Missouri Equine Issues

Transcription

Missouri Equine Issues
Missouri Equine Issues
Inside…
For the Horse Enthusiast • 2011 Edition
• Drill team gains international attention
• Still a place for draft horses
Plus more…
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2 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
Missouri Equine Issues
This sixth edition of Equine Issues is produced
by the Missouri Farm Bureau Public Affairs
Department with the help of the organization’s
equine committee.
Missouri Farm Bureau Equine Committee Members:
Lori Gray, Lafayette Co.
Janet Aldrich, Ray Co.
Kim Garrett, Boone Co.
Allen Akers, Shannon Co.
Paula Mullins, Atchison Co.
William Hinkebein, Livingston Co.
Chris Cumpton, Bates Co.
Rick Reed, St. Clair Co.
Steve Bunch, Camden Co.
Ollie Ziegler, Jefferson Co.
Blake Hurst, Atchison Co.
Julie Waldrop, MFB Staff
Equine Issues is published annually.
For advertising information contact Julie Waldrop at
[email protected]
For the Horse Enthusiast • 2011 Edition
ON THE COVER
Carrying the flag on her horse, Bandit, is trick rider
Miko McFarland of Highlandville, Mo. As a member
of the EasyRiders drill team, McFarland performed
at international games in Lexington, Ky., in October.
Learn more on page 6. Photo provided by the
EasyRiders Precision Drill Team.
INSIDE
Draft Horses are Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
By Ollie Ziegler, MFB Equine Committee
A Life of Teamwork and Teaching . . . . . . 12
By Lori Rockhill-Gray, MFB Equine Committee
The Legacy of Fox Trotter Country Gold . 16
By Bill and Jeanne Hinkebein, Indian Creek Equine Center
Visit Missouri Farm Bureau on the web at: www.mofb.
org for an electronic version of this publication in the
Marketing and Commodities section.
There is something
special about horses
If I were asked what experience most shaped my life and
personality, I would have to answer “having horses in my life”.
There is a certain sense of gratification and responsibility that
comes from owning horses. I don’t remember a time in my
life that did not revolve around horses. I strive to be actively
involved within the equine industry, and I feel it is a great
privilege to have this opportunity to work with other horse
owners on Missouri Farm Bureau’s Equine Advisory Committee.
I am a proud member and advocate of the workings of Missouri
Farm Bureau. They work diligently to protect and preserve some
of America’s most valuable resources – agriculture and livestock.
— Paula Mullins, Rock Port, Mo.
Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 3
Equine’s Heritage Affects Our World
Charles E. Kruse
President,
Missouri Farm Bureau
4 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
Without a doubt, those involved with equine are some of the most passionate,
dedicated people on the face of this earth. Enthusiasm and excitement exudes
from them as they chat about their horse, next week’s trail ride or the local horse
show.
Each year our goal is to use this publication to highlight public policy issues
and human interest stories related to equine activities. Who would have
imagined that there are so many interests and activities that involve equine in
some manner? It truly is astounding that our equine heritage has such an impact
in today’s world. From trail rides to horse shows, rodeo events to therapeutic
riding, equine touch the heart and soul of both young and old alike.
We have seen firsthand the negative results to the equine industry of the
legislated ban on horse slaughter supported by animal rights/welfare activists.
As we all know, this past year Missouri’s commercial dog breeder industry was
the focus of Proposition B. Which sector of animal agriculture will be next?
Whether or not you are directly involved in production agriculture or simply
have a love for your horse and the great outdoors, we must all stand together to
educate the public on these critical issues that are so important to the future of
this great industry.
I urge you to take the time to be involved in the public policy debates that
effect equine and other aspects of animal agriculture. Farm Bureau has a
large number of members that share these interests and our Equine Advisory
Committee does a great job of keeping our leaders and members informed of the
issues facing the industry. As you may know, MFB policy is determined by our
members through an annual policy development process.
