The Rochester Tails ’N Trails 4-H Club is back in the saddle and already off to a winning start as it begins its first full year of membership.

The club won an award at the Marshfield Fair over the summer for its new banner, taking fourth overall in Plymouth County. 

The Marshfield Fair also proved to be successful for club member Elsie Woodland.

Woodland, 10, competed in the novice level, and after winning that was given the opportunity to compete against the winners of the older levels in a championship class. She won that too.

And while this wasn’t her first horse show, it was her first without her mother Curry’s help.

“I had to stand back and let her do it all herself,” Curry said.

That proved to be no problem for Elsie, who has been riding horses her whole life.

“Ever since I was born I’ve been riding,” she said. “My grandma and aunt had a farm. I rode my first pony at three months old.”

With both members and leaders having plenty of horse experience, the club is looking to grow this year, after getting off the ground last spring.

The club is looking to do horse judgings with other clubs, go to horse shows, take knowledge tests and get the girls involved with the animals.

“There’s a lot we hope to do,” club co-leader Melissa Weigel said. “We want to teach the kids to keep records. They’ll each have one animal that they take care of and monitor.”

Weigal, who was a member of the original Tails ’N Trails club that disintegrated in the early 2000s, leads the club with Jen Duhon. Duhon also expressed an interest in wanting to teach the kids more about the animals and shows.

“We’re hoping to get into the more academic side,” she said.

With a new year starting and big plans for the group, the duo is happy to get the chance to bring the once well-established club back to the area.

“There are several 4H clubs in Plymouth County, and we’re proud to have brought this one back,” Weigel said.

The club meets once a month and is open to anyone age 8-17. For more information, contact Melissa Weigel at angjoe11@aol.com, or go to the club's Facebook page, /www.facebook.com/tailsntrails4H/.