Hold your horses.
This page has information from the 2024 season and has yet to be updated.
HAVEN'S Hands
Horseless Horse 4-H Youth Program
Love horses and dream of having your own?
New to horses and desiring hands-on experience, 4-H and horse show tips and camaraderie?
In-person, hands-on horse activities begin this spring. We will do some riding, though most of the sessions will be on the ground. The year ends with a Horseless Horse (HH) project horse show during the Chisago County Fair, July 10th-13th. Additional opportunities are available as the season progresses. Youth can be in kindergarten all the way up to one year past high school. They do not need to live in Chisago County to participate.
The 4-H program has an annual cost of $25 for the first youth, up to a $50 maximum per family and program costs are listed below. Scholarships may be available so finances are not barrier.
This is our 10th year offering this program, mentoring 100+ kids in that time, many for multiple years. We have a great time horsing around together! This program is run and supported by volunteers, with a goal of providing low-cost horse educational opportunities to youth. Another goal is to equip youth to be able to safely handle a horse on the ground and in the saddle and provide an opportunity to show a horse at County Fair. This is not riding lessons, although there will be riding components at each level. Because this is volunteer driven at a lost cost, youth/families volunteering is critical, as are fundraising efforts.
We hope you can come join us! Please RSVP through our contact page.
Leader: Shannon Huberty 651-210-2344 (text best)
havenmeadowsfarm@gmail.com https://www.havenmeadowsfarm.com/
4-H Office: 651-277-0150
Farm Help Days
Want to try out farm life and be a farmhand? Enjoy spending time with horses and animals while investing in and connecting with other youth? Haven Meadows Farm raises livestock sustainably to build the ecosystem of their farm and to support their horse program which benefits 4-H youth. Adult and/or youth help is appreciated. Dates to be announced.
Cub Foods Bagging Groceries Fundraising Event
Tell your friends and family to buy their groceries at the locations and times below and have the 4-H youth bag them for you. Donations appreciated! 2 hour shift, please plan to volunteer for one session.
Forest Lake- Dates to be announced, Cambridge- Dates to be announced,
One would select what level is most in line with their experiences:
We primary connect on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 5 p.m. April- July at HAVEN. Final dates to be announced.
The County Fair Horse show will take place during July 10-13th
Horseless Horse- Beginner
New participants with limited horse experience, kindergarten through 12th grade. Grooming, safety, leading, desensitizing, in-hand obstacles, showmanship and beginning riding skills. Five sessions plus county fair. Program Cost $75, plus a 2 hour volunteer commitment and a 2 hour fundraising commitment at Cub foods.
Horseless Horse- Intermediate
Returning participants or those with previous lessons/horse experience in grades three and up. Above topics plus ground work, lunging, bridling, saddling and arena riding skills. Five sessions plus county fair. Program Cost $75, plus a 2 hour volunteer commitment and a 2 hour fundraising commitment at Cub foods.
Junior Mentor Program
For confident, independent preteens and teens with prior horse experience (5th grade and up). Faster paced than Intermediate course for those interested in being ongoing youth mentors. There is a 5 hour per month volunteer commitment either fulfilled through mentoring at horseless horse sessions or being a farmhand at Farm Help Days, plus a 2 hour fundraising commitment at Cub Foods. Additional opportunities potentially include groundwork, conditioning, games, English, western riding and horsemanship lessons as availability allows. See calendar for dates. Program Cost $250.* April through July
Youth Mentor Program
For confident, independent returning preteens and teens with prior horse experience (5th grade and up). Faster paced Junior Mentor course. This group serves as ongoing youth mentors and has “first dibs” on lessons slots and they lease the program horses to show at the horse project horse show and other show opportunities. There is a 10 hour per month volunteer commitment either fulfilled through mentoring at horseless horse sessions or being a farmhand at Farm Help Days, plus a 2 hour fundraising commitment at Cub Foods. Program Cost $500* May through September. Partial options may be available.
Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m. to mentor Horseless horse youth and Western Pleasure Lessons following
Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. to mentor Junior Mentors with Game/Drill lessons following.
Sundays for English/Horsemanship lessons. See calendar for dates
Encampment May 30st-June 1st
Ride Night Wednesday, June 18th 4 pm
WSCA Horse Show before County Fair TBD
Horseless Horse Show mentoring
Horse Project Show
Additional opportunities include groundwork, conditioning, games, English, western riding and horsemanship lessons. See calendar for dates.
Lessons
As a thank you for the mentors and to further build their skills, Youth Mentors and possibly Junior Mentors may elect to participate in lessons on Haven horses or their own horse. Ideally the youth would be volunteering for the earlier session that day. Horses should be tacked up, warmed up and ready to ride at the time stated below. Youth should sign up for the sessions they will be able to attend.
Western Pleasure/Horsemanship: Tuesdays 7 p.m.
Game Lessons/Drill: Wednesdays 7 p.m.
English Equitation/Horsemanship: Sundays
Meeting Locations:
Sessions
HAVEN Meadows Farm
45021 Bending Avenue
Harris, MN 55032
North Branch Community Center
The Senior Center building (behind Pizza Pub)
38790 6th Ave
North Branch, MN 55056
Sunrise Equine Veterinary Services
39318 Poor Farm Rd,
North Branch, MN 55056
County Fair Chisago County Fairgrounds
905 West 4th. Street
Rush City,
MN 55069
HAVEN Horse Program
Making A Difference