Hooked on Morgans Meeting February 7, 2010 @ Sturgeon Creek Farm, Eliot, ME.
Our February meeting was primarily a business meeting.  We held officer elections:
President: Madison Cromwell
Vice-President: Rowan Winters
Secretary/Treasurer: Tory Valway
Reporter: Grace Cromwell
Ex Officio: Emma Nobles

We continued to discuss our community service project which was tabled until the next meeting.  We also discussed other areas in which we would like to do community service, including a local shelter for women and children, a local mounted patrol, and local equine rescues/spcas. We delegated responsibilities for our yearbook.  Much enthusiasm was displayed at the prospect of participating in a parade with our Morgans this year.  Our next meeting  is set for February 28^th, 2010 and will include discussion of TPR led by our junior members as well as a demonstration of the equine physical exam by Kass Booth.  We will also have a presentation by Madison Cromwell on “How the Morgan figures into other breeds”.  Anyone who would like to become a member of our club or visit one of our meetings contact:  smsc77@aol.com (Selina Cloutier)

Hooked on Morgans Meeting January 10, 2010 @ Broadfields Farm, Eliot, ME
We are continuing to look into volunteering at Lesley's theraputic riding barn as our club's community service project. We also disscussed the idea of sending a youth representative once a month to keep up our community service efforts.   Our goal for this year is to focus on badge work and help everyone complete a badge. In anticipation of the Myhre Clinic Kentucky Derby/Equine Fair in early May, we talked about renting a hot dog steamer and buying sodas to sell in place of baked goods at our booth. We are planning a spring trip to tour another farm this year before the show season begins.  We also enjoyed a demonstration by Tory Valway on the history of braiding as well as how to braid.

Hooked on Morgans Club Meeting  November 14, 2009 @ Sturgeon Creek Farm, Eliot, ME
We decided on our community service project, Horsetalk, in Deerfield, NH.  We talked about plans to produce a yearbook and participate in the AMHA Youth Club of the year contest.  Tory Valway and Lesley  Wendt shared their experience at the Grand National Morgan Horse show where they both competed in the youth of the year finals.  We will set our next meeting for January, as December is pretty busy with the holiday.

2010 Maine Morgan Youth of the Year Contest:

Youth of the Year contests are designed to recognize top achievers. Youth of the Year contests consist of four parts: a written exam, an oral presentation, a judging contest and a horsemanship pattern. The youth with the highest accumulation of points at a show is named Youth of the Year, which qualifies him or her to compete for AMHA Youth of the Year at the Grand National & World Championship Morgan Horse Show in Oklahoma City. Local and regional contests are open to youths of all ages, but only those aged 14 years and older can qualify to compete in Oklahoma.

2009 Maine Morgan Youth of the Year Winner Tory Valway

Maine Morgan Youth of the Year Entry Form (Adobe)
Maine Morgan Youth Letter (Word)
Youth of the Year Past Winners

Downloads: The Youth Letter are in Microsoft Word.  If you don't have Word, use the following link to download Sun Systems "Open Office".  It's from the developers of Java (used on your computer every day).  Open Office is free and opens any Microsoft Office application. (Word, Excel, presentations, graphics, etc.)http://download.openoffice.org/

Contacts:
Youth of the Year Contest
Selina Skelton-Cloutier
Phone: (603) 742-6238
Email: smsc77@aol.com

Lady Monarch’s Morgan Youth Group
Leader: Laurie Koehler
90 Shiloh Rd
Durham ME 04011
Phone: (207)353-4657
Email: monarchhorsefarm@usa.com

Shapleigh Morgan Youth
Leader: Monique Shapleigh
91 Garland Rd
Shapleigh ME 04076
Phone: (207)247-4417
Email: burgandyhillfarm@sacoriver.net

Mane Tyme Morgan Youth Club
Leader: Cheryl Csengery
1043 Cross Hill Rd
Vassalboro ME 04989
Phone: (207)923-3382
Email: info@manetymemorgans.com

AMHA Horsemastership Program:
The AMHAY Horsemastership Program is designed to help you become a competent horseperson. The five successive levels of testing are designed to increase knowledge of the Morgan breed and general horsemanship while receiving recognition for hard work. The first level, Bulrush, teaches the basics of horse anatomy, Morgan history, grooming, safety, tack and horse terms. Woodbury, the second level, builds on the skills learned in Bulrush in addition to record keeping, handling, basic riding control and presentation skills. The third level, Sherman, requires learning about basic horse first-aid, diseases, simple riding tests, shoeing theory and trailering. Black Hawk, the fourth level, involves judging, how to determine horse age, trailer safety, hoof structure, detailed Morgan history and completion of 9 out of 22 riding or driving activities. The highest level of achievement is Justin Morgan. It requires proficiency in 7 out of 8 working horsemastership areas; youth activity promotion and organization; knowledge of horse behavior, unsoundness, and stable construction. Badge achievers must also instruct a beginning horseperson for three months. Lastly, a score of 70% must be earned on a comprehensive test over all horsemastership program topics. Horsemastership achievers must be under 22 years of age (as of December 1st) and all badge work must be completed with a registered Morgan. The first two levels may be approved by youth club leaders or other qualified horsepersons, but the top three levels must be approved by an Official AMHA horsemastership examiner.

Official AMHA Horsemastership Examiners:
Judith Dorr
24 Adams Road
Boothbay, ME 04537
Phone: (207) 633-5065
Email: memorgan@gwi.net

Phyllis Ames Cox
78 Condon Point
Brooksville, ME 04617

Diane Vachon
15 Old Pine Hill Rd 
Berwick, ME 03901-291
Phone: (207)698-1751

Katharine Thompson
81 Depot Rd
Eliot, ME 03903-121
Phone: (207)439-1827
Email: highover@aol.com

Selina Skelton-Cloutier
Phone: (603) 742-6238
Email: smsc77@aol.com