THOROGOLD STABLES NEWSLETTER

September 2004

Well finally it is “happening” (you’ll notice I didn’t say “happened”-we may never be finished), but we’re living in the house next to the stable.There are some really awesome parts, such as:I’m not driving out here 4 or 5 times a day...I’m already here; I can go out @ 11:00 @ night and do a one last look @ the horses; and, I get to see the doe and her twins quite often.

Welcome to New Boarders:

For those of you that are new to the barn, you’ll find that we try to keep things as natural for the horses as possible.It is our belief that almost everything we do these days to our horses is “unnatural”.You will probably find that your horses will wear their hoofs off more in our environment because of the “black sand” in the turnouts as well as the “angular sand” in the outdoor arena (that same sand is mixed with crumb rubber in the indoor).Our footing is also much healthier in that it drains very well, plus we take extra measures to keep it draining.The hay we buy is local and not sprayed with chemicals and we compost our manure to help keep the flies down.Dragging and mowing the pastures also helps with the fly population and helps keep the grass healthy and less weedy.

Summer Happenings:

This summer we got quite a lot accomplished including adding a couple more sacrifice areas and a couple more pastures.We tried fly predators and I think they worked great until about August when I had more horses than I’d ordered predators for.We’re still using mosquito dunks around the perimeter of the property and this year, I put them in the ponds to be a little more aggressive.I think next summer we will try stocking the ponds with fish.Putting goldfish in the water troughs seems to help with the mosquito larvae.

We’ve had a really successful summer of camp and clinics for young kids.Peggy Ayers did a great job and had to add several extra camps.She worked so many hours that she was found napping in her car in the parking lot @ 95 degrees. Hopefully, she’s had a chance for a breather.Great Job Peggy!

Fall and Winter:

Ashley Fiedler will be bringing some schooling horses and do some jumping lessons later on this fall so, we’ll be looking forward to that.Ashley worked with some of the boarders this past summer and is very well liked.

Eileen MacColl has been doing dressage lessons and that will continue through the winter and hopefully for some time to come.She’s helped Janice a great deal with her Thorobred mare.Thanks Eileen.

There will be quite a few more horses here this winter and so we’re trying to do some things to make it easy to work around each other.The board by the indoor arena will list times of lessons so that you might be able to try to work around them if you’d like.We planned on increasing the size of the outdoor arena but with the move, I don’t think that is going to happen; however, here are some projects that I think we will have finished prior to the snow flying:

1.Finishing the extra stalls on he West side (by the hay storage)-including automatic waterers.

2.Lori will be adding another small loafing shed area.

3.Because of the extra boarders, we’ll be building more cabinets for boarder’s storage.

3.First part of September we’ll be digging a bunch more french drains and drainage ditches.Some of these will be in the sacrifice pastures and some will be in loafing shed areas.

4.The crumb rubber footing (Permaflex) in the indoor arena has been marvelous for the horses legs and feet; however, we’ve still got dust.so this month I put a product on for dust control and am hoping that together with the automatic watering system that we’ll get the dust down further.

5.We’re planning on putting lights up on the outdoor arena (we’re in the final stages of making sure they don’t encroach on the neighbors)

6.6.Fencing a couple more pastures

As you can see, it will be a very busy fall and winter.

Please know that nothing has changed in terms of when you can ride....you may ride early in the morning or late at night as long as you follow all the rules.We realize that it very tough to fit everything into a normal day.

As a reminder, there is a ride about area around the perimeter of the property and when you get to the top of the hill, the view is spectacular....the horses really like getting out.

Moscow Mountain is a short ride away....ask Lori or myself for directions.Once you hit the mountain, you can ride all the way over to Potlatch.

There is also some CRP ground that we’ve been able to ride on in the past (we need to double check again this year to make sure it is still ok)

Here are a few favors I’d like to ask that you help with:

·Keep all gates and stall doors shut and latched.

·Keep tack room doors shut (to keep in heat and mice and flies out).

·Do not turn horses loose in the indoor arena to run free (they will tear up base and could possibly break mirrors).Try to lunge in the round pen our outdoor arena when possible to help maintain the integrity of the indoor base as well.

·Tack up your horses’ in their stalls when possible to keep the alleys freed up.

·If you’re the last one out of the barn please make sure lights are out and doors shut; however, do not close main doors to the barn unless the wind is blowing.hard.The ventilation is VERY important so that the horses are not breathing ammonia fumes and so that they don’t get sick.

·Do NOT borrow items without asking permission and then, be sure to put things back where you got them.

·Pick up after yourself and your horse please (there are forks, shovels, etc. In the tool room).

·If you put out jumps etc., please put them away.

·Please do not park in the area around the main barn unless you have been given special permission.This area needs to remain open for work (tractors etc.) and people with ambulatory concerns.Park in the main lot area by the lower barn and outdoor arena.

·If someone comes out to ride with you, have them sign a release...they are in the back of the black book in main tack room.

Other Health Items:

I’ll put signs up when it is time to deworm so, please put a check by your horses’ name when you’ve completed that.

I’ll be making an appointment for the dentist to come out again this fall.I’ll put a note up so you can let me know if you are interested.She will also do sheath cleaning if you’d like.It is cheaper to have her come out and do a group of horses.I do the same thing in the spring for vaccinations, coggins and health certifications.

We also have a farrier come on a schedule.You are free to use him or any other farrier you choose.If you want to use Don Dudley, let me know so that you can be added to the schedule.

We try our very best to take “special care” of your horse and treat them as though they were ours.Please talk to me if you have any special concerns, worries, questions, or suggestions.Thanks and have a great year!!