Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association

Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association

Marilyn Mannino

Announcing the 2022 versatility challenge winners, for the under saddle division (adult) Georgi Carleton on Joey earned the most points and Carrie Carpenter was the high point earner for the ultimate horseman division (adult). There were no entries in the not under saddle division for adults or youth. Congratulations to both Georgi and Carrie!! The MFHA is proud of all of the rest of the members who participated and accomplished a variety of activities as well. Registrations are now being accepted for the 2023 versatility challenge. Read the rules on our website and see the different ways in which you can start learning and doing things with your horse. Yes, you can do lots of different activities during the cold winter months and get credit for them. You will get a lot accomplished with your horse and earn prizes along the way. This program is motivating and fun! Go to the activities section of michiganfoxtrottinghorse.com to read about the three challenges for adults and youth and find the registration forms. Once your registration form is received, you will be invited to join the private 2023 versatility Facebook group where you will post your activities and points which will help you qualify for quarterly and year end awards. The high point awards are usually embroidered jackets or can be a specially designed belt buckle. New and renewing MFHA memberships are being accepted now. Meet new friends with MFTs! Learn how to train and gait better. We do lots of things together such as educational clinics with known clinicians, camping and trail rides and showing. Go to the michiganfoxtrottinghorse.com website and click on the membership application button to print your form. Your support will provide needed funds to help us to promote the Fox Trotter breed as well as to assist in educating people about this breed, teach proper gaiting and support the variety of activities that can be done with them. Fox Trotters are rock stars in versatility! Plus, your membership qualifies you for discounts at our various clinics and with our sponsors (Levi Beechy reduced clinic fee, Chuck Fanslow reduced cost breeding fee, Jackson's Western Store discount and others). More member discounts are always being added. In the winter, some of our members take their horses and go south to Florida or to Arizona to escape the Michigan snow and cold, but they still stay in contact via Zoom for our monthly meetings. Once a member, no matter where you live, you can attend similarly to learn about MFTs and all that they can do as well as network with other owners while the weather is preventing most of us from riding. Your MFTHBA membership qualifies you to become an important member voting for officers and the region eight representative, participation in MFTHBA sponsored seminars, clinics, programs and events qualifies you for discount pricing at Stateline Tack and other businesses as well as access to the online registry database (a $95 value). You will receive the online MFTHBA Journal each month and the annual printed Celebration catalog too. Our upcoming clinic with Levi Beechy is set for April 15 and April 16 at Morning View Farm in Ionia, Michigan. The Great Lakes National Trail Ride is scheduled for July 7 through July 9 at the Horseman's Camp at the Waterloo State Recreation Area. As more clinics are finalized, they will be announced here, on our website and on our Facebook page. The MFHA 501c3 committee submitted the application in January which will allow us to become a non-profit association. Now we wait for the yay or nay answer from the federal government on whether we qualify. We are the Michigan affiliate of the Missouri Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association (mfthba.com) based in Ava, Missouri. Our mission is to promote MFTs and to encourage the breeding and training of them as well as to help their owners learn to enjoy their horses more through educational clinics, trail rides and discussion. Remember the motto, to ride one is to own one.