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Trail RidingHorsemen Embrace Wildlife Opportunity in Western Kentucky
Many volunteers were members of the Western Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, a non-profit affiliate of Back Country Horsemen of America. BCHA advocates for continued, responsible horse use of public lands and provides information about conservation and maintenance of land and other natural resources used for equine-based recreation and travel. The Kentucky Horse Council provided volunteers as well. Western Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, formed in 2005, hosts cleanup days for the equine and hiking trails in the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area. This WMA, located in Union County, holds much appeal for those who yearn for access to the natural world. Acquired in 1968 by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the 5450-acre property has ridges and bottomlands; streams and lakes; wooded and cleared areas; wildflowers, butterflies, and birds of many kinds. According to Foreman Curt Divine, the WMA is most revered for its deer and turkey, particularly for bow hunting, and small game as well. 4,000-Mile Trip on Horseback Includes Stop at Kentucky Horse Park
WHO: Richard and Jeannette McGrath of Hearts Up Ranch WHAT: Press conference with a representative from the Lexington Mayor’s office, Kentucky Horse Park executive director John Nicholson, and the McGraths. WHEN: Wednesday, Sept 7, 4pm WHERE: Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena WHY: Richard and Jeannette McGrath are 3,000 miles into a 4,000-mile coast-to-coast horseback journey to raise awareness and funds for Hearts Up Ranch, a serene, working ranch established in Jackson, Wyoming where “emotionally broken people can find peace with both God and themselves once again.” Their ride began on March 4, 2010. They have traversed the deserts and mountains of the west, winter on the plains, and the flooding and storms of the spring on the same 4 horses (who will be resting and recuperating at the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center, located at the Kentucky Horse Park before finishing the last segment of the ride in Virginia Beach). www.HeartsUpRanch.com. HOW: Members of the media should go to the Alltech Arena. Past the parking booth, take the roundabout to Cigar Lane, then turn left on Alltech Way. The press conference will be held outside the main entrance (signs will be posted for alternate rain location). For more information please contact Equestrian Influence Media Department, www.equestrianinfluence.com, 615-830-1001, or info@equestrianinfluence.com. Cindy Rullman, Safari Ride to Raise Money for Starved and Abused Horses
August 24, 2011 – Monroe, North Carolina – The United States Equine Rescue League, Inc. (USERL) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, incorporated in North Carolina in the year 1997. This horse rescue organization is funded by private donations/fundraising, and staffed solely by volunteers. “All of the money raised goes to the starved and neglected horses that we bring into our Foster Home Network,” says Tracy Kloc, Regional Director of the USERL’s Central Piedmont Region of North Carolina. “We rescue abused, neglected, and/or abandoned equines; provide them with care and rehabilitation; and finally find them a compatible, loving home.” For information on events, volunteering, donating, fostering, or horses available for adoption, go to www.userl.org or www.userl-nccp.org. With the approaching winter months and an ongoing national economic recession, monetary donations have been extremely difficult to obtain. The organization is hosting a Safari trail ride at Why Not an American Ark (WNAAA) in Monroe, NC on Sunday, August 28, 2011. Ride between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The “safari” will be a hunt for stuffed animals along the trail. Bring back a stuffed animal and win a prize. The harder the animals are to find, the better the prize that will be attached to it! After the ride, enjoy lunch (concessions available) and continue to school your horse on the Ark’s cross country course, the new Extreme Cowboy race course, or go for a swim in the pond. You can also find out how your horse reacts to a real live camel or a zebra! There is also a covered arena, jump arena and dressage arena. If you don’t have a horse, you can still come out and enjoy the day on the walking trail! $15 to ride (your own horse). Current Coggins Required. Riders will have to sign a waiver for USERL and for WNAAA. WNAAA (http://www.wnaaa.com/) is located at the intersection of Medlin Road and Charlie Williams Road in Monroe, NC. For more information on the Safari ride or to make a donation, contact Deb Carl at dbcarl@bellsouth.net or 704-651-1831. For more information about the US Equine Rescue League, Central Piedmont