross Over the Line Rodeo Company of Warsaw. Although our hearts want to continue, it is just not practical for our very small team to manage this large event. We extend our thanks to the entire Clarkson community, many business and many individuals who have helped over these past seven years. Cross Over the Line Rodeo Company will hold the event the same weekend in June at Hafner Park in Clarkson, NY, June 7-10. We are very pleased that Fred Backlas and his family will continue to hold the Special Friends event for special needs children and adults on Thursday, June 7. Fred’s experience in meeting and talking to special needs children during his very successful career as a championship bareback bronc rider on the International Pro Rodeo, American Pro Rodeo, and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associations tours left him with a special desire to reach out to these children. He is committed to bring as much joy as possible to all children who have experienced such hardship in their young lives. This charity performance has entertained up