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Trail Mix The Official Publication of the Indiana Trail Riders Association, Inc.
September, 2014
ITRA GOLD NUGGET CORPORATE SPONSOR
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INDIANA TRAIL RIDERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Post Office Box 185 Farmland, IN 47340
Return Address Requested
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID NOBLESVILLE, IN PERMIT NO. 21
ITRA Meets in Joint Planning Retreat with DNR & HBCH
By Greg Hersberger
By the time this newsletter comes out the Board of Directors of the Indiana Trial Riders Association, the Board of Directors of the Hoosier Back County Horsemen, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and possibly a Hoosier National Forest Representative will have held a long range planning retreat. The goal is having a plan to take Indiana trail riding into the next decade. ITRA’s goal is to have a joint working partnership among all parties involved as we have enjoyed in the past. It is meetings like this, with all parties sitting down in a laid back setting with no real issues to work on, enable us to concentrate on the big picture of making Indiana a great place to continue to ride and camp. Last year the ITRA Board had one of these with some DNR folks in attendance. An Indiana Horse Council representative came for a session and we had a couple of the HBCH board attend. It was decided that it went so well to try this year to expand it and add both ITRA and HBCH together to meet. Then each board will meet separately to plan for their own organizational futures.
Stay tuned to the next newsletter to hear how the meetings went.
Greg
This is our Mission Statement.
This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable purposes to educate and/or fund development and construction of public equine trails in Indiana and their surrounding states. Furthermore, the corporation shall monitor, evaluate and suggest improvements for public equine trail design. All funds, whether income or principal, and whether acquired by gift or contribution or otherwise, shall be devoted to said purposes.
What is the Midwest Equine Trail Foundation? By Chris Riehl
Round 2 It Ranch presents
Trail Rider’s Equipment 5 Star Wool Pads Parker Nylon Equipment Garroutte Leather Products Schutz Bros. Leather Products Select the Best - Joint Supplements
Norman, IN Tippecanoe River State Park Brown County State Park
ITRA Fall Ride Meet and Greet Ride Annual Thanksgiving Cleanup
The Fall Ride for ITRA will be held at Midwest Trail Ride near Norman, Indiana. Contact MTR at 812-834-6686 or www.MidwestTrailRide.com for reservations.
Join Scotty Eskridge for his annual fall ride at Tippecanoe River State Park. Ride out on your own if you like or a group ride will be leaving at around 10:00 am. Saturday evening Scotty will have two kinds of chili along with his beans and corn bread. For more information call Scotty at 574-896-5159 or 574-514-5498.
Put this on your calendar now because it is the most important workday of the ITRA year and a lot of fun. The Pitch in Dinner is legend! Get your name on the list for a free night of camping or contact Bob McPheeters at 765-683-0665 or [email protected]. A board meeting will be held after the pitch-in dinner.
President Bob McPheeters 27799 North 100 West Anderson, IN 46011 765-683-0665 [email protected]
Vice President Arlene Smoot 2532 West 200 South Danville, IN 46122 317-745-2976 [email protected]
Treasurer Jody Weldy 26468 County Road 28 Elkhart, IN 46517 574-875-1469 [email protected]
Secretary Erin Maksymczak 6565 E. 256th Street Arcadia, IN 46030 317-695-5599 [email protected]
Greg Hersberger (Chairman) “17 4962 South 250 West Portland, IN 47374 260-729-1208 [email protected]
Brett Erwood ‘15 3520 West 800 South Rosedale, IN 47876 812-299-2923 [email protected]
Rita Lockridge ‘16 7010 East 300 North Lafayette, In 47905 765-714-5019 [email protected]
Lawrence Turnquist ‘15 12005 Parrish St. Cedar Lake, IN 46303 219 374-5370 [email protected]
John Allen ‘17 9825 South 100 East Clayton., IN 46118 317-539-4326 [email protected]
