GRCHA E-News

Great River
Classical Horsemanship
Association e-News
Our Website:http:/ /GRC Horse.org
Newsletter 2010-02
A USDF GMO
January 4, 2010
GRCHA members are automatically USDF members .
On-Going Activities
Riding Lessons at Windrush Hill Farm. Winter Schedule! Ann Bennett offers riding lessons for
beginners and experienced riders. Winter lessons are on Saturdays. Youth group lesson 1pm to 2pm,
be here to groom and saddle at 12:30pm; Adult group lesson 2:30 to 3:30pm, be here to groom and saddle
at 2pm: Group lessons on a school horse are $35 each. Group lessons on your own horse are $20 each
Private 30 minute lesson is $30 on your own horse, $35 on a school horse
For lessons off the farm, add a $5 trip charge per lesson per person
Email [email protected] or call Ann at 319-986-2199 to schedule a lesson either with a group, or
privately. Free to audit. For directions to Windrush Hill Farm, go to www.windrushhill.com. DO NOT
follow GPS or Mapquest directions as they are WRONG.
Roping/Cattle Working Practice. Check for the schedule before you come or send an e-mail request to
be on our activities e-mail list. Location: indoor arena at Dreamcatcher Stable, 18859 152nd Ave,
Sperry, Iowa. Contact Cheryl or Mark Lieurance at [email protected]
See http://northpinefarm.com/dcs.html
NOTE CHANGE! Private Dressage Lessons with Genelle Royer at Pat Pollpeter's Arena near
Donnellson are cancelled for the winter. Lessons will resume, weather permitting, later in February.
Lessons for GRCHA members are $30 each; for non-members, $35 each. Auditors free. Contact Genelle in
advance at 217-453-2409 or [email protected]
Riding Lessons in Fairfield. Ann Bennett is teaching lessons at Prematerra Farms on Wednesday
afternoon/evening. Call Whitney Jaeger at 641-919-3764 to schedule a lesson. There is a $5 trip charge
added to each lesson, so $25 for semi-private one hour lesson, $35 for private 30 minute lesson.
GRCHA Newsletter Page 1 of 13
GRCHA 2010 Calendar
To volunteer or update GRCHA activities, contact Diana Thrift, Vice President.
Send other items to Lora Conrad at [email protected]
Month
January 2010
JAN 5, 12, 19, 26 & FEB 2
GRCHA YOGA FOR EQUESTRIANS CONTINUES
MORNING STAR STUDIO
51 ½ S. COURT ST. FAIRFIELD, IA
East side of Square
Reference text: Yoga for Equestrians
Attire advised: sweat pants/sweat shirt/warm socks
Mats, blankets, cushions provided.
For More Info, call Jewel Marie Mc Donald at 641-472-4287 (One more date to be
determined) Time: 5:15-6:45 PM Contact Jewel regarding price for
individual sessions.
Jan 10, (weather backup date Jan. 31) 1:30 PM
GRCHA Drill Team Practice
at Windrush Hill Farm in Mt. Pleasant. Free. GRCHA Members only.
Contact Mary Doyle if you plan to attend so she can keep you up-to-date
on any weather related changes. Her e-mail is [email protected]
January19-24,
2010
February 2010
Jeff Griffith Clinic
Colt Starting & Horsemanship
Kirkwood Community College Equestrian center
Horsemanship 1 Class — 2.5–3 hours per day January 20-23, 2010
Session Start time 2:00 p.m Cost: $450
6-day Colt Camp — You work/ride your own horse all 6 days January 19-24, 2010
Session Starts 8.a.m Cost: $600
See: www.jeffgriffith.com
Phone: 406-570-5800
Information & Reservations: [email protected]
Feb. 11 and 12 7:30 PM Lipizzaner Stallion Show, BRIDGE VIEW
CENTER ;102 Church Street; Ottumwa, IA 52501
TICKETS: Gold Circle seats are $26.50 each (No discounts apply).
Regular admission tickets are :adult tickets, $22.50 each. Discounts
available for children and seniors; $1 facility fee.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! at the Bridge View Center box office
and all Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com
GRCHA Members Night Out: Currently eight of us plan to go to the
show on Friday Feb 12 and dine before the show. Pat Pollpeter, Becky
Hassman, Lora Conrad, Marsha Achenbach, John and Ann Bennett, Art
and Judy Duke. So---if you'd like to join us, buy your ticket and let Lora
know so she can reserve restaurant seating for us. We plan to meet at the
restaurant at 5:30 PM. Note: The Agency Gallery & Deli has closed
after 21 years of operation---so we will need another place for dinner.
