63 minute read
Ohio Horseman’s Council
Member of American Horse Council
ohconline.com
SECRETARY
Ranee Vititoe 740/505-2713 secretary@ohconline.com
TREASURER
Jo Ellen Reikowski 330/806-3146 treasurer@ohconline.com
MEMBERSHIP
Catherine Estil 513/319-2517 membership@ohconline.com
PRESIDENT
Eric Estill 513/266-9823 president@ohconline.com
VICE PRESIDENT
Nancy Strayer 740/694-1007 vicepresident@ohconline.com
OHC COUNTY LINES EDITOR
Martie Ackerman 713/553-9644 countylineeditor@ohconline.com
Greetings From Your President
The Equine Affaire is April 7-10 at the Ohio Expo Center. Ohio Horseman’s Council will operate a booth, highlighting our 50th Anniversary! Please drop by and see us. Can you volunteer at the booth for a few hours? Come join your fellow OHC friends to help spread the word about our worthwhile organization to other horse enthusiasts. Sign up online at signupgenius.com. Help is also needed for set up on Wednesday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and take down Sunday, April 10, 3-7 p.m.
Equine Affaire 2022 will have more than 150 education sessions, clinics and demonstrations. The largest horse-related trade show in North America. The ‘Fantasia’ musical celebration performance will be on Thursday, April 7; Friday, April 8; and Saturday, April 9 (tickets required). You can purchase tickets in advance at equineaffaire.com.
The Versatile Horse and Rider Competition will feature 25 horse and rider pairs racing the clock on an obstacle course.
New this year: The International Liberty Horse Association Freestyle Invitational. Select liberty trainers and horses of a variety of breeds and backgrounds will display their talents in a two-part invitational competition on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9, with the winner earning a spot in the 2023 Fantasia show.
Mustang TIP Challenge: During the Challenge, trainers will gentle untamed mustangs in the hopes of demonstrating each horse’s value and trainability in a competitive environment. The competition will take place in three parts on Friday, April 8 and Saturday, April 9, all in the Cooper Arena.
A Horse for Heroes: another new feature at Equine Affaire. Equine Affaire has partnered with Operation Horses and Heroes to offer a variety of unmounted activities on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the Cooper Arena.
Interscholastic Equestrian Association Intensive Clinic: this clinic offers a unique opportunity to see inside the mind of an IEA judge. The clinic will feature a judge’s perspective and offer tips for competing at IEA shows in both English and western disciplines, as well as dressage. This clinic will take place on Sunday, April 10, from 2-4 p.m. in the Cooper Arena.
~Eric Estill, President
County Lines
ASHLAND
Greetings from Ashland County! Registration for the Pleasant Hill Lake Park Promotional Ride on June 17-19 closes on May 31. The trails are beautiful this time of year with flowers blooming and new tree leaves making the air smell fresh. Campsites are $80 for the weekend and are non-refundable. All sites have electric hook up. There will be a 50/50 raffle. Unfortunately, you are on your own for food. The park offers many other activities to enjoy including hiking, fishing and swimming, kayaking, an inflatable water park, gold panning, Summer Solstice Paddle Tour, Karaoke and DJ, etc. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Tim Tuttle at 419/512-1216 or Timtuttle59@yahoo.com. Spaces will be assigned based on both the date received and the length of rig. Reservations will not be accepted via MWCD/Pleasant Hill website.
Trail and camp cleanup has been ongoing this year.
See you down the trail and remember not to drink and ride. ~Dan and Jean Reynolds
CLARK
How is your Bingo card coming along? Filling in more squares? I am waiting for warmer weather to really get things going. I am hoping someone will teach me how to back up a bumper pull trailer. I am terrible at backing up my manure spreader and am hoping that would help. Meanwhile my trailer will soon be off to Shoaf Trailer for a spring tune up and de-winterizing. The first camp out is a couple of months away but I am excited for entire 2022 season.
This month I would like to introduce Anne Demmy. Anne very graciously took on the role of treasurer for Clark County and is doing a great job. She volunteers for every opportunity from trail cleanup to the Clark County Fair pork chop booth. Anne was born here in Ohio at Wright-Patterson AFB hospital. She loved horses from an early age which most of us will find relatable. She worked at a local grocery store and saved to buy and support her very own horse at 15 years old. She married and had three daughters. Anne continued to ride and began to Anne Demmy
show hunters and thoroughbreds. She competed at Quarter Horse congress and placed every year in which she participated. Anne also owned and trained race horses for a few years. Her love of horses was passed onto her daughters and they all rode in 4-H. Her daughter Bonnie won at the state level in hunter over fences which Anne remembers as one of her proudest equestrian moments. She also used to go to a local barn that hosted back yard horse trials which sounds exhilarating! At one point Anne and two friends decided to go to Paris, Ky., and compete in the ‘Not Very Scary Horse Trials’. The team was stunned when they trotted away with first place! She has traveled to Florida, Mississippi and all around the state to trail ride with her horses and friends. We wish safe riding to Anne and her trusty steed Polly and good luck with training her new horse Gary.
We can all look forward to the 27th annual Equine Affaire at the Ohio Expo Center April 7- 10. It is four days jam packed with clinics, seminars and demonstrations presented by top industry professionals and a large trade show to stock up on all our horse needs or wants.
Come join us at our next meeting on April 13 at Plattsburg UCC, 1715 S Urbana Lisbon Road, S. Charleston at 6:30 p.m.
Shed those winter coats and come ride with us!
~Jonna
COLUMBIANA
Happy April, it’s finally here! I didn’t think I would have much news for this month, but I was an April Fool. In a good way.
Our meeting this week was full of news for me to share. First the disappointing news, our President, Beth Whitmer, found it necessary to resign her office because of a job change. We owe
her a big thank you for filling that office for a second term. We are going to miss her smile and fun personality but wish her great success in her step up the ladder. A discussion of a successor began immediately, and thankfully, before I had The Big One, our Past President Aaron Perkins agreed to take the office again even though he and wife Nancy have moved farther away from our area. Thank you Aaron and Nancy, we are lucky to have so many dedicated members.
Speaking of dedicated members, Rick Haldiman, Dave Ward and Crystal Molocea have joined forces to order and install new colored trail markers. They will begin posting them as soon as the many fallen trees are removed from the trails. Numbers that correspond with those on the updated trail map will be installed as well. This major undertaking has been needed for many years, as anyone who has been confused by the trail system knows. This is a win-win for all of us.
The Trail Maintenance Committee also has plans for some major trail improvements this season. We are so lucky to have them and appreciate all they do. Please remember they are trail riders as well and want to enjoy their riding season as well.
The weekend of June 11 and 12 we are having a shared camp and ride at Beaver Creek with the Portage County Chapter joining us. We are looking forward to a really fun weekend with them.
Our meetings are the first Wednesday of each month. We meet at Mark’s Landing Restaurant at Guilford Lake at 7 p.m. during the cooler months. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Hope to see you on the trail. ~Sally
CUYAHOGA
Rides are starting in full force, friends are getting together and hopefully our lives will be full of sunshine and laughter. Those of us who have horses, especially on our properties, are the lucky ones. We are a bit more insulated from the world’s problems. At least we are when we muck stalls, shake hay, fill feed tubs and scrub water buckets. The sound of horses munching fresh hay is music to our ears. The fur coat we wear because they are shedding is an added bonus. We have a good, busy and physical life.
