APRIL 2012

April 2012

What happened to the month of March? It was a blur of beauty around here. This place was packed with people riding, washing their hairy, mucky horses and just hanging out. How did we get so lucky?  

 Horse Health

Vaccinations coming soon!

Everyone has been getting their post cards from Big Creek for their annual vaccinations. I’ll wait until about the middle of April to set a date. As usual I’ll post a signup sheet for what you would like. I think it works best if Dr. Horch and I can bust out the vacs first, then schedule each horse for your personal session for teeth, sheaths, meds and other veterinary work you horse needs. This way no one is standing around waiting their turn. We usually need 3 visits from Dr. Horch.

De-Worming.

I can deworm your horse for you for $10.00. Let me know if you want this service. This is billed to your board or you can leave a check here in the tack room. 

Now that spring is here, this means there are more people using the equipment around the stable. This means things get broken.  Accidents happen. But please replace anything your horse might have damaged. Crossties, hose nozzles and people’s tack boxes are targets horses like to hit. In other words, you break it, you buy it.

Welcome Chris!

We have a new secretary up in the office now. Her name is Chris English and will be the one who will do our billing now. We wish her the best.

PANIC!

SNAP

DEBATE

Someone recently asked me “which is the appropriate way to use the panic snaps on the crossties”. I have no policies except I know they are designed to be attached with the panic snap end on the halter. This way in the event your horse freaks out and runs backward the snap breaks the horse loose. Ours are arbitrarily attached. The brass snap is so much easier to use than the panic end biting your hand. Pick and choose your battles.

Security issues.

     This past winter we lost Jay Reda to cancer. He was our “go to” guy if there were intruders on the property. He could scare the  be- jeezes out of teenagers who would sneak in to fish or handle a poacher who didn’t have permission to hunt here. He was a great presence for the property and his reputation was renowned in the neighborhood to keep out trespassers.

     This leads me to an incident that Tracy Cook had a couple of weeks ago. She was returning home from school and noticed a vehicle pulling into the trail to the upper duck pond that parallels Judith’s drive. Tracy, who is no sissy, blocked the entrance with her van. The perpetrator got pissed and backed out just missing her van and the ditch.

     We have no one on the property anymore for this kind of incident. So if on your ride or visit to the stable you see someone who looks suspicious or lost or is dumping garbage or doesn’t belong here, ask politely “can I help you? The Hunters and Judith’s random help will say “Hi” and/or act like they own the place. If they are rude or flee call 911 or better yet Geauga Sherriff’s Dept. at 440-286-1234. I have it saved on the stable phone. Our address is 8754 Hermitage Rd. Chardon Twp. (Painesville, Oh. 44077 is the mailing address). Be Safe! Get as much information about the person and license number if you can. Alert Judith and me too.

BULLETIN BOARD

Keep me apprised of any trees down and trails that need work for the upcoming trail clearing on May 5^th. I have a list started on the bulletin board in the tack room.

If you are planning to ride or have an inkling to ride please call first thing in the morning so we can have the horses in and close. Then if your plans change in the afternoon and you can’t ride we can let them out. Due to budget cuts we will have only one staff member here until the stable fills again. It’s a long walk to the manure pit. Thanks.

I can’t believe April is here. Like my Dad says, “life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end the faster it goes.”

Till next time, keep your heels down!

Holly