GRCHA Newsletter Page 2 of 13
Lora is investigating a possible place to dine about 1 mile from the Bridge
View Center. Let Lora know if you have a suggestion for where to dine.
May 2010
May 10, 11, 12 9am – 5pm Bob King Horsemanship Clinic
DreamCatcher Stables, Sperry,Ia Mark & Cheryl Lieurance
CLINIC FEE - $435 ;$100 non-refundable deposit required.
Class size is limited to 10 riders (**Six slots already reserved!**).
All levels of riders are welcome! Come out and learn the
traditional Vaquero style of riding and making soft, supple horses.
Your horse will be glad you did. Call 319-759-5679 for more
info or contact Cheryl at [email protected]
May 13, 14, 15 - 9am-5pm Bob King Ranch Roping
DreamCatcher Stables, Sperry,Ia Mark & Cheryl Lieurance
CLINIC FEE - $435 / CATTLE FEE - $35; $100 non-refundable deposit required.
Class size is limited to 15 riders.
All levels from beginners to seasoned ropers are welcome!
Learn how to handle a 60’ rope and swing a variety of loops like the houlihan, scoop
loop, hip shot, del viento, and the Johnny Blocker.
Auditors are welcome for $25/day - Meals available on site
Send deposit checks to: Dreamcatcher Stable, 18859 152nd Ave. Sperry, IA 52650
Make checks payable to: Cowboy School Inc.
June 2010
June 23-27 Adult Dressage Camp at William Woods in Fulton, MO/
Instructors are Vicki Hammers-O'Neil, Stacey Schettkoe Hastings and
Sarah Geikie. Contact: Terri Becker, KCDS Adult Camp Organizer2010, [email protected]
July 2010
July 24 ITRA Trail Clinic at Brushy Creek State Recreational Area,
Lehigh, IA; from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Denise Schieffer, President of
ITRA, says, "Stay tuned for more information. I think this clinic will be mostly
how to ride obstacles on a short 10-mile ride. Clinic participants AND HELP
are needed. No experience necessary to help--we will train. A pleasure ride
could be in the works for Sun.".
September
2010
Sept. 17-18 Dave Smith Fall Fiesta CTR at Brushy Creek State
Recreational Area, Lehigh, IA from Friday at 2:00 pm until Sat. at 5:00pm
Denise Schieffer says, "Either to compete or just help out, you are welcome! On
the job training for those willing to help! Horses not required for all jobs!
Come learn about competitive trail riding, which will help you in your day-today pleasure trail riding also!"
GRCHA Newsletter Page 3 of 13
Feature Photo
John Bennett is doing genealogy research and found this picture of his great grandfather, Jeff
Bennett, from Adair, Illinois with this fine looking Morgan horse. The Morgan stud book shows an
Osceola Tranby, a 15 hand bay, registered by Jeff Bennett, don't know if it is the same horse.
GRCHA Newsletter Page 4 of 13
Letter from the Prez.........
Dear Members,
Dena McCulloch, GRCHA Treasurer for 2010,
came over and spent about 3 hours with me
learning about GRCHA insurance, membership,
rosters, the USDF GMO website and forms,
Federal IRS and Iowa State tax and filing
requirements, etc. Dena is familiar with Excel
spreadsheets and contracts through her work and
was not a bit intimidated by any of these
things. We went to the bank and got the bank
account address and signature card changed
over, so she now has the checking account,
membership records, and treasurer records for
Great River. If you have not joined GRCHA for
2010, send your dues to Dena. She is going to
be a great assett to our club! Thank you Dena
for taking the time and taking responsibility!
(Mailing address: Dena McCulloch, PO Box
102, Gladstone, IL 61437)
Diana Thrift, GRCHA Vice President for 2010,
has sent out a nice email looking for a host for
our Soap, Soup and Saddle meeting in February,
so that will be the first event to start shaping up
our calendar for the year. Diana will be
planning our Calendar of Events, let her know if
you have any ideas and don't be afraid to
volunteer to host an event! Thank You Diana!
[email protected]
Judy Duke, GRCHA Secretary for 2010, is reorganizing her secretary records so that we can
keep track of year end financial reports, calendar
of events and election of officers, so we have a
good historical record. Besides our meeting
minutes, Judy publishes a recap of events
for each year and wow, what a list! Thank You
Judy! [email protected]
Lora Conrad, GRCHA newsletter editor, has
been busy working on not just the newsletters
but a new website program! Check it out at
www.grchorse.com! Thank you Lora for your
interest in building and supporting a good club
for the membership - educational, informative,
thankful, and welcoming to all. You make so
many efforts to keep everyone involved and
encouraged to participate through photos, prizes,
articles and events. [email protected]
For your new year resolutions, Becky Hassman
is collecting member "Goals for 2010" in a time
capsule. If you want to think about that, write
down any short term or long term goals and
email them to Becky, she will save for us and
return to us at the GRCHA Christmas Party
2010. These are just for you, and not shared
with the membership unless you choose to share
them. It has been proven that the time you
spend thinking about this reaps rewards and
people are often surprised that they really did
achieve many of the stated goals or can see they
made good progress in that direction.
[email protected]
Mary Doyle is our faithful Drill Team organizer
and already has a January 10th date set - let not
snow, nor sleet, nor rain stop us!
[email protected]
Jewel MacDonald of Morningstar Studios is
teaching the "Yoga for Equestrians" class in
Fairfield this winter and may be offering
additional classes in Keosauqua. Contact Jewel
at [email protected]
I am learning how to breathe deeply, identify and
use muscles I didn't know I had like the psoas,
relax and supple muscles and joints, improve my
posture, find my center of balance, align my
body from head to toe, and "allow the natural
intelligence of my body" to take over. Whew....I
need more sessions than 8, but it is a start.
Happy New Year to all and
wishing you all many
blessings in the coming
year!
Ann Bennett,
GRCHA President 2010
[email protected]
GRCHA Newsletter Page 5 of 13
Accolades for John and Lynn Boomer
The Dressage Foundation was founded by
Lowell Boomer in 1989 “ to cultivate and
provide financial support for the advancement of
Dressage.” John Boomer, President and CEO,
and his wife, Lynn, Administrative Director, as
sole staff members, have led, administered and
managed The Dressage Foundation for the past
eleven years. They have recently retired after
spending a year working with Lendon Gray as
the new Executive Director of the Foundation.
Over the years, they have helped many people
become better riders, better teachers, and better
practitioners of dressage. This little GMO is
amongst those helped by The Dressage
Foundation.
Below is the correspondence sent by our
President on behalf of GRCHA in honor of their
service to The Dressage Foundation, and their
response.
Dear John and Lynn,
It was with sadness that we read that
you are retiring from The Dressage
Foundation. We are a new GMO
with a small membership and we
applied for a Violet Hopkins grant.
It was approved to help fund our
first dressage clinic for 8 adult
students by defraying the cost of
transportation and travel for the
clinician to come to this rural area of
southeast Iowa. Violet said "The
unity between human and horse is a
precious quality that sinks into the
soul,
making
life
more
meaningful." The instructor was
Ilona Radelow from San Diego and
you requested that we include
educational time learning more
about the training
tree/pyramid
which was very valuable. This was
the first dressage clinic for some of
these adult amateur members who
were intimidated by the prospect of
riding for three days under
instruction. All participants were
dedicated students who audited many
of the other lessons and enjoyed the
benefits of immersion in this sort of
venue.
We appreciate your efforts to make a
difference in the quality of
horsemanship and understanding of
dressage practiced in the United
States. Our lives and our horses
lives are better for it. On behalf of
our membership, THANK YOU for
your service to The Dressage
Foundation.
Sincerely,
Ann Bennett, President, Great River
Classical Horsemanship Association,
a USDF GMO
Dear Ann,
Yours is a very special letter. We
appreciate the kind words, and your
thoughtfulness in taking time to put
them down on paper. We have loved
our decade of leading The Dressage
Foundation, and are pleased with the
progress the Foundation has made.
We are very proud of our new staff,
whom we have worked hard to train
this year. We thank you again for
your very nice letter. Best wishes for
the New Year! Thanks again, and we
wish you and GRCHA a great
learning experiences in the future.
John
and
Lynn
Boomer
We will be 'reachable' in the future if
you use the Contact page of The
Dressage Foundation's website.
Messages will be forwarded to us at
our home address which is above.
GRCHA Newsletter Page 6 of 13
Member News.....