Scotty Eskridge ‘16 P. O. Box 234 Knox, 46534 574-896-5159
Chris Riehl ‘16 4653 Lantern Ridge Rd. Nashville, IN 47448 812-988-2263 [email protected]
Gayle Vautaw ‘17 6113 South 900 East Walton, IN 46994 574-626-3424 [email protected]
Georgia Ballinger ‘16 6762 E. Mahalasville Rd. Morgantown, IN 46160 812-597-2170 [email protected]
Barb Ferguson ‘15 2430 S. Glenn :Lane Salem, IN 47167 812-967-3161 [email protected]
Yvette Rollins ‘16 12784 E. Rollins Lane Springville, IN 47462 812-797-4540 [email protected]
Mary Williams ‘16 14978 E. 191st Street Noblesville, IN 46060 765-534-5192 [email protected]
Nancy Brunnemer ‘17 7178 North 500 West McCordsville, IN 46055 317-443-8771 [email protected]
Karen Humphreys ‘15 3419 North 425 East Danville, IN 46122 317-892-3769 [email protected]
Larry Sidell ‘17 273 East 1200 North Batesville, In 47006 812-934-4086 [email protected]
Membership Chairperson Bonnie Miller 8181 W. 100 S Farmland, IN 47340 765-468-6716 [email protected]
ITRA Web Site Administrator Donald Lockridge 7010 East 300 North Lafayette, IN 47905 765-714-5021 [email protected]
Trail Mix Editor Mary Williams 14978 East 191st Street Noblesville, IN 46060 765-534-5192 [email protected]
Trail Guide Editor John Allen 9825 South 100 East Clayton, IN 46118 317-539-4326 [email protected]
The Indiana Trail Riders *STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
The purpose of the Indiana Trail Riders Association…is to promote trail riding and equine activities in Indiana and the surrounding area.
The ITRA is involved on local, state and national levels striving to promote and improve trails and campgrounds.
We work actively on the legislative and administrative levels as well we sponsoring and organization workdays on several recreational
properties in the hope that the natural beauty we have enjoyed on horseback will be available for future generations as well.
The corporate address is Post Office Box 185, Farmland, Indiana 47340.
The corporate address is Post Office Box 185, Farmland, Indiana 47340.
ITRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ITRA APPOINTED POSITIONS
This Trail Mix Newsletter is the Official Publication of the Indiana Trail Riders Association. It is published six times a year in odd
numbered months. Editorial material, photos, and notices of upcoming events should be submitted to
[email protected] or mailed to Mary Williams 14978 East 191st Street Noblesville, IN 46060 by the 10th of even months.
ITRA Calendar
September 12-14, 2014 October 25, 2014 November 28-30, 2014
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ITRA OFFICERS - 2014
Happy Trails Marsha!!
10734 N. 800 E Ossian, In 46777 260-639-6657 [email protected]
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A Message From Our Chairman of the Board
Notes from the Editor
I would like to introduce myself as your new
Indiana Trail Riders Newsletter Editor. One of my
extracurricular duties as an art teacher was to
produce a school newsletter for several years. While
opening a new school, I also became involved in
creating all the school’s graphics, logos, brochures
and yearbook. I thought I was finished with all that
until ITRA needed someone to step in and help
continue their newsletter. I am honored the board
has put their trust in me to continue to be their voice.
I have sporadically been involved with ITRA
through the years. Even though I have been involved
with horses in other activities, trail riding has been my
first love. I have always enjoyed contributing to ITRA
in any way I could.
Marsha Berry did a terrific job editing the
newsletter. I can only hope I am able to continue with
the same quality. I want to personally thank Marsha
for all of her help in this transition. Her help has
enabled me to maintain the usual deadlines.
We will gladly accept advertising from
individuals, groups, or businesses. If you know of
anyone interested, please contact me.
You may contact me at 14978 East 191st
Street Noblesville, IN 46060, 765-534-5192 (leave a
message), or [email protected].
Mary Williams
Headaches!!!