As the state’s largest agriculture organization we are involved in many issues,
including taxes, education and regulation. I invite you to join your county Farm
Bureau and ask that you go to www.mofb.org for more information about our
organization.
This will be my last opportunity to have the privilege of writing the welcome
section of the Missouri Equine Issues magazine. After 18 years as president of
Missouri Farm Bureau I will be retiring at the close of our annual meeting in
December. It has been my pleasure to be associated with many of you through
those years. I wish all of you the very best and may God Bless each of you.
Farm Bureau Equine Policy
Missouri Farm Bureau is a strong supporter of the state’s equine industry and has policy covering specific issues.
Here is the official text of current policy:
We believe equine farms, businesses and related operations
should be recognized as a bona fide segment of Missouri
agriculture. We believe equine should be classified as a
“livestock entity” and strongly oppose any efforts to relate
equine as “pets” or “companion animals”.
We believe the processing of cull and/or unsound horses
should not be prohibited by state or federal statutes or
regulations. A ban on the processing of such horses would only
increase the likelihood of abuse or neglect. Starvation or lack
of medical treatment for unwanted horses is a far worse fate
than humane euthanasia.
We oppose a federal ban on horse processing. We oppose
the elimination of funds for federal inspection at processing
facilities. Furthermore, we strongly oppose the prosecution of
individuals moving, selling, purchasing or transporting horses
to be processed either in the U.S. or abroad.
We strongly support reduction of unmanaged feral equine
numbers on federal lands by methods other than adoption.
Canine
Alternative population control measures may include birthcontrol drugs and neutering.
We encourage the University of Missouri Extension and
Outreach Program to support Missouri’s growing equine
industry by providing a full-time equine specialist to assist
local Extension centers.
We encourage Missouri Farm Bureau to help coordinate an
equine education program.
We support seeking the necessary funding for an annual
comprehensive National Agricultural Statistics Service survey
for equine.
We support legislation that preserves the use and access
for horses and mules on state and federal public lands where
sufficient acreage and conditions exist to permit such use, and
scientific data by appropriate authorities does not exist to
preclude such use.
We support the inclusion of equine in federal disaster
assistance and farm bill programs.
I understand that these dues are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for income
tax purposes. However, they may be tax deductible as ordinary and necessary business
expenses subject to restrictions imposed as a result of lobbying activities. Farm Bureau
estimates that the nondeductible portion of your dues - the portion which is allocable to
lobbying - is 38%. The annual $30 membership dues include $1 for a one year subscription
to Show Me Missouri Farm Bureau.
The county, state and American Farm Bureaus are organized to develop, foster, promote
and protect programs for the general welfare including economic, social, educational and
political well being of farm and rural people.
I am interested in promoting these objectives and I hereby apply for family membership in
Farm Bureau. I understand that Farm Bureau is a family membership organization and
services are limited to members only. As a member, I am eligible to apply for insurance
services and participate in other Farm Bureau programs.
Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 5
Precision Leads to International
Competition for Drill Team
By Carah Hart and Chris Fennewald, MFB Public Affairs.
With their hearts
pounding and hooves
thundering, the EasyRiders
Equestrian Drill Team
anxiously prepared for
a once-in-a-lifetime
performance. When the
time came in October, the
group of Southwest Missouri
kids stole the crowds at
the Alltech/Federation
Equestrienne International
World Equestrian Games
(WEG) in Lexington, Ky.
This is the first time the
international event has been
held in North America.
The second largest equine
sporting event next to the
Olympics, these games are
held every four years. Sixteen
days of competition ends
with eight championships.
In Kentucky, more than
800 horses and 900 riders
competed.
The EasyRiders were there
to perform precision drills
on horseback and entertain
the large crowd in the Equine
Village.
“For equestrian athletes
and enthusiasts this is
about as big as it gets,” said
EasyRider team founder
Elizabeth Guillebeau of
Rogersville, Mo.