(Maybe we need to re-title the following entry
as “Envy Time...”)
Yvonne took time out of her busy Arizona
schedule to write us on Christmas Day: I hate
missing all the gatherings, but I guess that's the
sacrifice of spending the winter in AZ! But I've
been able to get a lot more riding in! Even got
my 81 year old dad up on my old Scotch and
went for a nice ride, he really enjoyed it. Hadn't
been on a horse for over 20 years. My new
horse and me have been getting on very well.
Christmas day has been a beautiful one here,
temps 54 degrees and just came back from a
nice long walk after Christmas dinner (could go
out without a jacket, just a shirt and actually got
warm) Although we had a rough night two days
ago and got snow and high winds.
Extend a warm welcome to Jessica
Uhlmann ...new member and youngest
member so far for 2010 who will celebrate
another birthday on January 9th!!!
Jessica wrote a little about herself and her horses
for us and included the photos below. We look
forward to meeting her, Brandt, Tasa and Sunny.
Contact Jessica at [email protected]
Happy Birthdays!!
Debra Schmitt is celebrating another
birthday on January 5th—today!! (Lora's
note: It should make you feel younger, Deb, to
know that I was out of high school before you
were born.)
Jessica's palomino overo Sunny
as a baby.
Sunny is my little palomino overo. She will be
2 years old in 2010 and is a registered paint.
Tasa, the sorrel, is a solid paint and is Sunny's
mother. She will be turning 14 in 2010! I
bought her as a weanling. Sunny will go to
Ann's this coming summer to be broke to ride.
I'm very excited about that.
Deb and Verne Schmitt relaxing after
our GRCHA trail ride at River
Valley Campground in October.
Jessica's mare Tasa
GRCHA Newsletter Page 7 of 13
Tasa and I enjoy trail riding but we also
work with cattle occasionally at my parents
farm. I have bought myself a rope for Christmas
and that is my new goal for myself- to learn
ranch roping! I'm hoping to make it to a Bob
King
clinic
in
the
future.
That is, of course, my husband Brandt and I in
the people picture. We just celebrated our one
year wedding anniversary in November. We
enjoy traveling, horseback riding, and relaxing
with friends and family when we have
downtime.
Brandt's family owns and
operates Uhlmann
Furniture
Stores
in
Williamsburg and Grinnell. It is a family run
operation as his brother, mother, father and
grandparents all are employed there. He works
for them full-time doing anything from snow
removal to balancing the books. I work as a
full-time nurse at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.
We live in Williamsburg with hopes of someday
owning our own farm in the country, but for
now my horses live with my parents near North
Liberty.
Iowa Trail Riders Association Survey
If you haven't yet completed the ITRA survey,
please due so. It is only 10 questions. Thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L3V6NWS
Denise Schieffer,
2009-10 ITRA President
_______________________________________
Web-Walking
Got a Quarter Horse that's not Registered?
Ann Bennett sent the following:
For owners with older unregistered QH, you
have until 12/31/2010 to register the horses at
reduced registration rates. The AHA just
finished offering reduced registration rates for
older Arabians on 12/31/2009, but who knows,
they might extend the grace period upon
request.
http://www.aqha.com/news/2009PressReleases/0
8032009_reducdedregistration.html
_______________________________________
Are your Horse's Hooves correctly shaped?
Ann Bennett found this article describing hoof
measurements and their relationship to the
functionality of the horse. The meaning and
appropriate range of measurements like the
Palmar angle, sole thickness, distance between
heel points, etc. are explained and illustrated. A
valuable article for helping you assess your
horse's hooves.
http://www.eponainstitute.org/images/Value_of_Measuring.pdf
_______________________________________
Stealing their Breath....
Excessive poll flexion literally steals a horses
breath, as discussed in
http://horsesforlife.com/content/view/1573/1361/
The findings of this study demonstrate that
dynamic obstruction of the URT is a common
cause of poor performance in sport horses and is
frequently complex in nature. Excessive poll
flexion is an important contributing factor.
From the University of Bristol UK confirming
earlier study
Dynamic Obstruction is the process when the
horse breathes in and the trachea, which is not
attached to anything, begins to collapse because
the force of the lungs is so incredibly powerful.
