25 Miles/9 Hours...Memorial Day Ride!

Deb and I, with our friend, Ron Munn, rode the Burnett Gap Trail and Brush Creek Trail in the nearby Cherokee National Forrest on Memorial Day. The ride was outstanding covering mountain ridges and river roads, but ended up being longer than planned! Probably some of the roughest trail we've been on, not sure we'll ride Brush Creek again. To view more pics of this ride go to http://www.ridinghappytrails.blogspot.com/.

Remember, Deb and I would be honored to host any of you FoxTROT members who want to come ride the Eastern TN and Western NC area. We have a full hook up site for your trailer and/or extra rooms in the house. I promise I won't take you on any longer or tougher ride than you want to do! Just contact us and we'll set aside some dates. Sam Gerhardt, President, FoxTROT

A DAY AT WORK??

James walking away from this moment!
James working on Lilly--Karen still laughing~

Today James "let" (men never learn, do they ladies!) me tag along on an Equine Therapy call, which just happened to be with one of our own FoxTROT members--Karen and her very patient, understanding of the wife's horse habit, Howie Gagliano.

It was such fun talking with Karen and Howie. I had the pleasure of swapping horse stories and discussing numerous topics, including one of Howie's most favorite hobbies: bush-hogging with the 'ol Kabota on some of those steep embankments Tennessee is so infamous for having. Meanwhile, James did have to work his magic fingers on three horses while we were enjoying each others' company (we did let James get in a few words).

Karen and Howie have such a lovely and welcoming home for their eight equine pals and the rest of the clan--three dogs and not sure what else was around---too busy yakking!

What is most special is the fact we, more than likely, would never have met them had it not been for our MFT organization!!



Moira

Dale Hollow Lake

James and I took off on one of those impromptu rides. Deciding on Dale Hollow Lake (not a hard choice for us), we loaded Bear and Rowdy and took off for what was to be a most enjoyable "perfect riding weather day" with our MFT's.

If you have the opportunity to ride at Dale Hollow, you won't be disappointed. The main trail is quite wide, and follows terrain of hills and then back along some of the water. We have never ridden the complete main trail out to the very end, but I do believe there is a really nice overlook when you get there. The trails that loop off the main one go more inland, with the terrain changing from tree limbs cascading gently over the trail, to sparse cedars.
If you can go during the week, you have a great chance of being the only riders on the trails (we had the whole place to ourselves). If you choose to camp, you will need your generator or you will have to really rough it. There are no facilities except for a couple of porta toilets in a couple of spots on the trail, no running water, power, etc. There is a small corral with about four stalls once you get into the trail head area. If you kept your horses there, you would not be able to hear or see them unless you pitched a tent right at the corral. But, the parking area has ample room for trucks and rigs and makeshift corrals.

Well, we did not see any bear this outing (not saying they didn't see us), no snakes; but we did scare up a turkey that took flight right in front of James and Rowdy---Ha! At least this time I was in back~~

One word of WARNING!
Don't go after heavy rainfall (we made that mistake last year). You spend your time sliding down descents and mucking your way back uphill.

Getting to the area of Dale Hallow Lake is an easy trek. Once you turn off the main highway to start getting back to the trail area and grounds it gets a bit tricky. You will think you have made a wrong turn; so please feel free to phone or email us for some tips on that matter.

Happy Trails,
James and Moira

Click the arrow for pictures!

SEFTA ST. Jude Trail Ride

Here you go FoxTROT members---a chance to partake in a Beneficial Ride AND meet sister affiliate members of the SEFTA!

********************************************************************************************************************

South Eastern Fox Trotter Association (SEFTA), St Jude Trail Ride

In an effort to accommodate all the people that may want to come I chose the Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, which connect to the Moses Cone trails off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The trails are nice and wide and have beautiful views of the valley below.

If you would like information on the preserve go to www.blowingrockequestrian.com

St. Jude's Saddle Up ride will be: Saturday, August 29, at 10:00 AM.

