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Hello,
Please accept my apologizes for the lateness of this message. In trying to
finish up the final details of the meeting/seminars and getting my house back
in order after dumping every thing at the front door last Sunday night, the
time slipped away from me.
I would like to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who battled the weather
to get to the Midwest Fjord Horse Club Winter Meeting. You all stuck with
us and were so easy to please. We had a great turnout in spite of the weather,
out of the 60 people who signed up, 45-48 were able to make it. Some came
on Friday night, but then had to turn around and go home on Saturday due to
the possibility of not being able to get back into their driveways and care for
their animals. We missed each and everyone of you.
The get together on Friday night was wonderful, the food was good and
everyone sat around and visited. Saturday morning we started a little late
with
our English Saddle fitting lecture give by LuAnne Reaumes from the Schleese
Saddle Company. LuAnne covered a lot of information on the structure of the
horse, the importance of having a good fitting saddle and the issues that can
come up if your saddle does not fit. The feedback from everyone I spoke to or
who privately e-mailed me was excellent and they appreciated the time she
took to answer everyone's questions. LuAnne even saved the day when the
Western
Saddle Fitting lady was unable to make it due to the weather. She went off
with those people who had questions and worked with them. I did not know at
the time but Schleese Saddle Company also makes Western Saddles. Thank you
to Sophie Fiedler, Pat Holland and Phil Odden for participating in the English
portion and to Kay Jim Barnhart for providing the horse for the Western
portion of the lecture.
Then after lunch Rich Hotovy and Bob Gudknecht gave a harness fitting
lecture for both Breast Collar and Draft harness. First, Rich went through
some of
the terminology for harness, then they fit the Breast Collar harness to the
horse, then the horse/harness to a cart and then provided a short driving
demo. Next came fitting a team with Draft harness and demonstrating how to
hitch a team to a wagon and then took the team for a short drive around the
arena. Thank you to Jeff and Lisa Lovett for providing the horses used in
demos.
Also thank you to Mike Sadlon, Tyler Schlickman and Phil Odden for their
assistance out in the arena proving help where ever needed.
People then went back to the hotel to relax while some of us stayed back to
get the smaller arena prepared for the Dinner/Meeting/Auction and Dance. The
caterers did a fantastic job with the food, the dessert was to die for.
Congratulations to all who won the Fjord center pieces, it paid to sit in the
right chair :) Syl and Anne Weyker put the Auction together this year and did
a wonderful job, they helped to raise $2,748 dollars for the club. THANKS
for a job well done!! There were many great items to bid on and no one went
home a loser. Rich Hotovy did a fine job as the Auctioneer. Our President,
Chuck Kelly led the meeting, took care of business and then we got on to more
fun. The band did a great job and some of us hung on and danced until 11:30
pm. Therine and Bob Gudknecht sure can cut a rug! By the time we left the
arena the weather was a bit better and the roads were not as icy.
Sunday morning started a little slow, Ben Eyster, our Clinician for the day
called at 6:00 am and canceled, but by 9:00 am called back and said the roads
were not as bad and did we still want him to come. We hurried around and
asked people if they were still interested and the answer was YES!!! So when
he arrived we got things started. Ben's clinics are for starting the young
horse, working with problem horses and helping people work with their horse,
first on the ground and then in the saddle. I consider what he does magic,
but
it is much more than that. Ben put on a great clinic and provided us with a
lot of info to process. Many of the people there are interested in getting
together and working with Ben at another time.
It was then time to say goodbye until July when the Club will hold it's
annual horse show in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Pat Holland, Show Chairperson,
promises another great show I for one am looking forward to this years
show
as I have final worked up enough nerve to try and show. I have been a horse
show mom most of my life and as a little girl have always dreamed of showing,
but did not have the nerve. This show and the great people who come to this
show have given me the courage to try. I have observed the last few years of
coming that everyone is encouraging and supportive to anyone who is showing.
I have seen people running around at the last minute to get someone
