April 2001Newsletter

APRIL 2001 NEWSLETTER FROM THE SADDLE OF THE PRESIDENT

Well, what a month we have had! We began with a fabulous day at Anker Johnson's Ranch, with our Fun Day repairing fences. Thanks to all the club members that showed up. Thank you Ed Rodriquez and Ted Goershner for barbecuing for everyone. When the day was over, we all experienced tired muscles and could really appreciate the cowboys who fixed fences in the old days. We had 30 people helping and we completed 90% of 3000 feet of bob-wire and 300 stakes - a week's worth of work was done in one day. Our thanks also to Tori and Marsha Griggs for bringing coffee and donuts to get us started. The following weekend the club had the Dean Voight Clinic at my ranch which was a great success thanks to Marilyn Simandle. We had 20 people attend and fourteen horses. Please see Donna Crowe's article in this newsletter. See you at the next meeting on April 19th. Mike

THE LOS ALAMOS RIDE

Our thanks to Jeff and Jo Couch** for the ride held at their place on the 18th of March. Kim shared that there was a good turnout and it was a beautiful day - that the trails were interesting and fun and in spite of the bucking, jigging, laying down and totally stopping by a few of the horses, the ride went well. Plus, good food afterwards! Thanks to Kim, Leon and Ed - our ever faithful trail bosses! **A Couch tidbit. Jeff and Jo had a shipboard romance as college exchange students to Japan. Years later and following separate marriages, they accidentally met at Mammoth Mountain and rekindled the teenage sparks. Their wedding rings are engraved, "Made in Japan." Jo taught French grades 1st through high school in Beverly Hills.

Our sympathy to Henry Logan and family. We all loved Helen dearly and appreciated her so much! She will be greatly missed by so many.

Let's give a round of applause to Marilyn Simandle, Vicki and Mike Kappmeyer for organizing and hosting the Pat Parelli Clinic given by Dean Voight on March 24th and 25th. It was wonderful! Thank you. Helen Heyden, Donna Joyce, Diane & Donna Petersen, Don Mainard, Marilyn Simandle, Christopher and Linda Vaughn, Marsha and Tori Griggs, Irene Cunningham, Vicki and Mike Kappmeyer, Lil Rosen, Leslie Gillies and Donna Crowe marched into the arena with our horses to begin our partnership program. We were given tasks to do on the ground, which developed the attitude, focus, feel, timing, and balance we need for riding. It is amazing what a 12-foot lead line does for you! We learned 7 games to play with our horses, each of them so very helpful in establishing our space, comfort zone and getting the best out of our horses with the least effort. It is not quantity time, but quality time that counts. 15 minutes with this work out is better than overworking to exhaustion. Ask slowly, and reward quickly. We were all tired and our minds were full after the first day. The second day the horses were so much more responsive. It was awesome. Helen Hayden brought a new mare and having attended previous Pat Parelli clinics, she effectively moved that mare through the program. Don Mainard very patiently and methodically applied every game to his horse and even successfully rubbed him all over with the carrot stick and paper bag. Oh yes, I bet you don't know what a carrot stick is in a Pat Parelli clinic? You just have to ask one of us! Everything we learned on the ground the first day was applied as we mounted up the following day. Safety is #1 in the clinic. Chris Vaughn brought his young horse. It was amazing to witness how well this horse responded and how much more obedient and respectful it became. Irene Cunningham allowed Dean to give a loading demonstration with Boots and we all saw how we must not allow a horse to come to us for safety but to respond only to our instruction. Boots was so happy to step into the trailer on her own. We all had great experiences with our horse, ask any one of us and we will tell you all about it. I can't wait to tell you about my bareback riding experience with only a halter and 12 foot lead line! Happy trails. Donna Crowe

ED RODRIQUEZ WOULD REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO FIND THE WIRE CLIPPERS HE LENT OUT TO ONE OF US AT THE FUN DAY. THEY HAVE RED RUBBER HANDLES AND ARE OF GREAT SENTIMENTAL VALUE TO ED. ALL OF YOU THAT WERE PART OF THAT WORK DAY - PLEASE LOOK THROUGH YOUR TOOLS AND SEE IF JUST MAYBE THEY WERE PUT THERE SOMETIME DURING THE DAY. IF YOU FIND THEM, CALL ED AND MAKE HIM ONE HAPPY FELLOW!!! HIS NUMBER: 688-0679!

