by Rhianne Weghnnar
Awards were presented to nine of the Alberta Equestrian Federation’s (AEF) most ambitious young riders for their participation in the AEF’s Live Outside the Box Program. The awards were presented in conjunction with the AEF’s Annual General Meeting held in Red Deer, AB, on March 17.
The Live Outside the Box Program was designed to encourage AEF youth members to engage in a more active lifestyle by spending less time in front of the computer and television, said Pat Barriage, AEF executive director. The program is promoted by the AEF with funding from the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation.
“We delivered the program by adapting it to fit into the equestrian world,” said Barriage. The Live Outside the Box Program was introduced in the fall of 2006 to AEF youth members aged 10 to 14 who either own their own horse, lease, or take lessons.
“It didn’t have to be their own horse, or even the same horse, we just wanted them to participate in some kind of horse-related activity,” said Barriage.
The purpose of the AEF program is to see if similar programs with rewards will promote active youth lifestyle choices. Participants kept track of their time for five months (from August 1 to December 31, 2006), and reported monthly to the AEF.
The youth vied for top place in three separate categories including Highest Number of Consecutive Screen-Free Days, Lowest Amount of Screen Time, and Highest Amount of Horse Time. The top three participants in each category were awarded on March 31.
Sarra Brown of Forestburg came in third place for Least Amount of Screen Time. She got involved in riding by joining a friend involved in 4-H for a while and now she owns her own horse. “I like mostly jumping and taking lessons from my coach,” she says.
Caylee Sparry came in third place for Highest Amount of Horse Time, currently rides with the Bow River Riders 4-H Club, and is also a member of the Brooks Pony Club. Her family is horse minded and she currently takes dressage lessons. For her, she says it was easy to do. “I spend a lot of time doing other things than watching TV or going on the computer.”
For Tyrell Gordon who came in first for Highest Amount of Horse Time, his main interest is in rodeo, specifically team and calf roping and he also enjoys riding with his family. He plans to remain in the horse industry and continue in rodeo after school. “My mom was the one who signed me up and kept track of my hours,” he says jokingly.
Dana Adolphson also placed yet was unable to attend the awards due to a prior commitment with a 4-H public speaking competition. Dana is lucky to live on Willow Ridge Farm with 45 Quarter Horses and Warmbloods. “I spend most of my time with my young horse, some time with the foals on the farm just getting them used to stuff, and some time with my mom’s horses,” she says.
Besides her 4-H commitments with the Wild Rose Multi Club, Adolphson also has a young horse project in the works, a jumping project, as well as a steer and heifer project.
It was obvious when speaking to these busy young people that horses were a vital part of their lives–whether through 4-H, Pony Club, or some type of structured riding lesson program–which made it possible for them to “get outside the box” of television and computers and live an exciting and rewarding life in the real world.
Below are the award winners. Congratulations to all!
Highest Number of Consecutive Screen Free Days:
1. Jennifer Leibel – Olds (age 14)
2. Tyler Spencer – Okotoks, (age 13)
3. Kylie Jorgensen – Lethbridge, (age 10)
Least Amount of Screen Time:
1. Sarah-Jayne Ferguson – Edson, (age 12)
2. Dana Adolphson – Valleyview, (age 14)
3. Sarra Brown – Forestburg, (age 12)
Highest Amount of Horse Time:
1. Tyrell Gordon – Ponoka, (age 14)
2. Rachel Falasconi – Millarville, (age 12)
3. Caylee Sparry – Brooks, (age 13)
