Youth under the age of 18 have the unique opportunity to participate in the first "Voice For The Horse Children’s Writing Competition ~ Subject Wild Horses". Participants must include with their written essays an answer to this question: What do you think the horses would be telling you if they could speak? “The reason we ask you to do this is because horses do not have a voice, at least one that is audible and that we understand,” explains Yvonne Allen, a certified equine practitioner and Voice For The Horse (VFTH) Founder of the competition website.
The writing competition was inspired by "Atticus, the Wild Stallion from Deadman Valley, British Columbia, Canada" who was captured this past winter of 2011 along with many other herd members and rescued by CritterAid /Project Equus in the Interior of B.C.
The organization’s mandate is that “through education about the sentience of horses and their true needs, VFTH aspires to promote our heritage with horses from our past, present and for our future years ahead through the voices of our children and other horse lovers of the world.”
This year’s Grand Prize Winner will win a trip for two to the International Society for the Protection of Mustangs and Burros (ISPMB) ranch located on 680 acres of the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. Included with the Grand Prize is a Gift Package of educational equine related material including DVD’s and books to enhance any horse lover’s library!
“The Lakota people once relied on and lived with the wild horse,” says Monica Terkildsen, member of the Lakota Tribe and ISPMB’s tribal relations coordinator. “The horse was used in ceremonies, games, hunting, war and in everyday life. The horse was a symbol of freedom, strength, pride and courage.
The writing competition provides a unique and free learning opportunity with the hope that children will have the opportunity to share their love for horses across North America through their writing.
It is broken up into two age groups, 12 and under and 13 to 18 years of age and is open to children in the United States and Canada to participate. Entries are due by March 1st, 2012.
Media Contact: Yvonne Allen
tel: 604-833-3983
