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July 2009 Newletter |
Mmmmmm..... Summer in Wisconsin. There have been some wonderful riding days. Hope you all have had an opportunity to enjoy! |
Looking Back...... Trip to South Dakota/Elkhaven.....  The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the HONs that traveled to South Dakota for a week at Elkhaven. Sandy R. and husband Les, Sherri, Kris, Sandy O., Lynn and Louise enjoyed a wonderful week in the Black Hills. Check out the video and a few of the photos and consider making the trip again with us next June! |
July 4th Parade In Whitewater WI. .....  Viet Nam veterans were honored at this year’s 4th of July parade in Whitewater and the HON family member vets were among them. Riding in Mary Margaret’s beautiful cart were the husbands of Ann, Sandy R and Maggie and the brothers of Sarah and Maggie. A big thank you to Sandy O for organizing everything and to all those that participated, including those wonderful pooper scoopers! I think there were over 25 HON members participating in this year’s parade. No wonder we once again earned 1st prize and $50! THANK YOU!! More pictures and video. |
| Coming Soon..... HONs Camping Trip..... Governor Dodge Camping July 17-19 are the dates set for one of our all time favorite camping trips… horse camping at Governor Dodge State Park. Campsites filled up early, but if you are still interested in joining us, contact organizers Diane F. or Cindy A. They may be able to squeeze you in a spot? You might also consider coming for a day ride and/or the campfire. We’re hoping for good weather and counting on lots of fun! Cavalia in Chicago..... This spectacular equestrian odyssey makes its Chicago debut beginning Tuesday, July 14. This multimedia extravaganza brings together more than 100 two and four-legged artists. The mix of horses, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, riders and musicians transports spectators to dream-like settings while celebrating the timeless bond between horses and humans. Cavalia will be presented under its towering White Big Top, which will be pitched in Chicago's stylish West Loop at Racine and Jackson Performances will run July 14 through July 26. Ronda S. is willing to organize the trip. Please contact her if you are interested. http://www.cavalia.net Camping at the Happy Barn..... August 7-9 This is a new adventure for HON campers! The Happy Barn is a privately owned facility (Details), between Blanchardville and Hollandale. It is open to trail riders and has great trails and a lot of them (I've been told 25 miles of trails). The Pecatonia River runs through the property. The terrain is varied with a little of everything. You must sign a release and a donation is appreciated. We figure about $15 per night to camp and a little more if you get an electrical site (only 4 on a first come basis). There are two places to camp, one is the campground and then big parking lot by the Happy Barn. At the campground there is a water hydrant and stock tank full of water (I've heard the water is brown due to iron), 4 picnic tables, large fire ring, flush toliets, you may use portable electric fences. I believe they have showers but, please don't quote me on this. You can build fires but put them only where others have, as it kills the grass. Liability releases for the weekend must be signed by all members….bring your Coggins papers too! Directions :(MAP)Take Hwy F south of 39. Second right road is McKenna Rd. it is hard to see as it is right over a hill. There is a farm on the corner, white farm house with 3 big pines. A few miles down McKenna you cross a bridge over a river and the first left is Taylor Rd. Campground is up Taylor Rd. on the left. For more information, contact organizer Linda P./ Email or Annette (email not correct at this time) at http://thehappybarn.com/ |
| Other Things of Interest..... Hag on the Go..... Audrey’s been a busy gal. She and Melanie and Teresa visited Elkhaven in South Dakota in May and then Audrey headed back out west to visit her son in Wyoming in July. Check out her pictures! http://picasaweb.google.com/audkay/ElkHaven?feat=directlink http://picasaweb.google.com/audkay/ElkHaven2?feat=directlink http://picasaweb.google.com/audkay/WhitewaterRaftingWyoming?feat=directlink http://picasaweb.google.com/audkay/WyomingTripJuly42009?feat=directlink |
| Hag Knots and Stones..... The knots that form in the horse's mane are said in Celtic myth to be the work of the cailleach("divine hags"). The knots in the long mane, called "hag knots," can form twisting ropes and are said to be used as stirrups by the witches and fairies who steal horses out of the fields for "night riding." This was the explanation given if horses were found sweating or agitated in the morning. Horses were considered vulnerable to supernatural attack, and the term "spooking"(or shying) is still in common use today. As protection from evil forces, grooms would hang "hag stones"(stones with holes in them) over stable doors or around horses' necks. From the book “A Horse of Course: A round up of equine facts" by Mary Frances Budzik |
Horse Flies..... |
Pink Ribbon Roundup.....  Plans for our October 4th fundraiser are progressing well. Your support is not only greatly appreciated, but is also greatly needed. This is a club event and we are hoping that all club members support the effort in one way or another. You are always invited to participate in planning….the monthly meetings are open to everyone and your input is always welcomed. Please get involved if you haven’t already. Contact Donna for more information or to volunteer. Also, please remember that our website has many resources related to the ride! |