Do you know there are things in our life
that can bring on stress and worry! Well for
the last 8 years or more, one of the things your
leadership of the ITRA never had to worry
about was the publishing of our newsletter
and whether the membership was going to get
the newsletter they want. I for one never
even let the thought that it wouldn’t happen
cross my mind. We had an excellent Trail Mix
Editor that worked hard and diligently to be
sure it happened and didn’t cause the board to
even worry it wouldn’t happen. More than
one of the officers and board members did get
a good thrashing when we didn’t get the things
we promised to have for the newsletter to her
on time!! If you were a day late your stuff
didn’t make it in because you were late! We
all learned the hard way to be sure we were on
time!!!! I’m sorry to report that Marsha Berry
has decided to move onto other things after
her great run as Trail Mix Editor. I know for
sure that all of ITRA and especially the Officers
and Board of Directors will miss her and her
great newsletter. She is a great supporter of
ITRA and worked hard to get members when
she was out camping. Marsha always was
spreading the word of the good things ITRA has
done for trail riding in Indiana. Hopefully we
will still get to see her out and about on her
new mare riding and camping.
Marsha good luck in whatever future
endeavor you do and know you will be missed!
Greg Hersberger
Chairman, Board of Directors ITRA
Bonnie Miller is New Membership Chairman.
If any lifetime members want a laminated lifetime card, email me at [email protected].
Bonnie
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A lot of people don't know this or have reason to think about it for that matter, but there was a real live Harry Shepler who had a western store on the west side of Wichita, Kansas right on highway 54. This was back in the days when a person could go into such a place and by jeans, jackets, boots, cinches, halters, bridles and such at an affordable price.
I was privileged to get to know Harry as a customer. He had some neurological problems in his neck, so he carried his head somewhat bent and his speech wasn't too clear. Surgeries hadn't seemed to help much.
I had a friend at that time, AH Bauer that fancied himself as a bareback bronco rider. There was a rodeo up in Emporia, Kansas and AH wanted me to go there with him in case he got hurt and couldn't drive home. So much for positive thinking.
AH came out of chute Number 4 and the bronc made about 4 highflying jumps and AH went skyward, looking like a helicopter spinning around. Seems his bareback rigging just disintegrated from hanging in the garage too long. What happened to the check your equipment routine?
The next event was calf roping and there was my old friend Harry Shepler working as the flagman. Well, this one contestant came banging out of the chute in record time, swung his loop a couple of times and caught his 400 pound calf.
He swung out of saddle and scooted along his rope. This is when things fell apart. The horse side passed one way and the calf ran the other way passing the horse while making a full circle around the roper. Then the horse went south and the calf went north. With a bawl the calf said he was done and the well tied roper fell over.
Harry waited the required six seconds and dropped his flag. The calf won third place in roping that day.
Shepler's Western Wear By Ron McCoy
Honestly, my intentions were good; this was
supposed to be a nice, HORSELESS vacation, with the
focus being on visiting friends and relatives I’d not seen
in many years. But you are all trail riders, so you know
how it is. First, while looking at pictures, I started
thinking about how nice it would be to ride in Colorado
again. Then I did some harmless internet browsing,
checking out riding stables that just happened to be in
the areas I’d be visiting. No harm in looking, right? My
fingers slipped on the keyboard, and the next thing I
knew, I had accidentally made reservations to ride in the
Garden of the Gods and near Rocky Mountain National
Park. Not my fault, right? Those darn keyboards…
Well, since the reservations were non-
refundable, of course I had to ride. Oh, I DID spend quite
a bit of time with friends and relatives, and even invited
them to join me, even though I knew there was no
chance they’d want to. After all, I wanted to be polite,
and not have it seem like I was really, really anxious to
get to a barn!
My first ride was at Academy Riding Stables
adjacent to the Garden of the Gods in Manitou Springs,
Colorado. I was actually happy that I was not on my own
horse! People were climbing all over the rocks, with
many sitting just where their legs were dangling in front
of the horses’ faces. That probably wouldn’t have gone
over well with Warsong, my usual ride. But the scenery
was absolutely stunning, and I had a great ride.
Several days later, I was frantically searching for
Sombrero Ranch in Estes Park, Colorado. My GPS went
a little haywire; it would point one way, while telling me
to turn the opposite way. To top it off, I wasn’t expecting
the stable to be so close to town, and had been looking
further out.