Location: Blowing Rock Equestrian Preserve, Blowing Rock, NC

For reservations for camping and stalling your horse you can call 828-295-4700 or you can email them at info@blowingrockequestrian.com I have been told that if you state you are with a group St. Jude's Ride they will make every effort to make sure you are in the same area.

Camping: $25.00/night, per site (water and electric included) I have been told the best camping is by the new barn. BUT ALL CAMP SITES ARE ON FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS

Stalls: $25.00 per night (bring your own hardware, buckets, muck buckets & pitch forks)

For those of us that need a hotel there are plenty of hotels in the town of Blowing Rock, which you can access via internet at www.blowingrock.org/hotels.html .

Should you have any questions about the ride please feel free to call or email SEFTA President, TerryMcMichael, at 864-703-0990 or mcdicken@aol.com.

Going to AVA? Here's member Bill Adams offer!!!!

I own two stalls at the show grounds in Ava, Mo. If anyone is going out for the Spring show or Fall Celebration and is in need of stalls I would like to rent them.

There will be some great trail riding!

I would rent them at a reduced rate for any of our members only.

Barn 11 which is one of the best locations on the grounds.

Thank You,

Bill Adams

Bill & Jimmie Ann Adams
946 Grandmere Rd.
Lawrenceburg, TN
931-762-8187 Work
931-762-0670 Home

MFTHBA First Annual National Trail Ride, Performance and Sale in AVA

Here is a note from our MFTHBA Board Member, Joyce Graening:

Hi Affiliate Chapters,

I realize that some of you have changed presidents since this list was put together, but would you please pass this information on to the appropriate person to publicize these events to your affiliate. Thank you very much.

We are planning the first annual national trail ride and performance/versatility/trail foxtrotter horse sale to be held at the MFTHBA show grounds on July 23-25, 2009. We are planning to make it a very festive and fun event for everyone. The attached flyer will give you the planned events for the week-end. Also attached is a consignment form from Adam's Auction Company who will be conducting a very professional sale for us. All horses consigned must be at least 3 years old and under saddle. RV spots and stalls will be available. All contact information for both the sale and other events are found on the attached flyer. The MFTHBA will be receiving 1/2 the net profits from the horse sale.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact me. I hope that everyone will plan to come. We are trying to get some more fun events scheduled for the membership at the MFTHBA headquarters.

Thanks for helping to spread the word.

Joyce Graening
MFTHBA Board Member

FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL TRAIL RIDE

& PERFORMANCE/TRAIL/VERSATILITY
FOXTROTTER SALE AT MFTHBA SHOWGROUNDS
AVA, MISSOURI
JULY 23-25, 2009

Join us for 2 days of trail riding:
July 23 Go on the popular and exciting ride to Brown's Cave
July 24 The ride will be the Grounds ride
Riders will meet across from the MFTHBA headquarters on Hiway 5 both days 8 a.m. There is plenty of parking and help with transportation to the trail head from the show grounds if needed.
For additional information, contact Paul Martin at 417 683-3069.

Join us on Friday, July 24 at 2 p.m. in the main arena for free instructional clinics on "modeling your horse", "preparing your horse and hints for the show ring", and "identifying and help with foxtrotter gaits" presented by Johnny Miller, Mike Owens, and Geno Middleton, with compliments from the MFTHBA Trainer's Committee.

Join us on Friday night July 23 for a BBQ dinner served by D & L BBQ*
Stay around and enjoy the music after dinner.

Join us on Saturday, July 25 at 10:00 a.m. for a great foxtrotter horse sale of approximately 100 registered Missouri Foxtrotters, 3 years and over, already under saddle. The sale will be held under a big tent rain or shine on the show grounds. Sale catalogs will be available after July 1 and consignment information can be obtained from

Adam Jokisch, Auctioneer at toll free 1 877 566-8751.

RV Spaces are available for $25 per night
Stalls are available for $15 for 1 night + $10 night for each additional night. Call Donna Watson at MFTHBA 417 683-2468 for reservations.

Concessions will be available Friday & Saturday.
*There will be a charge for the BBQ.
There will be a $5 gate charge Friday for those coming for the day, not staying on grounds.

