Jasper Horse Ladies Excel at 4-H State Horse Show
Jasper County was well represented at the 2013 Georgia 4-H State Horse Show, which was held in Perry, June 9-15.
Seven 4-H’ers competed in both riding and in educational contests. The State 4-H Horse Show includes counties from all over the state, and had over 250 contestants.
Divisions included saddleseat, huntseat, hunter over fences, dressage, stock seat, contest, and ranch horse. Educational contests included photography, public speaking, demonstrations, essay, drawing and painting.
A predetermined percentage of top individuals in each division qualify to compete at the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show, which will be held in West Monroe, LA from July 30 to August 4.
{{more}}
4-H’ers from Jasper County competed in photography contests in addition to all of the riding divisions except for saddleseat.
•Amber Scarbrough competed in the Senior Equine Photography contest with a picture of her two horses racing across a pasture.
•Amber Matkovich competed in the Senior Stake Race on her young gelding, Specialist.
•Karin Newberry competed in the Senior Arena Race, Senior Pole Bending, Senior Stake Race and Senior Barrel Race on Fancy.
•Lawton Harris, riding Hank in Hollywood, and Morgan Patterson competed as a team in Junior Ranch Sorting, and separately in Junior Ranch Trail. This team of girls made a great showing for their first state 4-H Horse Show as they were only four seconds away from placing in the Ranch Sorting, and Miss Patterson came away with a sixth place ribbon in the Ranch Trail on Lizzie Pride.
•Casey Elias placed third in the Senior Arena Race, ninth in Senior Pole Bending, 10th in Senior Stake Race and second in the Senior Barrel Race on Tess Blackberry Winner. These impressive placings garnered her a third in the Overall Senior Contest Division and qualified her for the Southern 4-H Regional Horse Show in West Monroe, LA.
•Krista Mercer placed 10th in the Senior Arena Race, fourth Senior Pole Bending and fourth in the Senior Barrel Race, with her horse Toby, which earned her a fourth overall in the Senior Contest Division and qualified her for a trip to Southern 4-H Regionals as well.
In addition, Miss Mercer placed eighth in Senior Dressage, ninth in Senior Hunter Showmanship and seventh in Senior Huntseat Equitation, with her horse Mr. Tuff Fleet.
Lucy Ray, former Jasper County Extension Agent who worked with the young horsewomen, joined local 4-H agent Kasey Reid and other local supporters in saying, “Congratulations to each of these young ladies for their hard work and success in this tough competition.”
Out of the roughly 50 4-H’ers who qualified for the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show, two were from Jasper County.
This is quite an accomplishment, said Ms. Ray. Southern Regionals is the only show of its kind in the country. It encompasses 13 states and, in the absence of a National 4-H Horse Show, is the culmination of the years of effort for these girls.
Winners Need
Financial Help
In Reaching
Nationals
Unfortunately, the trip to Louisiana is not free. Ms. Ray is asking for the support of the community in assisting these young ladies and their horses in making it to Southern 4-H Regionals.
“We have set a goal of raising $1,000 to cover the fuel and hotel costs associated with the trip,” she said.
“While this may seem like a lot, it is a realistic expectation. We just need 50 people or businesses to donate $20 each to Jasper County 4-H for this purpose.
“Your donation is tax deductible and can be sent to the Jasper County Extension office at 162 N Warren St., Monticello, GA 31064. Please join me in supporting the youth of Jasper County in this opportunity,” Ms. Ray said in closing.