I arrived with just a few minutes to spare,
grabbed my helmet and horn bags out of the car, and
dashed into the office to sign my release forms. Now,
a few weeks before, a friend had sent me a newspaper
article about this facility, and it seems they had added
some draft horses so they could offer rides to larger
people. I commented that I hoped they wouldn’t give
me one of the drafts, and my friend said, “Oh, don’t
worry, you aren’t THAT big!” Well, apparently, I am,
since they took me right over to Abner, a Belgian
gelding! Guess I’d better not have any fair food this
year…
It was going to be a very slow ride, I figured, but
ol’ Abner surprised me by moving out pretty well. Again,
the scenery was stunning, and I was able to take lots of
pictures from atop Abner’s broad back. Although there
hadn’t been a cloud in the sky when we left, it soon
became dark and started to rain, accompanied by much
thunder and lightning. Then it started to hail! The
guide’s horse became very upset, and for a moment, I
thought he was going to bolt back to the ranch. The
young lady kept control of him, though, and we waited
it out. At that moment, I was glad I was on a nice cold-
blooded horse!
We rode on to the area where dinner was to be
served. Since the four of us on the “experienced” ride
were soaked to the skin by that time, it was nice to have
a hot meal. The ride back to the stable was uneventful,
which was good, since I’d about had my quota of
excitement for the day!
If you would like to be able to ride awhile on
vacation without bringing your own horse, Colorado is
the ideal place to go! Besides the well-known stables
and outfitters near the popular tourist sites, there are
many ranches throughout the mountains with signs up
offering horseback riding. As one of my friends said,
“Vicki, if you stop at every place that has horseback
riding, you will never make it to my house!”
And, oh, for those of you who think guided rides
on rental horses are beneath you, I can assure you that
these rides can get to be plenty interesting. Ask me
sometime why I am paranoid about keeping my keys
and I.D. on me and not in my horn bags. Or why I never
let my horse grab bites of grass along the trails! But I will
save those for another story.
My
Colorado
Ride
By Vicki
Grant
Wild
Bill
Sez
Ever notice those folks camped near you always seem to have a campfire going in nothing flat, while you can't get anything going despite liberal applications of charcoal fluid and diesel fuel. Here's a helpful hint: Get a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with sawdust, either table sawdust or chain sawdust. Mix in a gallon of kerosene and let it soak for about a week. It doesn't hurt to mix it every now and then as the kerosene tends to go to the bottom. Put a coffee can of this mix under your firewood and a little more in the middle. Light it and you have a professionally built fire going in no time flat.
Ol' Wild Bill Sez:
“When you are riding along sometimes
off the regularly marked trail or perhaps riding
cross country in a remote area and you come to
a gate, if it is open leave it open, if it is closed
close it after passing through. You never know if
the gate is closed to hold livestock in or open to
allow livestock access to water or feed.”
Note: Ron McCoy is a monthly contributor.
I have placed an Indiana Trail Riders mounting block at Crittenden Creek on the Vandalia Trail. The trail runs east and west between Amo and Coatsville in the central part of Indiana. Crittenden Creek crosses the trail about midway. Both the east and west approach to the creek, though graded, is steep and at times the water is swift. This forces some riders (like me) to dismount and lead the horse across, then remount. The trail organizers placed a mounting block on the west side but those travelling east had no mounting block. Now, there is a block featuring Indiana Trail Riders along with a request to join our organization. Attached is a photo of myself and the mounting block for the Trail Mix. Please let me know if you have any questions.
5
ITRA Mounting Block On the Vandalia Trail
By John Allen
8
Versailles Horsemen’s Campground Update By Nancy Brunnemer
On August 13, 2014 many Department of
Natural Resources personnel including John Davis,
DNR Assistant Director, and Indiana Trail Rider
Association officers and directors met to discuss
the existing work needed to complete the
Versailles Horsemen’s Campground. We first
visited the site and checked out the work
currently being done. ITRA had hoped that the
campground would be completed earlier, but with
state budget cuts and other interruptions there
have been several delays. One of the goals
determined by the meeting was to start cutting
and stoning the campground road after Labor
Day. Development of the sites, including running
electric lines, will also begin. The excavating and
drainage of the property will continue. The spring
goal is to have 9-15 electric sites open. Initially,
there will be pit toilets and water available.
