MOOSE JAW — From lead-line “littles” to teenage ropers, this year’s “Yee Ha” event at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds offered something for every young rider looking to build their skills and have a little fun doing it.
Now in its second year, “Youth Equestrian Event: Horsing Around” (YEE HA) ran from July 10 to 13 at the Golden Mile Arena. With 36 registered participants and several more in the under-five lead line class, organizers say that the event is gaining traction and carving out a place on the summer rodeo calendar.
“It’s the second year that we’re doing this, and we’re hoping to make it an annual event,” said Kim Moats, a Yee Ha committee member. “It’s exclusively for youth from ages six to 18, and this year we’ve brought in six different clinicians of really high calibre. We try to make it a fun-filled event for them, (where they can) learn different equine disciplines, have a good time, and expand their knowledge of horses.”
The four-day event featured hands-on instruction from a roster of well-known clinicians, including Ross Smith, Tori Meggison, Samantha Harland, Garry Giofu, Bree Gust, Diane Bolen, and Sherry and Barry Quam. New additions this year included jumping and working equitation — disciplines that are growing in popularity across Canada.
“We expanded the amount of clinicians we have and just tried (adding) different disciplines,” said Marci Perrin, show secretary for Yee Ha. “We try to give them something new each year to try ... it’s multi-discipline, from English right through to cowboy — there’s something for everyone.”
Each day included a blend of technical coaching, group mentoring, and good old-fashioned fun — including jumps, roping clinics, and a “behind the chutes” session where kids could safely learn about rodeo stock handling.
“You see stuff happening. From the start of the clinic to the end, there’s always some kind of engagement,” said Moats. “The kids like it. They seem to be giving rave reviews to our clinicians.”
Yee Ha was reintroduced in 2024, after a long hiatus that followed the winding down of the former Saskatchewan Youth Equestrian Tournament series. With support from the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company, a new committee helped bring the event back to life.
“We want to make this event not only fun for (these young equestrians), but very affordable for their families,” Perrin said. “We’re always looking for sponsorship dollars and help to pull this off.”
Next year’s Yee Ha clinic series is already being planned, with tentative dates set for July 9 to 12, 2026. For further updates, follow “YEE HA” on Facebook or contact the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company at 306-692-2723.
