Innholdsfortegnelse for May - June 2025 i Young Rider

When Rebecca Bellone was in college in the 1990s, she took a class on livestock genetics. The professor showed a picture of a spotted Appaloosa, and revealed to the class that they didn’t currently understand how Appaloosas passed down their white patterning from parents to foal. Rebecca thought the Appaloosa was the most beautiful horse she’d seen, and soon bought one of her own. She also decided to become a scientist to study equine genetics, particularly pigmentation. She now holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky and directs the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at University of California, Davis. The lab tests horses and other species to verify their parentage, rare coat color genes, and more. COLOR GENE BASICS All horses are either black-based or red-based, determined by an extension gene…

Summer is finally here! The longer days mean more time at the barn, more time with friends, and more time outside in general. If you live in a cold area, you know how miserable it can be to spend time at the barn in the cold. But it’s important to remember to be careful during the summer, too. When the temperatures rise, so can concerns of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. We know all about keeping our horses cool and comfortable throughout the summer, but what about ourselves? Your health in the heat is equally as important. HEAT DANGERS What can happen if you get too hot at the barn? ♦ Cramping: If you start to feel cramping in your legs or your core, this is a sign to get…

HOW TO ENTER Your parents can email a photo to editor@youngrider.com (subject line “Me & My Horse”), or mail your entry to Young Rider M&MH, P.O. Box 3945, Laguna Hills, CA 92654. Please be sure to include your name and age, the horse’s name, your mailing address, and parental contact information (email & phone number). Model prizes vary each month; approximate retail value $45. Deadline for entries is July 1, 2025. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia, ages 7-16. You must get permission from your parents to enter. Email entries must be received between 12:00:01 AM PT on 4/11/25 and 11:59:59 PM PT on 7/1/25. Mail-in entries must be postmarked by 7/1/25 and received…

When I open the mailbox after a long day at school and see this magazine, I am so happy! I don’t own a horse, but I take lessons sometimes and I also volunteer at a barn for kids with disabilities. I walk the horses around while two side walkers are beside me. I was wondering if you guys can do a volunteer section in the magazine. Thank you so much for making my day anytime YR comes in the mail! Alana, 12, Ohio I just wanted to let you and other people know how impeccably, unexplainably AWESOME your magazine is! I have been riding for almost four years now. I have ridden at 10 barns in my riding life. It was so tough and at one point, we almost quit…

My passion for horseback riding started when I was 10 years old. I started at a summer camp in Bonita Springs, Fla. I was able to ride different horses and ponies, learning something new from each experience. After camp was over, I asked my parents to allow me to take weekly lessons. I was so lucky that they said yes! Eventually, I started riding three days a week. I would research famous riders and learn all about the different disciplines of riding and breeds of horses. In my research, I came across the most amazing facility located here in Naples, Fla. It was everything I had hoped for in a riding facility. I started by riding and then leasing an awesome horse at Shore Acre Farms named Alaska. From there,…

The thrilling competitive sport of show jumping, also known to eventers as stadium jumping, traces its roots to England, where the 18th century Enclosure Acts made the need to jump fences during fox hunting excursions much more commonplace. The first known jumping show was held in Ireland in 1864, with 13 jumping obstacles set at 3 feet 6 inches tall. At the Stockholm, Sweden Olympics of 1912, jumping was defined as a sport and formatted the way we jump today. COMPETITION Beginning jumpers start out at lower heights offered at schooling shows over ground poles and cross-rails. This allows new jumpers, whether horse or rider, to gain experience at a show setting before moving up the levels to higher fences at rated venues. The goal of show jumping is to…

$37.95 Young Rider is perfect for horse-crazy kids ages 8-15! SAVE 47% OFF THE COVER PRICE Subscribe at www.youngrider.com/yri12025 or call (844) 330-6373 SCAN NOW Or mail order form to: EG Media Investments LLC, PO Box 74660, Chicago, IL 60675-4660 Visit www.youngrider.com/yri12025 or call us at 844-330-6373 to place the order. (Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm CDT). Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery of the first issue. Outside U.S., add $38 postage per year (U.S. funds only).…

From the moment you step into the show arena, you’re being judged on your horsemanship and how you handle yourself when riding with others. When you’re aware of your surroundings, you’ll pick the best place on the rail for your horse to be seen. When you are careful around other horses, you’ll keep everyone as safe as possible. In an Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) show, riders in grades 4 though 12 can show without owning a horse in hunt seat, western, or dressage. For western, you draw a horse to ride and then enter the arena for judging at the rail, then line up and wait for your turn to complete a horsemanship pattern. For the rail work, it’s important to have your own space so your horse can be…

If you’re reading Young Rider, we know one thing about you for certain—you love horses! However, whether it’s due to size, ability, or physical limitations, most of us can’t ride the same horse forever. It’s tricky to know when to move onto a new friend, so we chatted with three of our readers to share their stories. SIZE MATCH Grace, 12, is small but mighty, and her ponies match! Coming from a horsey family, she has ridden ponies since she was tiny. However, as her skills continued to grow, so have her horses. A couple of years ago, Grace moved up from her tiny pony, Annie, to Dinero, a Pony of the Americas who can jump the moon. “Dinero is similar to Annie,” she says. “They both overjump the jumps…

It’s easy to love American Quarter Horses. They’re beautiful, athletic, versatile, and sensible, and they excel in just about everything. And best of all, they are extremely popular with youth riders! The American Quarter Horse Youth Association (AQHYA) has a lot of exciting things going on and a whole slate of youth programs to encourage young riders to learn and have fun with their horses. Are you ready to saddle up and join in? SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE According to the American Quarter Horse Association’s Helen Hardy, Manager of Youth Development and AQHYA, the organization divides their programs into several categories, although some programs fall into more than one category. The categories are: horsemanship, leadership, education, competitions and contests, and scholarships and awards. You can learn all about each program at…