The pressure of the
event and expectations of
supporters began to affect the
team days before the horses
were loaded in their trailers.
“When the team began to
see this trip coming around
the corner, the anxiety
reduced them to not even
being able to trot a straight
line together. To get past
6 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
this, the team had to refocus and direct that anxiety
toward performing better.
The result was five solid and
stellar performances,” said
Guillebeau.
The EasyRiders were not
involved in competitions,
but were among 200 acts
performing for those in
the stands and millions
of worldwide viewers
on television. Their first
performance earned them a
“Best Bet” for readers of the
Lexington Herald-Leader
newspaper.
Guillebeau says the team
was proud of that effort,
considering what they faced.
“The team had to perform
the day they arrived with no
time to settle in. They were
all a little shaky. As dancers
know, a position change or
different environment can
have a huge effect on where
the mind thinks it needs
to turn or the sequence of
events.”
Some of the young riders
are in their first year of
performing. This year, the
team has two women just
over age 21 competing, and a
young boy. The rest are girls
ages 10-18.
Team coach Heather
Johnson of Republic, Mo.,
prepared the team for the big
event. “The World Games
was a huge opportunity that
a lot of kids — or adults —
don’t get to experience .”
The drill team currently
has 20 riders, but has
graduated 100 since it was
Riders, continued on page 8
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Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 7
Riders, continued from page 6
The Easy Riders performed
several precision drill acts
during the World Equestrian
Games. One crowd-pleaser
was a motorcycle-themed drill
complete with leather vest,
do-rags and fierce looks.
After each performance,
the drill team would go to the
rail separating the arena and
audience. There, audience
members could pet the
horses, ask questions and take
pictures.
organized 10 years ago.
The students learn the
challenging art of keeping
a horse in step with other
horses and riders. “A horse
drill team can be easily
compared to synchronized
swimming, just with horses,”
said Johnson, also a former
team rider.
Johnson has been a
member of the drill team for
the last seven years. “The
EasyRiders Drill Team is
important to me,” she said. “I
joined when I was 11 so it has
always been a big part of my
life. In high school everybody
had their niche, and this was
mine.” Now Johnson helps
others on the team improve.
Riders do not use spurs
or whips and control their
horses with simple snaffles
in the midst of crowds, loud
music, and fast paces.
What is most visible
about the EasyRiders is a
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8 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
choreography which sets
it apart from other teams.
Drills are choreographed by
the riders and the music is
often inspired by them. For
each major performance,
this team comes up with a
new drill. Even if you have
seen the EasyRiders before,
you will see something
difference.
To perform at the top
venue in their field, these
entertainers overcame
significant obstacles.
“It always seems that
when you are working for
something you really want,
more gets in the way,” said
Guillebeau, adding each rider
and their family rearranged
priorities and had to come
to terms with some heavy
issues. “They learned much
more than horsemanship.”
When not training, team
members raised $60,000 to
help fund the trip. Springfield
Polo and Environmental
Vehicles loaned 12 horse
trailers. Voss AutoHaus
loaned a Ford Excursion.
The team made the most
of those efforts. They so
entertained the daily crowds
the team was selected to
perform the final act for
the “Extravaganza” closing
ceremony.
“Our team was chosen
out of all the equine acts
who had performed since the
Games began on October 7,”
said Guillebeau. “The last
performance was a shorter,
condensed version of the
program. They had to work
off of one rehearsal and took
some bold risks. They made
it happen.”
Among all of the world’s
most famous equestrians
at the games, something
happened to these young
Missourians, they became
celebrities.
People wanted pictures
taken with team members
and their horses. They asked
for autographs and visited
with team members. They
were the darlings of media
in televison, radio and print
interviews.
Both Guillebeau and
Johnson agree there was no
other act at the games with
the amount of movement,
variety, precision and charm.
All of the attention was
icing on the cake for the
team and coach.