Future plans will hopefully include a comfort
station. We know that there is a great demand
for this campground so we will let our members of
ITRA know about the official opening. If you
would like to be included on the existing volunteer
list to work on the campground or on the trails in
Versailles, please contact me, Nancy Brunnemer
at [email protected] or call 317-433-
8771.
Our Iceland Riding Adventure
By John Hossler
This will be a continuing serial covering
several newsletters.
Iceland, and particularly the capital,
Reykjavik, is a place most people have heard of,
some people know where it is, but few people can
spell “Ryckovic” correctly, and even fewer have
been there. Paul Cronen and I had the
opportunity in June, 2014 to ride in Iceland and it
and a great experience.
We ride together here in the states on
several rides a year that his wife (Cherri, a
frequent contributor to the newsletter) arranges
and organizes. The interest started around the
campfire on one of our Colorado trips when we
both found that we had an interest in Iceland. I
had been there briefly during a several hour
layover at the airport on the way to Europe for a
choir tour, and I thought it was intriguing. Paul
was interested because he is a destination rider,
former Eagle Scout, and loves hiking in the
outdoors and camping in cold weather. Iceland is
a perfect fit.
Iceland is an island just under the Artic
Circle in the Northern Atlantic. It would be on the
same latitude with northern Alaska and the Bering
Strait. In square miles it is the size of Virginia or
Kentucky. Iceland’s origins are volcanic and
actually was featured on 60 Minutes because of a
recent volcanic eruption. It was settled by Nordic
seafarers in 800 AD. It politically had been aligned
with Denmark, but got their independence from
them in 1944. (Our first day in Iceland was
actually their Independence Day).
Even though it is far north, Iceland lies
along the Gulf Stream that modulates the
temperature especially in the winter. When I
called for reservations in January, it was 0
degrees there and 0 degrees for us in southern
Indiana.
There are two major companies for
Icelandic riding (Eld Hester and Ischatar). For
scheduling reasons we went with Eld Hester.
We wholeheartedly recommend them. There is
a multitude of riding options from ½ day rides
to 9 day rides. We opted for a 7 day ride known
as the Kjour (cure Lure) Tour. Our tour went
through a wilderness area in the highlands area
of central Iceland that is sandwiched between
the second and third largest glaciers in Iceland.
A couple of times we were actually able to see
both at the same time although we were closer
to the Langjokull Glacier which is the second
largest.
Our tour was different from most of the
others offered. We rode cross country thru the
wilderness area and stayed in huts and sleeping
bags along the way. Although we did have a Sag
wagon (4 wheel drive SUV Sith with a trailer)
that hauled our luggage for us and would meet
us at our evening destination. (Only 4 wheel
drive vehicles are allowed in the interior). The
cook (Johanna) drove the SAG wagon, but she
was also the unsung hero. Johanna was up early
and had breakfast ready for us (porridge, cold
cuts, cheeses, sour milk and cereal). She
cleaned up after we left, did the dishes, fixed
our lunches, met us around noon for lunch on
most days, had some smacks ready for us at the
end of the day, and then cooked supper and
cleaned up afterwards. Her day ended about
the same time ours did as we all headed to bed.
Read the next installment in our November
newsletter.
ITRA at Work On The Trail
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We had a very productive workday at
Yellowwood. Georgia Ballinger and her friend Hanna,
Nancy Brunner and myself did a lot of work in four
hours. We were able to re-stabilize the creek crossing
at Jackson Creek on the YZ trail. We had to do this
because the stream changed course over the winter
and took out the bank. We had to reinforce the bank
with two tons of rip-rap and we created a rock path
across the creek for hikers and fishermen. Georgia
and Hanna demonstrated their endurance and agility
skills placing the rip-rap in the proper location. The
DNR came in afterwards and laid down the gravel.
We also cleaned out culverts, put gravel over
an area of the Y trail outside of horse camp that had
washed out. We fixed a hitching rail at a break area
that some ignoramus had vandalized.
Afterwards we enjoyed a fried chicken lunch
from IGA in Nashville (best chicken in the county), and
we still had time to take a nice afternoon ride to
admire our work.
