Michigan Foxtrotting Horse Association

Hello December! Time is sure flying!!

Marilyn Mannino

is nothing like the expectation of a well-bred foal!

Marilyn Mannino

Hello April! Spring is upon us! People are out Fox Trotting and enjoying the weather. Many are accumulating points in the Versatility Challenges that we are offering.

At our November meeting we elected some new officers for 2021. Congratulations go out to Bob Howell elected as the new MFTA President, Kathy Kruch is now VP, Marilyn is still Secretary/Treasurer, Char Ostrom is the new 2-year Director and Miranda Mannino is now the 1-year Director.

We did it!!! Our application for federal 501c3 designation was approved!!! We are formally a non-profit now! Thank you to all who helped make this happen.

Camp or come just for the day.

We have resources and people available for you to learn from and breeders to refer you to if you want to buy a young one to train or if you want to further the training with your present horse.

June 25 is the natural trail and obstacle clinic at the beautiful Holland

We are accepting membership renewals and new memberships for 2021 now. Youth are encouraged to join too! Go to www.michiganfox trotters.com to print off the form. You will learn alot from our members about the history of Fox Trotters,their uses and availability and be able to network with those of us who camp,train and show them. Our association is blessed to have skilled trainers,breeders and a farrier to learn from. We love promoting this breed as they have great personalities,are so versatile and come in many sizes and different coat colors. A benefit to joining is that we can offer clinics at a reduced price to our members. Due to Covid we are meeting remotely each month. Michigan is a big state and this is a good way to easily see and talk with each other within and outside of MI. Come join the fun!

Are you ready for a season of fun? You have a number of activities to choose from. Become a member and get into these clinics for a reduced price. Go to michiganfoxtrottinghorse.com for the membership form, then to the activities page for the list of clinics, etc. and the associated regis tration form.

Don't forget to transfer your newly-bought horse's registration papers into your name with the MFTHBA,too. We are growing! New member welcomes go out to Naomi Haas, equine dentist Kris Modreske and Harry Struble all of MI. Naomi rides a sorrel sabino gelding (Dexter) and a black mare (Hank's Serenity Liberty Bell B). Kris rides a black and white gelding (Radar's Spotted Prior). And congratulations go out to Harry Struble on his purchase of Joe's Golden Chip, a handsome buckskin gelding, from Chuck Fanslow. All these members are riding quality Fox Trotters!!!

Registration is still open for all three Versatility Challenges (Under Saddle Challenge, Not Under Saddle Challenge and Ultimate Horseman Challenge). This program is designed to show how versatile the Missouri Fox Trotter is. Registered and grade MFTs are allowed. All handicapped and regular youth through adults are welcome. Every imaginable activity and category is included from in hand work to Dressage, short distance trail riding to endurance competitions and everything in-between (cow work, driving, extreme trail, 4H and open showing, parades, reining, trail maintenance and more!). We also included a competition for the most ambitious member who demonstrates their horsemanship skills in a wide variety of categories. Quarterly and year-end awards will be given. Go to www.michiganfoxtrotters.com to read the rules and print off the forms to join in on the friendly competition and fun.

There might still be room in the March 18 and March 19 trail and obstacle clinic at Morning View Farm in Ionia, Michigan. Clinician Susan Williams will teach you and your horse how to work together to safely negotiate various obstacles that will build trust out on the trail. This is a must attend clinic. Also, March 25 is the groundwork and showmanship clinic at Goodell's Equestrian Center in Wales, Michigan with clinician Gabby Oddo of Go Performance Horses. You will learn how to create a better connection, properly and safely move your horse on the ground using specific exercises useful every day and in shows. This is a great clinic on the east side of the state for all ages and disciplines.

Sign up now for the popular Versatility Challenge for 2021. Print off the enrollment form from our website. There are may areas in which you can accumulate points-even in the non-rideable months.