Reponse to Sharon's email 5/18/09

Wow!!


Forty Five (45) members and growing---that is just terrific! Here we thought we would struggle to get enough members interested to become an official affiliate of AVA---and look at us now!
It's nice to know that President Sam is keeping up with all of the Association's happenings, as we are now, a very interested participating group. Not being into showing, I know James and I use to "just read" the Journal, then kind of toss it aside. I think we take more pride, now, on what is transpiring.
Don't forget the summer July ride at Zenith Stables. Again, we are all there to help one another. Learn more about your MFT, enjoy the company of great people, and don't be shy.
Moira

TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE YOUR "GAIT" KNOWLEDGE

Submitted by our Sharon; everyone reading this should jump at this opportunity!!


"Jennifer Bauer has ask me to send a note out to FoxTROT members. She
is going to do a monthly newsletter on gaited horse issues and she
will email to interested people. Please send your email address and
name to Sharon Lesner at lesners@gmail.com and she will forward them
to Jennifer. She is also going to put training videos out on YouTube
so when Sharon gets the information on that, she will let you all know."

As published in the "SouthEastern Equine" magazine:

Helping the Missouri Foxtrotter Gait- Tips from Jennifer Bauer
By Sharon Lesner

Going to a clinic and coming away with some workable, simple solutions to improve you
and your horse is terrific. After several clinic experiences with other clinicians, I risked
trying one more clinic. A clinic with Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer.
In 2005, my husband Michael and I went to the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio. This
particular year, there was a clinician named Larry Whitesell whose specialty was gaited
horses. Being Missouri Foxtrotter owners and trainers, we attended Larry’s presentation.
My husband was hooked. In a short time, Larry clearly outlined simple training or
equitation techniques that the average gaited horse owner could use to help their gaited
horse become more supple and responsive. We signed up for his clinics in 2007 after our
move to Tennessee. There we met Jennifer Bauer, Larry’s Whitesell’s partner. Jennifer
agreed to start several of our young horses and we were so pleased with the results. We
also took some private riding lessons from Jennifer. The one thing that stands out about
Jennifer is… that girl can ride! Her equitation is amazing.
Jennifer graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Equine. She
apprenticed with Larry Whitesell for several years working predominately with Paso
Finos. She remains at the Whitesell Gaited Horsemanship facility. Her business, Bauer
Classic Horsemanship focuses on training the gaited horse, equitation for the rider and
international clinic presentations.
Jennifer and Larry’s approaches are similar, particularly in training the gaited horse to
achieve lightness, softness and balance. It is a combination of natural horsemanship
concepts combined with classical dressage work. Jennifer relates that both teach
horsemanship but Larry’s focus is more the horse and it’s issues and her focus is the rider
and improving equitation. Jennifer makes suggestions to a rider that is clear and easy and
there is noticeable improvement quickly in both the rider and the horse.
At my clinic, there was another woman with a foxtrotter and I took my eight-year-old
foxtrotter mare that I recently purchased. She was a stop, go, turn left, right and back up
horse and that was about it. While at the clinic, Jennifer came out early in the morning
and did a private lesson for the other woman and I would hang around. One morning I
joined them. Jennifer made it seem easy and soon Delight, my mare was turning on the
forehand, the haunches, doing slow rollbacks and side passing.
She had a Missouri Foxtrotter mare in from Canada for some refinement and training. We
had time to talking about foxtrotters and her experience with them. I ask Jennifer what
she liked about Missouri Foxtrotters and the one thing she noted was their versatility and
endurance on the trail. She said, “Generally speaking, I have found them to have a
wonderful disposition and that they are intelligent and easy going”.
The mare she had in for training was in for gaiting and relaxation issues. Jennifer related
the mare was a smart mare. Her problem was she did not know where her feet were. She
had been to several trainers and her issues had not been corrected. Through groundwork
with Jennifer, she learned how to control her feet instead of tripping over herself. She
worked on suppleling and balance by taking her rear end around, crossing and then
engaging her hindquarters. Next they worked on bringing her front end through and
asking her front feet to crossover. “The mare eventually learned to move in balance with
her feet underneath her, not strung out behind her which created softness” Bauer related.
“It was calming for her and it reinforced that I could direct her feet to move anywhere I
wanted her to go” With the mare’s saddle work, Jennifer focused on suppleling and
improving her flexibility throughout her whole body, moving her rib cage and
hindquarters, not just her head and neck.
Bauer relates, “ Through that work, we brought all the pieces together, helping her
become soft, supple and in balance. This enabled her to engage her hindquarters, lift her
chest up and get off her front end, allowing her to get in a rounded frame.”
A rounded frame is desirable in the foxtrotter and that can be said also for any other
gaited breed. This frame can be accomplished with appropriate exercises in saddle and on
the ground and with good equitation. All goes hand in hand and when you learn to put it
all together, the results are amazing. Jennifer will be releasing a video in spring of 2008.
The content will include proper exercises and how to do them , lunging techniques that
teaches the horse to travel with the shoulder moving away but forward on the circle and
equitation suggestions. She discusses how all this affects the gait and why.
Often Missouri Foxtrotter owners focus on how to get their horse to gait if they are
having problems. Jennifer’s belief is a horse needs to learn how to become soft and
supple, leading to engagement and the gait will naturally follow ”Gait follows rhythm,
timing and balance. We have found this to be true in our experience with foxtrotters. First
they need to learn to be a horse, next learn how to travel correctly, move forward with
collection and the gait naturally follows. The horse is only half the equation though. By
working on classical or correct position, a balanced, soft rider allows the back of the
horse to round up, engage and gait. Jennifer’s focus in her clinics is more on the rider and
how their body position affects the horse. I found this refreshing. I learned that when
done correctly my body and energy messages to my horse made a world of difference in
how my foxtrotter moved. I am much more conscience of how my riding and balance
affects my horse. I also have learned how to talk to my horse through the bridle and my
leg cues. It has made a big difference in how I relate to my horse.
Jennifer has several clinics scheduled in 2008 and will be participating in some equine
related expos and events. She also takes in a few horses for training. To get more
information on Jennifer Bauer, please go to nfo@gaitedhorsemanship.com or visit her
website at www.gaitedhorsemanship.com.

