President’s Message August 2003.

Hello to all. Some of you know that my address has changed as I sent it out on email. For those who didn’t get the message my new address is 898 Logtown Rd, Mineral Point, WI 53565 and phone is 608-778-7848.  My moving date got pushed up and I missed the Wildcat Drive. Missed competing and missed seeing the friends that I have made doing this sport. 

Things do happen for a reason.  By not going to the event it allowed me to help some very good friends prepare for their move to Alabama.  Along with packing and sorting and what goes in which trailer, I was able to get the horse supplies ready and to help loading the horses on their departure date.  They had 4 equines to transport: a stallion, a 4 year old gelding, a medium sized pony and a small pony. 

Thank goodness that I have a little experience in a couple of long haul with horses.  I coached Rick Jones, owner of the horses  and my daughter, Nicole McDonald, who was also traveling with them on the ways to make the horses comfortable.  All horses had legs wraps. Each had hay nets.  Two people were responsible for tending the horses whenever the trailer wasn’t moving.  The temperature on their trip down was in the high 90's. They carried 50 gallons of water with them. Horses got sponged down with a mixture of water and linament.  They also had a sprayer with alcohol and water mixed.  Any stops longer that 10 minutes the horses came out of the trailer and were hand grazed. 

The horses received electrolytes and probi at intervals during the trip. They ate apples and carrots for treats at stops and as much grass as they could find at the different stops.  The horses loaded and unloaded and fell into that routine quickly.  At one rest stop along the interstate they just pulled up to the RV dumping station and use the cold water hose there to cool the horses down. The 1000 mile trip took 30 hours instead of the 17 hours.  It was a three vehicle caravan, between mechanical troubles and electrical troubles and tire blowouts there were many delays.  But the horses had lots of attention and they all had their appetites the entire trip. The two horses showed some weight loss.  Fortunately one of the trailers hauled 300 bales of hay so the horses had good hay to help them recover from their journey and to help them adjust to their new home.

What does all this have to do with distance driving? Being involved with the distance riding and driving is a whole education in itself.  This knowledge can help other folks in other disciplines to take better care of their horses.  You have the supplies on hand to compete as well as to travel. You know to prepare for just about anything.  Your horses have adjusted to all the hauling and competing.  You are more “intune” to your horse’s attitude just because you have spend the longer hours with your horse at distance competitions. 

I think that we have had some relief from the hot weather and look forward to seeing a good turnout at Yellowstone Event on Labor Day weekend.

Take care and safe driving.  Theresa Burns