American Horse Rescue Network held a Youth Program session at Mel-O-Dee Stables in White Bear Lake, MN. The Youth program is designed to educate the next generation of horse advocates.

In attendance was Brooke, one of our Youth Leaders, and Faith, who joined the program last week. Two other young people are enrolled in the program and will attend next week’s session.

We covered issues that perpetrate harm to American horses such as slaughter, horse racing, Premarin mares & foals, the BLM roundups and lack of shade and shelter and Tennessee Walker soring.

It is our hope that the young people who attend these seminars will take to heart the atrocities that American horses face and will carry the messages into their communities and beyond. We ask the attendees to speak to groups such as 4H clubs, horse organizations, etc. AHRN board members will provide the training required for these young people to successfully put on the seminars. AHRN will provide all the tools necessary including a book covering all the topics to be discussed. All in attendance will receive the book and other materials.

Brooke has spoken with the principal at her school, asking if she could give a speech on the issues facing horses today. She will be following up with that request shortly.

Tuesday night’s session included a short clinic on horsemanship. This was conducted by AHRN board member Margaret and Brooke. They covered basic horsemanship skills. Each week they will review the previous lesson and then move on to other horsemanship skills.

AHRN board members Margaret and Daryl adopted a horse whose owner was not able to care for him. He is a quarter horse, thoroughbred mix and is 25 years old. He is a very handsome boy. His name is Edgar and he is the “project” for the horsemanship clinic. He loves to learn, is very friendly and craves human attention.

We will be expanding our Youth Program nationwide. If you would like to volunteer to recruit young people in your area for a Youth Program, an AHRN board member will travel to your area to put on the first seminar. So please feel free to contact us.

It is critical that we reach the young people of our nation on horse welfare issues. Educating the next generation of horse advocates will help build a better landscape for America’s horses.