TIP JAR

Give us your "Tips" on anything related to horses, tack, trailer care/pulling, camping--you get the picture!

Okay--said my next tip would be cookies.
Anybody have a recipe that doesn't use sweet stuff like molasses??

BON BONS FOR YOUR EQUINE PAL:

Our horses just love these. I've given them as gifts to horsey friends and I've had nothing but good responses:

Preheat over to 300 degrees.

One 12 oz. bottle molasses
One 23 oz. jar applesauce
One cup rice bran cereal (or whatever you want to get rid of) and/or corn oil
6 cups old fashioned oats
3 cups whole wheat flour

Mix all ingredients together. More flour or oats can be added if dough is too wet or sticky to handle . Roll into small meatball sizes -(tip is to wet your hands when rolling)--kind of like a full tablespoon or two per treat. Place on ungreased cookie sheet (they won't melt down like a cookie, so you can place them kind of close). Bake in 300 degree oven for 1/2 hour or so--until firm---you don't want them to brown up and get hard. Cool and store in refrigerator.

You can use your imagination along with the basic ingredients---rolled oats, grated carrot, etc.

~~~~~~~~~~

HOMEMADE LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER:

In a spray bottle (or I do mine in a gallon jug at a time, then just add to the spray bottle)
Mix equal parts of:

• cheap conditioner/creme rinse
• white or cider vinegar
• water

The conditioner helps keep the hair smooth for easy brushing and thickens the strands of hair. The vinegar gives the shine---I can still remember my mother rinsing her hair with vinegar long before conditioners came about.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sharon Lesner gave us this tip while sitting around the campfire at our Spring Ride:


Cheap but Just as Effective Bug Spray:

1. 400 ml or 14 oz of Pine Cleaner ( the more Pine Oil, the better). Dollar General brand works great).
2. 250 ml or 8 oz white Vinegar
3. Generous squirt of Blue Dawn dish soap (also at Dollar General).
   

Fill rest of squirt bottle with water to make about 800 to 900 ml of solution.

