February 2008 Paddock Paper

Northern New Mexico Horsemen's Association

President’s Message
Due to scheduling conflicts the Trail Blazer Festival scheduled for February 29 – March 3 has been moved back to November 7 – 9. I was going to report on this event but will share with you my take on “TRAIL RIDING.” Trail Riding has become a major part of the Equestrian recreational participation. According to a survey by the American Horse Council and the Back Country Horseman of America, the number of horse riders on the federal and state lands in New Mexico is estimated to be 37.7 horses per mile. That would be nose to tail, about as congested as you would want to be given the safety factor of one to two horse lengths between riders. From time to time I get a chance to talk with new riders or new horse owners that say “I want to learn to trail ride but I am not sure my horse is ready.” I plan to discuss some of the things riders can do to make their Trail Riding safe, enjoyable, and gain “experience” and “confidence” for both the horse and rider. I have found that it is a matter of applying what we already know to the trail environment we ride in. A while back I was doing some research for an article I was writing and realized I have only been “Trail Riding” since the mid 1980s when I joined that organization “Northern New Mexico Horseman’s Association - Ridge Riders.” However, I have been “Riding/ Working Trails” since the 1950s. I have applied my experience, training, knowledge and happenings [good and bad] to how I ride today. I still look forward to getting out on the trail with a few friends or a group ride. I always come back to the trail head better than when I left. I look forward to new experiences, applying new means of communicating with my ‘trail pard’ and reinforcing our relationship. More on this March 26. Oh yes, Karen keeps bugging me to share a poem or two. I have a special one ready and if time permits I will stick in one more. See you all at the meeting.

Eldon


Meeting Minutes
Eldon began the meeting shortly after 7pm.


Announcements

  • The Christmas party was a big success again this year. Karen has already extended an invitation to come again in ‘08, to which there was cheerful applause. She did ask, though, that someone help her come up with a new “theme”. We’ve already done hats, saddles, spurs, boots, etc.

  • Eldon spoke for a few minutes about the tragic death of Jessica Terrell who was the State Trail Coordinator. Eldon worked with Jessica on the Trail Advisory Board. A cairn will be built on a trail in memoriam. Now that she is gone, and John Massengill’s wife is retired there is nobody at present to review grants regarding trails.
  • This year is NNMHA’s 60th anniversary. Is anyone interested in forming a committee to put together an anniversary celebration? Maybe a special event or a fun day? There is a box full of memorabilia in the trailer. Someone who enjoys looking at historical items might be able to include that.
  • The brochure will be out soon. Eldon held up the three-fold colored sample. We will get about 1,000 of them. Roughly 350 will be used for membership mailing and the rest will be distributed in stores, etc.
  • NNMHA still needs a secretary. Lisa Gordon made the suggestion that the job could be shared between two or three people. However, that would have to be coordinated.
  • NNMHA has a bumper-pull water tank that is sitting on the grounds unused because our tractor cannot pull it safely. We’d like to sell it and get a plastic tank. We already own a pump that we can use with the plastic tank. Interested parties please contact Eldon.
  • An email from a member of the Horse Council in Corrales reported a robbery in their area and was reminding everyone to LOCK UP! If you’re not home be sure to lock your home and other structures that have anything valuable. Others in our group have heard about robberies happening in and around Santa Fe, too.
  • Betsy brought renewal cards and put them on the tables. Many people paid and joined/renewed right away!
  • Betsy asked for a couple of volunteers to help her do the upcoming mailing, stuffing envelopes, etc. It will be about a 350 piece mailing, which would go quickly for two or three people. She offered to cook dinner some evening. Anyone interested to help can email her via her email address link in the NNMHA contact page on the website. When the brochures are ready, she’ll call and see what date will work. We are hoping to do this in the next 10 days or so.
  • Lori Daggett told about a special opportunity offered to us by Christina Savitsky of Buckaroo Balance. She has 200 free tickets to give away to audit a clinic with horse trainer, Dennis Reis. The clinic will be held in Albuquerque at the State Fair Grounds on February 23th and 24th. For every ticket that Christina gives away, a dollar will be donated to Equistar, the therapeutic riding program where she works. Lori passed around a sign up sheet. If you are interested to know if tickets are still available, contact Lori via her email link on the NNMHA contact page on the website.
  • The first weekend in May is the big Quarter Horse event at the State Fair Grounds.
  • Sue Stevens mentioned a movie that we might like to see. It is called “2,000 miles” and is about two riders, one Russian and one American, who did a five-year horseback trip, part of which was in the Patagonia region of South America.
  • Board Meetings are open to the general membership and are the second Wednesday of the month at the Plaza Southside Cafe.