The lungs try to overcome the bend in the
trachea from nostrils to lungs. The trachea is
GRCHA Newsletter Page 8 of 13
better supported when the horse extends head
and neck, such as a horse galloping. A horse
behind the vertical has an exponentially more
difficult problem breathing in. Which is why
excessive poll flexion is considered a factor
_____________________________________
Watch and Weep--at the horror of a Blue Tongue on a Horse at
“World Cup” Competition
when you need to disinfect everything from a
hard surface to a wound. This is a really
excellent reference we can all use to be sure we
make the correct choices. It was published by
Iowa State University, in pdf format, and is 22
pages long.
This video was referenced in numerous articles,
and this occurrence has caused much outrage.
Ann Bennett found it on youtube at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=8hIXGiV4N4k
What to do with all those old Tires....
The poor, abused horse is KWPN Stallion
Watermill Scandic ridden by Swedish Patrik
Kittel during a two hour session of various
degrees of hyperflexion at the World Cup
dressage qualifier in Odense, Denmark .
____________________________________________
_
Horses Butchered Daily near Miami.....
Glitzy Miami-Dade and Broward Counties in
Florida are believed to be home to 70 to 100
illegal back-yard horse slaughter operations,
selling horse meat to a largely Cuban
community.
Horses are often stolen or slaughtered in their
owner's fields, or bought for $50 to $100 from
people unaware or uncaring about the fate of
their horses.
The investigative work is being done by the
South Florida SPCA.
Read the full story at
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/28/illegal.slau
ghter.farms/index.html
_______________________________________
Disinfection 101:
Print it and keep it in the barn right next to your
bar of soap, you bleach bottle, your alcohol
bottle and your hydrogen peroxide---then you'll
know which one to reach for and how to use it
http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/BRM/resources/Disinfecta
nts/Disinfection101.pdf
____________________________________________
Marsha referred us to some fantastic tire art. For
horse sculptures from tires in Dubai, see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14929597@N05/sets/72
157622034715834/show/with/3348690374/
_______________________________________
Search is on for Shooter....
Ann saw this notice about a search for the
shooter of two Arabians in Arroyo Grande, CA...
http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/crime-andcourts/article_6199ea22-f658-11de-bb02001cc4c002e0.html
____________________________________________
National Theatre in London WAR HORSE
Denise Schieffer found this youtube link to a
demonstration of the wire horse puppets from
the hit theatre production War Horse
at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=tpyD3ABIHI4&feature=related
War Horse is a thrilling and spectacular
production based on the celebrated novel by
Michael Morpurgo. The First World War is the
backdrop for this tale of bravery, loyalty, and the
extraordinary bond between a young recruit and
his horse. See
http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/warhorse
for further information about the book and the
production.
The horse puppets are spectacular—take a look.
_______________________________________
GRCHA Newsletter Page 9 of 13
$ell $wap & $eek $hop......
Want something listed? Need a copy of the
complete advertising policy? E-mail Lora at
[email protected]
(Ads free to current
GRCHA members, up to ¼ page per issue. Fees
apply to ads listed by all others.
)
_______________________________________
For Sale: 2003 purebred Arab mare, liver
chestnut, named Helen's Dream. Just 14'2"
tall, would make good youth horse or small
adult horse for competent rider, not a packer.
Cute, likes attention, sound, no health issues,
good ground manners, nice riding horse.
Started under saddle by Ann Bennett, and ridden
by her sister in California for the last 2 years,
trail ridden all around the hills of San Diego so
seen a lot of urban obstacles, traffic, rocks,
creeks, tomato fields, bridges, etc. Ridden
dressage and jumping small cross poles. Raised
and owned by Frank Schuster, for sale $3500.
Contact Ann Bennett, at 319-986-2199, email
[email protected] , see advertisement on
page "horses for sale by owners" at
www.windrushhill.com
At a November trail-ride at Sockum Ridge,
Cheryl Lieurance made this photo (l to r) of
Cory Craig and her horse Max, Martina
aboard her half-Lipizzan mare, Ann aboard
Dreamy, and Judy on Hawk. Both Dreamy and
the half-Lipizzan mare are are for sale in this
issue.
For Sale: 13-year-old registered 1/2 Lipizzan
mare for sale for $1,000. She has been driven
with a cart 3 times to date, has been camping and
trail riding, and has never been bred. She needs
a kind, experienced person and a custom saddle.
Her trot has a lot of suspension, and she has
shown a natural ability for high school
movements. Her sire is Pluto II Dixana II, and
her dam was an Arabian mare with lost papers.
To an excellent home with large pasture.
