When a local Millarville rancher took a group of neighbor kids on a trail ride, the Millarville Saddle Sores 4-H club was born.  Thirty-five years later the club is still going strong.

Since 1981 members of the club, like Clara Blatz, say they really enjoy and look forward to the monthly meetings. Through the club, members learn horsemanship and how to care for animals.  Members also learn about caring for the tack and how to make sure the tack is on properly before riding.

"We learn how to brush a horse, how much to feed it, and what should be in its pen," Blatz says.

 Through the club, members are also gaining other valuable skills.

 "I am learning skills for the future, like public speaking, and making life long friendships," Blatz adds.

Members of the club are not just confined to spend time together at the meetings, clinics and riding lessons but they also spend time together doing other things like going to see movies.

Blatz says that's her favorite part, "because of the friends that we spend time with and the activities we get to do together."

The club meets once a month and eight meetings a year are run by the members, who range in age from six to 21 years old. In addition to the monthly meetings, the club meets twice a month for riding instruction and hold different clinics throughout the year that teach members things like trick riding, polocrosse, extreme cowboy trail, and gymkhana.

Each club member has a project they show at the end of the year showcasing the knowledge they've gained through the club.  

For more information on the club, click here.

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