“At the bottom of
all the performances,
practices, clinics, camps
and lectures, we’re really
just trying to teach and
train achievement,” said
Guillebeau. “Once you learn
the process of achievement
you can carry it into all the
other things you do.”
To learn more about the
EasyRiders, e-mail team
coordinator Julie Guillebeau
can be contacted at
[email protected].
Trick rider Shelby Chittum
performs the “suicide drag”
on her horse, Count, for a
large crowd at the World
Equistrian Games. Shelby is
from Willard, Mo.
Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 9
Draft Horses are Back, Bigger Than Ever
By Ollie Ziegler, draft horse breeder and MFB Equine Committee member from Dittmer, Mo.
T
he average public
thinks that the
draft horse is gone forever.
This may have seemed
true in the early 50s when
the draft horse could
have been considered
an endangered species.
They are now seeing a
resurgence in interest.
But their numbers
were scarce 50 years ago.
There were a few die-hard
breeders at the time and
the stallion pool was small.
Amish farmers still farmed
with horses and many were
sold to this market.
Beginning in the 60s, a
spark re-ignited interest
in the draft horse. I have
been in the draft horse
business since 1945. To
this day I really do not
know what started the
spark.
Some credit goes to
farm families wanting
a piece of the past,
as their parents and
grandparents raised
and used draft horses.
Some simply wanted
something different.
The prices and
numbers of the
different breeds
climbed for
the next three decades.
Today it is not
uncommon to see top draft
horses sell for $25,000, and
even up to $50,000. Do
not let these prices mislead
you. These prices tend to
scare away the working
class farmer who wants to
own a pair of draft horses.
They can find many more
horses that are in their
price range.
Before you buy a pair
of draft horses, decide the
breed you are interested in.
Belgians and Percheron
are the most popular and
at the top of the list in
numbers registered. Also
part of the top five breeds
list are
the
10 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
Clydesdale, Shire and
Suffolk breeds.
There are also the
American Cream, Freisen,
Spotted Draft and Barbant
breeds and many others.
Whatever the breed of
draft horse you decide
to own, make the choice
yours.
If you are new in the
draft horse business, it is
to your advantage to take
an experienced draft horse
person with you when
looking for horses.
There are many uses for
draft horses today. They
are still used on ranches
in the west for haying and
feeding in the winter. One
rancher told me, “They
never fail to start.”
One of the
largest ranches
in the Sand Hills
area of Nebraska has used
horses for years to cut and
stack hay. The rancher still
owned chuck wagons used
in year’s past, so when
fuel prices kept rising, the
wagons and horses were
put to work.
Ranch workers have
returned to the old way of
staying with and working
the cattle, moving from
camp to camp.
When it comes to
pricing draft horese, I
have found that there is
one rule to follow. You
can buy a cheap horse,
but if the horse hurts
you or one of your family
members it is not a cheap
horse. Consider paying
a little more for a horse
that is what you want.
Your purchase will be less
expensive in the long run
and a pleasure to own.
Today, plenty
of good
competition can be found
in many halter and hitch
classes at our state, county
and district fairs
From a single cart class
all the way up to eight
horse hitches their is a
competition your horse
can enter. The hitch classes
are always great crowd
pleasers, especially the
larger hitches with high
dollar horses, beautiful
hitch wagons, and patent
leather harnesses. I do not
want to mislead the reader.
There are many shows
where the competition is
not all about high dollar
horses and glitter. There
are those shows that
families can affordable
enjoy to compete in if they
chose.
Draft horses give farm
families a great hobby in
which to work together.
During the week a good
pair of horses can be
used for chores such as
feeding other livestock.
On the weekends, they
can be taken to parades,
fairs, and field days to test
their skills at plowing and
log dragging. It is more
than about competition
as families become part
of an extended family of
horse owners. There are
even riding classes for
draft horses. The Missouri
Draft Horse and Mule
Association sponsor
several of these activities.
