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News & Events for 2005
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSA's)
ARTICLES
The Abaco Barb Project
As their international community service project, members of the Salmon Model Horse 4-H Club have been promoting the plight of twelve remaining Abaco Barb horses. These are a small band of wild horses who, for over five centuries, have roamed the beaches of Great Abaco island in the Bahamas located over 3,000 miles away from the rural town of Salmon, Idaho. In the past, members had joined Milanne Rehor, head of Arkwild, Inc. and the Project Director for WHOA (Wild Horses of Abaco Preservation Society), as well as others in writing letters to Bahamian Prime Minister, Perry Christie, asking for support in the form of a protected preserve for the horses. Eventually the preserve became reality. SMH4HC members were more than happy to contribute their share, raising $100 to help with fencing supplies for the newly established preserve.
In January 2004, each member composed a letter to Breyer® about the horses, how they were once a mighty herd of 200 but had dwindled down to just a mere dozen. The horses were believed to have been brought to the island by Conquistadors during Columbus' time, survivors of various shipwrecks. It should be noted that several DNA tests conducted on the horses have confirmed a similar match to other breeds, but never an exact match. The horses are believed to be descended from those of Africa's Barbary Coast, and as such, were officially designated by the Horse of the America's Registry as the "Abaco Barb." These horses may very well be a newly discovered strain of the endangered Spanish Barb and, according to Rehor, the purest strain in existence today.
By July, each member of the Salmon Model Horse 4H Club had received a letter from Liz Krauthammer at Breyer®. They had contacted Rehor, researched the horses' situation and had decided to make a model of "Capella," one of the Abaco Barb stallions. But it didn't simply stop there. That is, Breyer® was not only going to make a model; they were also going to contribute a portion of all Capella sales to the Abaco Barb Project Fund.
Participating in the Abaco Barb Project has been quite an adventure for this club. Aside from the creation of the "Capella" model, they have also been penpals with members of the First Abaco Boy Scout Troop. Last July the group had an opportunity to meet six members of the troop when the scouts visited Montana then drove to Salmon for two days. While in Salmon, the two groups had a picnic, toured the Sacagawea Center, and went for a stagecoach ride on Doug Westfall's six-passenger stagecoach (a replica of the Concord stagecoaches used extensively in the region from 1851 to the early 1900's). The group also had the added fortune of touring Lloyd Jones' collection of antique gas engines.
Future Abaco Barb Projects:
Following the response to the Capella model, there have been a number of inquiries from youths across the country as to how they can help promote and save the Abaco Barbs. So, the Salmon Model Horse 4H Club members brainstormed and developed a list of suggestions geared just for youth. Click HERE to jump to our Page of suggestions how to help the Abaco Barb horses!ABACO BARB FOLLOW-UPS:
Capella by Breyer® ~ background & future benefit plans
DISPLAYS/DEMONSTRATIONS
The Salmon Model Horse 4-H Club's display at the 2005 Western Regional Leaders' Forum in Sacramento, California.
Closeup of part of the display table featuring the Abaco Barb horse at the 2005 Western Regional Leader's Forum.
One of our clubmembers during a photo shoot.
The objective in model photo shoots is to photograph the model as realistically as possible, using scaled-down tack, props, rider/handler dolls, etc.
PROJECTS/FUNDRAISERS
As an ongoing project, club members have been making green & white braided bookmarks with their "Help us Save the Abaco Barbs" logo which will be used for fundraising items at various events. These bookmarks are available for a 50 cent donation each. All proceeds will go to Arkwild. For more information on the Abaco Barbs, visit their website at www.arkwild.org
Additionally, the club decided to participate in a new "Cash for Critters" cell phone/ink cartridge recycling program, to further raise funds for Arkwild/WHOA. To donate items or learn more about this program, please visit the link above.
Another ongoing Community Service Project for the club has been collecting pop tops for the Ronald McDonald™ House in Boise, ID. In 2004, the group collected two five-gallon buckets and one gallon jug of tops, earning the club a Certificate of Appreciation award. At the following March 2005 club meeting, each member decorated a gallon water jug to be hung at the Lemhi County Fairgrounds to further collect pop tops throughout the summer. For more information about a Ronald McDonald™ Pop Top Program in your area, visit their website at: www.rmhc.com/kids/poptab_collection/index.html
During the 2005 Christmas holidays, club members usually host a fund-raising bake sale, using part of the proceeds to purchase gifts for youngsters through the local "Christmas is Sharing" program.
This year was no exception!
Here the girls hand select a lucky recipient from the Christmas is Sharing Tree, in which a gift is happily purchased, wrapped with care, and left under the tree.
In addition, they also made beautifully festive, thoughtful, and decorative pine & ornament filled baskets for the residents at the local Discovery Care Center.
PHOTO GALLERY
Kelsey and her friends had an opportunity to ride in a replica of a Concord Stagecoach during her class Pioneer Day event at school.
Members during a painting session enjoying themselves at Breyer Fun Day held at King's department store Oct. 8, 2005.
Among the festivities planned during Breyer Fun Day were displays, doorprizes, a raffle, stablemate painting, and a costume contest.
Did somebody say, "Horse Race?!"
Clubbers each got a chance behind the camera to learn the in & outs of model photography.
Wow, that turned out pretty good!
The girls also worked hard on their club's window display at the King's dept. store.
(Can you spot Clover?!)
Country singer Johnny U with the Salmon Model Horse 4H Club.
The girls were there to educate and promote the endangered Wild Horses of Abaco.
(L to R, back row: Jessica S., Mary B., Hannah B., front: Bonnie G., Anna S.)
Members of the Pahsimeroi 4-H Model Horse Project and the Salmon Model Horse 4-H Club at a recent Summer Fun Show.
The one painted model that started it all.
(L to R: Jessica S., Hannah B., Mary B.)
Salmon Model Horse 4-H Club members, happily displaying the Abaco Barb model horses (Capellas) they received as gifts from Breyer® who, in response to the girls' letters, created the model to help promote awareness of the endangered Abaco Barb horses on the Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas.
(L to R: Jessica S., Mary B., and Hannah B.)
Now living in Montana, Cameron A. also wrote a letter to Breyer® when he was a member of the Salmon Model Horse 4H Club, earning him a Capella model as well!
Members of the First Abaco Boy Scout Troop whom the group had an opportunity to meet when the scouts visited Montana then drove to Salmon for two days.
Making his debut in January 2005, Capella, list number #1280, is a Traditional-sized model standing approx. nine inches tall. He sports a bay & white splash coat with black mane, tri-colored tail, and soft blue eyes.
The unique splash-white pinto pattern of the Abaco Barb helps set this breed apart from others; a result of over 5 centuries of inbreeding.
