Hey folks! We are hoping to spread the word about our awesome summer day camp. If you know of a good spot to put a flyer, please consider printing out this image below and posting it for us!
Also, we are running a coupon for our summer camps! Be sure to sign up soon to reserve your spot! This ad can be placed on websites, shared on Facebook and even printed in newsletters. If you have a website or publication that you believe can help us get the word out about our camp, please let us know! We are always looking for new ways to advertise, and we're even willing to barter for advertisements!
Congratulations to Acacia Aikens, Jennifer Broniak, Kyle Rothfus, Riley Jordan, Kay Schlemmer and Emily Jenkins for their great rides at the Summer Schooling Dressage Show at Shiawassee! Every rider brought home ribbons, and every horse was an angel. It doesn't get much better than that!
This weekend was one of the best learning experiences we could've hoped for as a first away-show of the season. That said, it was also one of the most tedious experiences we could imagine... LOL!
Despite a number of setbacks throughout the show, from swampy footing to incorrect test scoring (and a number of other issues that I won't even begin to cover) we all came home happy and exhausted, feeling satisfied that we rode our best and our horses gave their all.
Here are some photos from our awesome weekend!
Jennifer and Casper checked out the indoor riding arena the night before the show.
Casper and Emily had a great first ride of the day! He didn't bat an eyelash!
Caci and Rory handled their first away show like pros! Too bad you can't see his adorable roached mane!
Speaking of handling it like pros, Freja and Kyle rode very elegantly, earning an 8 on their gaits in intro level!
It just wouldn't be the same if Dodger didn't have his gorgeous french braid for the show!
At least Branson was braided for one of his tests! LOL!
There were a lot of Blues and Reds that came home with us!
Well, the Classical and Western Dressage clinic was this past weekend and we had a fantastic turnout! The clinic spots filled quickly and we even had auditors, despite the frigid and disagreeable weather. Everyone's horses were in top form, and it was a real treat to get to watch them go.
Our next clinic will be with Jessie Myers, on November 22nd. We are so lucky to have such skilled and knowledgable riders nearby!
BUT before that, we are preparing for our final dressage show of the season here at Meadowlark, and are happy to welcome Sue Hughes as our judge. The ribbons have arrived, the adding machine tapes have been replenished, the observation room floor is swept and we are beginning toget entries into the computer so we can sort out ride times.
Closing date is Wednesday, so be sure to sign up soon! Click the image below for show forms.
We are participating in a fundraiser to raise the money to help Branson get the surgery he needs to drastically improve his quality of life!
Meet Branson...
Branson is a 22 year old Hanoverian gelding that we have recently taken in here at Meadowlark. He came to us on trial as a rehabilitation project, after a combination of long-term equine scoliosis and the aftermath of Potomac horse fever, and was unfortunately he was both unsound and underweight.
Flash forward three weeks and Branson has made some serious strides toward recovery. After some really stellar chiropractic work, as well as a barefoot trim (from a very talented local equine podiatrist), as well as a variety of high-calorie feeds, mashes, supplements and ration balancers, he is now lunging on both leads with very little sign of unsoundness and showing slight signs of weight gain.
(Here is a video of Branson's recent progress - looking much more comfortable!)
Unfortunately, Branson has recently been diagnosed with EOTRH, or Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis. Basically this disease causes the roots at the bases of the horse's incisors to essentially disintegrate, while simultaneously laying down excessive calcification at the root.
Eventually the horse's teeth become loose and very sore as the nerves become agitated from the instability of the roots. It's an incredibly painful degenerative disease and unfortunately the only way to treat it is to extract the affected teeth and calcification. Horses with this disease have a hard time gaining weight due to pain while eating, and in advanced cases the teeth can actually disintegrate to the point where they begin to sink into the flesh, causing other complications and infection.
In the photo to the right you can see that he has broken blood vessels and the teeth look especially long. The concerning part is the lumpy top area of his gums, since this is actually hypercalcification of the tooth roots.
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In light of the massive looming vet bills for this poor chap, we have decided to help run fundraisers to help cover his surgery, including the release of three exclusive t-shirts! Below are the different designs for the t-shirts. The first run of shirts will all be on dark grey heathered t-shirt, each with a different color of ink. We aren't sure if Branson will ever gain soundness and condition enough to be a ridden regularly again, but we are happy to help raise funds so that this sweet old boy can be comfortable as he lives out his days. Branson's previous owner cannot provide the surgery for him, herself, and since it is a question of quality of life we have decided to do what we can to get him what he needs.
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Shirts will be available in early October, but you can place your order now by clicking the button below! Be sure to fill out your Shirt design and Shirt size with your paypal order, or we cannot guarantee that you'll get what you want.
Here is one of the tack box units being assembled in the barn.
Due to the wonderful efforts of Suzanne (not to mention Kevin, Carol, and loads of others!) we now have eleven beautiful tack lockers in the back barn! Each locker is fit with an english saddle rack, western saddle rack, bridle rack and hooks, as well as two shelves at strategic heights to accommodate standardized storage bins. I cannot believe how well this has turned out, and how much more tidy and sharp the back barn tack rooms look! We'll finally have enough room to accommodate each and every stall boarder!
Here are the final units in the south tack room. Doors will be added this weekend!
