7 minute read

Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association

Hello December! Time is sure flying!!

Marilyn Mannino

Advertisement

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.

Whew! All of that rain and snow last month sure switched quickly to warmer weather, spring flowers and mosquitoes! Get your horses vaccinated as soon as possible against eastern equine encephalitis, western equine encephalitis and West Nile virus as well as all of the other usual transmissible diseases. This will probably be a bad year for bugs.

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.

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!

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.

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.

We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the May 27 Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association (MFHA) judged trail ride to be held at the day use equestrian area of the Ionia Recreation Area. All breeds are wel come. Test your horse and yourself on a number of practical obstacles and possibly win a prize. The adult fee is $25 each and those under 18 pay $10 to participate. Young people are welcome to try their horsemanship skills as well and will leave with a ribbon and prize. Top scoring riders over 18 will get a payback amount. The obstacles will make you and your equine problem solve which is good practice for later on the trail. This will be a fun way to spend a day.

On June 24 we have a members only driving clinic with clinician Judi Campbell at Morning View Farm in Ionia, Michigan followed by the natural trail and obstacle clinic the next day at the Holland Western Saddle Club in Holland, Michigan. This clinic has filled already. Clinician Susan Williams will instruct us on the various trail obstacles there. I have never been there but have heard so many good things about this facility. I am looking forward to going. We will be serving lunch to the participants and auditors. Auditors are encouraged to come watch. Go to hollandwestern.com to inquire about the auditor fee. You will learn important information for when you are faced with similar obstacles on the trail in the future.

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 are hosting the second annual Great Lakes National Trail Ride (NTR) from July 7 through July 9 at the Waterloo Recreation Area in Chelsea, Michigan. It will start out at the Horsemen's Camp. Make your reservations now via dnrreservations.com and specify the Waterloo Horseman's Camp. Cabins are available to rent there as well. All Fox Trotter riders who want to earn an NTR point for attending this ride will need to sign in and all riders need to pay the $10 fee. Georgi Carlton and Amanda Kellogg will lead the ride out on Saturday morning from the campground. Bring a dish to share for the potluck Saturday night and your own table ser vice. The MFHA will provide the meat. We will eat in the pavilion. It will be a fun way to meet other people and listen

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

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

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.

Wishing everyone a blessed and safe Christmas!

Last year we had a gentleman from Nebraska participate. He was quite interesting to talk September brings the member only trail ride at the Hungerford Recreation Area. It will take place on September 29, September 30 and October 1 there. We will be rustic camping. The participants in our versatility program have been working hard earning points with their horses both in the saddle and on the ground. The first quarter showed that Katie Collier is leading the not under saddle division with Nasari followed by Carrie Carpenter with River, Georgi Carlton with Romeo and Marilyn Mannino with Kate. The Amanda Kellogg with Liberty followed by Carrie with Carma, Ron Montgomery with Sloopy, Georgi with Joey, Nancy Green-Duffy with Chinook and Marilyn Mannino with Sam. Carrie leads the ultimate horseman division followed by

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

If you have recently acquired a new to you Missouri Fox Trotter, don't forget to send in the paperwork to the Missouri Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association (mfthba.com) to get him or her transferred into your name. I recently did this even though my new mare hadn't had her paperwork transferred in 17 years yet she had been owned by more than one family before me. She has such interesting bloodlines and it would

MFHA breeder, Chuck Fanslow of Gladwin, Michigan has a pair of quality well gaited stallions available to breed your mare to. Contact him to set up a date for your mare! Look up the River Flat Ranch online to see pictures of his gorgeous

We have lots planned for this year. If you would like to join our association to help promote this wonderful breed and com to print off the membership form and read all about us. We encourage youth as well as adults to join. Encourage your

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!

This article is from: