Members of the Mane-I-Acs 4-H Club won first place at the State Horse Judging Competition in April. From L to R: Sarah Cerone of Southwick, Kim Faria of Westfield, Kiera Roddy of Granby, Eliza Watson of Westfield, and Hannah Samere of Westfield. (Photo submitted)
WESTFIELD – The Mane-I-Acs 4-H Club will be holding its 7th annual 4-H and Open Horse Show this Saturday at the Westfield Fairgrounds. The show starts at 8:30 a.m.
There will be 14 high point divisions. The show is open to all riders and exhibitors. There is no admission charge for viewing.
Summer heralds the mounted portion of the club’s activities. 4-H riders must advance through qualifying competitions at county and regional levels in order to compete at the state show, which is the final mounted competition of the year.
There are currently 12 members of the Mane-I-Acs under club leader Deana McPherson of Granville. Members from the surrounding towns of Westfield, Southwick, Agawam and Granby ages 8-18 participate in activities year round. Having your own horse is not a requirement as activities occur both in and out of the saddle.
“Our annual horse show is a terrific event for our kids to apply what they know on horseback as well as to demonstrate their leadership and responsibility around the organization of the show,” said Deana McPherson, Mane-I-Acs club leader.
The Mane-I-Acs Food Drive raised more than 400 pounds of food for the Southwick Food Pantry. (Photo submitted)
Out of the Saddle
In the off-season, the Mane-I-Acs participate in unmounted events that test their knowledge and skills about horsemanship but which also teach life skills including communication, decision-making, problem solving, sharing and conflict resolution skills.
This year, members of the Mane-I-Acs qualified to participate in the Massachusetts 4-H State Horse Roundup. The two-day event had junior and senior team members competing in Horse Bowl (like the game show Jeopardy!), Hippology (written test), Horse Judging (written and oral rationale for selections), and Visual Presentations. The Mane-I-Acs Junior team (ages 8-13) won first place in Horse Judging. Seniors (ages 14-18) are judged individually. Rachel McPherson, a sophomore at Southwick High School, won first place overall in Hippology and Kim Faria, a sophomore at Westfield High School, won first place overall in Horse Judging. Both girls will be traveling to Kentucky to participate in the national 4-H competition later this year.
4-H Serves the Community
Citizenship, which includes leadership and community service, are also emphasized. This year, the Mane-I-Acs held a fall food drive that raised more than 400 pounds of food for the Southwick Food Pantry, sang Christmas carols at Meadow Brook Nursing Home in Granby, CT and served an evening meal with Loaves & Fishes of Springfield, MA.
“4-H’s agricultural roots are strong and deep, but it is important for people to understand that 4-H is about youth development,” said McPherson. “We provide hands-on learning in the areas of science, or animal science in the case of the Mane-I-Acs, citizenship and healthy living that reinforces responsibility, curiosity and engagement in the community in which you live.”
For more information about the 4-H and Open Horse Show, or the 4-H Horsemanship Program, contact [email protected].
