4-H Standardbred Stars

Sophia Agee riding C Me Shine Sophia and C Me have been together for two years now. Last year they won Reserve Champion titles in Gaited English Equitation and Gaited Western Horsemanship at the Warren County Fair (Ohio). The pair also showed together at the county fair this year, and made their first trip to the Junior Horse Show of the Ohio State Fair, where they placed two top tens in large classes of Gaited English Equitation and Gaited English Pleasure.
Sophia Agee riding C Me Shine
Sophia and C Me have been together for two years now. Last year they won Reserve Champion titles in Gaited English Equitation and Gaited Western Horsemanship at the Warren County Fair (Ohio). The pair also showed together at the county fair this year, and made their first trip to the Junior Horse Show of the Ohio State Fair, where they placed two top tens in large classes of Gaited English Equitation and Gaited English Pleasure.

Over 115 years ago A. B. Graham started a youth program in Clark County, Ohio. The first club was called “The Tomato Club” or the “Corn Growing Club.” By 1912 the clubs were known as 4-H clubs but it would be another ten years before they would be tied with state Cooperative Extension offices. Today, nearly 6 million youth participate in 4-H activities worldwide.

It is difficult to determine exactly what impact Standardbreds have had on 4-H and vice versa but clearly there is a connection. Many youth have their first interaction with Standardbreds through a 4-H sponsored trip to a local track. Once at the track they enjoy special behind-the-scenes tours where they meet trainers, grooms, farriers, and other racetrack personnel. Some racetracks also offer the opportunity to take a jog around the track with an experienced race horse and driver. In Alberta, Canada they’re taking it one step further.

It all starts in October when the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association (ASHA) and Century Downs Racetrack & Casino hosts a 4-H Track Day where participants not only met the horsemen and their equine athletes but are also introduced to the 4-H Standardbred Yearling project. This program creates a contract between the youths and participating Standardbred breeders which allows the youths access to a Standardbred weanling for the course of a year. Over Christmas break the foals and youths are introduced, from there ASHA holds clinics to aid them with the handling, feeding, care, progress, and training of their weanling in preparation of the ASHA Yearling Sale. Regular visits to the farms by both the breeder and the program coordinators assure questions are answered and any issues resolved. The program is a win-win for all involved – the yearling

Bailee Montgomery and Gypsy Artisan aka Thor Thor is a 9 year old Stb. He was adopted on Dec. 26, 2015, from Starting Gaits. He was shown in Easy Gaited Equitation and Easy Gaited pleasure at our Co. Fair in Jackson Ohio. His first time entering a show ring and he took a 3rd in the pleasure and he was the reserve champion in Easy Gaited Equitation. He is Bailee’s pride and joy!
Bailee Montgomery and Gypsy Artisan aka Thor
Thor is a 9 year old Stb. He was adopted on Dec. 26, 2015, from Starting Gaits. He was shown in Easy Gaited Equitation and Easy Gaited pleasure at our Co. Fair in Jackson Ohio. His first time entering a show ring and he took a 3rd in the pleasure and he was the reserve champion in Easy Gaited Equitation. He is Bailee’s pride and joy!

receives extra attention, the youth has the opportunity to work with an untrained young horse and the owners have young stock that is ready to be presented at the ASHA Yearling Sale.

Across the border in New York, the Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund sponsors a Standardbred Management Camp for youth at Camp Wyomoco in Varysburg, New York. The 4-H Standardbred Camp is a one-week program for teenagers interested in learning about Standardbred horses and harness racing. Nearby Franklin County 4-H also sponsors a horse camp. Campers are treated to a special tour of the race horse barns which concludes with special training races. Sponsored by the New York Agricultural and Horse Breeding Development Fund, the winners of each race were presented with a special blanket.

In New Jersey, Terry Keynton and Suzanne D’Ambrose are Standardbred enthusiasts who are “hands on” with 4-H. Terry is a leader and Suzanne is a volunteer with Knight Riders 4-H club. Among their activities is the Standardbred Showcase; Terry and Suzanne do a demo with their pleasure Standardbreds Osborne’s Shy Cam and Independent Act before answering questions.

The payoff for contributing to youth education through 4-H is often in smiles. The long term payoff to the horse industry, and to Standardbreds, can be priceless. As you read through this edition you’ll meet a variety of Standardbred Stars – youths and their horses who are gaining experience as well as adults who have transformed their experience into a lifelong love.

Read the full article in the September 2016 edition.


Joshua Gale and GW Magic Fire

Joshua Gale and GW Magic Fire as youths
Joshua Gale and GW Magic Fire as youths

Twenty-four years ago this pair started their show career. Together with Earthly Delights (dam), they were reserve champion mare and foal at the NJ State 4-H Horseshow.

GW Magic Fire went on to race as a 3 year old but then retired at 5. Joshua was asked to join the young drivers program at Gladstone. With the help of a driving mentor, Josh and his mare were able to successfully compete in a combined driving event just two months after her last race. They also competed in driving classes on the 4-H county level to qualify for the NJ State Championship. They brought home reserve champion in pleasure and champion in reinsmanship and cones. The two of them ruled cones in 4-H…never beaten and never a cone down.

The pair are still together, after twenty-four years, riding and driving together.


Payton Zelenak riding ZipSnapNDrop This gelding had 208 starts in his career. Payton showed him at fair in walk/trot classes and did some fun classes. This was Payton’s first year riding at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Ohio.
Payton Zelenak riding ZipSnapNDrop
This gelding had 208 starts in his career. Payton showed him at fair in walk/trot classes and did some fun classes. This was Payton’s first year riding at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Ohio.
Ella Moschinski with McDermott The pair competed in walk/trot pleasure and eq, fun classes, contesting and easy gaited. This year they won 1st place in easy gaited pleasure and english equitation at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Ohio.
Ella Moschinski with McDermott
The pair competed in walk/trot pleasure and eq, fun classes, contesting and easy gaited. This year they won 1st place in easy gaited pleasure and english equitation at the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard, Ohio.
Kora McDonald riding Exemption Exeption is an experienced 4-H mount who has done well in jumping and cross country. The pair have also done well at local shows. Kora hopes to take him to Prince Edward Island this fall for a Distance Ride. Kora says, “X has help me with my confidence and I cherish him very much.”
Kora McDonald riding Exemption
Exeption is an experienced 4-H mount who has done well in jumping and cross country. The pair have also done well at local shows. Kora hopes to take him to Prince Edward Island this fall for a Distance Ride. Kora says, “X has help me with my confidence and I cherish him very much.”
Sabrina Jones and Straight Ball
Sabrina Jones and Straight Ball
Sabrina has shown her 2008 Standardbred mare Straight Ball (barn name Pretty Girl) in Indiana 4-H for the past five years. They compete in english classes and jumping. “Pretty” made it obvious from the beginning that she wanted to be a kids horse not a racehorse and we are so glad she did!
Malory Abram riding DiamondsArtForever Malory and Diamond took first in pleasure driving and driving reinsmanship and placed in the top five in all the contesting classes, at the Perry County 4-H horse show this past July. Contesting is very popular in Perry County so it was a large class in the 9 to 13 age group. They were thrilled to do so well.
Malory Abram riding DiamondsArtForever
Malory and Diamond took first in pleasure driving and driving reinsmanship and placed in the top five in all the contesting classes, at the Perry County 4-H horse show this past July. Contesting is very popular in Perry County so it was a large class in the 9 to 13 age group. They were thrilled to do so well.