Fourteen year-old Megan Welch of Stonewall, Louisiana has faced several challenges in life and through determination, faith, and a great work ethic, has found her confidence and strength in horses.
Megan is a member of the DeSoto Parish 4H Club, where she recently developed an interest in showing horses. Welch, with the help of a special couple, Kyle and Amanda Mars, stepped up and qualified for the 2012 Southern Regional 4-H Show that will be held in Perry, Georgia this week.
“Horses are just a whole lot of fun where I am able to meet new people and get more involved and confident in my riding,” says, Megan, who is an active 4H Junior Leader. “I’ve worked really hard to get this far, and I would like to thank Miss Amanda for helping me become a better rider–she is like my second mom.”
The Mars family has been mentoring and giving Megan free riding lessons and let her lease their retired, newly bred flea-bitten gray mare, JBL Satin MagicTrick, for the cost of care and feed. Megan started practicing every day and cleaning stalls to pay for board. “It was a chore getting the mare back in shape, since she had been a broodmare for the last three years!” Amanda says.
“Satin is such a sweet mare, and we get along really well,” Megan says. “We are both really quiet and soft spoken. She likes soft cues and tries to mind and please you.”
Megan, who wants to become a large animal veterinarian when she grows up, continued practicing and set her sights on going to the District 4H Horse Show the first weekend of June at the Double R Arena in Stonewall, Louisiana. She won the 14 & Over High Point Rider title, taking home many more ribbons, including a Reserve Grand Champion Halter Mare award, and a custom made belt buckle. She also qualified to go to the 2012 State 4H Horse Show in West Monroe, Louisiana in each event.
Last month, Megan traveled to West Monroe to compete in the State 4H Horse Show. Welch competed in several events where her perseverance finally paid off when the judge placed her first in Quarter Horse Broodmares, securing her qualification to participate in the 2012 Southern Regional 4H Horse Show in Perry, Georgia.
Megan’s mom, a single mom of four children, decided the trip to Georgia would not be financially possible after all of the recent horse shows’ expenses, so the Mars couple took it upon themselves to make this trip happen and drive across four states totaling 24 hours over 1400 miles round trip for Megan to compete at the show. Megan has received all of her show clothes–tack she didn’t already have, and a tail extension as donations and loans from some great people in our industry–Ashley Labenz and Gina Murphy Bellar. Lisa Hall in McGregor, Texas has also allowed Megan to board the mare, near Waco, Texas where Amanda works during the week – for just the cost of feed and hay, so Megan can continue practicing every day.
“We are calling on members of our community and of the horse industry to consider donating or sponsoring Megan to help with the expenses,” Kyle says. “We appreciate your consideration in helping make Megan Welch’s horse show dreams come true and hopefully making her a lifetime member of our industry. She has also asked my wife if she thought she would ever be able to show at an AQHA show and my wife told her that was a possibility after she has more practice and works hard.” (Pictured right–Megan and Kyle Mars)
Amanda adds, “This little girl has blessed my life. She is truly an inspiration and I hope others will find her to be also.”
An account has been set up at Capital One in Logansport, LA (318) 872-8372 under the name Megan Welch Donation Account, or you can go to www.paypal.com and use the “Send Money” feature and send a donation to the email address: kylem_amandav@yahoo.com which is linked to the Capital One account. Please contact Amanda for further info. The couple is appreciative of any help to defray the costs of this trip!