There are seven reservations of the Cleveland Metroparks with bridle trails and each one offers something different. We have members who have stepped up to lead monthly rides to show you around and it is a great way to make new friends. Join us for the trail rides as we explore all they have to offer.
Our commitment this year is safety, and trail leaders will carry first aid cantle bags, which we will hopefully have no need for. Helmets are always encouraged which most of our members wear, and many wear Hit-Air Vests as well. We always have a walk only group, and if others want to move out, that is OK, as long as everyone is aware that we share trails with others who are on foot. Some riders sign in and ride on their own, coming back to join the group for lunch or snacks depending on the plans of the day. We look forward to meeting you regardless of how you wish to participate.
In a few short stretches in Bedford Reservation, bikes use the trail to get to their next trail section. We find they are courteous for the most part. These are short sections and are well marked as sharing sections. Joining a group ride is a great way to learn the trails but if groups are not your cup of tea, trail maps are available on the Cleveland Metroparks website. But please, do let us know how much you enjoyed these beautiful trails. More information about these trails is available on ohconline.com.
If you have any questions, please email cuyahogaohc@ gmail.net. Now saddle up! ~Penny Passalacqua
DEFIANCE
April is here, can you smell the flowers blooming and hear the birds chirping that lovely tune in the mornings? I don’t know about you, but I am so excited that spring is here, even with the knowledge that the only downfall in the short run is inhaling that winter fur as you are grooming your now shedding out fuzz balls and the ever present overabundance of horse hair that will be traveling along with you. Some of our club members just couldn’t wait for the warmer weather to finally reach Ohio so they loaded up their horses and headed south all the way to Florida. They rode on some beautiful sandy beaches, played Kathleen Powell on her trusty steed Pokey.
Beth Metzger enjoying the scenery.
in the ocean and enjoyed the warm sun kissing their winter pale skins. We understand that on their journey they saw some pretty amazing things. We can’t wait to hear all the stories from their trip at our next club meeting.
Our club still doesn’t have many dates picked out to get together for our group rides. As of right now, we have one in the works for July 9 to ride at the Independence State Dam. We are just waiting on approval. With approval, we hope to donate back to them for landscaping or playground equipment. Our club has also decided to help out the corral project at the Van Buren State Park.
~Hope Russell
DELAWARE
Greetings from Delaware chapter! At long last, spring is here! The Delaware chapter held its first in-person meeting for 2022 last month at the Alum Creek horse campground on Saturday afternoon, instead of our traditional first Friday of the month so we could take advantage of nice weather. The highlight of the meeting was our awards ceremony acknowledging the trail mileage and saddle hour achievements of several of our members. Some individuals reached ‘milestone’ achievements in 2021 and were awarded a commemorative patch or bar. Those receiving their awards at the March meeting were Bobbi Arters and Carole Bosich who both earned their third 1,000mile bar and Patrick O’Connell who earned his 200-mile patch. At a future meeting, awards will be presented to Vanessa Norton, who earned her 500-mile patch, Alissa Clouse earned a 200-mile patch, and Mike Shott earned his 200-saddle hour patch. Our 2021 trail mileage and saddle hours award recipients including their pictures and stats can be viewed as a blog on our chapter webpage at ohconline.com. Congratulations to all!
To kick off this year’s exciting line-up of informative and entertaining programs, we are pleased to welcome Mr. Roger Tigner, owner of A-1 Trailer and Hitch, Lewis Center, Ohio, who will share his knowledge regarding horse trailer safety issues, on Friday, April 1.
Our meetings are held at the Alum Creek Horseman’s campground beginning at 7 p.m. Members can also look forward to guest speakers planned for May (saddle fitting), June (first-aid for horses), July (new ribbon-cutting trail at Henmick’s Brewery, N. Old State Road, Kilbourne, Ohio), August (miniature horses and equine therapy) with more to come! Mark your calendars as you won’t want to miss our ‘Trail Obstacle Fun Day’, to be held at Brenda Webster’s Black Swan Farm on Saturday, Aug. 20 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Further details regarding these events and sign-up forms (as applicable) will be forthcoming closer to the dates.
Our first social outing of the year is coming up quickly for 20 members and guests who will attend the opening performance of Fantasia at the Equine Affaire on Thursday, April 7.
If you are planning to attend this year’s Equine Affaire, don’t forget to stop by your State OHC booth (#800 Bricker building) to visit with fellow OHC members. Better yet why not consider volunteering to serve as an OHC ambassador at the booth? Help spread the word about our worthwhile organization to other fellow equestrians. The link to the online sign-up page can be accessed via the State Facebook page or ohconline.com.
Delaware chapter was wellrepresented at our recent Central Region meeting held last month at Der Dutchman restaurant, Plain City, Ohio. With our central region representative, Becky Porter, leading the meeting, attendees learned more about
Trail mileage award recipients Pat, Bobbi, Carole.
our upcoming 50th anniversary party plans and location. The party will be held Saturday evening Nov. 5 at the Newark Elk Lodge, Newark, Ohio. The following day, Sunday, Nov. 6 will feature our Fall General Membership meeting at the same venue. More details regarding these events will be coming soon. In addition, attendees all agreed to move forward with planning a Central Region ride and campout this year. Several locations were discussed along with various dates. Stay tuned for more details!
Becky concluded the meeting by reminding everyone that this was her last year serving as our Central Region representative. Any Central Region member interested in assuming this leadership role is encouraged to contact Becky for more information.
At the time of writing this article, our Spring General Membership meeting had not yet occurred. I will share highlights from our March 12 meeting in next month’s column.
Last, but not least, our trail maintenance volunteers are keeping busy as usual. As soon as the ground is a bit drier, the crew hopes to begin work on our 2022 OHC matching grant project of refurbishing Kim’s platform along Winterhawk West trail. Our equestrian campground on Howard Road has received much attention this spring, starting last month with our ‘Spring Cleanup’ day. In addition, the ODNR delivered and spread gravel for the driveway and our chapter purchased the much-needed screenings for beneath the horse tie-lines. ODNR also replaced several broken wood tie-line poles as well as all the wire tie-lines.
As you can tell, there are a lot of fun activities and fellowship happening in the Delaware chapter. We welcome our OHC friends and guests. Come join our fun! Until next month, stay healthy and enjoy good times with your equine partner! ~Theresa Burke
FULTON
Hello spring! A few members have been riding throughout the winter, but the warmer temperatures and longer daylight hours have brought out a slew of fair weather riders. It is truly rejuvenating to hit the trails in the Oak Openings Metropark and the nearby Maumee State Forest which was not closed for the winter unlike the other state forests. While I have cursed the deep sand when I’ve had to lead my horse back to the trailer on a couple of occasions, I can appreciate it at this time of year when those sandy trails do not remind me of the black swamp. We do have to be mindful of the trail conditions and avoid riding when the conditions are bad as we cherish our trails and want them to last forever! We heard recently that one part of the Maumee State Forest, between Harry Hughes Youth Equestrian Center and Manore Road, has been closed for tree management. If you plan to park at HHYEC and ride the trails, be sure to check on the closure. And speaking of HHYEC, their spring cleanup will be April 23 and 30. Several of our members typically help at this event and Al Staler says there’s a lot to be done.