Region go to http://www.userl-nccp.org/. Contact: Making Strides in the Ride for Hope! H. Rick Albertson photo by Carien Schippers There isn’t anything quite like being able to stand on your own two feet, but sometimes things happen that requires us to rely on our friends for support. That’s what drives the Equestrian Aid Foundation. Helping those who need a helping hand to stand again on their own. We have a special story of survival and hope from recipient H. Rick Albertson. Several may remember his story and I’m sure you will appreciate an update on this charismatic man. Also more exciting news with a recap of our day in the mountains. THIS JUST IN … Rebecca, a cancer survivor, has two handbooks for horse owners that will apply for the July promotion: Benefit for Chris Dunn
Lake Asbury Riding Association and North Florida Arabian Horse Club are hosting a benefit poker ride at Welaka State Forest on Saturday, May 21st for Chris Dunn. Ride Fee – $20.00 Pay the day of the event. Please RSVP so we know how many plan to attend. Chris recently had back surgery and due to complications afterwards is partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair. Chris and Dale own and operate Ravenwood Farm in Keystone Heights, which is in part a rescue operation for horses, dogs and many other animals. They have given tirelessly to the community by volunteering their time to work with local veterinarians to do microchip clinics, traveled to the Gulf States a few years back during the hurricanes to rescue horses and other animals that were lost and/or injured. Chris also teaches informative seminars on hurricane preparedness for horse owners. If you can’t ride but want to help, donation checks can be made out to CHRIS DUNN & mailed in care of Nancy Pooley, 2451 Quarter Horse Trail, Middleburg FL 32068. Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center Gears Up to Compete in Special Olympics Thomas Mickel represented VTRC aboard Belle in a Western Equitation class with the help of volunteer Jamie Miller during the Special Olympic Area Equestrian Games. Photo Courtesy of the Client. Wellington FL – March 16, 2011 – Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) is preparing to participate in the Special Olympic Equestrian Games. This weekend 39 riders from VTRC will be competing at the county games to qualify for the area competition. The Regional and State games will be held in April and May. The County qualifier will be held Saturday March 19, 2011 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. VTRC is providing ten of their 23 horses for this weekend’s event. Thirty-nine riders from VTRC and six from Haiti will be participating this Saturday. The riders will compete to qualify for the Area Special Olympic Equestrian Games April 2, 2011 at the Jim Brandon Arena. The competitors then advance to the State Special Olympic Equestrian Games in Tampa on May 20 and 21, 2011 and finally International Special Olympic Equestrian Games. Riders as young as 8 including more mature riders compete in the Special Olympic Games. This year’s competition includes a team of riders from Haiti. The Royal Inn has donated rooms for the athletes during their stay, with the help of Councilman Jess Santa Maria. Clinic with World Class Eventer While Vacationing in IrelandBoca Raton, Fl (March 7, 2011) – There is still time to book a ride with Olympic and World Championship medalist Karen Dixon while enjoying a riding vacation in Ireland. Having first represented Great Britain at the age of 17, Karen is one of the all time eventing greats. She has ridden in four Olympic Games and over fifty 4**** events. Further, she has won medals at all levels including team silver at the Seoul Olympics, plus team gold and individual bronze at the World Championships in Holland. Equestrian eventers may opt to ride in the clinic as the highlight of their holiday, or they may add an adventure ride through Ireland’s stunning countryside decorated with castles and ancient landmarks. From April 19 to 23 Karen will teach at Clonshire Equestrian Center, Adare, County Limerick, Ireland. Visitors will ride Irish Sport Horses trained by British Horse Society certified instructors. Four-star lodging is at the village of Adare’s Dunraven Arms Hotel, filled with old world charm and luxury. Adare has been tagged “Ireland’s Prettiest Village” and offers all the activities for which Ireland is known, including the equestrian action. Trey Young Joins HRTV’s Equestrian Programming on Tuesday, March 8ARCADIA, CA — HRTV (R) has treated equestrian fans to some of the sport’s greatest trainers and clinicians over the past year, and it will introduce another talented trainer, Trey Young, in his first television series ever — “Trey Young, An American Horseman” — to its viewers, beginning on Tuesday, March 8. The first in a series of Young’s valuable lessons will debut