The TJ Horse Club is planning to volunteer at the horse rescue shelter and get more members on board.
The new 4H-Horse club at TJ allows horse lovers a chance to work together. Artwork by Tori Wallace
On September 11, 2012, the Horse Club (an offshoot of the 4-H Club) was founded at TJ, and is an organization that helps youth become everyday heroes by making a positive impact on their community.
4-H is a program that prepares young people to step up to the challenges in their community and the world and helps them get the hands-on, real-world experiences that they need to become leaders. “4-H is the umbrella organization; they have dozens of projects that members can do, and we choose to do horse club,” said Spartan Teacher Candace Grant, who is the originator and sponsor of the horse club, with the help of Psychical Education Teacher, Carol Fulkerson. “4-H is a program designed to make the best better, and I know from past experiences that horses are wonderful grounding animals for kids,” Grant added. 4-H also offers various scholarships at the end of the year to students who qualify.
As of October 17, Horse Club has seven committed members, and two people with their own horses. “I was really excited to get this club up and running because I’ve wanted to start a horse club here at TJ since freshmen year,” said Senior Ashley Fulkerson, who is the President of Horse Club. She is joined alongside Vice President Angela Montgomery, Treasurer Sarah Fronk, Secretary Lesly Gurrola, and members Sabrina Winger, Bethany Vaughn, and Valeria Villegas. The group meets every Tuesday in Candace Grants’ room, 222. TJ is the first Denver Public School to have a horse club, and to have 4-H as a whole
4-H also plans on staying involved and doing local volunteer programs at the horse rescue group, where students will get hands-on experience with the horses. Colorado Horse Rescue (CHR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emergency relief, shelter, care, rehabilitation, and adoption services for abused, neglected, abandoned and unwanted horses. CHR provides community resources through equine education, counseling, information and referral services. CHR is funded through individual donations and grants. “I’m really excited to take the members over to help the horses out for the day; I think it will be a great experience for our members,” said Grant. “It’s a humbling experience and I’m excited to help out,” Grant added.