In April, we will be planning our Derby Party camping weekend at Reed Road Ranglers May 6-8. Jack has a 100,000 horse shoe contest planned; what is he up to this time? We will also be planning our NW region showcase ride to add to the OHC 50th anniversary celebration. It will be held at Oak Openings and we will ride out from the Jeffers Road riders’ center, date
Ron Cowell, 2021 High trail miles. April showers bring mud!
TBD. Some members will be attending The National Drive spring event which is April 28May 1 at the Hoosier Horse Park in Edinburgh, Ind. And member Katti Leitner is putting the finishing touches on planning the 2022 Beverly Upell Memorial Horse Show which will be May 7-8 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Wauseon, Ohio. Proceeds from this show, in memory of her grandmother, are donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year over $10,000 was donated and each year the show gets bigger.
For those looking to ‘try something new in 2022’, member Marianne Streb tells us about a weekend event that she’s involved with which will be held at WB Ranch in Swanton July 1617. It’s the Mobile Confidence Course Clinic which is promoted to build confidence and improve leadership, trust and respect with your horse. That’s two blocks on your bingo card you could check off—watch or audit a clinic and try an obstacle course!
If rodeo interests you, there will be a breakaway roping clinic with Cassie Vaughan, granddaughter of members Kenny and Debbie Vaughan, April 9-10 at Kennedy Ranch in Otisville, Mich. Cassie’s horse is the 2021 Breakaway Horse of the Year and Cassie is a three time IFR qualifier, two time IPRA Central Region Tour Average Champion, four time ACRA Finals qualifier, 2015 CRRA Finals qualifier and 2021 Mid States Finals qualifier. It’s very exciting to see the younger generations active and accomplishing so much in the horse world!
For 2021, our top trail miles achievers are Ron Cowell (1904), Marge Jabri (800), Kenny Vaughan (710), Pam Sinkey (680) and Matt Brown (501). Top saddle hours go to Tammy Royer (450), Carolyn Korek (319) and Barb Gunning (294). Fifty-seven members reported 14,156 total miles, up from 12,424 miles by 62 members in 2020.
If you want to see what we’re up to, check our website fcohc.com, Facebook page Fulton County Ohio Horseman’s Council or Facebook group Fulton County OHC. Come to our chapter meetings that are usually the first Monday of the month, 7 p.m. and are currently held at Bunkers Bar and Grill in Holland. Members, potential members and guests are always welcome. Come early to eat, the food is good and the room is huge.
We hope you all are well and safe and we look forward to seeing you on the trails! ~Kathy Brown
GEAUGA
Get ready Geauga County OHC for a full calendar of riding, events, educational clinics and social gatherings in 2022. The planning committee has been busy filling up the days ahead.
Horse trail maintenance is scheduled for April 12 and a high line demo and ride on April 23. Be on the lookout for our garlic mustard weed pull organized by Dottie Drockton. Details to be determined. What a great way to start the horse camping season. So many opportunities to check off your Bingo 50 card.
Do not forget the annual banquet on May 14 at the new Swine Creek facility. A fun night of entertainment, food and friends. Join us on May 21 for the Nora Stanton ride at West Woods. This is a wonderful way to honor a special woman who inspired so many.
Be on the lookout for many more events to come. Let a horse whisper in your ear and breathe on your heart. You will never regret it.
GREENE
My apologies to everyone for the lack of an article in the March edition. Time just got away from me. I usually try to get my articles done early to avoid missing the deadline. Obviously that didn’t happen.
On the upside, there wasn’t really a lot of news last month. You’ll have your calendar for the year by the time you read this. Hopefully we’ll get to do more things this year. You never know with Ohio weather.
Hopefully a lot of you will make it up to the Equine Affaire in Columbus this year, as it’s finally returning after a two year forced hiatus. I used to work a booth up there for the entire run, and I’d always run into Herb and Nancy, and frequently other OHC members as well. If anyone hasn’t been there, I highly recommend it. There are lots of seminars and clinics, lots of shopping, and you usually run into people you know. OHC has a booth there and they’re looking for volunteers. Information can be found on the state Facebook page and website.
I don’t have any other news this month. I’m including two photos. One is of the new tractor purchased with the donation from the Greene County Parks. Pictured with it are (left to right) Devin Nicol, Roy Dillow, Melinda Packer, Herb Rider, Dave Goodbar (on tractor) and Jerry Smith. The other photo is of Dave Goodbar and Devin Nicol checking trails at Caesar Ford. Both photos are by Jeannie Nicol, who thankfully tends to keep me supplied (with a little help from Dave and Jerry). I really appreciate that since I don’t always get out and about to everything. Happy spring! ~Mickie
GUERNSEY
Ye Haw! Ride ’m Cowboy! That clarion call seems to be ringing loud and clear in Guernsey OHC Country! Our cowboys and cowgirls racked up an impressive 8,593 miles ridden in 2021. Our top rider was that Cowgirl Lynn Werry. She tallied up a total of 1,200 miles. Go, Lynn, go!
Hey, look out! Here comes that really cool young cowgirl, none other than Lillian Smith, daughter of Bruce and Cindy Smith. Lillian rode her gallant steed 193 miles! The young lady is fearless. Lillian was one of five youth reporting.
Salt Fork Bridle Trails reports a total of 3,186 miles ridden by our members and 769 hours of work on our bridle trail. If we have an Achilles’ heel on the trails it’s the dead ash trees. About the time we think we’ve got all of them taken care of, there’s more of them standing dead, right beside the trail!
Before the two tornadoes that ripped through Salt Fork a decade ago, you could ride almost all of the trails and never have a branch or weed touch your legs! The trails were canopied-over and there simply was no under-brush. With the tornado destroying trees and the dead ash trees, you can see why we are constantly battling brush! It’s become a never ending task.
Thank God for Salt Fork maintenance employee Bob Meek. Bob’s the one who brush hogs our trails and he’s had his job cut out for him. He’s a busy guy and we sure do appreciate his hard work on our trails. Thanks Bob!
Speaking of trail work, our annual workday on the Salt Fork Bridle Trails has been moved up the calendar to Saturday, April 16. Check our Facebook page, Salt Fork Bridle Trails, for more details as we get closer to the date. Remember to log those miles and hours worked. It really does matter.
Do you know a rider who doesn’t belong to the Ohio Horseman’s Council? Explain the benefits we receive from everything the organization does to promote horseback riding and the trails to ride in Ohio, then ask them to join OHC!
See you on the trail, ~Lee Randolph
HOCKING
We held our first meeting for 2022 on Feb. 20 at the Home Tavern in Logan. There were a few new faces, which are always a welcome sight. We celebrated having the bragging rights to being ‘The Best Equestrian Entry’ in the 2021 Logan Holiday Parade! Yes, there were other entries.
