Early on in 2017 the talk of a horse club was brought to me by some of the members of the County Extension Council. A few members from the public had ask if we offered l horse programs to the youth of Letcher County. I explained that we did not have anyone in Letcher County that was a certified Horse Leader Volunteer but,  I would be very pleased to have someone that was willing to become certified in  horse to go to the training in November. The members of the County Extension Council  did not understand that I cold not be the certified leader of the club as the agent. Work began to get out that if we had a leader come forward and go through the screening process, pass the background check, and go to the training that the possibility of having a horse club would come true in our little county. No only did I have someone come forward I had five others to follow adn want to get the horse program going in Letcher County. Each of the leaders came in got the paperwork for the background check, passed them, went to the training in November and December and became certified in Horse and Livestock. So 2018 was a great year for me as an agent allowing me to gain six new volunteer that would be certified in the livestock and horse program. This program has really taken off from the first meeting in January with the leaders as a group to the next meeting that youth attended. We had the first ever horse club that would be on the western speed event side in Letcher County history. That first meeting we had 50 youth to attend the meeting and we thought for sure we would loose half of these kids. So that night we had to split the youth up by age group to work with them and make this program successful. So the second month came around and it was time to meet again and we did not loose a signal volunteer or youth hat had interest in the program. we meet four times a month by the time all age groups go through the lesson and needless to stay they youth want more time learning and they are gaining six hours of instruction for the horse club. They have really shocked me as an agent the amount of knowledge that theses youth have for the equine industry and  the 4-H horse program. The amount of time and energize that these volunteers put into to the program is amazing. It is a one for all mindset. Everyone is willing to work together for the better of the youth and the friendships that I have seen made in this program will last a lifetime. The companionship that I have seen built between the youth and the horse is amazing. These youth are gaining positive emotional functioning from working with the horses, they have gained positive self-esteem in themselves by owing or leasing the horses. The horses have provided the youth with a social support system that is amazing to watch it has allowed some of these youth to do better academically, to be able to speak to others that they would have never had the courage to talk with before because, of social anxiety. It has allowed some of our special needs youth to be part of a club and group that the others kids are in and for once be the same as all the other kids to feel the same and realize that all of the youth are on the same learning level. This horse program had increased social contact between these children and the amount of child development that has happened in such a short period of time is amazing. We started the club in January and by May had eight youth that went to the District Horse Show. We did not stop in May and have pushed on to have seven youth that will represent us at the Kentucky State 4-H Horse Show in July. I am so proud of the four youth hat will be performing for Drill Team at the State 4-H Show and the others that will be competing in the speed events that is a very big deal for these youth. Five of the horse volunteers will travel with the youth to the state show and I cannot wait to see what this State Show and the up coming years will hold for this 4-H Horse Program. When we all work together in the community to make things possible for youth it is amazing to see dreams come to life for the volunteers and the youth.