I would like to use this month’s article to congratulate a group of kids I am honored to be associated with. Each year during the Florida State Fair, horse judging competitions for FFA and 4-H horse judging teams are held in Tampa, Florida. This year there were 58 high school teams and 34 middle school teams from all over Florida enrolled in the competition.
One of the teams representing Jackson County was Malone High school’s FFA. Representing Malone High School’s FFA Senior team were Carly Barnes, Lawson Mosley, Candice Lipford, Sean Henry, while the Malone High School Junior team representatives were Niki Ferguson, Katie May, Sara Newsom, Brett Henry, and Emily Stevens.
The Team Coach is Shawna Ferguson and the FFA Advisor is Kim Barber. Malone High School’s FFA senior team finished fourth out of 58 teams while Malone High School FFA junior team finished thirteenth out of 34 teams. These young men and women gave up their extracurricular time, many nights and weekends to study and polish their horse judging skills. For the high school team an in depth written exam is taken initially followed by a judging of four halter classes and four riding classes.
Likewise, the middle school team takes a written exam but is required to judge four halter classes. I ask that you all join me in congratulating and thanking Malone High School’s FFA for an outstanding competition and fantastic representation of Jackson County. Follow up from last months Horses Mouth article, S.R. writes; "In your last article your response to Jill, I feel you left out a huge part of enjoying horses without riding; ground work.
I, too, have no desire to ride after being injured on a trail ride almost 20 years ago." S.R. writes that she has now met a friend that has introduced her to a new way to enjoy horses. Only a true horse lover enjoys the mundane and often stinky chores associated with horses. S.R. has discovered, as I will confirm, that for the true horse lover these mundane chores are actually another way to enjoy what a true friend a horse is. S.R. has discovered that simply walking her horse around, massaging him, bathing, feeding and yes even mucking out stalls is rewarding and time well spent. S.R. writes that not only has this been great for her spirit and the horses but this experience has lowered her blood pressure and caused her to lose weight. S.R, thank you for reminding me that sometimes the simple things in life are the most important, especially if spent with a true friend.
Doug e-mail is professionalhorseman@hotmail.com Visit the web at www.admayperformancehorses.com
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