By Laurie Haughton, Chair, CQHA Media, Marketing & Communications Committee

The Young Horse Development Program pairs selected AQHYA members with donated weanlings from AQHA Ranching Heritage Breeders. Over the course of the program year, participants are responsible for the daily care, training, and documentation of their young horses, completing structured assignments, record-keeping, educational webinars, and mentorship activities. The program places a strong emphasis on horse welfare, consistency, and real-world horsemanship.

Canadian Participants

In 2026, Canada is represented by the following youth participants:

• Autumn Sabila of Elora, Ontario, matched with a filly donated by Clark Farms Quarter Horses of Hustontown, Pennsylvania.
• Reese Stone of Westerose, Alberta, matched with a donated weanling from Weaver Quarter Horses of Big Sandy, Montana.
• Willow Cummings of Foothills County, Alberta, matched with a donated weanling from KT Ranch of Connell, Washington.

These participants join a select group of youth from across North America who were chosen through a competitive application process that evaluates horsemanship experience, commitment, and readiness to take on the responsibility of developing a young horse.

The program begins well before a horse ever arrives. Applicants must demonstrate preparation, planning, and a clear understanding of what is involved in raising a weanling into a yearling. Once matched, participants manage their horses through daily handling, basic training, and seasonal challenges, while documenting progress through photos, videos, and written records.

For Ontario participant Autumn Sabila, that responsibility became very real during her filly’s first farrier visit.

“Alice had been great with her feet until the farrier,” Sabila said. “Then everything happened at once. It was a good reminder that young horses are honest and that every new experience is a learning opportunity, for both of us.”

That balance between preparation and adaptability is central to the program. Participants are evaluated throughout the year by judges who assess not only technical progress, but also consistency, record-keeping, and overall horsemanship.

Raising young horses in Canada brings its own set of challenges. Winter conditions demand patience, planning, and a strong commitment to daily care, even when weather and schedules make progress slower. For Canadian youth, those realities are an important part of the learning process.

Readers interested in following Autumn Sabila’s progress throughout the program can find regular updates on her Facebook page, Autumn’s Ranch Heritage Journey with Alice, where she shares milestones, challenges, and day-to-day experiences from the program year.

Canada’s continued presence in the Young Horse Development Program reflects a growing commitment to youth education and ranching heritage within the Canadian Quarter Horse community. In addition to the 2026 participants, Jaxson Caldwell of Alberta successfully completed the Young Horse Development Program in 2025, representing Canada in the previous program year.

The AQHA Ranch Horse Foundation Young Horse Development Program relies on the support of Ranching Heritage breeders, sponsors, mentors, and families who contribute to each participant’s success. Through programs like this, Canadian youth continue to build the skills, confidence, and horsemanship foundation needed to support the long-term strength of the Quarter Horse industry. Learn more about the program and application process here. 

Canadian Quarter Horse Association

Autumn Sabila with her weanling, Alice. Photo courtesy of Laurie Haughton