The trail ride schedule was the main topic of discussion. We are still looking for someone to be a ride coordinator for our club. This person would present a list of destinations on a regular basis, weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, you get the idea, and then seek out a member who can commit to being at the ride location. That person would be called a sponsor. This way if someone shows up who doesn’t know the trails they won’t be there alone. They would know that a sponsor would be there as well. It’s just a matter of coming up with ideas and coordinating volunteers. Please let us know if this sounds like something you would be interested in. It does not commit you to being at any of the rides.
Our yearly ride and auction are scheduled again at Cowboy Larry’s. We do have a date change for this year. It was decided to move our ride to July, because the August date was conflicting with kids going back to school. Our Hocking Hills, Cowboy Larry’s Campground ride is now July 15-17. With our auction scheduled for Saturday evening, July 16. The Vacation Vaquera (Donna Shade) will again be available to lead a group out if requested. Please note that minors need to be accompanied by an adult to participate in her group ride.
Meeting dates and changes were discussed and proposed. Our April meeting date fell on Easter Sunday, that has now been Cowboy Larry’s
Henderson’s
Raven Rau, Bingo winner.
changed to April 10. Our July meeting date fell on the same Sunday as the Hocking ride, that has been changed to July 10.
Our members have not been idle over the winter months. The OHC sent out Bingo cards and it’s fun to see people trying to fill them. Big congratulations to Raven Rau, Hocking County OHC member, who is the winner of the first 50th anniversary award. She had the most likes for #4 on the Bingo card—Ride in the Snow. She will receive the book ‘ABCs of Trail Riding’ written by Robert ‘Trailmeister’ Eversole, who donated two books to OHC’s 50th anniversary!
We also have a few members with young horses that are getting a foundation put on them for possible riding this season. It’s always fun to watch their progress on Facebook!
Road trips are always fun in the winter and who doesn’t love going to tack shops! A little known fact (to me anyway) is that TSC in every town appear to have different merchandise. And Rural King with their free popcorn, is a wonderful mid afternoon snack
when you’re a bit hungry, but it’s not dinner time yet. Don’t ask me how I know!
The clocks will soon ‘spring’ forward, which us horse people like to celebrate like a holiday! Time to start inspecting those trucks and trailers for the upcoming adventures that we have penned on our calendars.
We are a fun group and would love it if you would join us! Our club is very family friendly and normally meets at the Home Tavern in Logan the third Sunday of every month at 7 p.m. Come in earlier for dinner and relaxed conversation prior to the meeting.
Watch our Facebook page for more information about our club and upcoming events! ~Donna Shade
HOLMES
April, finally! Only January and February can make me look forward to mud, but bring it on. We’re ready for some warm weather. By the time this newsletter is read, the 2022 Equine Affaire will be over. What an amazing opportunity to listen to top clinicians, check out breed demonstrations, and do some horse related shopping. After missing two years, I do not want to take it for granted.
Mohican should be open as of the first weekend in April. There will be a Cowboys for Jesus work date on April 22-25 and a Holmes County work weekend May 20-21. We are all anxious to see the trail changes and conditions after logging and the long winter closure. The club is planning a trip to Elkins Creek Horse Camp June 12-19. I’m looking forward to that trip as I have not been to Elkins before.
I have heard that 80 something
Past president Rickie Mast ferrying children during a sledding outing in February. Now that is tough. Hinckley Reservation. Bruce Hanna, Rodney Harrison and Ron Callahan.
year old member, Bob Picklesimer, has a new horse! Bob will be out and about on a 17-year-old Rocky gelding. Way to go, Bob. Bob leads the Cowboys for Jesus meetings and leads us in song and prayer at the camps he attends, which we very much appreciate.
My husband and some of his friends were out several times in February. They went to Malabar. Some of the trails in the woods still had some ice on them, but the rest of the trails were great. I do not think ice will be a problem in April. I had some maintenance work done on myself with cataract surgery. I am good to go now, going to ease the horse and myself back into trail shape.
We attended the Coshocton County 4-H swap meet on a cold day in February. It was well attended and had a wide range of tack and stable supplies. It was nice to do something horse related on a day not fit for riding. I think the 4-H program did very well. They certainly deserve to.
It is with a heavy heart that we mention the passing of long time member Jim ‘JJ’ Mast. A wellknown local businessman and friend, he will be sorely missed. Jim was always cheerful and always supportive of his wife, Mary’s, equine adventures. Our hearts go out to Mary during this difficult time. Please remember her and her family in your prayers.
As we get into the woods, let’s remember those who volunteer their time to maintain the trails we love. Also, those of you who volunteer, please keep track of your hours, be sure to include prep, travel, and cleanup time. If we record them on our wall calendar or phone calendar, we won’t have to scratch our heads trying to come up with them at the end of the year.
We are hoping the weather this winter was cold enough and long enough to discourage ticks. I plan to be more proactive with fly spray, even if there are no flies, and to dress and use prevention for myself. They are more common in Ohio than they used to be and with some planning, should not limit or discourage us from riding.
~Bev Hanna
KNOX
I don’t think that Ground Hog did not see his shadow so spring has basically sprung as you read this. The horses are shedding out. The grass is greening up. We all are anxious to get back on the trails. I have heard it said however, if you won’t ride in your back yard because it’s too muddy, then why are you riding in mine. We all should stay off the trails if it is still wet. If you volunteer and work trails as do many of our fellow OHC members, you will appreciate this comment. They will dry out faster if not all marked up. Here in Knox County, we have a lot of old basic dirt roads that we rode on in March. We do this every year in order to do our part in preserving forest trails that most of us would really rather be riding.
Our annual tack auction held on Feb. 26 was a great success. We want to thank all those who volunteered, and all those who came to buy.
We tapped our treasury and purchased $500 of veterinary supplies which a couple of our members delivered for fellow horsemen in Kentucky who experienced significant damage due to tornadoes. I have been to locations right after a tornado and remembered the injuries suffered by birds and farm animals. The tack auction put us in a good position towards Horsemen Helping Horsemen.
As reported previously, our 2022 ride schedule is complete. We have one camping weekend event per month but do not fear, we fill in with impromptu rides most every week. Only two of our scheduled rides require reservations this year as we were successful in acquiring three group camps. First ride was March 28 at the Mohican Saddle Club hosted by John Boley. Thanks for the invite John. This was a members only ride as this is a private club and we were there as guests of John Boley. And with that, the 2022 KCOHC riding season began.
Our next two rides are April Recorder
Kitchen helpers.
Winter ride.
29 at Malabar and May 27 at Hocking. We have the group camp at Hocking reserved for KCOHC members. We will once again be at Bark Camp over the fourth of July weekend which requires a reservation, so if you have not made reservations, best get on it. Anyone is welcome to join Knox County OHC, a group of enthusiastic equestrians that ride, a lot.
On a private note, our annual Buzzards are back! Right on schedule. They always come in March. We have a barn that used to house cattle, but I have since retired, and several years past a pair of Buzzards decided to raise a young one there. Baby Buzzards are huge before they can fly and they hiss at you when putting hay in the barn in June! Each year they have returned, one more in number! Last year there were four! Why can’t I have a Barn Owl or Red Tail Hawk, or better yet, a Bald Eagle? You smiling yet?
