Country
Friday, October 4, 2019
cres A
Volume 7, Edition 14
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Ridinghigher
Megan Broich leads three of her four horses (from left) – Kix, Sadie and Jenny – Aug. 17 at her home north of Sauk Centre.
Megan Broich sets new personal best with horses at state competition By BEN SONNEK Staff Writer
SAUK CENTRE – Megan Broich, 11, and her horses impressed the judges and won first place Aug. 1 at the Stearns County Fair in Sauk Centre. Her next competition took her to the state level; while too young to compete in the Minnesota State 4-H horse show, Megan qualified for the Western Saddle Clubs Association (WSCA) State Championship Show Sept. 18-23 at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul. Megan had been to the WSCA State Championship once before in 2018, winning two ribbons. This year, she brought home eight ribbons – five with her horse, Jenny, and three with her horse, Kix. “The WSCA Champ Show was
very successful,” said Kristin Broich, Megan’s mother. “(There were) very late nights and early mornings, some with only four hours of sleep. Both horses competed very well, and Megan rode extremely well and memorized all of her patterns.” Megan competed against several hundred other riders from around the state, by Kristin’s estimate. On show days, Megan needed to get up around 5 a.m. to let the horses out of their stalls, feed them and exercise them before the show’s 7 a.m. start. As her horses are less used to being kept in stalls, special care had to be taken to ensure they did not get swollen ankles. Overall, Megan was very happy with their behavior in and out of competition; Kix was a little nervous at his first event, but he soon settled in. For the competition, Megan rode
her faster horse, Kix, for the barrels, both the horse’s and the rider’s techjump figure eight, key race, poles, pen- niques are judged. nant race and a group riding event with Appearance was also a factor in three other riders, while she used Jen- the competition; for Jenny’s compeny for showmanship, pleasure riding, horsemanship, English Pleasure and BROICH English equitation – an event in which continued on page 2
4
Continuing a home and heritage Sunburg
5
A potato in your pocket Diane Leukam Column
This month in the
COUNTRY
PHOTOS BY BEN SONNEK
Megan Broich gives a hug to her horse, Kix, Aug. 17 at her home north of Sauk Centre.
8
Le Feuvre family milks Jerseys on the Island of Jersey Les Augerez, Jersey, Channel Islands
11 Country Acres According To: Todd Beumer 12 An edible, operetta adventure Avon
14 Friends in remote places Litchfield 16 Country Cooking