Young Horse Development Project

Learn more about the AQHA Ranching Heritage program's young horse development project for AQHYA members.

This project showcases the stock being bred and raised by AQHA Ranching Heritage members.

Additionally, it provides an opportunity for youth to become engaged in the horse industry at a fundamental level that will be fun and educational.

Objective:

To give older AQHYA members who want to participate in a hands-on horse training opportunity that will teach the fundamentals of horsemanship. The youth will have the chance to showcase their skills and knowledge acquired at designated events where they can earn scholarships and prizes.

Participating Ranching Heritage members will offer young horses for members to judge, select, purchase, raise and train. The rancher’s goal will be to mentor these young horsemen to teach responsibility and goal-setting, important components of equine ownership.

Download the Ranching Heritage Youth Enrollment Form and Waiver Form.

Two ranches have donated weanlings to the young horse development project.

To view foals donated to the project by Open Box Rafter Ranch, view their flyer, or check out Weaver Quarter Horses' flyer to see their donated filly, Weavers Tuf Chic.

How it works for Ranching Heritage members:

• Ranchers wishing to participate need to register with AQHA
• Rancher offers a selection of foals he/she believes will suit the project
• Ranchers host participants wishing to purchase foals at the ranch or place foals online for sale between September 1 and October 15
• The sale price for a registered foal is $700
• Participant will have from September 1 to October 15 to visit participating ranches (either in person or online) to select and put a deposit ($100) on a foal or purchase the foal. Rancher will not be required to hold foals after October 15 without a deposit.
• Upon pickup or delivery of the foal, the balance of the payment made to the rancher must be in the form of two checks. Half the price made out to the rancher and half the price made out to the AQHA Ranching Heritage Youth Horsemanship Project.
• Upon payment of the foal, if not already registered, the rancher will register the foal if eligible.

Download a Ranch Enrollment Form.

How it works for AQHYA Members:

• Interested AQHYA members need to apply by September 2, 2011
• Participants must abide by all rules and regulations outlined
• In the case of several member applicants and a limited number of enrolled foals, a lottery-style drawing will be used for the selection process. The advisory committee made up of AQHA Youth Activity members and AQHA Ranching Heritage Council members will notify members of their eligibility.
• Participating AQHYA members will be sent a list of participating ranchers. It is recommended that the member arrange to visit three ranches or consult with three ranchers as to inquiring about their enrolled foals. Members will have from September 1 to October 15 to visit, select, purchase a foal and pay a deposit of $100.
• The AQHYA member is responsible for foal pickup from the rancher. At the time of pickup, the member must: (1) provide the rancher a check for half the balance of the foal less the deposit and (2) a separate check, made out to the AQHA Ranching Heritage Youth Horsemanship Project, for half the price of the foal. The rancher will forward the Project check to AQHA for deposit. The established cost per foal is $700.
• A passport for permanent positive identification and a Project Book will be issued to members November 1, after the members have picked up their foals and the check has been received by the administrators of the Project
• Member is to work on the Project Book and care for the foal through the winter
• Member presents foal as a yearling at the AQHA Ranching Heritage shows (dates and locations to be determined)
• A payout of 1/3 of the AQHA-administered fund, to which a member contributed, will be triggered by the presentation of the member’s yearling.
• The payout is established by the total amount allocated to the payout for that year, divided by the number of points earned by all members, multiplied by the number of points a member’s presentation has earned
• The project continues through the animal’s 2-year-old year and will culminate with the member presenting his or her project animal as a prospect under saddle. The balance of the Project fund (2/3) will be paid out to the participating member (the same process, as described above, will be used)
• Members have the option of offering their project animals for sale by private treaty after their animals’ presentations

Download the Ranching Heritage Youth Enrollment Form and Waiver Form.

To view foals donated to the project by Open Box Rafter Ranch, view their flyer, or check out Weaver Quarter Horses' flyer to see their donated filly, Weavers Tuf Chic.