Come on over to Knox County where the gates are wide open, the grass is greener, the horses leaner, as we do ride them, and everyone is welcome. We meet
the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. We hope to be allowed to return to the Long Branch Pizza in Centerburg after their remodeling, but until then, watch our Facebook page. ~Terry L. Baker
LAKE
We welcome April with spring’s warm-up. Lake County OHC did not meet in February, but I am looking forward to sharing our thoughts and plans discussed during our March meeting on the 9th at Guido’s in Chesterland. Michelle S. and I attended the OHC regional meeting in Delaware, Ohio on March 12.
Our members will be sharing their ideas on the OHC’s 50th anniversary plans. We will be discussing what we would like to participate in and how we will do various events. I personally find the Bingo card really interesting. I will not address every square, but many squares on the card seem quite doable. There are a gazillion books concerning horses, from classics like Black Beauty to series written by a single author like Dick Francis or Walter Farley. Books on training, riding, breeding, will expand one’s knowledge. Read a book.
Re-enactments occur throughout Ohio. Locally, Burton and sometimes Chesterland in Geauga County, have reenactments. Go watch or even participate. Parades are a fun time for costumes. Halloween is definitely an exciting time for costumes. Anytime one can dress up with their horse is special. Driving or riding in a carriage makes one feel special. Go be special.
We always enjoy pictures of our horses. Our horses being playful, goofy, elegant, dramatic, or simply just being. Immortalize your horse with pictures.
Auditing or watching a clinic can be quite informative, as can learning to ride a different discipline. Riding a different breed of horse from your own can be challenging as well as enlightening. Service projects are rewarding. Visiting a nursing home, helping in 4-H, or volunteering with riding for the disabled are satisfying. Also satisfying is helping a horse or animal rescue group. Taking a first aid course could prove quite helpful. Saying thank you to our park rangers and to all those who keep our parks beautiful is appropriate any time. There are many other tasks on the Bingo card. Each one of us will have to decide what we will do with our horse buddies to enjoy the 50th anniversary of our Ohio Horse Council. Let’s make this year special fellow equestrians. ~Rayneen Tisovic
LAWRENCE
Hello everyone! As we did not have a meeting in February and our March meeting hasn’t taken place by the writing of this article, I don’t have a lot to share. I did make a drive through inspection of the Paddle Creek Horse Camp. More trees have been cut and a lot of our camping area has been blocked off. I made a couple of inquiries as to why and by whom. We have new rangers in the Wayne National Forest/ Lake Vesuvius area. Our chapter president is currently trying to set up a chapter meeting with the rangers as a casual meet and greet. Hopefully they will be able to explain the plan for the changes in the horse camp and allow members to have some input.
Rumor has it that trails may open as early as April 1. We have had several really nice days and the horses are shedding, but I expect they will still be pretty fuzzy for our first few rides. I am wondering if there are horse grooming salons similar to the shop that grooms my dog. A good hot bath would do wonders for those dull winter coats. I am not a winter blanket sort of horse owner, but I do envy the people whose horses come out of the barn each spring looking as if they are ready for the show ring.
By the time I submit my May Corral article I will hopefully have some updates on Paddle Creek and what the new rangers have in mind. But don’t cross us off your list of great places to visit this spring and summer. We would love to see some new faces on our trails. A stranger is just a friend you have yet to meet.
Until next month, stay well and be happy!
~Betty
LICKING
Hello horse friends and members. As winter comes to an end, hopefully sooner than later, we have been busy planning the next riding season and activities for our chapter. I’m happy to report that we have planned a few outstanding chapter rides. Including a history ride through Malabar Farms and one of our local parks Taft Reserve with some speakers that know the history of those places. Mrs. Nancy Strayer, OHC Vice President, will be our guide at Malabar Farms and Mrs. Tami McAdams will tell us about the history at Taft Reserve. That should turn up pretty interesting. If you are able to, please come join us. We’ll be more than happy to include you in our rides. Check our Facebook page for information on the event and please mark yourself as going or sign up for it. That way we know how many people to expect.
At our last meeting, we also discussed our annual fun show. Sadly, we will only have one this year, so make it count and come out and join us and have fun. The date for that will be July 31. We have included some new rules and fun classes in the showbill so pay close attention and come enjoy the day!
Some of our chapter members and some folks from other chapters have been busy at a work day at Dillon State Park doing trail maintenance. Thank you to all the people that showed up to help and of course to our president Charlene Santee and her husband Craig for organizing the work day! I think this year will be great for riding, meeting new and old friends and enjoying what we like best and brings us all together, our horses! ~Sigrid Batten
OHC members at the work day at Dillon State Park.
Getting an early spring ride in. Shenanigans on the tie line.
LOGAN
Logan County OHC had our first meeting of the year 2022 on Feb. 6 at the East Liberty Community Room with 13 members present. We had two guests attend who ended up joining our chapter before the meeting adjourned. Welcome new members Taylor Dowdy and Julia Crown.
Hitching posts at Kiser Lake by the old campground and shelter house will be installed with Champaign County supplying the equipment and lumber. Logan County will supply the brackets, cement and labor. Logan County will also order and then place memorial plaques on both of the hitching posts in memory of Christy Stanley.
Logan County OHC made our annual donation to Perry Township for the use of their building to hold our meetings and Christmas party.
Marmon Valley Farm is once again hosting several horse shows. Logan County OHC may want to do concessions again for one or more horse shows. Once the rest of the dates have been established we will address and vote on it at our next meeting.
Looks as though mud season is almost here, once we get through that, we’re back in the saddles again! Logan OHC’s monthly meetings are the first Sunday of the month except holiday weekends then the second Sunday of the month. Meetings times are: winter months (October through March) 5:30 p.m. and in spring/summer months (April through September) 7 p.m. We will continue to have the potluck dinners to share.
Please join us!
LORAIN
Today as I’m writing the newsletter on March 5, it happens to be 70 degrees and sunny here in Litchfield; what a gift! Hopefully you were able to get out and enjoy riding your horse. Our calendar sponsor of the month is Harrison Trailers located in Wellington. They will also be at the Equine Affaire at the State Fairgrounds April 7-10 so stop by and see what they have available. The Equine Affaire offers many educational clinics on a variety of topics, horse competitions, a huge number of vendors and the Fantasia horse show. I recommend that you visit their website for the events to help plan your time as there is so much to see and do. Monday, April 18 at 7 p.m. we hold our membership meeting at the Wellington Visitor Center located at 535 Jones Road. There is a scheduled day ride at North Chagrin on Saturday, April 23 at 11 a.m. Plan to park at the Oxbow Trailhead. It is a lovely place to ride so it’s worth the drive. Further directions are located in the back of the calendar. Plan to pack a lunch and visit with other council friends during the ride. Please plan to help with our annual spring cleanup of the trails at Charlemont Reservation on Saturday, April 30 at 9 a.m. We will meet at the New London-Eastern Road parking lot. Then if needed, we move to Wellington Reservation for trail maintenance, followed by a stop at Dairy Queen for lunch and ice cream. With a good turnout of helpers, the work is bearable and we can get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. Please bring chain saws and nippers if you have them. Boots, sturdy gloves and protective gear are recommended. Thank you to Ken Cornish who now is in charge of trail maintenance. Please contact him with further questions. A big thank you goes to Bob Budi who has been in charge of trail maintenance for many years. We appreciate all your hard work over the years. All are invited to come back the very next day to ride at Charlemont May 1 at 1:30 p.m. to enjoy the ‘fruits of our labor’. We will meet at the New-London Eastern Road parking lot. Judi Budi is the contact for this ride, thank you Judy.