Yellowwood Work Day June 14, 2014 By Chris Riehl
The idea to form this corporation was started in 2011 after a group of ITRA members brainstormed around a campfire on to how to raise money to expand, improve and maintain horse trails. Many of the grants or public monies available require that you are a charitable organization. One of the founding members was Richard King, (great guy), who unfortunately passed away. His loving wife, Connie, requested that donations for his passing be bequeathed to the Midwest Equine Trail Foundation. The support was tremendous.
The Midwest Equine Trail Foundation received its confirmation of its charitable status and is a legal tax exempt organization. Therefore, any contributions to this organization are tax deductible. Our plan includes raising funds via grants, corporate and private donations to achieve our objectives and to make this region a premier place to ride.
As anyone who owns a horse knows, they are not cheap to keep. We horse owners spend our money on feed, saddles, trucks, trailers, camping spots, bridles, pads, vets and fence to name a few things. If we can convince even one of these providers to support this organization, it will be in the trail riders’ best interests.
There will be an article in each of the next several Trail Mixes as to what we are doing and status of projects.
By the way, you can send your tax deductible donation to:
Midwest Equine Trail Foundation
4653 Lanam Ridge Rd.
Nashville, IN 47448
The Midwest Equine Trail Foundation
By Chris Riehl
Our Beginnings By Arlene Smoot
Way back in the early 1970's and before, the horse camp at Brown County State Park was where the family campground is now and there were no sites. Everyone just pulled into the woods and parked best they could. There were vehicles everywhere. If you wanted electricity you had to have long extension cords. The cords had to run from the trailers across the road to the outlets.
The trails were just whatever the deer had made by living in the park. Some of them were pretty rough. I remember one where the horses had to step down such a steep step they could only put their front feet down and then had to swing around and put their back feet down. This area was all rock and they stepped down to a rock ledge. Kinda scary!
We had a lot of fun camping there as it was not so regulated and everyone talked and visited together.
I can't give you a specific date but by the mid 1970's the park had made a new camp, the one we use now. With the new camp came lots of rules: no trees for shade; specific camp sites; but it did have outlets much closer to the sites; water nearby; hitching rails for each site; and the campers could feel like they had their own space unlike the old camp where there was no separation.
Soon more regulations came into play and many people were VERY unhappy. More next time ----
Arlene Editor’s Note: Arlene has graciously
agreed to write a series of articles about
the founding of ITRA.
Is Your Horse Normal? By Rita Lockridge, RVT
To be able to determine if your horse is acting
“abnormal” in any way, you should know what the normal values
are for your equestrian. I’ve been asked many times to “come
check” a horse at camp that isn’t acting right, and my first
questions always get the person a bit stumped! Following up
from the first aid talk I gave at the Annual ITRA meeting earlier
this year, do you know YOUR horses’ normal heart rate,
respiratory rate and temperature? Do you know how to find
each one of those parameters?
Knowing when they are “normal” will definitely help you
know if they are having an “abnormal” episode and all of these
pieces of information are very important to your veterinarian
when you call!
Equine (Adult) Normal Value
Temperature: 99-101°F
Pulse: 28-44 beats per minute
Respiration rate: 10-24 breaths per minute
Human (Adult) Normal Values
Temperature: 97.02–99.50 °F (98.6 average)
Pulse: 60-100 beats per minute
Respiration Rate: 12-20 breaths per minute
Mucous Membranes (gums, inside eyelids) should be pink
and have a capillary refill time of <2 seconds. This indicates
good blood flow and oxygenation of the tissues.
Gut sounds should be present on the left and right sides of
the horse. Upper quadrant (in front of the hip) and the lower
quadrant (by the flank), make sure to check all 4 areas!
The heartbeat is a “lub-dub” sound is ONE BEAT!
Hot and humid weather may increase any or all of these
values!
Younger animals and humans values are slightly different!
Always make sure that you know each horse is slightly different
at rest. Practice taking temperatures, pulses and respiration
rates so you know your horses’ normal value. In times of
emergencies, we all get in a hurry. It’s good to remember the
basics and all those details will help your veterinarian!
