MIDWEST DISTANCE DRIVING MEETING-March 2003

The meeting was held at the home of Wes and Jane Licht, McFarland, Wisconsin, March 20, 2003.  In attendance were Sandy and Randy Rudstrom, Theresa Burns, Connie Gray, Pauline Stollenwerk, Romona Radtke, Don Hayes, Wes and Jane Licht.

President Theresa Burns opened the meeting at 7:10 PM.

Secretary Jane Licht read the minutes from the February 10, 2002 meeting and they were approved, except that Wes Licht questioned the wisdom of the title, “Romona’s Rowdy Day of Fun with Driving Horses,” as the name of our July 6th event.

Pauline/Romona moved to continue our current board of directors for 2003.  Romona/Sandy moved to amend this motion to add Jacque Deweese as another At-Large member.  The amendment passed.  The amended motion carried.  The MDDA Board of Directors is as follows: 

President:  Theresa Burns
Vice President:  Wes Licht
Secretary:  Jane Licht
Treasurer:  Connie Gray
At-large:  Sandy Rudstrom
At-large:  Jacque Deweese 

Theresa handed out and organizational sheet on Iron Oak Novice Clinic and Ride/Drive.

Date:  April 26th.  Pauline will handle first place awards and completions.  Theresa has ordered the ribbons.  Trail marking will be done by Linda Jacobson and Romona Radtke.

Roger and Dana Hauk will be scribes.  Jane Licht and Linda Millard will handle registration.  Theresa will handle the packets and ride flyers.

Iron Oak Novice Clinic and Ride/Drive Schedules 

7 AM  Vetting starts.  Jennifer Thompson agreed to do this but we need another vet.  Theresa will get the UMECRA ride book Veterinarian Handbook to her to read.

9 AM  Introduction, rules, and score sheet – Theresa

9:30    Conditioning – Wes

10:15   Personal Comments from a Newbie – Jacque

10:30   Feeding & electrolytes – Romona

11:00   Equipment & safety checks – the 18 milers will be our demos
            18 milers will start at 11:15.

11:30   Hands on pulse & respiration. 

Noon   Lunch – Pot luck with members bringing food.  Pauline will bring hot dogs & brats, Sandy will bring buns & condiments, Marguerite will bring baked beans and brownies, Jane will bring tuna macaroni salad and fruit salad.  Roger and Dana Houk will bring a cooler full of soda and soda will cost 50 cents each.  Pauline will make Bloody Mary’s for the awards ceremony as a fund raiser.  Romona will bring breakfast pastries from Panera and Eleanor Tonsor will bring coffee and hot cocoa for the early part of the day.

1:00     Competitive Riders Start.  Go out in groups of 10 at 10-minute intervals.  Sara Short volunteered to take a group out.  More veteran riders will be needed to go with the new riders.

1:30     Drivers go out at 5 minute intervals with 12 milers first, and 6 milers will follow.

Awards ceremony will be about 4:30 PM.

Wes read Jacque’s email.  Richard Loeb may like to have a work day using the stump eater.  Wes said it will be important for all of us to call some members and encourage them to come.  We want to push pre-registration before April 19.  There are a nice set of trails that everyone can enjoy.  This is a great way to get started in the sport.

Theresa handed out an organization sheet on Glacier Trails.

The ribbons have been ordered.

Prizes, completion awards – Roger and Dane Houk

Other awards – Division awards for best condition, light wt., heavy wt., junior, LD, LD junior, drivers.

Timers – Roger, Wes

Safety checks for drivers – Theresa

Registration – Romona, Eleanor & Jane

Marking trail – Connie

Scribes are needed for vets – Friday night, Saturday AM, Saturday PM, Sunday AM, Sunday PM.

Water Tanks – Connie and Dawn Hass will put these out

Romona said we need 20 first place ribbons for an event like this.  Sandy said we will get donations again.  We will need division awards in addition to ribbons.  Wes will talk to Colonial Carriage Works.

The Glacier Trails offers riding on Saturday and riding and driving on Sunday.  MDDA members need to stay for both days and volunteer as well as participate on Sunday.  We need one vet Friday and 3 on Saturday and Sunday.  Pauline will contact Dr. Crowley of Wisconsin Equine.  We pay each vet $250 for the weekend plus mileage.  Connie Gray said the vets can stay at her home.

Saturday night is a potluck supper.  Members should bring food.  Eleanor will bring the meat.  Connie and Sandy will do breakfast pies for the vets.

Romona will bring the ride box. We need volunteers to do P & R.  Wes will bring his orange cones for the vetting area.  Pauline will bring her tarp.  Theresa said we should call Tom Krueger and Sharon Beck and encourage them to come.

Connie recommended which trails to use for the riders vs. the drivers.  The Drivers will head heads towards Eagle.  The other trail is too rocky.

Fun Day with Driving Horses – July 6th

Theresa got insurance for this event.  She suggested using the Children’s Ranch at Prairie du Chien.  Wes said he liked Richard Loeb’s farm because it is more centrally located for our MDDA members.  Jacque said in his email that it is available.  Theresa said Wes should get Richard Loeb’s Farm confirmed ASAP and she will check to see if she can change the location on the insurance application. 

Theresa said that hazards could be part of the 6 mile distance drive.  We could have 2 hazards and have them timed.  Pauline/Romona moved that Wes be our cones/obstacles/double jeopardy course designer.  Motion carried.

Theresa said that we need to get a vet.  Romona said that actually, we do not need a real vet for this event because it is just a fun day and not sanctioned.  We could put the Lodi Vet Service on call and have some of our members do the “vetting.”  Pauline/Wes moved that Romona handle vetting.  Motion carried.

Theresa and Jane will handle registration.  Lunch – Pot luck with everybody contributing.  Pauline volunteered to bring sloppy joes. 

Theresa said she needs a scorekeeper to put everything into MS Access.  She will ask Sharon Beck.

Other Business

Wes wanted us to consider becoming an ADS affiliate member and also to consider getting their insurance.  Membership is $50 but only $30 if our group has 3 ADS members, which we do.  We actually pay less than ADS rates for AERC insurance so we decided to stay with AERC.  Wes/Pauline moved to become an affiliate member of ADS.  Motion carried.

Don said that becoming an ADS affiliate member may have distinct advantages; people will start asking questions about us and our sport.  Wes said that the good part about ADS is its emphasis on safety.

Romona said she would be willing to organize an Endurance Drive at Mt. Quest near Prairie du Chien, October 3, 4,and 5.  There was discussion about the type of endurance driving done in Nevada where the National Endurance Driving Association is located.  There is no vet and participants are on the honor system in regards to being sensitive to the condition of their horses.  However the terrain is flat – much different than in Wisconsin.  We decided to sponsor Romona’s Endurance Drive but with vet checks and UMECRA rules.  Information about this must get to Louise within 60 days to be added to the UMECRA list of activities.

There was also discussion about tires.  Sandy said that there were those with only bicycle tires on carts that would like to participate but are not allowed.  We decided to stay with our current rules of no pneumatic tires unless they were filled because of safety concerns.

Pauline said that she and Bill are on the back cover of Bob Mischka’s Draft Horse Calendar.  Everyone applauded.

Connie/Sandy moved to start the “Short Distance Driving Award” where drivers must complete at least 3 drives and to stay eligible, can only do the shorter distances.  There will be both champion and reserve.  It was felt this category would be good for beginners and pony drivers.  Motion carried.

Romona/Connie moved to adjourn at 9:40 PM.  Motion carried. 

Respectfully submitted,

Jane Licht, Secretary