January Speaker
Our group enjoyed a great presentation by our friend Clint Mortenson. Clint talked to us about how a saddle is built, the different parts of the saddle, inside and out. He talked about how to fit a saddle to a horse, different saddle types, etc. There were lots of questions and it was a wonderful presentation. THANKS CLINT!


Calendar of Events
Monthly meetings are held the last Wednesday of the month (excluding September and December) at the Plaza South Side Café, 3011 Cerrillos Rd. at 7 p.m. Speaker begins at 7:30 p.m. Good idea to get there by 6:30 if having dinner. For more info contact Eldon.

February 27 – Bob Larison will speak about mules.

March 26 – Eldon Reyer will share his take on “TRAIL RIDING.”

April 30 – Roeliff Annon “Extreme Mustang Makeover Contest: Thrills and Spills” http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/65695. Roeliff won 11th Place out of 100 trainers selected to ‘train’ wild mustangs in 90 days.

May 28 – Greg Gillespie and Rachel Knorr from The Feed Bin will talk about types of feed and what to consider when selecting a feed. Greg is the manager of the Feed Bin. Rachel has her BA in Equine Science and her masters in Agricultural Education and is a Ranch-Way “feed specialist” and will be the main presenter.


Other Equine Activities
Be sure to check out the Other Activities Around Town webpage for more fun events to attend.


Advertisements
Boarding Opportunities:
Arrowhead Ranch – Quality boarding space available for your horse. 3 riding arenas, jump and trail courses, friendly atmosphere, large turnouts. Full service care. 3 miles west of Santa Fe Plaza on W. Alameda. 424-8888.

Tack for Sale:
Abetta cordura endurance saddle, 15" seat, western style with pommel but no saddle horn. Full QH bars. Black. Black. Nylon breast collar and 4" wide endurance stirrups. Total weight about 21 pounds. Asking $200. Trish Hug 471-7667 (h) 989-8181 ext 108 (w) trish_hug@hotmail.com or thug@outsidemag.com

Services:
Fine Equine art and portraits. 455-2624 or deirdre@swcp.com

Riding Lessons: Gettin’ Started or Startin’ over? Held at Arrowhead Ranch on W. Alameda. Call 424-7592

THE BLANKET LADY – Horse Clothing Cleaning & Repair Service – Carol Helms 505-438-1862 or cell 805-550-2533. Full Service horse clothing cleaning and repair service. Pick up and drop off available at Desert Wind Saddlery, 525A Airport Rd, Santa Fe, NM or by individual/facility arrangement. Please call for pricing.

RENT FREE CASITA IN EXCHANGE FOR HORSE CARE
Rent free beautiful casita, 850 sq ft. exchange for horse care during these exact hours, 7 days a week, only feed time flexibility is 1/2 hour. Please find a fill in during time off/vacations.
Work hours:
7-9am Feed, water, groom, muck
12:00-12:30 Feed
6:00-6:30 Feed, water, blanket (winter)
Furnished 850 square feet, tile floors, viga ceilings, clean, bright, portals, views. Utilities extra. Deposit required. Non smoking, pets okay. e-mail your info and your phone number please to andrew1santafe@yahoo.com


Officers
President: Eldon Reyer laespuela2@msn.com 466-6280
Vice President: Betsy Walker betwalk@hotmail.com 466-1038
Secretary: To be announced
Treasurer: Lori Daggett mldpac95@msn.com 471-2569 (cell)
Show Secretary: Susan Stanke Suemome@aol.com 699-6335 **New Number
Newsletter Editor & Webmaster: Trish Hug trish_hug@hotmail.com 471-7667
Ridge Riders Trip Leader and Groundskeeper: Matt Guenther guenthmn@yahoo.com 424-0148


Membership
New memberships are $20/individual and $25/family (max. 5). Download an application at www.nnmha.com – click on membership. Print, sign and send with a check to NNMHA, PO Box 4124, Santa Fe, NM 87502.

Your NNMHA membership card entitles you to receive the Paddock Paper, reduced fees for shows and stall rentals, and the use of the facilities on Rodeo Road (schedule permitting). Only members are allowed to ride on the grounds (except at shows). Call Barbara Rogers, 24-hour caretaker to arrange for stall rental 471-6654.