More Fox Trotters are slowly becoming available to purchase but they are selling fast. There is a good video on the correct Fox Trot gait posted on our Face Book site to refer to when you are considering an MFT to buy. Be sure to bring a knowledgeable person with you,too, when you narrow down your search. Breeders, Chuck Fanslow (riverflatranch.com) and Gale Gunders (989-534-1207), have well-gaited young stock available. They also have quality studs to breed to if you have a mare you want bred. Chuck has a Buckskin stallion and a palomino stallion(both sons of Cotton Eyed Joe). Gale has a spotted stallion who will throw color to your foal. Both are located in Gladwin,MI. Contact them if you want to have your mare bred. There

The April 1 introduction to cows clinic at Slippery F Ranch in Nashville, Michigan with Clinician Greg Flower will fill fast. Get your registration form submitted right away. This safe and psychological clinic is a favorite and will expose your horse to cows and give them confidence on how to move them. The April 15 and April 16 Levi Beechy horsemanship clinic at Morning View Farm in Ionia, Michigan is one you surely should attend. You don't have to haul way up north that weekend to learn from him. Levi will teach you how to connect with your horse so that you will have a better ride. He has helped so many riders succeed! His clinics fill fast so don't hesitate to submit your registration form.

Recreation Area in Ionia, Michigan near the day staging area. Come test your skills and safely expose your horse or pony to things they might encounter on the trail. There will be prizes and ribbons for the youngsters and money payback for ages 18 and up.

The MFTHBA needs registered members to fill their committees for 2021. I just agreed to help out on the Trail Committee again. Surely you can,too! Various committees need members(younger ones too) for their input and advice to increase affiliate numbers,think of ways to make the shows better,to improve and okay National Trail Ride applications,give ideas on clinics (let's get more closer to our state),getting more versatility riders interested,give ideas on training and picking judges, plus more. Many positions can be supported remotely. Also, this is a great way to meet those from other areas of the USA who raise,train and ride MFTs. I have made new friends this way who I would not have otherwise. Contact the MO Fox Trotting Horse Breeding Association via www.mfthba.com to become a member and for more information

Western Horse Park in Holland, Michigan with Clinician Susan Williams. You will be instructed on how to safely work out a way to deal with actual trail obstacles. Make your clinic and camping reservations via www.hollandwestern.com.

New members are always welcome! Go to www.michiganfoxtrotters.com to print off the membership form. We meet virtually so all members are able to meet without having to drive long distances.

Also, PLEASE send in your MFTA dues and your MFTHBA dues

Wishing everyone a blessed and safe Christmas!

July 7 through July 9 is the second annual Great Lakes national trail ride at the Horseman's Camp at Waterloo State Recreation Area in Chelsea, Michigan. Earn a point on your Fox Trotter toward your MFTHBA award. Make your camping reservations via midnrreservations.com or park in the day

Respectfully submitted, Marilyn Mannino ing. A potluck will happen Saturday night so come with something to share. Last year the weather was perfect

Our Event Committee is busy planning the next clinic. It will be a Gaited Western Dressage Clinic at the end of May. More details will be available next month. The clinician is top-notch!

Are you interested in learning how versatile your horse is? The versatility challenge program will help make your mount a more valuable horse citizen. This program will help you document all of the things you can accomplish with your horse. These include training, camping, showing and LOTS more. We have sections for horses not under saddle, under saddle or in harness and lenge which focuses on all of the things that the human accomplishes. There are quarterly and year end prizes for youth and adults. Enroll for the over 1,000-point club too to earn the special sticker for your vehicle or tration forms are on the activities page. Get started

A little history on our breed: The present-day Missouri Fox Trotter evolved from Morgans in New England being crossed with Arabians, Plantation Horses, American Saddlebreds, TWHs and pacing Standardbreds. The genetic mix of square-trotting horses and pacing horses created the comfortable fox trot gait! Missouri Fox Trotting horses have been used by farmers in Missouri and surrounding states to ride long distances to check their fencing and work cows, pull buggies, by US Forest Service workers, by mounted police and now people across the United States and Europe use them for recreation (showing, trail riding, Dressage,reining, 4H and Equestrian Team, Hippotherapy,etc.). They are truly versatile and also can be found in all colors and sizes! Try one out and find out why everyone loves them so!

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Remember to send in your MFTHBA membership too. Go to mfthba.com to see all of their programs and benefits, then renew or become a member. We are the Michigan affiliate of the Missouri Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association (mfthba.com) based in Ava, Missouri.

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Our mission is to promote Missouri Fox Trotters and to encourage the breeding and training of them as well as to help their owners learn to enjoy their horses more