~~~~~~~~~~

OK Everybody---

It is TICK season. I've had horse owners tell me they don't find ticks on their horses, or not many; however, you have to "get up and personal" with your pal to really find those disgusting creatures. Of course, you can look over the obvious places--head, ears, neck, etc.; BUT, to really find 'em---you have to reach back and feel with your hand in the crooks and crannies of the, ahem, back end area. Those ticks love tight places, so all back in along the leg crease (probably not the correct terminology), the private areas, and yes, even lift that tail and look down the crease and anywhere you can see.

Now--on one's personal self, or two-legged friend, the first instinct is to grimace and pull. However, one of the correct procedures to insure retrieving ALL of that creature is to: Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the ball, and swab it for about 15 seconds. The tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball.
Sounds great--unless you are on your horse riding without the soap and cotton ball---then go for the natural instinct!

Maybe my next subject should be cookies!

Here's to swabbing!
Moira

AND

Here's to Tipping!

Moira

Click on the Arrow to play the picture movie!

Hello All!

Well, we certainly enjoyed our first official ride/gathering. With all of the rain going on in Tennessee, we lucked out with very little of the wet stuff. Our Fox Trotters gave us safe and sure-footed rides. FoxTROT riders were: Sam & Debbie Gerhardt; Bo, Amanda, and son, Hunter Gerhardt; Michael & Sharon Lesner; Terry Messex; Karen S. Gagliano; Lea Valentine; Don Trollinger; Dennis & Beth Corn; Samm Riggin, James & Moira Funk; Heather Webb, Renee Nasrollahi, our new member-Irene Shivers, and guests, Ron & Laura Munn.

Sam led our group rides, and even one with the expertise help of his young grandson, Hunter. Before riding out on Saturday, we spent time in the covered arena for some Fox Trotter tips. Sharon and Michael gave valuable input on saddle fittings, and then demonstrated ground work with your FT; Karen demonstrated her progress with ground work; James demonstrated his equine massage therapy and chiropractic adjustment techniques, and then there was the discussion on Natural Barefoot Trimming. James and I ride our horses with this trim, and they sailed right along those rocky trails.

The hospitality of Freda, Ed, and Heather--owners of Orchard Cove Stables, coupled with the beauty of the Smokies and our great camaraderie just lead to a fantastic time. For those of you who could not make this trip, try for our next ride---you won't be disappointed! President Sam and wife Debbie had their campsite set up like the camping pros they are. It was a perfect gathering spot with the addition of extra awning, cooking stove, etc., etc.

Then we had extra "tips & things" on the trip:

• Sharon and Michael taught us the importance of "Going Green" with shower conservation.
• Sam impressed us with his calm manner while hauling a stock trailer with eight horses over a bridge with an inch (?) to spare on each side and err, limited brakes.
  
• Terry, it was rumored by Dennis, was to have a P.J. party planned--not sure about that one.
• Debbie forgot to pack the peanut butter sandwiches---maybe Sam was in the dog house?
  
• Samm R. lost her new rain gear, but luck was with her when eagle-eye James spotted the coat.
• Dennis and Beth shared their newly-wed rat story---don't ask.

So you can see we have a little bit of good fun for everyone. Come on out and join us for the next ride. If you need help with anything, you've got a bunch of friends that are willing to assist you; or at the least, offer you some valuable (?) advice. Believe me; you will leave with a smile.

Hope to see everyone at our July ride!

Moira

Spring Trail Ride Pics

Spring Trail Ride a Great Success!

Shown here are a few of the 20 riders who paticipated in the Spring Trail Ride. This first organized ride for FoxTROT was held at the Orchard Cove Stables, http://www.orchardcovestables.com/, in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Those who wanted to were able to ride every day, in spite of rainy forecasts. The MFTs, the trails, the facilities, the fellowship and the food were all wonderfull!