Wilkes County 4-H Horse Club Members Shine at West District Qualifying Show

Six members of the Wilkes County 4-H Horse Club entered the West District Qualifying 4-H Horse Show on April 26 at the Western North Carolina Agriculture Center in Fletcher. All participating riders from the Wilkes 4-H Horse Club qualified to show in the North Carolina State Horse Show at the James B. Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh on July 9-13, said Vicki Phillips, a volunteer who works with the club.

Saidee Fitzwater, daughter of Dustin Fitzwater and Kayla Wingler of North Wilkesboro, finished first and was reserve division champion in both Junior Western Pleasure and Junior Ranch Pleasure on “A Splash of Fire.” On the same horse, Fitzwater placed third in Short Stirrup Hunter Under Saddle on the flat and Short Stirrup Hunter Under Saddle equitation on the flat. While riding “JLR Sheza Excutie,” she was third in Junior Western Showmanship.

Sawyer Brown, daughter of Derek and Kari Brown of the Austin community, placed second in both Junior Ranch Handling and Junior Western Showmanship with her horse, “Taylored N Shine.” Bella St. Clair, daughter of Paul and Jennifer Garland of the McGrady community, finished first in Western Pleasure walk-jog and third in Little Britches Western Horsemanship walk-jog while riding “Copper.”

Tristan Anderson, son of Paul and Jennifer Garland of McGrady, finished second in Adaptive Riding Walk Only while showing “A Splash of Fire.” Joshua Absher, son of Tiffany Absher of the Millers Creek community, placed first in Adaptive Riding Walk Only, also while riding “Copper.” Jade Fitzwater, daughter of Dustin Fitzwater and Kayla Wingler, presented “A Splash of Fire” in the Cloverbud pleasure and equitation classes and received two participation ribbons.

Phillips said the Wilkes 4-H Horse Club now has over 30 members. For more information about the club, contact the Wilkes Cooperative Extension Service at 336-651-7335 or at wilkes.ces.ncsu.edu.