New 4-H horse club forming

DINGMAN — The Pike County office of Penn State Cooperative Extension has announced the formation of a new 4-H Club. Debra Passero, owner of Rock Ridge Ranch in Dingmans Ferry, will begin a new 4-H Horse Club this fall. The beginning level work in this club is designed with mostly “horseless” activities so youth who do or do not have their own horses may join. The first informational meeting will be on Friday, Sept. 26, at the Commissioner’s Meeting Room, Pike County Administration Office, 506 Broad Street, Milford. The meeting time is 6:30-8 p.m. The Pennsylvania 4-H horse program promotes knowledge of horsemanship and responsible, ethical equine use, care, and management. Youth who participate in 4-H horse programs develop life skills that include leadership, responsibility, sportsmanship, teamwork, community service, a positive attitude, and a sense of self worth. Some specific objectives for youth in this first level horse program are identifying horse behaviors; judging horses (identifying parts of a horse); identifying horses (common horse colors and markings); identifying horse breeds (characteristics of common horse breeds); recognizing horse behavior; evaluating horses for conformation and usefulness; practicing safety around horses and assessing horse health. The 4-H is the youth development program of Penn State Cooperative Extension. 4-H members participate in a variety of hands-on projects, make new friends and learn to work and play with other young people and with adults. Boys and girls from 8 to 19 years of age meet to plan and direct their own programs under the leadership of an adult volunteer. If you are interested in attending the Sept. 26 meeting of the Dingmans Ferry Horse Club, you may register with Diane Boucher Appel, Pike County 4-H youth development educator, by calling 570-296-3400 or e-mail PikeExt@psu.edu.