Martina Poggenpohl [email protected]
319.530.0197
_______________________________________
For Sale: Daan, black,18 year old,
15.1 registered half-Arabian mare; a big solid
mare, very kind, well educated and responsive.
If you are looking for a family horse and
something reliable to use for lessons or trail
riding, she is it. Horse owned by Jane O'Boyle
(Ann's sister) who has stated: “ price
is$3500. Daan comes with all her tack, --saddle,
blankets, pads, child's English saddle, bridles,
etc. I am willing to ride her for 30 days before
she leaves. “ Contact Ann Bennett at
[email protected]__________________
For Sale: 16" Veach roping saddle.
$400. Contact Deb Schmitt at 319931-8039 or [email protected]
GRCHA Newsletter Page 10 of 13
Wanted: Serviceable old horse sheets/
blankets, OK if need minor repairs, would like
to have hardware/buckles intact, don't have to be
"pretty". I want to sew a wool liner into some
serviceable old horse sheets to use as a cooler.
Contact Ann Bennett [email protected]
or call 319-9862199.
______________________________________
For sale: Arabian Stud Book Collection:
volume 5 (1950ish) through volume 42 (1982).
Paid $300 many years ago. Make offer. Martina
Poggenpohl [email protected]
319.530.0197
_______________________________________
For Sale: Freeform Treeless All Purpose/
Endurance/ Dressage saddle. Retail is around
$1,500 (purchased from Action Rider Tack)
Must sell: $850 or best offer. My horse's
withers are too high—great for low to no
withers. In good condition, 3 years old, with
knee blocks, thigh blocks, 17 inch removable
seat, leather bottom lining, adjustable buckle
stirrups & fillis irons with pads. 4 front d-rings
and 4 rear d-rings and has "full"
girthing. Martina Poggenpohl
[email protected] 319.530.0197
______________________________________
Wanted: driving harness for average size
horse. Martina Poggenpohl
[email protected] 319.530.0197
Wanted: dressage saddle for 1/2 Lipizzan with
high withers, deep back drop, and steep forward
girth groove. Maybe an old Sttuben? Martina
Poggenpohl [email protected]
319.530.0197
FOUND! Someone left a small blue and pink
floral serving dish (Freesia name on back) at
Ann's house . [email protected]
Lora's Two-Bits.....New ideas, features, articles,
photos, etc are welcome and will help make this
a better newsletter. Next issue scheduled mid
January.
Lora P Conrad
GRCHA Newsletter Editor
Minutes: GRCHA Annual Christmas Party
and Meeting December 5, 2009
Submitted by Judy Duke Secretary/Historian
The meeting and party were held at the home of
Dena McCulloch and Randy Gable in Gladstone,
Illinois. Members present were Lora Conrad,
Marsha Achenbach, Kathy Reed, Pat Pollpeter,
Genelle Royer, Debbie Schmitt, Tara Whitnah,
Becky Hassman, Ann Bennett, Judy Duke, Dena
McCulloch, Randy Goble, Kathy James, and
Sarah Luebbert. .
The meeting was called to order by the President,
Becky Hassman. She thanked Dena McCulloch
and Randy Goble for hosting the party, Dena and
Debbie Schmitt for their work on the Awards
Committee, Lora Conrad and Bonnie Moothart
for their work on the Officers Committee, Ann
Bennett for stepping in to cover Membership
responsibilities along with the duties of
Treasurer, 2009 Officers(Judy Duke for her
summary of activities), and 2009 Newsletter
Editor, Lora Conrad. Becky noted that Ann is
working on an Officer History.
Pat Pollpeter will celebrate her birthday Dec. 26,
Art Duke will have one on Dec. 22. Becky
Hassman is a new Grandmother, Madison Jo
was born on Dec. 3, 2009, and weighed 7 lb, 13
oz.
The minutes of the Oct. 6, 2009, meeting were
read by Judy Duke. There were no corrections or
additions. A motion to accept the minutes was
made by Lora Conrad, the motion was seconded
by Ann. Motion approved.
It was noted that the trail ride at Shimek the day
after the meeting found the trails improved and
the riders enjoyed the trip. Becky Hassman,
President, sent a thank you to Shimek personnel
and signed it “Taxpayers from 4 different
counties”.
The Treasurer’s report for 2009 was given by
Ann Bennett. For the Jane Savoie study group
the fee was $25 and $180 was collected. The
Jane Savoie materials are available, contact Ann
GRCHA Newsletter Page 11 of 13
if interested. If you want an upload of the
written material Becky can e-mail it to you.
