01/26/05 Youth brood mare program

Youth Broodmare Program Almost everyone is familiar with the adopt-a-horse program, but there is a program that "leases" horses for free. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll tell you about it in one minute. The free "lease" horse opportunity is set up through the Washington Thoroughbred Foundation's Youth Broodmare Program. Pam Voss, program administrator says this curriculum is the only one of it's kind in the Nation. It started in 1946, and revived three years ago by a bequest from the late John and Kitty Fletcher. The Washington Thoroughbred Foundation Broodmare Program owns five mares that are used to lease out to qualified youth in the state. To qualify, young people from ages 13 to 17 must be willing to commit the time needed, provide an appropriate facility, have parental support, and access to a qualified veterinarian. The youth will pay for routine vet and hoof care. Extraordinary veterinary, farrier, or exotic feed expense for the mare or colt will be paid for by the foundation. Qualified youngsters will care for the mare through foaling and weaning and then work with the foal until it is sold at auction as a yearling at Emerald Downs racetrack in Auburn, Washington. Mentors will help with the foal's training and handling. Youth in the program learn record keeping, daily care, foal training, nutrition, management, and the science of horse racing. A portion of the foal's sale money up to $10,000 can be kept by the participating youth. Last year saw sales from $4,000 to $40,000 for program colts. For more information on this program go to "The American Rancher" at aginfo.net. I'm Jeff Keane. Capital Press 12/24/04 HYPERLINK "http://www.washingtonthoroughbred.com" www.washingtonthoroughbred.com . Call (253) 288 78