April Reese
University of Georgia
It’s not time to vote for a new U.S. president, but it is time
to
vote for Rebecca Miolen.
A 4-H’er from Newnan, Ga., Miolen needs your vote to win the
IVERCARE Because You Care Award. This award is presented
annually
to one American who cares the most for horses.
Miolen, 16, was nominated for her work with abused and neglected
horses. She’s competing against four adults for the $2,500 cash
prize given to the person voted to have most improved the health
and welfare of horses.
“Horses are my life,” Miolen said. “They have taught me so
much.”
Miolen nurses mistreated horses back to health and teaches them
to trust humans again. While many teenagers spend their free
time
playing video games or being friends, Miolen spends time daily
caring for horses.
On-line ballot
The award selection is based on an on-line ballot system. To
vote
for Miolen, go to www.ivercare.com before Sept. 30.
Why should you?
She’s pretty special.
Miolen encourages others her age to ride by lending them horses
for shows, parades and clinics. She often gives free riding
lessons to fellow 4-H’ers.
She raised $560 for the Georgia Equine Rescue League and Foal
League by holding a yard sale and offering pony rides. She also
auctioned a two-hour trail ride to benefit the 4-H Volunteer
Leader Association and raised $120.
Pepper
Her love of horse started four years ago with an Appaloosa mare
named Pepper, a rescue horse Miolen took in because no one else
wanted her. After many miles of trails and a broken shoulder for
Miolen, they are now showing in competitions and doing well.
Pepper is one of several horses now in Miolen’s care.
“In March 2001, we bought a pony mare, Maggie, whose bottom lip
was hanging loose and was badly scarred,” she said. “It looked
like a wire had been wrapped around her chin and lip. She was
skinny but had a large middle we thought was a hay belly.”
Miolen soon discovered Maggie’s “hay belly” was actually a colt.
Maggie is doing well now and shows with the local drill team.
State 4-H winner
This summer, Miolen won the State 4-H Congress horse project,
demonstrating foal imprinting with the same technique she used
with Maggie’s colt.
Besides her work with individual horses, Miolen is teaching a
workshop on parasites in September. She was a 4-H teen leader at
a horse school in Perry, Ga., this summer. And she competed in
the State 4-H Horse Show in running events, hunter over fences
and placed ninth in dressage.
She reported three neglect cases, conducted a benefit for GERL,
helped conduct a show for mentally and physically challenged
riders, teaches Pony Trials Club, set up horse safety booths at
two community events and helps beginning riders with horse
health
and training problems.
County winner
Miolen won the county versatility contest and represented
Georgia
4-H at the State Horse Fair, placing fifth. President of the
Coweta County 4-H Horse and Pony Club, she rides with the club
drill team and competes in quiz bowl and horse judging events.
She won second place on the senior horse judging team and
represented Georgia at the regional competition in August.
As one of five IVERCARE finalists, Miolen will be featured in
the
September issue of “Horse Illustrated” and the September-October
issue of “Young Rider.”
The daughter of James and Pat Miolen of Newnan, she plans to try
out for the University of Georgia Equestrian Team after high
school.
“I’ve just gotten a new mare named Gloria in shape for the pony
club,” she says with pride. “She was skinny, wormy and had long
hooves when I got her. I’m trying to find a place for her now
where she will be safe and cared for.”
(April Reese is a student writer with the University of
Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