Horse carriages are allowed on Carlisle Equestrian bridle trails April 5, 9, 14 and 17. Saddle up your horses and enjoy the spring flowers.
~Kathy Duncan
MADISON
Madison County Chapter is busy planning for 2022, and looking forward to great riding as soon as weather permits. Our county chapter maintains trails at Deer Creek State Park, and we hope that many of you will come out to enjoy them. We now have 33 miles of trails; some wooded, some grassy, and some that have a view of Deer Creek Reservoir. There is both a day parking area with shelter, picnic tables, and a tie line, as well as a separate area with campsites. We continue to work on improvements to the trails and camping area, and we invite you to come ride with us! Please be aware that right now you will need to bring water for both humans and horses for overnight camping. There is a hydrant in the day area for horse water.
Our chapter also assists with trail maintenance at Prairie Oaks Metro Park (west of Columbus). The trails take riders through beautiful prairie areas and into some wooded areas along the Big Darby Scenic Waterway. There are nice picnic shelters within the park, a large day parking area with a shelter, a water hydrant and a picnic table.
We are planning to have speakers at most of our upcoming meetings to help us learn and stay informed.
Last month, we received information put forth by TrailMeister about trailer safety chains and correct hook-up and testing for emergency braking systems. We also each received a list of important tools to keep in our trucks and trailers to take care of emergency repairs and to help keep us on the road safely. This month, our Deer Creek State Park liaison attended our meeting to let us know of all of the great trail clearing that he was able to do during his less-busy season. We are so grateful for his help and willingness to work with us to maintain all of those trail miles. It is a tremendous partnership and he is open to whatever needs to be done to keep people engaged and coming to Deer Creek State Park.
Our members continue to ride whenever and wherever possible! We had five members take a trip the last week of September to stay at the R Lazy S Ranch at Jackson Hole, Wyo. The ranch has lovely cabins looking out at the Tetons and they provide welltrained horses, great food and wranglers/guides every day. The rides are on trails within Grand Teton National Park as well as the Gros Ventre Wilderness. It was a trip worthy of many photos and a return as soon as possible. Two other members went to Patagonia, Ariz., the first week of February to escape the Ohio cold to ride for a week at Circle Z Ranch. Mornings of 20 degree weather did not deter them from having a wonderful time, but it was certainly not the warmth they expected. The ranch provided beautiful cabins, as well as excellent horses and food. This has been an annual trip and reservations are already made for next year.
We mostly ride locally, on private property, or at one of the state trails. We also host five Gymkhanas each summer for a fun horse activity for adults and youth. Please check our Facebook page for the schedule and to register if you are interested in participating. ~Lisa Reynolds
MEDINA
To paraphrase an old Elton John song, ‘We’re Still Standing’! We are all systems go for our state ride. Since this is OHC’s 50th anniversary and the theme is ‘Something New’, we are going full tilt new! Well, not completely, but lots of new.
First, a new location, Camp Manatoc Scout Reservation. “Scouts?” you say—yes, it’s a wonderful large 500 acre camp complete with historic buildings and a set of trails all their own. We will have access to the CVNP trails (that’s really why you come!) and it’s located conveniently just off of Akron Peninsula Road on Truxell Road. It’s just a few miles north of our old location in Robinson Field. More information will come as we nail down all the details. Contact Rosemary Young at rosemary4medinaohc@gmail. com or 440/382-7980 or Molly Eastwood at mollyeastwood@ aol.com or 330/603-0820 for reservations and other information. Look for our flyer, it will be posted soon on the OHC website under Medina chapter. Also we are looking for volunteers to help us make this one of our best rides ever. We need folks to help set up the auction, serve dinner and breakfast and be there to help our guests navigate the new environment. And auction items! Bring them with you or let Rosemary or Molly know if you have something to donate.
Rides! Rides! Rides! We got rides! Come on people, get on board! On May 14 our own charter member Barb Vega will be leading folks at Brecksville Reservation in the Cleveland Metro Parks. Be sure and let her know you are coming. She can be reached at 216/702-1224. Stay tuned for more rides.
Our next meeting is May 4 at Hinckley Town Hall, 1410 Ridge Road. Please join us for a fun evening and meet your fellow members. Bring a snack to share. In June we will meet back at Robinson Field for summer meetings. An ice cream social, special speakers and other fun is in store. Stay tuned for those details.
Trail work will be more important than ever this year as we ready our trails for the state ride. Come out and lend a hand. Our work sessions are the second Saturday of the month. The next is May 14. Contact Raydeen Ryden (reysden@att. net or 334/663-7361 or Greg Monsanty (330/352-5737 or (blackhorsebridge@aol.com) for dates and details. Spring is coming down in the valley! ~Rosemary
MORROW
Greetings from OHC chapter Morrow County where the massive amounts of snow plus cold temperatures have me happy to see encouraging signs of spring as of this writing. Sunny days with no wind have the horses standing in the pasture and I presume dreaming of green grass to come. Part of my herd enjoyed several hours of overnight grazing freedom in a hayfield that had developed considerable growth after the late August 2021 harvest after I forgot to close a gate.
No trail riding has been done by any chapter members so far in 2022, although extensive summer plans have been made for several Ohio outings plus one trip to South Dakota and Wyoming which will include Mount Rushmore and Devils Tower. The March State OHC meeting plus Equine
Affaire help keep the equine juices flowing as we continue the winter tasks needed to ready our steeds for the riding season.
Our chapter was awarded a central region State OHC grant for improving the Mount Gilead State Park equine trails which our chapter helped develop some 20 years ago. The chapter voted to match the grant with expected work hours when the drier and warmer weather arrives. Byron, Floyd, Ted and Gerald attended the winter State OHC meeting in Delaware where it has always been enjoyable to be in the presence of so many persons dedicated to the OHC motto.
The smell, touch and sounds associated with my equine activities have been a spirit lifter this past year after the January 2021 death of my wife who shared 60 years of marriage with this cantankerous old man. Her lifelong equine interests were responsible for horses becoming an important part of our family.
I trust the 2022 season will allow many OHC members to get back in the saddle again. Until next month, keep your chin up and strive to provide the best care possible for your horses who will provide you the opportunity to enjoy some great riding. I wish you happy trails! Stay safe in the saddle if you do have the opportunity to ride before the next report and I hope to see some readers on the trail later this year.