Check Out This Website!.....  Go to Website link http://www.netposse.com/index.html Stolen Horse International, more commonly known as NetPosse, is an online based service designed to help horse owners report their stolen or lost animals, assist in spreading the word to help others search for these horses, and also to educate owners to the ways they can protect their own animals from theft and loss. NetPosse issues "Idaho Alerts" for stolen or missing horses, which are automatically sent out to those who sign up for the notifications. They also send out newsletters, update via Twitter, do presentations at clinics and expos and have even published a book to teach how to protect your horses from theft. NetPosse is supported by donations from individuals and corporations, and there are many ways to support them, from direct donations to bidding on eBay auctions.. check them out. |
New Members.....  A big welcome to this month’s new member. Mary M. lives near Milton WI. on a farm on Hwy KK where she has two horses, a pony and several donkeys. She is an energetic gal with a variety of interests. It was her cart that pulled the Viet Nam veterans in the 4th of July parade (thank you!) and her sitting in the seat next to her friend and trainer, Roger S. and his wife. Welcome, Mary Margaret! |
| News From Our Members ***** from Amy J. My mother, a friend and I recently took our gaited horses down to a wonderful trail riding facility in Norman IN, called Midwest Trail Ride (www.midwesttrailride.com). This place has a great layout with nice campsites, covered stalls and even adorable little cedar cabins for rent if you don't have living quarters. If you go during one of their "scheduled rides", as we did, they provide meals in the cost (which is extremely affordable) and beverages available 24/7, so you don't have to worry about bringing food. And oh was there the food, GOOD food! I am now addicted to sweet tea, they told me there is 10 pounds of sugar in every 5 gallon batch!!! Since this was my mom's first overnight trip ANYWHERE with a horse, not having to worry about food was the main reason we choose MTR. The second reason we went there, is they were hosting the "Smokin' the Trails" ride for the Single Footing and Racking horses group, so we knew there were going to be all kinds of gaited horses to admire and ride with. What we did NOT expect, was that most of these horses were speedrackers! Every evening they would put on a "spectacular" where riders would race their horses around the campground main road displaying their speeds, various gaits and temperment. We saw mares that could rack at 33+ mph, stallions that could go from racing full blast down the main drag right to carrying a small child as quiet as could be. Overall, we had a very good trip, and didn't spend TOO much in their wonderful tack store. The trails there link up to the Hoosier National Forest and are fully wooded and gorgeous, with NO bugs at all, and we only rode on a fraction of what was available. It was extremely hot for us northern gals and our horses, the first day we were there it was 115 with the heat index.. but we stayed in the woods during the hottest part of the day and got through it. We will definately be going back, though I do think that future visits will be in the fall to admire the leaves changing and avoid the extra hot temperatures. Photos and a couple videos of some speedrackers: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v479/Myaj/Horses/MTR 2009/ |
| ****** from Deb L. from Minnesota My granddaughter and I recently participated a great event! This wagon train is called the Friendship Wagon Train...the people who ride on it....raise money to be given to people with developmental disabilities...so that they can go to camp Winnebago near Caledonia MN ...we usually raise around $30,000..no one is turned away.... It was a wonderful experience. Read more about it in this newspaper link http://www.austindailyherald.com/news/2009/jun/05/week-long-wagon-train-benefit-camp-winnebago/ and check out my photos! http://picasaweb.google.com/deblukes/2009FriendshipWagonTrain?authkey=Gv1sRgCJeN5oHXzMHlSg&feat=email# |
 ***** Louise H. came back with more than just memories and photos from her trip to South Dakota! On the way back they stopped to visit friends and came home with a new 4 legged friend. Meet Bandit, her new Jack Russell pup! |
| ***** from Audrey K. Husband Ken is currently laid off so he has time right now if anyone needs any type of building or carpentry work done from new construction to remodeling or anything in between. Contact Audrey K. via Email. |
 ***** from Pat N. My mare foaled May 27 and that is my trail riding horse so until my other horse comes back from the trainer, I'm walkin. I have a little buttermilk buckskin stud colt, born 5/27 at 5:00 am. I slept in the barn for a week waiting for him. Good thing I did, it was a rough birth (her first). The front legs and nose were out and she got herself cast. I tried to help her, but she was terrified so I had to call the vet. By the time he got there she had fought herself free and the baby was born. It took almost five hours and three of us helping to get him to nurse for the first time. Once he figured it out he was on his way, now he is a little s--t. Really full of himself, but precious. I hope to come on some of the rides when I get my other horse home so I will see you all then. View Article. |
| ***** from Patti M Hello Fellow HONS, from your Savannah, er... Florida HON, Patti Mirsky! Yes, I'm living in MickyMouse Land -- Orlando. All I can say is, I miss Wisconsin in the summer! I'm sure come winter, I will be just fine being where I am!!! My horse, Amos, is healing well from his torn suspensory, and has a strong will in him. We will start trying to ride him gently at a walk within the next few weeks. If anyone has had any experience rehabilitating a torn suspensory, please do email me with your advice! If any of you are coming down this way, please contact me, I'd love to see you!!! I see all the rides and events with the group, and I miss you so much! Ride safe, enjoy your horses and be good to each other! |
 ***** from Babs, our beloved NOB (North of the Border) HON, writes about her amazing month…from clinics, to parades, to an awesome three day trail ride. Check out her news and photos!  |
Thanks to 
July Birthdays ..... 