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ARABIAN MARE CHOSEN
“ 2008 IDAHO 4-H HORSE OF THE YEAR”
Berica, an eighteen-year old Spanish-Arabian mare owned by Julianna Larish of Grangeville, Idaho, was recently selected as the “2008 Idaho 4-H Horse of the Year”.
Berica, an eighteen-year old Spanish-Arabian mare owned by Julianna Larish of Grangeville, Idaho, was recently selected as the “2008 Idaho 4-H Horse of the Year”. This is a statewide 4-H contest co-sponsored by the Idaho 4-H program and the Peter Stone Model Horse Company. To earn this award, 10 year-old Larish had written an essay based on the statement, "My horse has made my life, and the life of others better because…” The company’s owner, Peter Stone, who offers similar contests in Indiana and Massachusetts, selected this statement as a way to highlight all the contributions made by 4-H project horses. In honor of winning this event, the Peter Stone Model Horse Company Horse will be presenting Larish with a custom-painted portrait model of Berica. Larish will also receive a stable sheet for Berica, with compliments from a grant provided by the Idaho Horse Board.
The concept of this award is not aimed at the competitive horse that wins the most awards, but to recognize those that have made a significant difference in the life of 4-H youth and others. Therefore, the focus of the essays was on what the author has learned from his experiences with his horse, what obstacles or challenges were overcome, and how these experiences have helped make the author a better person and how it has helped them, help others. Larish was one of several youths, ages 10 to 16 years old, statewide that entered the contest, which was judged by three judges from various regions of the state.
When asked why she entered the contest, Larish, a sixth grader at the Grangeville Elementary School, simply stated, “because I have the best horse in the World and everyone who rides her says they want to keep her!” Larish and Berica have been active in the Rough Riders 4-H Club for the past three years and also participate in the Triple Bar Drill Team. They perform at the Grangeville Border Days Rodeo and parades. Together they enjoy horse shows, especially Pole Bending, Barrels, and Key Hole Race classes, trail rides and fund-raising events and will be participating in a St Jude’s Benefit Weekend Ride in August.
Berica is a gray Spanish Arab, registered with the US Arabian Horse Registry. According to Larish, “ a Spanish Arab is the Arab that the Spanish breed for military purposes. They were bred as a desert horse. They are great horses for endurance due to their body structure. They are also the only breed of horse that the foal at birth is not afraid of humans. Berica means glorious, intelligent.”
“Berica came to us as a free horse” said Larish. “ Her previous owner, Karen, loved her so much she said that she could not sell her. She wanted her to go to a good home and to someone who would continue to do things with her. Karen and her daughter, Michelle, use to show Berica. She has lots of trophies from her events. Berica used to jump. When I showed Karen our first pictures of the drill team and Berica, she cried and said that she knew Berica would be good to me and I would be good to Berica.”
This special horse is not only good for her young owner, but for other youngsters as well as Larish uses Berica as a training horse in and out of 4-H. “I help riders from age 4 to age 18 ride my horse,” said Larish. “She is a great teacher. I help my advisor work with first time riders and help other kids who are afraid of horses by teaching them how to handle Berica on the ground and in the saddle.”
For more information on the “Idaho 4-H Horse of the Year” contest, contact your County Extension Educator or visit the Idaho 4-H State website at www.4h.uidaho.edu then go to the State Awards link or the Salmon Model Horse 4-H Club’s website at www.geocities.com/smh4hc/
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