Chester County 4-H continues to offer clubs for youths that give them a chance to explore their interests.

The next scheduled program is the Windy Hollow 4-H Horse Club, where children and youths ages 8 to 18 will learn facts about horse science and general horse knowledge. The club will meet on the first Saturday of the month beginning in February from 3:30 to 5 p.m. The meetings on Feb. 4, March 4, and April 1 will be held at the Romano 4-H Center, 1841 Horseshoe Pike (Route 322), in Honey Brook. The remaining meetings on May 6, June 3, and July 1 will be held at Line It Up Farm in Coatesville.

"If socioeconomically or where they are located doesn't lend for (horse) ownership, it a great opportunity for them to have that experience," said 4-H Extension education Audrey Reith. "We hope that it leads to a lifelong interest."

The first several club meetings will focus on horse safety guidelines, identifying and locating 30 external parts of the horse and making model horse tack, among other activities. "We will discuss markings and color patterns on a horse," Reith said. "We will learn about bridles and saddles, and they will make bridles for a model horse."

In subsequent meetings, Amy Pippin from Line It Up Farm will bring a horse for hands-on activities. Children will learn how to approach the horse, grooming techniques, how to clean a horse's hooves and how to properly tie, saddle, bridle, unsaddle and unbridle a horse.

Reith said that the Windy Hollow 4-H Club is a longstanding club in the county, but is being revitalized to attract new members. "Amy has been a longtime volunteer, and she is restarting the club with children new to equine programs," said Reith. "This gives kids an opportunity they may never get."

Reith noted that each child will be given personalized attention when meeting a live horse. "Every child is gradually introduced to make sure they feel safe and secure," she said. "When they do meet the horse, it's their choice to lead it or learn to groom it."

Another club that is currently meeting at the 4-H Center is the Cloverbuds, a program for children ages 5 to 7. Upcoming meetings will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 4 and Saturdays, Feb. 18 and March 4 and 18.

Cloverbuds enjoy age-appropriate activities to learn about animal, plant and environmental sciences and take part in STEM activities. At the club's first meeting on Jan. 7, children built small flashlights and decorated T-shirts.

"The horse will be on hand at the Feb. 4 (Cloverbuds) meeting for an equine program and craft activities," Reith noted. Future meetings will include making butter or ice cream, learning about robotics and meeting sheep and swine.

For more information or to register for the programs, visit https://4h.zsuite.org and choose "Sign Up" to begin the registration process. "You have to create a family profile and then create an avatar for each kid (in the family)," Reith noted. "They can enroll in the clubs they want to be in, and we can match them with their interests."

For more information, call the Chester County 4-H office at 610-696-3500 or visit http://www.facebook.com/chestercounty4H.