The balance at the beginning of the year was
$1245.80. The balance at the end of the year
was $1390.61.
A motion to accept the
Treasurer’s Report was made by Marcia
Auchenbach
and
seconded
by
Dena
McCullough. Motion approved.
The entire Treasurer’s report can be seen in the
December, 2009, e-Newsletter.
Committee Reports: The Membership Report
was given by Ann Bennett. We have 6 new
members, 23 renewels, membership stands at
32. The new members are Randy Gable, Verne
Schmitt, Sarah Luebbert, Kathy Reed, Becky
Grier, and Jessica Uhlmann.
The Annual Activities Review was given by
Judy Duke. This included GRCHA sponsored
events as well as horse activities sponsored or
supported by GRCHA members. It was noted
that it might be a good idea to have the Drill
Team practice covered by insurance, also. The
Review can be seen in the December, 2009, eNewsletter.
Old Business
The next meeting of the Drill Team will be Dec.
13, 2009, at 1:30 PM at Windrush Hill Farm.
The coordinator is Mary Doyle. It was noted
that several husband and wife teams were
participating. Lora Conrad mentioned that she
may bring Kalan.
Insurance Application: Becky Hassman checked
with Ann Bennett for any information needed.
Six mounted events are covered for a flat fee of
$400. Each additional event is $50. Genelle
Royer commented that this is a very reasonable
fee. Ann reported that every year they attempt
to increase the price and she has been able to
keep the cost down.
Winter Study Group: Yoga for Equestrians with
Jewel Marie McDonald
Ann Bennett reported that the free session on
Dec. 1, 2009, at Morningstar Studio in Fairfield,
Iowa, was attended by Sandra Moradi, Lora
Conrad, Ann Bennett, Marsha Achenbach,
Martha Wick, and Judy Duke. This is Hatha
Yoga in a very clean, attractive atmosphere.
There is a Chocolate/Tea Shop next door that is
nice for meeting before the session.
The
breathing exercise was fantastic. It is $100 for 8
sessions. Jewel will be using the book Yoga for
Equestrians by…
New Business
2010 Calendar:
The Vice-President is
responsible for the calendar. Some of the
suggestions included another Lunge Day, a Play
Day/Games on Horseback.
Lora Conrad
expressed interest in hosting this. Another
suggestion was an Obstacle course with
everyone invited to bring a “scary” object. The
Drill team will be included.
Election of New Officers: Lora Conrad and
Bonnie Moothart presented their slate of officers:
Ann Bennett, President, Diana Thrift, VicePresident, Dena McCulloch, Treasurer, Judy
Duke, Secretary/Historian. The officers were
nominated by Lora Conrad. There were no other
nominations. Motion approved by Judy Duke,
seconded by Kathy Reed. So moved.
Map of Member’s Locations: Lora presented a
map showing the present member’s locations. It
covers 70 miles East to West and 100 miles
North to South. Mount Pleasant is in the center.
The area includes SE Iowa and part of Missouri
and Illinois. Lora commented that this is a good
group who care about their horses and each
other. We get new ideas from each other and
appreciate new members.
It was noted that Diana Thrift was unable to
make the meeting because she was supporting
her daughter who was being interviewed for Vet
School.
Gifts from the club were presented to Becky
GRCHA Newsletter Page 12 of 13
Hassman as outgoing President and one who has
served the club for many years and Lora Conrad
for her superb e-Newsletter. Cards with photos
for Becky and Lora were made by Judy Duke.
GRCHA presented a GRCHA cup to Becky as a
Leadership Award- President. Becky gave Lora
a covered lasagna pan with her name on it in
appreciation of her work as Editor of the enewsletter.
GRCHA 2009 Awards were announced by Dena
McCulloch and Deb Schmitt presented the cups.
Dena read a special note to the members
appreciating all their contributions and
explaining how hard it was to make a choice. A
copy of the awards list can be seen in the first
December e- Newsletter. Dena was awarded the
Volunteer of the Year award.
The meeting was adjourned by the President.
We have a craftswoman in our midst!! This
basket with deer antlers was made by member
Becky Grier of Kalona at Ann Bennett's request.
She presented it to Art and Judy (Photo by Judy
Duke)
GRCHA Newsletter Page 13 of 13