12 Reasons Why Your 4H Horse is the Best Horse You’ll Ever Own

Congratulations!

You have made it through what I like to refer to as “the drop off years.” These are the years where, when it’s up to the kids and they have no structured meeting or practice times, the horse world slowly starts to lose the bright lights of little boys and girls who are outgrowing their love of horses. They have turned from the giggling child upon a fat pony, to an adult who nostalgically tells a young girl wearing cowboys boots in line at the grocery store about how they “used to ride horses too.”

If you’ve stuck with horses after the 4H years, chances are you are doing quite well with them. Through leaders, instructors, and state riding and judging competitions, you have a firm understanding of what good horse flesh is. Chances are you have found “your breed” and you continue to promote it to the best of your ability; showing in breed shows, working with youth, and all the other things that 4H taught you.

Your horse(s) now are probably registered, sleek, lean, muscular, highly trained, and lovable family members.

Now why am I saying that your 4H horse is the best horse you’ll ever own? It didn’t win AQHA Recognitions of Merit, it didn’t place with a Supreme in halter, it didn’t even always complete a class!

Here is why:

1. Your 4H horse was your best friend during the traumatic changes of elementary school, junior high school and high school.
2. Your 4H horse may not have been the most conformation-correct equine specimen but they safely carried you over obstacles in your first trail or jumping class.
3. Your 4H horse may not have been purchased for thousands of dollars but his/her value to you has a price tag so large even the richest person couldn’t afford him/her.
4. Your 4H horse may not have behaved well in all of your classes (or maybe any!) but they taught you about perseverance, practice, poise and integrity better than any textbook ever could have.
5. Your 4H horse taught you the importance of hard work. He was bought more for his personality than his training and he taught you that the more time you invest, the more you get out of it.
6. Your 4H horse was the only thing that could comfort you through horrendous heartbreak, because who has a bigger shoulder to cry on then a horse?
7. Your 4H horse taught you about brushing off and getting back on. That it’s okay to fail and fall but that it’s not okay to give up.
8. Your 4H horse opened up the doors to you as you learned basic horse care needs, ways to get involved with horses, and how to set actions in motion so that you can follow your dreams.
9. Your 4H horse quietly forgave you after you had a tantrum on him/her and treated them unfairly. Without a single look of judgement they taught you the importance of equality and asking rather than demanding.
10. Your 4H horse taught you that every relationship is going to have trials and tribulations but, with goal setting, assistance from a more experienced individual, and a whole lot of faith the impossible was possible.
11. Your 4H horse directed you to some of the best friendships and memories that you’ll ever have.
12. And for some of you, your 4H horse is the one horse you wish you had never sold and miss everyday.

Listed below is some pictures and comments about people from all walks of life and their 4H horses! Add your own personal pictures and memories into the comments below!

“This horse taught me a lot about hard work and losing… which later prepped me to become a humble athlete and champion. Mostly, he taught me how to reciprocate love and patience.”   ~  Katie S. & Zipper

“One of my 4H Horses was Cinch. He taught me the importance of patience and to ‘cowgirl up’. He was pretty stubborn horse when I got him and only green broke but with a lot of work he ended up being the best horse I ever had!” ~ Brooklyn N. & Cinch

Kelsey & Sejah were quite the diverse pair; showing western and dressage! All was fine and dandy until Sejah decided the championship trophy and rosette was a monster and did something not unlike reining spins until Kelsey finally dropped them in the dirt! ~ Kelsey D. & Sejah

 

“I don’t know what I would have done without my paint horse Maddy and my miniature horse Dude. The number of crazy adventures I had growing up, as well as my first equine-related scare, all helped shape me into the horsewomen I am today. They taught me about patience, failure, success, hard work and, most of all, how to love something unconditionally. Thank you boys! ~ Katie S. 

“A 4H horse is irreplaceable regardless of their actual talent or ability. 4H gives the chance for youth to bond over similar interests and to receive instruction from notable professionals in their community; but there are smooth things that can’t be taught – they must be learned through the heart – and that’s where those amazing horses come in. Good or bad… You will always reflect fondly on your time in 4H and the challenges you faced… All thanks to that special partner! To me, that childhood friend, confidant, teacher, and comrade that is your horse stays with you forever… and that truly is irreplaceable…” Nicole S.

“I used Skip as my main mount through 4H, all the way until my very last year. We grew up together, were inseparably, and essentially became one anytime I was on her back (just ask anyone who’s seen us on a gaming pattern). And although I was already a hellacious little thing when I got on a horse, Skip taught me many of the finer techniques to riding besides just getting on and going. Because of how I learned to do things with Skip, I was able to take both the performance and gaming aspects of my riding and apply it to my other two horses and make them awesome too!” – Megan S.