The draft horse is a
versatile animal that can
be enjoyed and still earn
its keep on the farm. A
Texas rancher I know
Escape to...
traveled about 20 miles
daily with a pickup to
put out feed mineral,
salt and to check fence.
With the price of diesel
fuel rising, he decided
to do something else. I
was asked to find him a
pair of draft horses. He
bought a team for $4,000.
The rancher started his
20- mile feeding rounds
using the horses. His
family got involved driving
them and on weekends
began participating in
local parades. His says his
family has never been as
completely involved with
anything on the ranch as
they are with his pair of
horses. What a great way
to bring rural families
together.
The draft breeds are
not all big 18-plus hand
horses. There are sizes
in all the breeds to fit
anyone’s needs. Draft mule
breeders want a smaller
mare and on the other end
are the big, tall horses for
the big show hitches.
People who want to
enjoy a draft horse have a
large selection to choose
from. The size of these
horses in the middle-range
still impresses the public in
parades and smaller shows.
The draft horse can
be both useful and
pleasureable. I have had
correspondence with
people wanting to know
more about draft horses
from Vermont to Hawaii.
These big horses are not
gone forever. In fact, they
are back.
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Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 11
A Life of Teamwork
By Lori Rockhill-Gray, MFB Equine Committee member from Higginsville, Mo.
Wilbert was born and
A few times in your life
raised on a Lafayette
you meet someone you
County farm using teams
feel a kinship with. You
of horses for
are drawn to
farm work.
them. In my
He learned
life, one of
early in life he
these people
had the desire
is Wilbert
and aptitude
Hilgedick.
to raise, train
At 86 years
and work
young, Wilbert
draft horses.
is quick
When asked
to answer
why he chose
questions and
to farm with
offer opinions
horses he
on life and
Wilbert Hilgedick
says, “I have
farming with
an ultimate appreciation
horses. He is an expert on
for the equine population.
using horse teams and has
I know horses, I like them
done so on the farm since
and I wanted to work with
1966. Wilbert deliberately
a team.”
chose to live a simpler life.
He is by no means a
farm homebody. Wilbert
traveled the world during
a 20-year military career.
Joining the Army in 1946,
he was stationed stateside,
as well as the Philippines,
Japan, Korea and Europe.
He served at the University
of Missouri ROTC
program for two years and
administered a program
at White Sands, NM and
Missile Support at Mead,
Neb.
When he received
orders to go to Viet Nam,
he felt it was a prime time
to retire. He returned to
Lafayette County in 1966.
When Wilbert was in
the service he suffered
the loss of his parents and
subsequently purchased
his brothers’ shares of
the family farm. He
started with a young
team of Belgian horses;
four-year olds that were
green and ignorant. These
two horses, Queen and
Prince became keys to
his success in farming,
as well as training draft
horses. Queen, became
the best broodmare he
had, bearing 10 colts on
his farm and one more
after she sold. Wilbert kept
track of the last colt, who
is now 27. Prince became
the best “breaking horse”
he ever had. During an
18-year period, Wilbert
Michele Inman
Chris Auffenberg Ford
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USDF Silver Medalist
USDF Bronze Medalist
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12 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
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Wilbert Hilgedick drives Prince (gelding) on left of tongue
and Mark (stud) on the right to pick up firewood at Mayview,
Mo., in this 1983 photo.
and Prince broke at least
25 colts to drive and work
as part of a team. As a
“breaking horse” Prince
was the stable partner of
the team, the good role
model and leader. Young,
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inexperienced horses, new
to pulling and working,
are easily excitable and
inclined to either give up
or run away on pulling a
load.
Developing a good team
takes “hours and hours” of
hard work and many miles
in harness.
For Wilbert, a typical
work day began at daylight
by feeding the horses
before breakfast. Then,
the team was harnessed
and driven to the field to
work until noon. The team
would be fed and watered,
and after lunch return
to the field. Horses were
turned into the pasture for
the night.
