| Molly
Johnson receives quarterhorse weanling
I first heard about the Young Horse Development Program in an AQHYA magazine, my Grandma Eva bought me a lifetime membership to AQHYA which includes a subscription to the magazine. I thought it would be awesome to win a weanling, but thought it would be impossible for someone like me in this rural area to be chosen. My mom urged me to complete the lengthy application process & I begun working on my essay of why I would like to win and raise a AQHA Ranch Heritage weanling. It took me months to complete the requirements, but I finally got my packet sent in. I never thought I would hear anything from AQHA. This year 117 youth members applied for the program and 49 weanlings were donated to the winners. I couldn’t believe it when I got the letter from AQHA that my application was a chosen winner & that I won a free weanling donated by the Durbin Creek Ranch in Thermopolis, WY. My mom called the people whose names were on the letter; Jake and Hannah Agar said they have a couple fillies they were trying to decide between. I was able to talk to Hannah and tell her what type of riding and showing I do. I really wanted a horse that can rodeo and ranch, one that would excel in roping and basic ranch work. Hannah sent pictures of 2 fillies they were trying to decide between. They were both super nice and had great pedigrees. I really like the stocky bay roan, she told me once they gather and wean the fillies they would be able to see which one had the best mind for what I am looking for. These colts had never been handled by humans before and even while weaning they don’t like to mess with the colts until they are ready to break and train them. After they decide which one would be best for me they called my mom to arrange for pickup. I was so excited when I heard they chose the bay roan and that I could pick her up around Thanksgiving at their partner ranch in Huntington, Oregon. They took Bonnie to the vet in Thermopolis for her shots and paperwork, then they branded her and hauled her to Oregon. These were the only 3 times she had been handled before I got her. I decided to call her Bonnie. My family drove to the Durbin Creek Ranch in Huntington on 11/25/2017 to pick up Bonnie, whose registered name is DCR Cash ’n Drift. We met Jake and Hannah Agar and visited with them a bit before I caught Bonnie and loaded her into our trailer for the drive home. Bonnie has been very fun handling and training because she is so smart. Bonnie trusts me, she follows me around, she comes up to me and let me catch her, she also leads very well, now. Some of the things we have worked on together is basic round pen work on leading, yielding to pressure, trailer loading and unloading and being ponied around our ranch by me and my horse Ruby. The first couple days I had Bonnie, I had to take her to some of my friends who have inspired me in my horsemanship. I loaded her back into the trailer and we went to visit McNamee Colt Company, Tim really liked her and he showed me a few things to work on with her through the winter. I have been riding and fine tuning my horsemanship with Tim and Shantel for at least 6 years. We also visited neighbors Randy and Laurie Doman who have inspired me to look for better horses and have always made me feel welcome to ride with them, or use their indoor arena to improve my horsemanship. Laurie was the person who showed me how to lunge a young horse when I was 8 years old. They also really liked Bonnie and couldn’t believe how well she loaded and unloaded for just being handled a few times. Laurie gave me a few tips on how to get Bonnie to face me when trying to catch her .That really helped and now she lets me catch her whenever I want, even once when she got out of her pen. I am so grateful to have these friends who have supported me for many years already and are always willing to helpme and my horses. I am also thankful to my family who always believes in me & supports my riding and rodeo. I am so grateful for Durbin Creek Ranch and the American Quarter Horse Association forthis amazing opportunity to raise and train such a well bred quarter horse filly. I look forward to all the things Bonnie & I will accomplish together over the next several years. 
A couple of photos of Molly with her quarterhorse weanling Bonnie. Photos by Sue Tacke. |
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