The 31st Annual National Youth Horse Leaders Symposium, presented by the American Youth Horse Council (AYHC), will be held on February 29 through March 2, 2008 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The North Carolina State University Extension Horse Husbandry and the North Carolina 4-H Program will host the event. The 2008 event will boast more than two-dozen internationally and nationally respected presenters assembled to share their keys to successful youth horse programming and horse management. Attendees will find resources, referrals, and networking to improve their ability to Help Connect Kids Through Horses. A weekend program for teen leaders is always a favorite bringing youth participating in many different horse disciplines and breed activities together to learn leadership skills and effective horsemanship techniques.

"The NC 4-H Horse Program and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension are excited to be able to host the AYHC symposium in 2008. Our adult and teen volunteer leaders are eagerly anticipating the wealth of information from the wide array of symposium speakers from throughout the United States," said Dr. Robert Mowrey, chair of the Symposium Committee. The symposium routinely draws a broad representation of youth horse leaders from breed associations, equine sport organizations, Cooperative Extension, universities, and the crucially important hands-on youth leaders from such groups as 4-H, U.S. Pony Club, National High School Rodeo, Future Farmers of America, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and more. Christy Landwehr, AYHC President stated, "This event is open to all youth leaders, youth and horse industry at-large members. It is a great way to network and share ideas about how to work creatively with youth and horses! I hope to see you there."

The Symposium will again include a variety of presentations including roundtable sessions, classroom presentations on a variety of topics, vendor booths, silent auction and the Youth Leaders Celebration Awards Banquet. Two pre-conference tours will provide an excellent kickoff to the Symposium and offer participants an extra day of educational activities in beautiful North Carolina. The first tour will be of the spectacular horse country in Southern Pines, North Carolina with tours of some of the excellent horse facilities in that area, the second tour will take attendees to North Carolina State University to tour the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Equine Science Unit as well as an successful local equestrian facility.

Make your plans to join the youth horse industry in North Carolina in 2008! The conference facilities of the Hilton North Raleigh coupled with the educational and networking opportunities offered by top notch presenters make this a must attend event! Also make your plans to join us for the 2009 National Youth Horse Leaders Symposium in Lincoln, Nebraska on March 27 through 29, 2009.

For more information go to: www.ayhc.com or call 800-TRY-AYHC or email info@ayhc.com.