at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT. Shows highlighting Young’s expertise will continue on successive Tuesdays throughout March. An accomplished, relatively new face on the training scene, Young will be welcomed to HRTV from the family’s 3-Y Ranch in Crawfordville, FL, exhibiting a “natural horsemanship” style that encourages and fosters success for both the rider and horse. In the premiere weekly installment, viewers are introduced to Young as he begins training a precocious 2-year-old for its first-ever trail ride. In a later show, Young urges, but patiently guides, a 2-year-old through water on its first trail ride. In the weeks ahead, Young takes horses through an obstacle course, consisting of sinkholes, tunnels, and cowboy curtains. In addition, future episodes will feature Trey prepping a young equine protégé on the art of “Cutting.” “Team Roping” will also comprise a show, as Young and longtime friend, J. D. Elliott, demonstrate legal catches and conclude by “scoring a few steers.” About HRTV HRTV is a 24-hour, television-based multimedia network dedicated to horseracing which features racing action from the world’s greatest racetracks. HRTV also features other forms of equestrian competition, as well as original programming and award-winning documentaries covering a variety of racing and general equestrian topics. The live stream of HRTV is available on a subscription basis to high-speed Internet users worldwide at www.hrtvlive.com. The HRTV television network is presently available via cable, telco video and satellite in approximately 19 million U.S. homes. This is a new series starting Tuesday, produced and directed by an Ocala company. Brenden Martin and Jason Fugazy’s 26-part series on HRTV starts Tuesday night and features a real, authentic cowboy whose unique style of training has caught the attention of a national following. For more information, contact Jason Gazy, equineHBTV@gmail.com, or the following: Brenden Martin brendenmartin4@gmail.com, waterlightmultimedia.com; Jason Fugazy fugazyprostudios.com, fugazyproductions@gmail.com; BUDDY MARTIN, Martin Multi Media, buddyshow@aol.com. AQHA Hands Out 2010 High-Point AwardsThe American Quarter Horse Journal – At its annual convention in Grapevine, Texas, the American Quarter Horse Association handed out its coveted all-around high-point awards in the youth, amateur and open divisions. Molli Lyn Jacobs and Radical McCue won the Featherlite AQHA Youth All-Around High-Point title; Lindsey Stevenson and RL Cocoas Version won the Featherlite AQHA All-Around Amateur title; and Four Bonnie Bay, owned by Mike St. Clair of Kahoka, Missouri, won the Featherlite Open All-Around High-Point title. All-Around Youth “He’s very athletic and very strong,” says Molli, a high school senior at Garaway High School in Sugarcreek, Ohio. “You could put him through anything, and he’s going to come out stronger than before.” Summer Horsepacking Adventures with UC Davis Extension
Mustangs: A Living Legacy Track wild horses and relive the Old West in the seldom-visited Pizona area of Inyo National Forest. From a central meadow camp, riders track mustangs in their natural pinyon forest habitat. Observe and photograph mustang herds and wildflowers. Learn the social behavior of the horses and their current struggle. Enjoy spectacular sunsets of the Sierra and White Mountains while a cook prepares dinner over an open fire. This program is a special opportunity that combines a superb outdoor adventure and a unique educational experience in exploring the biology, ecology and behavior of a proud and beautiful animal — the North American wild horse.
Mountain Horsemanship: Veterinary Care and Horsepacking in the Wilderness 
This deluxe pack trip covers the essentials of horsepacking in the wilderness — with the Golden Trout Wilderness of the high Sierra as your laboratory. The instructor will discuss equipment, emergency veterinary care, feeding and managing livestock in the backcountry. Past participants have acclaimed it as an outstanding adventure. Lecture and laboratory topics include: wilderness conduct of people; trail riding safety and horse equipment; methods of feeding livestock in the backcountry; management of livestock; preventative medicine; evaluating the normal horse; treating a hurt or sick horse in the wilderness; packing equipment, fitting saddles, making loads, hitches and leading strings of mules; veterinary skills including physical examination, floating teeth, IM IV injections, applying wraps, animal restraint and aging horses; and shoeing. |
Morganfield, KY, September 5, 2011 – About 40 men, women and children gathered on August 14th near Morganfield, Kentucky to clear hiking and horseback riding trails at the Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area. Cicadas provided the music. Volunteers provided a rewarding lunch that included smoked deer meat sandwiches.
