No hoof, no horse....

That would have been a fitting title for our last chapter meeting, held Monday evening at Clover Valley Equestrian Center. Pamela Smith, certified barefoot trimmer, gave an educational presentation, complete with slides and bones, on the structure of the hoof, the importance of balanced feet, and what to look for in a healthy, balanced foot. We all came away with a greater awareness of what to watch for in our horses, to assure they stay balanced and sound.


Other chapter business discussed Monday follows.

1. It was suggested to the chapter that we schedule a clinic with Kelly Cecil. Kelly is a trainer that works with natural horsemanship methods for groundwork and riding, teaching people how to build a stronger bond with their horse, gain a better understanding of how to 'speak' to our horses, and how to get the most out of our time with them. Kelly works in a group setting with up to six horses (and unlimited auditing). We don’t have an exact price or time yet (sometime in July is what we're shooting for), but Sharon does need to know how many people would be interested in such a clinic. If you’re interested, send her an email at wred.rider@frontier.com. She will let everyone know as soon as we get the time and cost worked out.
2. Clover Valley is hosting a Tack Sale on Saturday, June 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost for a table is $5. Please contact Myla Natvig at 503-260-9425 to reserve a spot. The sale will be advertised via local media. Their previous sale was a huge success for everyone that participated, so this is a good opportunity to sell things you no longer need, or to pick up things you may need.
3. We discussed having a trail clinic at Clover Valley Equestrian Center this summer. More information to follow.
4. Clover Valley is considering bringing in Debbie Spence for a dressage clinic. Because Debbie travels from Washington there needs to be a commitment for 18 rides over a Saturday and Sunday.  If you are interested in riding with Debbie, please send Sharon an email (wred.rider@frontier.com) so she can get a headcount of those interested.
5. Our next meeting is Monday, June 11, at Clover Valley Equestrian Center starting at 7:00 p.m. This will be a business meeting to finalize plans for the Ride-a-Test, and to complete the events calendar for the year. Please bring your ideas for clinics, speakers, or events that you would like to see happen.
6. Don't Forget. The Ride-a-Test is scheduled for July 7. If you have time to volunteer, please contact Jane Baer at englishrose@embarqmail.com.

Hope to see you at the June meeting!

A new partner for our president

In case you haven't heard, our president has a new pony!

Sharon went to Wisconsin to look at a Haflinger mare, but the mare just didn’t work out; they didn’t connect. The owner had this little guy hidden away. She thought he would be a good match for Sharon, and decided to make him available.

His name is Stepke; Sharon says she'll probably call him Steppy for short. He was imported as a weanling from Germany, hence the German name. Sharon was told Stepke means little guy, which is what she used to call Wred. He's five years old now but was just gelded in October; still, he’s very sweet and Sharon thinks he's going to be a lot of fun. He’s been trained to drive and ride, and Sharon had a chance to both ride and drive him while she was there.

Sharon says Stepke should arrive around May 10; she can hardly wait. It’s bittersweet, but she thinks Wred would approve. Both Wred and Stepke were both born on March 31; Wred in '97 and Steppy in '07. Do you believe in magic?

Sharon says, "How could I not have loved this face?"

"He will definitely need some cleaning up."

Memorial

On March 3, 2012, our member Shannon Salyer had to say good-bye to her dressage partner Waylon at our annual Bears Show.

Shannon wrote: "Waylon was born Tiz a Roani on January 17, 2001. He was a successful racehorse at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos. He was a gift from my best friend Jessica, who drove him 1,000 miles to be with me. He was a kind, gentle soul that taught me so much. He showed incredible potential in the dressage court."

Shannon's brother wrote the following:
"The pain that I felt upon hearing about this is indescribable. My sister lost her best friend yesterday. I'm glad that I had the chance to meet Waylon before he left. Having witnessed Shannon's growth as an equestrian through the years, Waylon was the apogee of my sister's life-long dream. I'm nothing short of proud of her for working so hard over the past 18 years to earn having Waylon in her life. He will never be forgotten."

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We will be meeting for a potluck wrap-up of the Bears show on Monday, March 12, 7:00 p.m. at Clover Valley Equestrian Center. Bring something tasty and join us!