Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association

Hello December! Time is sure flying!!

Marilyn Mannino

is nothing like the expectation of a well-bred foal!

Marilyn Mannino

Hello April! Spring is upon us! People are out Fox Trotting and enjoying the weather. Many are accumulating points in the Versatility Challenges that we are offering.

At our November meeting we elected some new officers for 2021. Congratulations go out to Bob Howell elected as the new MFTA President, Kathy Kruch is now VP, Marilyn is still Secretary/Treasurer, Char Ostrom is the new 2-year Director and Miranda Mannino is now the 1-year Director.

We have resources and people available for you to learn from and breeders to refer you to if you want to buy a young one to train or if you want to further the training with your present horse.

lenging trail obstacles that day. Register online for this clinic at www.hollandwestern.com. Camping reservations can be made at www.camping@ hollandwestern.com. You may trailer in for the day as well.

We are accepting membership renewals and new memberships for 2021 now. Youth are encouraged to join too! Go to www.michiganfox trotters.com to print off the form. You will learn alot from our members about the history of Fox Trotters,their uses and availability and be able to network with those of us who camp,train and show them. Our association is blessed to have skilled trainers,breeders and a farrier to learn from. We love promoting this breed as they have great personalities,are so versatile and come in many sizes and different coat colors. A benefit to joining is that we can offer clinics at a reduced price to our members. Due to Covid we are meeting remotely each month. Michigan is a big state and this is a good way to easily see and talk with each other within and outside of MI. Come join the fun!

Congratulations to us, our 501(c)3 appli cation for non-profit status has been approved! This has been a long-term dream for us since this affiliate was first established in the early 1990s. Thank you to all who hung in there with us as we reconfigured ourselves into the association we are today. That being said, we are actively accepting new and renewing members. Your financial support and gifts of volunteering talent will help us improve this association while pro viding promotional experiences when you send in your membership. Your useful ideas help enrich and upgrade this association. The membership form can be found on our website (mich iganfoxtrottinghorse.com).

Registration is still open for all three Versatility Challenges (Under Saddle Challenge, Not Under Saddle Challenge and Ultimate Horseman Challenge). This program is designed to show how versatile the Missouri Fox Trotter is. Registered and grade MFTs are allowed. All handicapped and regular youth through adults are welcome. Every imaginable activity and category is included from in hand work to Dressage, short distance trail riding to endurance competitions and everything in-between (cow work, driving, extreme trail, 4H and open showing, parades, reining, trail maintenance and more!). We also included a competition for the most ambitious member who demonstrates their horsemanship skills in a wide variety of categories. Quarterly and year-end awards will be given. Go to www.michiganfoxtrotters.com to read the rules and print off the forms to join in on the friendly competition and fun.

Don't forget to transfer your newly-bought horse's registration papers into your name with the MFTHBA,too. We are growing! New member welcomes go out to Naomi Haas, equine dentist Kris Modreske and Harry Struble all of MI. Naomi rides a sorrel sabino gelding (Dexter) and a black mare (Hank's Serenity Liberty Bell B). Kris rides a black and white gelding (Radar's Spotted Prior). And congratulations go out to Harry Struble on his purchase of Joe's Golden Chip, a handsome buckskin gelding, from Chuck Fanslow. All these members are riding quality Fox Trotters!!!

Sign up now for the popular Versatility Challenge for 2021. Print off the enrollment form from our website. There are may areas in which you can accumulate points-even in the non-rideable months.

Are we done with the snow and mud yet? We want to get out and ride! Regardless of the weather, we are hosting the very popular horsemanship clinician from West Branch, Michigan Levi Beechy of Beechy Horsemanship. He will be at Morning View Farm's indoor arena in Ionia, Michigan on April 15 and April 16. His natural horsemanship method will teach you how to effectively move your horse while you are on foot then transfer those skills to the saddle the second day. Your relationship with your mount will greatly improve as will your riding, gaiting and cueing skills. Go to our website's activities page to access the registration form and flyer. There is still room to be included in the lucky group of 10 riders. All breeds are welcome! Bring your chair. We can order food to be delivered from local restaurants or you can bring your own.

Auditors are welcome.

More Fox Trotters are slowly becoming available to purchase but they are selling fast. There is a good video on the correct Fox Trot gait posted on our Face Book site to refer to when you are considering an MFT to buy. Be sure to bring a knowledgeable person with you,too, when you narrow down your search. Breeders, Chuck Fanslow (riverflatranch.com) and Gale Gunders (989-534-1207), have well-gaited young stock available. They also have quality studs to breed to if you have a mare you want bred. Chuck has a Buckskin stallion and a palomino stallion(both sons of Cotton Eyed Joe). Gale has a spotted stallion who will throw color to your foal. Both are located in Gladwin,MI. Contact them if you want to have your mare bred. There

Dimensions: 72” x 78” x 76”

Weight: 230 lbs.

We invite you to participate in the May 27 judged obstacle ride at the Ionia Recreation area. It will be held in the enclosed pen beside the day staging area. There will be prizes and ribbons for youth and pay back awards for adults. Test your horsemanship skills on the various challenging obstacles that you could encounter on the trail. We ask you to RSVP by submitting your registration form (located on the activities page of our website) ahead of time to streamline the check in process. All breeds, types of equines and ages are welcome. It was a lot of fun last year!