"MULE TRIVIA" By Joe Scales

With all the rain that we had this winter, isn't it nice to see such spring like weather again? Finally, we have a chance to get out and get things done such as repairing Anker's fence. And branding cattle, which had been delayed three times due to the rain. I have actually had a question from one of our faithful readers! Since Shirley and her mule Penny are going on competitive trail rides now, Leslie wondered if I could do an article on mules and competitive trail riding. But I have decided to hold that one until I can compile a little more info for all of you to enjoy. So, this month's question is one which I have been asked at least ten times. Two of those times were from horse breeders! People come up to me and say, "That's a mighty fine looking mule you got there, Joe. You ever think about breeding her?" I always think the people are joking with me until I finally realize that they actually don't know that mules are sterile. So the question is that since female mules come into heat, and since male mules like to do what all males like to do, whey do mules not have babies? First of all let me acknowledge that there are several very well known mule people who go around saying that female mules do not come into heat. Let me assure you that both Shirley and I own female mules and they most definitely come into heat! Now, there is very little documented info in the veterinary journals about mules. So for years we have been told that since mules are hybrid they have 63 chromosomes and since 63 is an odd number, mules are sterile. I have always doubted this because other animals with odd chromosomes reproduce just fine. So recently two universities did a study and they seem to believe that the male mule has such a low sperm count, and inferior sperm, that he cannot fertilize an egg. Secondly, the female mule seems to be incapable of producing an egg which can be fertilized. Let me also acknowledge that I have heard all the stories about a mule giving birth to a live foal. But every time you look into it, you will find that it was either a donkey or it was that famous mule in China back in 1524 that gave birth. The two schools rated the chance of a mule giving birth at more than ten million to one! Oddly enough, if a mule is made pregnant via embryo transplant, she will produce milk, give birth, and make an excellent mother. I have much more info on this subject, but this is getting a little long for the newsletter. So I will leave you with this fact - we all have photographic memories. Some of us just don't have any film.

NOT TOO LATE TO BE PART OF THE CACHUMA RIVER ROMP

The Santa Ynez Valley Arabian Horse Association is once gain hosting a competitive trail ride at Live Oak Camp, near Lake Cachuma. The ride will be held April 27-29, 2001 and is sanctioned by the North American Trial Ride Conference (NATRC). There are three distances available: The Novice division has a one-day (20 miles) and a two-day (30 miles) option. The Open division is two days, 50 miles. Trials are located on a beautiful private ranch. Live Oak Camp has all the amenities: hot showers, electricity and beautiful oak trees to shade your campsite. A Mexican dinner will be catered Saturday night. Competitive trial riding is a wonderful opportunity to see beautiful trials with your equine buddy as well as meet new friends who share a passion for horses and trail riding. If you would just like to come and observe or help out, we'd love to have you. For more information and an entry form, please call Virginia Schick at (805) 688-2522.

CHAMBERLIN RANCH RIDE

When: Sunday, April 22, 2001 Where: Chamberlin Ranch Ride Out Time: 9:30 a.m. SHARP!!! Please bring a lunch - take Figueroa Mtn. Road (off Hwy 154) one mile to iron gate on right - be there by 9:00 a.m. so that we can ride out at 9:30 a.m. SHARP! Any questions, call Kim at 688-4770.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING - APRIL 19, 2001

Find out about Chiropractic for Horses. It is our love for horses that makes us learn more every day about the many ways in which we can support them in staying healthy or regaining health. What does chiropractic actually do? Is there any risk involved? How would I know my horse could benefit from an adjustment? How can I find a good animal chiropractor? There are many other questions you can get answered by Ella Bittel, a veterinarian from Germany who has specialized in alternative ways of health care for animals. She is certified with AVCA, The American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and IVAS, The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society and will be with us at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19th. N-Z PLEASE BRING DESSERT!

Message from Tom Eyestone - Treasurer

03/26/01 BALANCE IN CHECKING ACCOUNT: $1,040.60

BALANCE IN SAVINGS ACCOUNT: 321.51 CD SAVINGS: 1,909.09

TOTAL DOLLARS IN OUR WAR CHEST: $3,271.20

NOTICE: Irene Cunningham has graciously agreed to take over as Membership Chairperson. Please make a note of this and refer your new member prospects to her at 688-2741. As always, completed applications and all checks should be sent to: SYV Riders P.O. Box 72 Santa Ynez, CA 93460 Irene will have an updated roster that will be included with your May 2001 newsletter.

OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR YEAR 2001

President Mike Kappmeyer 688-0524 Vice President Marilyn Simandle 686-1000 Secretary Vicki Kappmeyer 688-0524 Treasurer Tom Eyestone 688-7402 Cell Phone 680-0809 Past President Irene Cunningham 688-2741 Work 688-9947 Board Ted Deck 683-4832 Kim Gahan 688-4770 Donna Joyce 686-4291 Pam Stableford 688-2306 David Rosenthal Cell Phone 714-8444 2001

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS

Historian Marsha Griggs 688-3935 Hospitality Tori Griggs 688-3935 Insurance Tom Eyestone 688-7402 Membership Irene Cunningham 688-2741 Newsletter Leslie Gillies 688-2885 Parades Donna Joyce 686-4291 Publicity Mike Mellon 688-7989 Trail Rides Leon Reginatto 686-1126 Kim Gahan 688-4770 Cindy D'Alfonso 686-1332 Ed Rodriquez 688-0679

APRIL 2001 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

04/12/01 Board Meeting* 7:00 Donna Joyce's *Members welcomed

04/19/01 Membership Meeting 6:30 Anker & Marion's

04/22/01 Chamberlin Ranch Ride 9:00 a.m. Chamberlin Ranch

04/25/01 Newsletter Deadline* Leslie Gillies *Stuff to Leslie for following month's newsletter

06/10/01 Trail Trials (more info May newsletter) Chamberlin Ranch

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