FFA members sell one of the horses they helped raise through the North Marion Equine Program. Photo courtesy of Lori Jones.
Marion County, Fla., is known as the Horse Capital of the World, so many of its students have small connections to the equine industry. In 2016, North Marion High School FFA advisor Lori Jones sought to bridge this gap by partnering with Bobby Jones Equine, a local horse breeder, to establish the North Marion Equine Program.
“My students helped me write a grant to start the program by putting horse-safe fencing on the school’s Land Lab,” Lori Jones says. “My husband, Bobby, donated two Thoroughbred mares to start the breeding program.”
Through the program, North Marion High School FFA members breed and raise two Thoroughbred foals each year, which they then prepare to sell. Discover how these members are gaining valuable experiences while discovering career pathways.
Each year, 10–12 members are selected for the North Marion Equine Program. These members complete animal science and equine science classes, care for the school’s mares and work at Bobby Jones Equine. Additional interested members can volunteer at the school’s Land Lab and the equine farm, as well as attend industry conferences.
“These members get to do something they would never have experienced in the classroom by going to these facilities,” Lori Jones says.
The program focuses on teaching the ins and outs of the Thoroughbred breeding industry, with the goal of producing a racehorse prospect that can be sold at the Ocala Breeder Sale, a local horse sale.
“In the equine science class, students learn about pedigrees and nicking, which is how to evaluate the phenotype (observable traits) and/or genetic makeup to pick a stallion that physically matches the mare,” Lori Jones says.
During foaling season, members also rotate through watching the school’s mares to ensure healthy deliveries and assist at Bobby Jones Equine. Once the foals reach a year old, members help prepare them for the sale.
Throughout the past eight years, the program has sold seven yearlings, earning more than $78,000. Funds raised are reinvested in the school’s equine and animal science programs.
“I’ve been blessed with making a living in the horse industry for over 40 years,” Bobby Jones says. “By giving back and learning with these high school students, this program is my biggest accomplishment.”
Outside the sales ring, members work from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day cleaning stalls, grooming, bathing and showing horses to potential clients and buyers.
“These experiences are amazing real-world opportunities for members while they are in high school,” Lori Jones says.
Several members, including Ava Densmore (pictured above, right), used the North Marion Equine Program as part of their Supervised Agricultural Experience project. This year, Densmore won a Florida FFA State Agricultural Proficiency Award in the equine science category and earned a silver ranking at the national level.
“It’s about more than horses; the program helps students find their path,” Lori Jones says. “I’ve had students go on to work for cattle operations, veterinary clinics and other agriculture-related careers.”
In light of its success, the North Marion Equine program wouldn’t be possible without support from stakeholders and community members.
“The program also gives back and has made monetary donations to nonprofits, organizations and students volunteering at numerous equine industry events,” Lori Jones says.
All Things Equine
Horses are an important part of many FFA members’ and alums’ lives. Check out the Locust Trace Agriscience Center’s Agribusiness Equine Studies Program in Lexington, Ky., then watch and learn about Ohio FFA Alumna Chelsey Keiser’s career path as a female jockey.