With a one-bottom
sulky plow, Wilbert and
his team could plow three
acres a day. Considering
he raised 15 acres of corn,
15 acres of oats and put
up about 40 tons of brome
hay, Wilbert spent many
days behind the plow,
disc, planter, mower or
cultivator.
The crops raised fed
approximately two dozen
cows and up to 20 head of
horses on the farm.
Wilbert continues to
own horse-drawn farming
equipment for every
function on the farm. He
has purchased, fixed and
maintained six mowers.
He purchased several just
to make sure they didn’t go
to the scrap heap. He has
fixed each with a binder
truck underneath to keep
the weight of the mower off
the top of the horse’s neck.
Although Wilbert has
used his expertise to raise
and train many horses, he
imparts his knowledge to
people that come to him to
learn the art of working a
team. Training on Sunday
afternoons, the protégé
would, under Wilbert’s
instruction learn to safely
Teams, continued on page 14
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Springfield, MO 65897
417-838-7784
Phone 417-836-5098
Equestrian Team Coach
Sue Webb, [email protected]
Ranch Horse & Judging Team
Dr. Gary Webb, [email protected]
Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 13
Teams, continued from page 13
catch his current team,
harness, hitch and drive the
team.
One young man, Todd
Johnson, from Concordia
met Wilbert at a horse
sale and shared his goal
of learning to work draft
horses. He was invited to
come to Wilbert’s farm and
learn from him. Training
each Sunday for three
years, Todd became one of
Wilbert’s best students.
One couple, Jim
and Jean Counts from
Warrensburg, sought out
Wilbert to learn more
about draft horses to take
visitors on their farm to
and from their pumpkin
field. Like Todd, Wilbert
invited Jim to learn to drive
a team. Jean said Wilbert
is always willing to help
whoever wants to learn
about the horses.
When Wilbert deemed
Jim ready, he sent Prince
and Queen to the Counts’
farm. This association led
Wilbert to drive wagon
loads of visitors to and
from their pumpkin field
for several years.
Those first three weeks
of October found Wilbert
doing what he dearly loved;
driving a superbly trained
team of horses, through
the crisp fall air.
For those who wanted
to talk about the horses,
Wilbert would share
his knowledge and
appreciation for the draft
horses and a simpler way
of life.
Wilbert has developed
some notoriety over the
years. One of his horses
was used in the 1975 madefor-TV movie remake
“Friendly Persuasion.”
And, in 2005, Wilbert
was awarded the “Linch
Pin Award” from the
Missouri Draft Horse and
Mule Association.
I met Wilbert
several years ago when
I was teaching 4-H
horsemanship, and he
introduced himself to me
at the annual horse show. I
had grown up with riding
horses all my life, but I
missed the working team
era.
One of the most
amazing feats I attribute
to Wilbert is the
transformation my
husband, W.N. Gray,
underwent when he
learned to drive a team.
My husband was not a
horse enthusiast, but he
put up with “those old
hay burners” because they
made me happy. He did
not enjoy riding, but got
interested in driving a team
when we had a team of
our Saddlebreds trained.
Like many others before
him, when W.N. asked
Wilbert about driving a
team, Wilbert invited him
to come out on Sundays
to work with him. When
Wilbert decided it was
time to sell his team, my
husband amazed me by
purchasing them, harness
and all!
It has been one of my
life’s enriching experiences
to know and benefit from
Wilbert. The enjoyment
that he feels is evident
when he talks about his
life. “I loved to farm. It’s
in the blood,” he says with
a sentiment all farmers
understand. It is true
whether a farmer is behind
the wheel of the latest
tractor or a horse hitch.
