Horseless Horse 4-H Club

Horseless Horse 4-H Club is Off and Running

A Broomtails club member wore a bicycle helmet and cowboy boots for a horse ride courtesy of the Riding Wranglers 4-H Club.

It started as an idea. Marty Cruickshank, 4-H staff member in charge of the Lancaster County 4-H horse program, saw a need for a club aimed at youth who want to participate in a 4-H horse project but don’t have access to horses.

“I see a horseless club as a great way for kids who probably will never have a horse but have a love for the animal to learn about horses and hopefully have the opportunity to ride a little,” said Cruickshank. “It is also a chance for kids who are thinking about getting a horse to be around horses and find out if they really do want to take on the commitment. Kids and their parents can find out how to take care of a horse and what type of equipment is needed.”

Enter Jen DeBusk. She recently moved to Lincoln from California. She wanted to help with 4-H but didn’t feel ready to head up a riding club. Cruickshank mentioned the need for a horseless club and DeBusk bit immediately. DeBusk volunteered to be club organizational leader.

“I was a horse-crazy kid, so I completely understand kids who love horses. I wanted to share what I knew with them,” said DeBusk. “I totally empathize with kids who don’t have horses. There are different reasons why they can’t have horses -- usually financial or time constraints. But this club gives them a way to learn about and be around horses.”

The Lincoln Broomtails 4-H club is the first horseless horse 4-H club in Lancaster County, and only the second one in Nebraska. They started meeting in January 2004 at the Bess Dodson Walt library. Members researched horse breeds, styles of tack and riding clothes. In March, the club attended the Nebraska Horse Expo as a group.

DeBusk owns a mustang, Libby. Club members use Libby to learn ground skills such as grooming, leading a horse, putting on a halter, and safety around horses.

During the 2004 Lancaster County Fair, Libby was a club project. The Broomtails decorated their club area and participated in the herdsmanship contest (in which clubs are judged on cleanliness of stall areas, attention to safety, care of animal and courteousness of members). Members took turns feeding and watering Libby. During the Western Horse Show, they handed out ribbons to winners.

4-H parent Kay said, “The members are learning what it realistically takes to take care of a horse. They haven’t done it full time, but they’ve done most of the steps.”

Last October, members of the Riding Wranglers 4-H club invited The Broomtails out to ride their horses. The Wranglers led the horses as Broomtails members rode, some for their first time. The Wranglers also gave a mini-clinic about the differences between English and Western horses, tack and riding.

The Broomtails visited a tack shop, “Tack ’n’ Togs,” in December. Owner Marge Davenport showed club members different types of saddles, bridles and other equipment.

“We try to do a hands-on activity each month,” explains DeBusk.

The Lincoln Broomtails currently has ten members, and is always open to new members. 4-H is part of UNL Cooperative Extension. For more information about The Broomtails club or 4-H Horse program, call Marty Cruickshank at 441-7180. If anyone would like to host The Broomtails for a visit to their horse barn, or to share a horse-related activity, please contact 4-H staff member Marty by calling 441-7180.