The American Youth Horse Council (AYHC) invites proposals to speak at the 39th Annual AYHC Symposium, April 22-24, 2016, in Lexington, Kentucky. This event presents an opportunity for adult and student leaders in the youth horse industry to come together to learn, network, share ideas and grow an industry. Hosted in conjunction with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s (IEA) national finals, the event will include tours of the Lexington horse industry, IEA activities at the Kentucky Horse Park and workshops focused on kids and horses.
Proposals must follow the provided format and be submitted electronically by email no later than November 15, 2015. Complete guidelines and form are available at www.ayhc.com. Speakers are responsible for their own registration fees, travel, lodging and other expenses. Four audiences will be represented:
- Adult Leaders of Youth—mostly volunteers who work directly with youth in the field
- Youth Industry Professionals—those employed in the youth horse industry (such as Extension Specialists and breed association youth program coordinators)
- Teen Leaders—older teen leaders (age 14-18) focused on leadership and career exploration
- Collegiate Leaders – college students enrolled in equine programs focused on leadership and career exploration
The non-breed/discipline-specific curriculum throughout the symposium offers equine knowledge that transfers from the book to the barn, providing take-home tools to teach youth about safe and effective horsemanship. Above all, the Symposium connects participants with resources, referrals, and networking to help kids connect through horses. Workshops may be presented in a variety of formats including lecture, discussion, forum, panel, or hands on activity. Preference will be given to interactive workshops.
The American Youth Horse Council is a network of academic, breed, industry and other representatives interested in facilitating the flow of horse-related educational resources for youth. AYHC’s mission is to provide encouragement, communication, leadership and resources to serve and promote the youth horse industry. For complete presentation proposal instructions and/or more information about the association, please visit www.ayhc.com or contact the American Youth Horse Council at info@AYHC.com.