~DOC
PERRY
Now that winter and the winter Olympics are over, let the real games begin fellow trail riders! The Perry Club is getting ready and we already have a tentative ride schedule that looks pretty impressive. This year our plan is to have a host for each ride so that we ensure those who wish to participate will have someone to ride with who knows the trails. So often we plan club rides and no one shows up, especially if it is someone who rides alone because they are not sure if anyone else will be there. That’s the great thing about being in a horse club, other horsey people to ride with and show you the trails! This year’s rides include Salt Fork and possibly East Fork. Also several are intending to join the Hocking club for a weekend ride at Hocking State Forest.
Before we start riding every weekend we have planned some work dates, the first at Stone Church, and another to be set up for Burr Oak. We’re still hopeful that some of the plans the state has outlined for Burr Oak will come to fruition by fall. We have worked hard to establish a nice campground and shelter house at Burr Oak so everyone is looking forward to the promise of getting a nice latrine, expanding camping across the road, and even more importantly the addition of trails. A new trail (or two) is being marked as this is written. We hope to try it out when our club heads there for Memorial Day weekend.
Wayne National has asked us to participate in a community fun day at Stone Church in September. We are currently discussing options as space is limited at the campground. One idea was pony rides but I’m not sure that is feasible for that venue. Details to follow.
Jayme Coakley, one of our newer members, is working with staff at the local BMV to obtain a guest speaker to talk to us about registering our trailers, when is it necessary to have them weighed, and most importantly any upcoming bills or laws addressing the CDL requirement for hauling. All of these are very important to us and we look forward to listening to what he or she may have to say. Thanks, Jayme, for working on this.
It’s been a few years since we ordered club T-shirts as we are no longer hosting a regional ride. That said, we are in the midst of a contest to design artwork for the new shirts. Not sure when we will have them ready or offer them for sale but I can’t wait to see what our members come up with this year. Put on your creative caps and bring your ideas. Plan is to have it settled so shirts can be ordered and ready for purchase at our Memorial Day ride.
A few of us girls are members of the Extreme Cowgirls group. Last year Carla Marshall and I joined the group thanks to an invitation from Heather Stengle and traveled to East Fork Stables in Tennessee along with Teresa Smith. This year the ride is at Pine Creek in Hocking State Forest and I’ve asked my sister, Brenda Lehman, to join us. It will be a wild and crazy time! With gas prices sky high I am thankful that it’s our turn to be near home base. There won’t be any out of state trips for me this year. I’m very fortunate that I was able to enjoy other states for the past two years. Rumor has it Teresa has bought a young mule, possibly gaited. It will be interesting to meet her new one though my understanding is mules take longer to develop and mature so it may be a couple years yet.
Julie Freeland won a trip to Michael Gascon’s ranch in Mississippi in March. Hopefully she can make it to a meeting soon and share her experiences and pictures with us. I personally have never heard of this guy but from what I saw on Facebook I am a one of the few. Also nice to hear that when something wonderful like this happens, folks can then tell everyone about it. Have fun, Julie!
Jill Thompson has a youngster that is finally of age to start breaking. He’s quite a looker and goes by the name of Legend. I’m sure she will keep us updated with her Facebook posts so we can see what a true legend he becomes. Check out the pic ture with this article. Donna Shade also is working on a youngster, Gemma. She’s come a long way with her already despite it being so early in the year. Love seeing all the training pics and stories about Gemma!
Lastly, we want to recognize Don Wagner for all his hard work and wish him a wonderful retirement. Don has finally decided to retire and start enjoying more trail riding with his lovely wife, Vicki. You deserve it, Don!
Our meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at the Top Hat in Junction City. Looking forward to seeing some new faces and sharing ‘horse tails’ along the way. Spring forward until next time. ~Marianne
Gemma
Don ready for retirement. Legend
PIKE
March 5 in Pike County was the most beautiful day I have seen in six months! Twenty-five members and two new prospects enjoyed a 75 degree sunny day and a potluck layout that would put Golden Corral to shame! Our existing officers most graciously agreed to continue their service for another year. Thank you!
We are going to have a busy spring and summer out on the maintenance trail. I am sure we
are all facing hours and hours of tree cleanup. We can also count on the forest crew to help. Hopefully by May we can start adding up our yearly trail miles.
We awarded our busy riders with trophies for the most miles ridden in 2021. Renee Cruea had 575 gaited miles and Debby Sears had 306 trotting miles! Our member of the year was Sharon Forman. Thanks to her for keeping all of our business in order! Another season of trail riding and maintenance has begun.
Please be safe out there! ~Debby Sears
PREBLE
I owe the chapter a huge apology, I have been a little lax in doing the Corral news. The chemo treatments just really kicked my butt and I was down most of this winter. But thanks to all of my friends and family with all of their prayers and good wishes I am back on the mend! Last chemo series was Feb. 1-3, so now we just keep praying that the Big C goes away forever.
We will be having a Spring Fling Show on April 30, from 10 a.m. ‘til 2 p.m. We will be having a fun ‘Let’s Do An Obstacle Course’ in the arena. It is free to any who wants to participate. In the afternoon we will have our regular speed show. Registration is at 2 p.m. the show will begin at 3 p.m. Come join us for a great beginning to our riding season and to celebrate spring. On April 24, the Preble County 4-H advisors are having their yearly tack sale, please support them as they are doing a big fundraiser for the upcoming year for the 4-H clubs in this area.
We started our monthly meetings the first weekend in April at the horse camp, weather permitting. Our meetings are the first Saturday of each month so if you would like to come join us feel free to come on out. If you haven’t turned in your membership application yet you can do that then too, or send it to me and I will get you registered.
I am working on our State ride flyer to get to Cindy Barnett and get the word out. October will be here before you know it! We will have our big raffle of a $750 Rural King gift card, and our dinner will consist of pulled pork, green beans, potato salad, cole slaw and desserts. We will also have drinks for those attending the meal. Check State ride, 2021.
out our ad in this month’s Corral with all of the information for the entire year.
Check our calendar for Soup Supper Friday night. All are welcome to come join us for soups that our members make. They are usually outstanding!
Everyone is welcome to join in on our State Ride for the camaraderie, the fun and the food! You do not have to be an OHC member to join in on all the festivities. The proceeds from State Ride help us to fund much needed trail fixes and general maintenance. If you see Dennis, John, Eugene or Donn out on the trail let them know if there are any issues that need tending to.
As this year gets to a better place we want to invite all horseback riders to come and enjoy the trails and campground at Hueston Woods State Park. Stay safe everyone, hope to see you out on the trails. Happy Easter and Mother’s Day and believe it or not spring is on the way.
~Becky
SANDUSKY
Hello, Sandusky County family! Has spring sprung yet? I’m hoping so! We just have to get through the mud, mud, and more mud to get to the great weather that I know is just ahead. I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and don’t forget to give your pony a special treat that day too!
We had a fantastic time at our annual awards banquet. Of course we started with the food. Hope grabbed pizza and everyone brought a side. After our fill of pizza and desserts we got onto the awards. We had 15 members turn in mileage for a grand total of 3,149 miles. High mileage went to Tony at 533 miles then Bob at 312. For the gals, it was Sandra at 432 then Annette clocking in at 358. Our high mileage youth went to Eden getting 112. Great job getting out there and keeping track of your mileage! Even if you only got five miles, any mile spent on the back of a horse is a good thing!