25 at the Holland Western Saddle Club. Clinician Susan Williams will safely instruct you on how to tackle the chal

The MFTHBA needs registered members to fill their committees for 2021. I just agreed to help out on the Trail Committee again. Surely you can,too! Various committees need members(younger ones too) for their input and advice to increase affiliate numbers,think of ways to make the shows better,to improve and okay National Trail Ride applications,give ideas on clinics (let's get more closer to our state),getting more versatility riders interested,give ideas on training and picking judges, plus more. Many positions can be supported remotely. Also, this is a great way to meet those from other areas of the USA who raise,train and ride MFTs. I have made new friends this way who I would not have otherwise. Contact the MO Fox Trotting Horse Breeding Association via www.mfthba.com to become a member and for more information

Be among the first 12 registered riders to participate. All ages and rider ability levels are welcome. Bring any breed of equine. Lunch will be provided. Auditors are welcome.

New members are always welcome! Go to www.michiganfoxtrotters.com to print off the membership form. We meet virtually so all members are able to meet without having to drive long distances.

Also, PLEASE send in your MFTA dues and your MFTHBA dues

Wishing everyone a blessed and safe Christmas!

The Great Lakes national trail ride will again be held at Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea, Michigan from July 7 to July 9. Camping is available at the Horseman's Equestrian Campground if you reserve your spot at www. dnrreservations.com. You may also trailer in for the day and park in the day use area. There is a $10 MFTHBA ride fee. Bring a dish to pass for the popular Saturday night potluck at the pavilion. We look forward to riding with

Our Event Committee is busy planning the next clinic. It will be a Gaited Western Dressage Clinic at the end of May. More details will be available next month. The clinician is top-notch!

Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Mannino

Become a member of MFHA and join our versatility ent activities. Go to the activities page on our website to read the rules and find the registration form. Prizes are awarded periodically and at the end of the year. Learn how versatile your Missouri Fox Trotter is! Have you been lucky enough to find a Fox Trotter to call your own? They are in short supply in our state. Please remember to transfer the registration papers into your name. If you didn't sign an equine purchase agreement at the time, transferring the

A little history on our breed: The present-day Missouri Fox Trotter evolved from Morgans in New England being crossed with Arabians, Plantation Horses, American Saddlebreds, TWHs and pacing Standardbreds. The genetic mix of square-trotting horses and pacing horses created the comfortable fox trot gait! Missouri Fox Trotting horses have been used by farmers in Missouri and surrounding states to ride long distances to check their fencing and work cows, pull buggies, by US Forest Service workers, by mounted police and now people across the United States and Europe use them for recreation (showing, trail riding, Dressage,reining, 4H and Equestrian Team, Hippotherapy,etc.). They are truly versatile and also can be found in all colors and sizes! Try one out and find out why everyone loves them so!

If you are planning to breed your mare, member Chuck Fanslow of River Flat Ranch in Gladwin, Michigan has a couple of handsome well gaited and sensible stallions to choose from. Contact him to set up a time to get this done. The Cotton Eyed Joe Y bloodline is very sought after. You could help produce a well gaited, good minded foal next

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We are the Michigan affiliate of the Missouri Fox Association (mfthba.com) based in Ava, Missouri. Our age the breeding and training of them as well as to help cational clinics, trail rides and discussion. Check out our

Hannah Lochner

While winter is still on our doorsteps, warm weather and riding season is just ahead. Now is the time to start planning for the upcoming season. Here are few tips to help get you ready.

Manage snow before thawing begins

Snowmelt can leave dry lots and barnyards waterlogged and muddy. Before the ground softens, move or pile snow in areas that can accommodate spring snowmelt. Make sure the area you select drains away from dry lots, buildings, pathways, or manure piles. Keep in mind that cooler temperatures may cause any melt to refreeze into ice. If you plan to remove snow from dry lots, be sure to pick manure beforehand. Manure mixed in snow piles can cause runoff when the snow melts.

Check in on your horse's health

Auction Horse Sale

Good

Friday

9 am - Tack Auction (Up to 5 rings)

2 pm - Pony

APRIL 7th Shipshewana

/ Mini Auction

Schedule an exam with your veterinarian to evaluate your horse's health and develop a vaccination plan. In Minnesota, we recommend five core vaccines to start: West Nile, Eastern equine encephalomyelitis, Western equine encephalomyelitis, Tetanus, and Rabies. Do not forget to have your veterinarian perform a Coggins test. Proof of a negative Coggins test within 12 months is needed for all horses going to public events or traveling across state lines. Additionally, consider having a fecal egg count taken to help guide spring deworming decisions. If needed, schedule a dental float to smooth sharp points on teeth and help correct poor alignment ahead of grazing and riding season.

Inspect your trailer and complete any needed

Maintenance

Before loading up the horses, take time to thoroughly inspect your trailer. If you are not comfortable with any maintenance or repair needs, work with a professional mechanic. When inspecting a trailer you will want to complete the following.

• Make sure the frame of the trailer is sound and free of cracks.

• Check the pressure, tread depth, and condition of the trailer and spare tires. Inspect the bearings and repack them as needed.

• Make sure that the brake pads and discs are in good operating condition.

• Check electrical wiring for poor connections, fraying, or rodent damage. Test and make sure all the trailer lights are working.

• Thoroughly inspect the trailer inside and out for any damage, corrosion (e.g., rust), or rot.

Walk your pastures

It is always good practice to walk each of your fence lines following winter. Check for and repair any damage to fences, gates, or shelters. Make sure that all of the gates are securely latched. Additionally, pick up any debris (e.g., tree branches) or garbage that may have blown into your pastures over winter. Now is also a good time to review last year's grazing plan. What worked and what did not work? Think about stocking rate, pasture shape and size, weed control, fertilizing method, and forage growth. Write out your pasture management goals and any changes you plan to make for the upcoming season.