After a rough year, it was time for Ginny to have her day! With the help of Sally and Kris, a surprise birthday party was organized, with friends and family joining in to celebrate on November 23rd at Fin’s. It was a total surprise to Ginny and it appeared to be just what she needed. It was a fun time for everyone, as you can see from all the pictures.
From Ginny: Thank you, all, for your support in prayers, hugs, strength, compassion, and especially the laughter you have each given Sally and I this past year. Each one of you stands truly to the word “Friend.” My birthday was a heart warming birthday, and something I will remember for the rest of my life. My heart was bursting in Joy. I cannot express in words how special it was to share my birthday with such wonderful, caring people. Thank you all for the wonderful gifts. The greatest gift is you in my life. This is what I treasure closest to my heart. Thank You, Hags on Nags, The HONs that truly stands for great Friendship and Fun. To All I Wish A Merry Christmas and a Truly Happy New Year.

Wish and Wine
West 20 Tack Shop

The turnout was great for the annual wine tasting and after-hours shopping extravaganza at West 20 Tack and Saddle Company on November 28. With lots of yummy appetizers and plenty of wine to sample, participants socialized and shopped. The store is packed with everything imaginable for the horse owner and it was great fun to leisurely look at it all with friends. Thanks to Lisa T. for organizing this event. Check out more pictures.

Hags on Nags January Meeting
It’s time to prepare for the one and only formal meeting that we have all year. And since we have just this one meeting, we really hope that everyone will attend. The meeting will be held at our unofficial clubhouse…the shop at Diane and Floyd’s farm 1908 Manogue Rd. Milton, WI 53563. Floyd traditionally gets the wood burner going, and it is warm and cozy with plenty of seating. Diane is providing plates, cups and silverware…we’ll bring the makings of a wonderful brunch. The meeting will start at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 17th. Please bring your calendars and your ideas. Remember, volunteers are what makes this group work so well and we need members to get involved. If you have something to add to the meeting agenda, please contact me in advance. Again, PLEASE make every effort to attend this meeting.

Members Notices
Dues ...Dues...Annual Dues are due for 2009-2010 will be collected at the January meeting (Jan17h/Milton) . While we have not discussed any changes, we are already starting to get some membership payments in the mail, so I will assume that we will keep the dues at $10 for the year. The funds go to cover club expenses and helped to finance our cookbook in 2008. I am thinking that we should be looking into insurance coverage at group events in the future and am hoping to get a group together to study this issue. Dues can be mailed to Sherri Torrison at 8235 County Rd KK Milton, WI 53563. Oh, and if you are a returning member, there is no need to complete the membership enrollment form again!

Belonging to a “Herd”

It’s no secret that horses are herd animals. They naturally seek to be part of the herd, and they would remain in a herd for all of their natural lives if it was up to the horses. Not so with human beings, who sometimes have trouble viewing life in a herd as a good thing. Sometimes humans decide to leave the equestrian herd. Perhaps it is because they fear criticism or rejection or perhaps it is pride or ignorance that has driven people from the equestrian herd. Perhaps they don’t think they have time. Whatever the cause, leaving the herd can leave a void. At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader, you can make time for things if they are important, and you can overcome adversities, and the result is that you will see the benefits.
Whether it is horses or humans, the benefits of living in a herd are the same.
1) One of the most important benefits is safety.
2) The herd also provides support and encouragement
3) The herd provides playmates.
4) Another benefit of the herd is in accessing resources.
5) Let’s not forget about accessing the collective wisdom of the herd.
6) Herd mates can also provide comfort in times of loss.
I could expand on all of those things, but I think you all get the point. Some HON members have taken advantage of these benefits, others have not. Whatever your involvement in Hags on Nags has been in the past, a New Year is right around the corner and it’s a perfect time to set new goals. Please take the time to consider the benefits of being part of the Hags on Nags “Herd.” Your involvement at any level is welcomed and appreciated!

HONs Store
New Clothing Items We will be offering some new Hags on Nags items in 2009; clothing, outerwear, hats, etc! Some of these things will be embroidered; some will be available through an online print company. There are some new logo ideas that will be considered, but our old gal will still be with us too. You can see the logo ideas that have been submitted by going to the Discussion Group on our website and then opening the Hags on Nags Photo Gallery album. There are so many neat ones, it’ll be hard to choose. As for the actual HON items, up until now, our members have paid only actual costs. We can continue to do that, or we could put a small percentage of profit aside to benefit a horse cause. Watch for more information and give it some thought.

Trail News

The Trails We Love We already have HON members involved in Rock County Trail initiatives. What about considering the expansion of that to include the Southern Kettle Moraine Trails that so many of our members enjoy? What do you think about having our group “Adopt A Trail” in 2009. We are so lucky to have these trails…let’s give back a little.

***** Donna has a horse of her own now!
“Cody” is a very,very nice red dun Quarter Horse that has been recently gelded. He has the disposition, pedigree and training to make a wonderful mount.
Five year old Cody’s registered name is “Skip N’Jac Cody.”
Congratulations, Donna!

***** Pauline also has a new horse!
She missed having a draft around, especially with all the snow and opportunities for sleigh rides,
so her new addition is a big guy.
Congratulations, Pauline!

*****from me, Sandy. Please help me collect “Boxtops for Education!” These are found on many, many food items, General Mills to be specific. Check your cereal boxes, even frozen food bags…these little coupons are all over the place. Our schools have been hit hard by budget cuts, and we need your support. One lucky classroom in my school will be receiving a LCD Computer Projector with proceeds from the BoxTops for Education. Please help it be mine! It’s a great way to get additional funds for our schools, and believe me, we need it! Thanks.

Welcome New Members

Happy Trails,
Sandy


Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we should dance.
TO HAVE A HORSE IN YOUR LIFE To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years, a horse can teach a young girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful. Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle or a computer, a horse needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses and drink heartily; we know we've made the right choice. Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and a trough of clean water. Others will test you - you'll struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves. If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when you least expect it. Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you altogether. There are as many "types" of horses as there are people- which makes the whole partnership thing all the more interesting. If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a Sunday, but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting the car or tractor in "drive." In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he' fed up with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences - if it suits him. It all depends on the partnership - and partnership is what it's all about. If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven. You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The results may come more quickly, but will your work ever be as graceful as that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and rider. These are the days when you know with absolute certainty that your horse is enjoying his work. If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us have to squeeze riding into our over saturated schedules; balancing our need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours in the barn are stolen pleasures. If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals. Some of us need these reminders. When you step back, it's not just about horses - it's about love, life, and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these animals bring us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow. We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union. We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to give. To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of battle. Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and challenges met. The best of horses rise to the challenges we set before them, asking little in return. Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart. Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to end the life of a true companion. In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses--or our horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in the first place. Author Unknown