The ASHS Youth Exchange Program Goes International

The Australian Stock Horse Society (ASHS) launched its Youth Exchange Program at the end of 2016 and in January 2017, Brad Daunt from Gubbata, NSW had the distinction of being the Society’s very first Youth Ambassador.

Since then the exchange program has had a number of successful interstate exchanges and in June the Society was delighted to welcome its first International Youth Ambassador, 17 year old Amber Manni from Minnesota, USA. Amber is a passionate polocrosse player and began her ASHS journey when she purchased her first Australian Stock Horse in August 2015. Only a year after purchasing him, Amber received the ASHS Champion Rider award at the 2016 USA Polocrosse National Championships.

On 6th June 2018, Amber flew to Australia for the start of her ASHS Exchange where she was met by her first host family at Newcastle airport and after stopping by the ASHS Head Office to meet the staff it was time for the adventure to begin.

On the first weekend Amber competed at the NSW Polocrosse Club Championships hosted by the Bunnan Polocrosse Club. This carnival attracted close to 360 players from around the state and was certainly an eye-opener being much larger than tournaments in the USA. Amber said, “I was in awe of how much competitive polocrosse was being played all around me. I had a grand time watching all generations, young and old, play as well as meeting a lot of new people.”

The next 3 weeks of Amber’s exchange was spent with the Grills Family from southern NSW. “I felt like part of the family right away. On my first day they showed me around, equipped me with a saddle and bridle and introduced me to my polocrosse mount. Shortly afterwards nine of us tacked up, grabbed our polocrosse rackets and headed out to practice. After a warm up we jumped right into our own 3 on 3 polocrosse match. How cool is it to have your own family polocrosse game in your backyard? I was having the time of my life!”

“On a typical morning we each worked 3 to 6 horses. We practiced foundational polocrosse skills and played a little 1 on 1 to put these skills to work. It was very beneficial to spend so much time tuning up the basics which helped improve my game.

We spent a lot of time in their artificial breeding facility and for a potential future veterinary student this was a phenomenal opportunity to get an inside look at the breeding process. I also had a ton of fun learning how to herd cattle as we worked with their commercial Angus herd.”

On weekends Amber travelled with the Grills’ to polocrosse across NSW. “It was a lot of hard work leading up to the carnivals as we prepared two trailers, 13 horses and all the equipment needed for a weekend away. I played in three different carnivals with the Albury-Holbrook Polocrosse Club. I had my first experience sleeping in a swag which kept me surprisingly warm during the 1० Celsius nights. Good thing I am from Minnesota, where we live in snow half the year!”

Amber said her time in Australia exceeded her expectations. “I made world-wide connections and friendships which will last a lifetime. I played competitively with people of all ages and skill levels. I improved my racket skills and grew as a horsewoman. I worked with so many different Australian Stock Horses that I can now most definitely testify that they are ‘the Breed for Every Need.’ Thank you to everyone who made this such a once in a lifetime trip. I would definitely recommend this program 100 percent.”

The Society is very proud of this program and the opportunities it provides its Youth Members. For information please contact the ASHS Member Services department on 02 6545 1122.