To see all the awards received that night, take a look at our minutes. We also had a big thank you to our long trusted board members that make sure these awards are figured up, minutes are typed, money is deposited, and the million other things they do that go unnoticed! Thank you Hope, Al, Faye, and Sandi!
We got approved for $750 in grant money. At a later meeting, we will be discussing which project the money will go toward.
This year, Sandusky County 4-H horse clubs will be offering points for trail riding that will go toward their year-end show season. We have agreed to assist with two rides, the first is on May 15 at Oak Openings and the second is June 25-26 at White Star. We
A few of our award winners.
Our High Mileage with his dog.
hope to see a lot of participation on both sides of this!
We had a table at the Sandusky County Equine event that was held at the fairgrounds. Our table was set up with information about our club as well as a few items for sale, and of course, Al took his educational ‘bag of bones.’
Hope everyone gets a chance to make it to Equine Affaire in Columbus this month! That is my favorite horse gathering and has been for years. I was at the very first one they had and never missed one since, besides last year that was canceled due to Covid. There is so much to learn at this event, I highly recommend it!
Our meetings are the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the First Brethren Church in Fremont. We usually meet for supper at 5:45. Visit our Facebook page under Sandusky County Horseman’s Council for up-to-date information. Also check out the state web page, ohconline.com.
Give your muddy four-legged partner a carrot and a kiss on his warm nose, life is good. That’s it for now my friends, see you soon! ~Marla Sidell
STARK
I love reading the Farm and Dairy newspaper and particularly enjoyed the last article Baxter Black wrote before he retired titled Where a Horse Matters. He liked being a person to whom a horse matters and living someplace where a horse matters. He felt that it put him in with good company such as Robert E. Lee, Teddy Roosevelt, Rudyard Kipling, Ray Hunt, Queen Elizabeth, Jerry Diaz, Casey Tibbs, etc. He said he also came to believe that you either are a horse person, or you aren’t. You see it in some children when they are first introduced to the horse. It is the beginning of a natural bond. Baxter Black counted himself very lucky that he got to be a part of the wonderful world of horse sweat, soft noses, close calls and twilight on the trail. He loved living a life where a horse matters. I do too! Enjoy your horse!
Until next time, happy trails to you!
~Jo Ellen
SUMMIT
The signs of spring are everywhere. By now you should have adjusted to the time change.
Silver Creek park.
On the plus side we have more daylight hours to deal with the whims of Mother Nature. Nothing says spring like the sound of horses sloshing around knee deep in mud or boots being sucked off your own feet trying to bring them in.
Our 2021 awards banquet was rescheduled for a third time to March 26 of this year. Of course, Covid was the culprit. This year was our first joint celebration with the Medina County Chapter. The menu was delicious and everyone was happy for the opportunity to get together, talk about the past two years and plan for the future. It proved to be a very entertaining evening. More details next month.
Local trail conditions are a very real concern to our members. Over the past few seasons, horse trails at Silver Creek Park have deteriorated even more significantly. They draw a large number of riders from local barns bordering the park and trail riders legging up their horses before trailering to more distant locations. The majority have no affiliation with OHC or 4-H. Kathy Cockfield arranged a meeting with Justin Simon to discuss what can be done to remedy or improve conditions. Currently, numerous problem areas have been identified but we are waiting for feedback on their plans. We partnered with the park some years ago on these same types of issues and provided material and manpower. Justin explained that they are willing to work on problem areas as there are funds available to do so. However, the problems are that repairs are contingent on weather conditions and hiring additional temporary staff to perform the work. The option of getting OHC volunteers to work with them was discussed but he felt it was not necessary. Also, some of the worst areas are in ‘designated wetlands’ which will require special consideration and treatment however small they may be. A general survey from park users indicated that they would like to have more multiuse trails in the future. Many current ride-arounds damage even more ground surrounding
It is FREE to add your Equine Event to the Corral Calendar.
Email your event(s) to michelle@thehorsemenscorral.com with the following information: Name of Equine Event • Date/Time of Equine Event Venue Name and Address of where event will be held Contact name and phone number
You may include an email and website address also.
Events will be added to the calendar in the magazine and added to our website. www.thehorsemenscorral.com
problem areas. Horse trails are designated as such but are used by a number of hikers, runners, and dog walkers as ground conditions permit. Thank you Kathy for acting as our liaison and keeping us advised as more information is available.
Another local trail destination is at Richfield Heritage Preserve which with OHC chapters’ help last year, expanded the horse trails at the former Girl Scout Camp. Molly Eastwood works is the liaison who helps coordinate efforts between Summit and Medina County OHC volunteers and park volunteers from the community. The park serves as our chapter’s meeting location during the summer and fall months. We are planning our 2022 fundraiser there in June. Members have access to ride when the trails are officially open to avoid damage and overuse. Our chapters have participated in numerous community activities throughout the years to show our appreciation and continued support for the work done to reestablish, maintain and expand the horse trails at the site. Our future fundraising efforts will help put a new roof on the summer barn.
Access to our horse trails is a privilege we don’t want to lose. ~Joann Ulichney
WARREN
I think it may be spring! Or as close to it as Ohio gets right now, since of course Mother Nature is a bit fickle in this area. But I’ll take it when I can get it.
First off, my apologies for the lack of article last month. I got the alert, as we are always sent, and usually that works very well. But somehow last month I just got sidetracked and it was two days after the deadline when I realized I’d missed it. Granted, there wasn’t a lot going on, being mid-winter. But I would have liked to remind everyone about the Great Tack Exchange and the need for volunteers. Hopefully since the information has been widely available, everyone remembered already.
The Over the Hill Gang has been working on a project, since getting onto the trails in the spring is iffy. As any of you who have been to the Caesar Creek horse camp probably noticed, the rail fence around the shelter house had seen better days. It was 40 years old, so that’s not surprising. It is now being Warren County OHC
replaced with a new board fence. It was started by putting the new posts in the existing holes, and one of the park employees brought a machine that pushed the posts down where they belonged. Saved a lot of time! The next part of the project was to straighten up and level the posts, and put the boards on. Well, we attempted that in February, but as you know, February was a bit cold. Posts were not going to move! But fortunately the first Wednesday in March was more amenable to that. So about half of the fence is done. We’ll finish the next work day, if things go according to plan. I’m including two photos from the session. One is of just the fence. The other is the fence crew: left to right is Tom Prudhoe, Dan Weber, Roger Pawsat and Harold McKeehan. Not pictured is Rick Wehrley, who was off on another project before I got to the photo stage. Once the fence is finished, the “No horses beyond this point” sign will be attached to the fence itself, rather than on some random post a couple feet in front of it (which I never understood, personally). I’m thinking we should add at least one more.
Equine Affaire is April 7-10 in Columbus. It will be good to have it back again, after 2 years off. The OHC booth is looking for volunteers also, if anyone is interested. There is information available through the state Facebook page and website.
Next month I should have photos from the Great Tack Exchange. I hope to see a lot of you there. And on that note, I’ll sign off so I make sure to get this in on time. Stay dry!