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5950 N. Boothe Lane
Rocheport, MO 65279
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Exit 117, just west of Columbia
14 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
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Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 15
The Life of Country Gold
A Fox Trotting Trail Horse Legacy
By Bill and Jeanne Hinkebein, owners of Indian Creek Equine Center. Bill is also a MFB Equine Committee member.
On April 25, 1983, a new colt was
born at Indian Creek Equine Center.
He was named Hickory’s Country Gold
after his sire Golden’s Red Hickory Star
and his dam Amy’s Country Sunshine.
Little did his owners realize the impact
that this little one would bring to trail
riding competition. Time passed and
the colt grew strong, showing great
promise with his fox trot gait and
willingness to perform.
In 1987 and 1988, Country Gold
began his career with the North
America Trail Ride Conference
(NATRC) by competing in five novice rides. He received
three firsts and two seconds. In 1989, Country Gold went
open and won sweepstakes (high point open horse) for
his first ride and completed the year with five firsts and
one third for a total of six rides.
When Country Gold began his career he was
surrounded by many good Arabian
horses. Having a Missouri Fox Trotter
horse compete was considered an
impossible task since Arabians were
believed to be stronger with more
endurance.
Country Gold proved this untrue
as he quietly moved into the winning
ranks. There were times his rider had
to convince the judges his horse was
not lame, but was actually doing a
fox trot. Today, most rides have many
Missouri Fox Totters and judges
understand the horses’ gait.
Country Gold competed in open for nine years and
during this time won all of the awards NATRC offered.
He earned nine national championships in nine years
with a record of 43 firsts and 22 seconds out of 80 rides.
He accomplished this when points were deducted for
Gold, continued on page 18
SAM SCISM
5019 Highway 67 South,
Park Hills, MO 63601
800-698-3177
www.samscismfordlm.com
16 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 17
Snortin’ Horse Studio
Artist
Melanie Stoltz Brown
www.snortinhorse.net
[email protected]
573-808-0584 • 573-687-2343
DRY CREEK RANCH
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pulse and respiration counts above 12 and 6 respectively.
Now pulse and respiration thresholds are more lenient at
12 and 9.
Country Gold achieved five top six Bev Tibbitts
Grand Championship placings winning it in 1991 and
again in 1995. Country Gold won the President’s Cup
(Sweepstakes Award) in 1994, along with the Jim Menefee
Memorial Award (combined horse/horsemanship),
National Overall Heavyweight horse, the National Overall
Heavyweight Horsemanship (Bruce Becker Memorial)
and National High Point Missouri Fox Trotter in 1989,
1990, 1991, 1992, and 1994.
In 1996, Country Gold was inducted into the NATRC
Hall of Fame and is the only stallion presented this award.
Country Gold continued to win numerous regional
and national awards. At the end of the 1997 ride season,
Country Gold was retired with total competition distance
equalling a whopping 5,050 miles.
Along with NATRC showings, Country Gold also
pulled a carriage in weddings and showed in many
parades. During one special Christmas parade he was a
“reindeer” pulling Santa’s sleigh. Ten-point antlers were
attached to his bridle.
On July 5, 2010, Country Gold showed signs of colic
and his vet was immediately called to the farm. He was
examined and treated. Although he showed signs of
improvement, the next morning Country Gold passed
away due to a twisted intestine.
This great horse is no longer running in the pasture
with his golden sorrel color shining in the sunlight. He
is no longer running up to a feed bucket for his special
ration. His descendants, though, carry on his winning
tradition.
There is something about the magnificence of a horse
that is good for a man’s soul. It is said that a man is lucky
to be able to ride one good horse in his lifetime. Country
Gold was such a horse. Since his retirement, his offspring
have earned 32 championships. Country Gold has a
heritage that will continue for years to come.
Paula R. Mullins
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18 • Missouri Equine Issues 2011
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Missouri Farm Bureau
Equine Advisory Committee
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APH Foundation Board of Director
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Missouri Equine Issues 2011 • 19
Promoting & Insuring Missouri’s Equine Industry
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