Island Teens Practice Horsemanship Skills

A great day, say seven Mackinac Island 4-H Horse Club members, includes spending time with horses. The local 4-H program gives them the opportunity to learn about horses and practice their riding skills, the teenagers say. "It's always nice to have a barn to go to," said Diana Dupre. When people find out she lives on Mackinac Island, they often ask her if she rides horses, she explains. "I say, 'Yes I do because of 4-H.'" Prancer, an American Quarter Horse and one of the program's horses that has a stall at Mission Stables, loves the attention he gets Tuesday, June 30. The club members saddled him and paused on Truscott Street before heading back to the sables for a lesson on bridles from instructor Leanne Brodeur. The Mission Street Stable is limited in space and will be losing an outdoor area to development. To help increase tourism and raise funds for a community stable to be built near Wawashkamo Golf Club, the Mackinac Horsemen's Association is holding a Festival of the Horse Thursday, July 23, through Saturday, July 25. Pictured are (from left) Lauren Menke, Adrienne Rilenge, Diana Dupre, Amelia Roe (on Prancer), Jessica Beaune, Rachel Spitzer, and Evan Menke. See related story, page 11.