By Kate Harink, Club reporter
Lakedell 4-H Lighthorse Club has been having an amazing year! With a lot of younger members and an outstanding general leader we have been able to do some exciting activities. This year we are continuing with our weekly rides with Jennifer Stephenson and Janet Goeltz who have been teaching the members many new skills and honing ones that the riders already had. Our Cleaver program is also expanding and working with their Breyer Horse projects for the year, learning breeds, colours and horse events.
Starting off the year with all the new members, there was some fundraising to do so the members joined together to collect tires from across the county, some collecting over 100 tires per trailer! Thank you to all who donated tires to our fundraiser. Moving towards Christmas our leaders organised a curling party and gift exchange with, of course, a pot-luck. Our club has been kept busy with rides and clinics throughout the year including barrel racing and jumping.
Public speaking crept up on the club fairly swiftly and new members had to be introduced to “impromptu speeches” as well as coming up with a topic to speak on. The day came and everyone did amazing with the first and second placed members in junior, intermediate and senior moving on to districts. Everyone should be proud, it takes a lot of guts to public speak!
Recently our club had the amazing chance to go dog sledding as an activity! Everyone was there, and what a blast! The day was sunny and warm and everyone got to meet all 27 dogs and even the three month old puppies! With two sleds and 12 dogs, four members got to go for a ride at a time. While waiting their turns, others were able to go on horse sleigh rides, drink hot chocolate and have a good time.
We are all so excited to continue our year, looking forward to Achievement Day coming up in May, preparing our horses and ourselves for accomplish our goals and grow in the skills that will assist each of us in life!