2024 AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program Participants Selected

From AQHA:

Twenty-eight American Quarter Horse Youth Association members will record their progress training a yearling bred by an American Quarter Horse Association Ranching Heritage Breeder. At the end of the 2024 AQHA Ranching Heritage Young Horse Development Program, a select number of scholarships and prizes will be awarded.

The program was created to give AQHYA members an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of horsemanship. The horses used in the program are bred by AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders, which are working cattle ranches with a remuda of at least five AQHA-registered mares that produce ranch horses. The participating Ranching Heritage Breeders donate weanlings for the program participants to evaluate, raise and train. Young Horse Development participants get to keep their horses.

“The Young Horse Development program was designed to give youth participants an opportunity to get hands-on horse experience,” said AQHA Senior Director of Member Programs Karen McCuistion. “The program is an excellent opportunity to connect these young adults with the equine industry and provides a solid foundation for their education and future career path. In turn, their experience in the program turns into a valuable set of skills that will carry them forward as members of our industry.”

The 2024 Young Horse Development program participants are:

• Audrey Moody of Sour Lake, Texas

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Cannon Quarter Horses of Waxahachie, Texas

• Bailee Jaques of Mount Pleasant, Utah

Ranching Heritage Breeder: West Brothers Inc. of Lusk, Wyoming

• Baliegh Lane of Huntley, Wyoming

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Open Box Rafter Ranch of Faith, South Dakota

• Brooklyn Sherron of Spring Hill, Kansas

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Durrett Cattle Co. of Wildorado, Texas

• Camas Van Hollebeke of Benton City, Washington

Ranching Heritage Breeder: KT Ranch of Connell, Washington

• Cassie Coffman of North Fork, California

Ranching Heritage Breeder: O RO Ranch of Prescott, Arizona

• Emma Peterson of Lyons, Kansas

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Schofield Quarter Horses, of Philip, South Dakota

• Emma Thielen of Plevna, Montana

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Wetz Stirrup Ranch of Vale, South Dakota

• Ethan Hartman of Greenville, Ohio

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Oleen Brothers of Dwight, Kansas

• Grace Bennett of Lancaster, Wisconsin

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Perry Quarter Horses of Leoti, Kansas

• Heidi Flint of Lucama, North Carolina

Ranching Heritage Breeder: purchasing from a Ranching Heritage Breeder

• Hozanah Hanon of Mustang, Oklahoma

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Lance Most Quarter Horses of Ogallala, Nebraska

• Joelle Schneider of Rodney, Michigan

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Clark Farms Quarter Horses of Hustontown, Pennsylvania

• Kane McIntire of Cottonwood, Idaho

Ranching Heritage Breeder: KT Ranch of Connell, Washington

• Katherine Wickersham of Bryan, Texas

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Waters Ranch of Utopia, Texas

• Kezleiann Gittins of Petersboro, Utah

Ranching Heritage Breeder: St. Clair Farms of Kahoka, Missouri

• Lacy Ronhaar of Spicewood, Texas

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Hal Bogle Estate of Dexter, New Mexico

• Layla DelVecchio of Brooksville, Florida

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Clark Farms Quarter Horses of Hustontown, Pennsylvania

• Lindsey Thomas of Henry, Nebraska

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Open Box Rafter Ranch of Faith, South Dakota

• Madeline Spreeman of Ithaca, Nebraska

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Open Box Rafter Ranch of Faith, South Dakota

• Megan Sanger of Chugwater, Wyoming

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Open Box Rafter Ranch of Faith, South Dakota

• Paige Anderson of Santa Maria, California

Ranching Heritage Breeder: KT Cattle Inc. of Amado, Arizona

• Presley Schluss of Jonesburg, Missouri

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Woodworth Ranch of Alliance, Nebraska

• Reagan Dockery of Creswell, Oregon

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Brackett Livestock Inc. of Rogerson, Idaho

• Reata Mullins of Clinton, Iowa

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Schofield Quarter Horses of Philip, South Dakota

• Sarah Nemechek of Goodland, Kansas

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Harlan House of Goodland, Kansas

• Sateen Keller of Fort Morgan, Colorado

Ranching Heritage Breeder: West Brothers Inc. of Lusk, Wyoming

• Sophia Christensen of Decatur, Texas

Ranching Heritage Breeder: Bagley Performance Horses of Dimmitt, Texas

The Young Horse Development Program participants raise their weanlings-turned-yearlings and document their monthly progress; participate in webinars; complete monthly management assignments; track goals; engage in mentoring sessions with local AQHA Professional Horsemen; and compile videos of themselves with their horses, completing assignments including trailering, an in-hand trail pattern and more. Following project completion, a select number of scholarships and prizes are awarded.

To learn more about the program and to sign up for a notification when the 2025 application becomes available, visit www.aqha.com/young-horse-development.