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May 7, 2007
Volume 3, Number 9

Hello, Friends!

I hope everyone is doing fine. It seems as though we are getting more than our share of rain right now, and it has been making things just a little difficult to do some riding. I am writing this just after a couple of hours finding out that I now have my first grandson, Aidan Rodina. Our son, Nick, called and said Megan gave birth at 4:00 this morning. I thought this was pretty good news to share. Baby and mom are doing just fine!

I am looking forward to working the National Reining Horse Assn. Derby coming up on May 17 through the 19th. If you get down to Oklahoma City, stop by and see me at the Purina booth.

Make sure you are checking out the New TV Show on RFD TV, Animal Makeover. It is running every Tuesday at 6:00 CST. Put together by LOL/Purina, it is a real neat and educational show.

A couple of weeks ago, we had our first Equine Marketing Meetings with Jo Turner of Roy Frey Western Lifestyles and David Solum of Mid American Equine Sales. The meetings were very well received and full of information. I look forward to expanding on the concept and having more of these meetings in the area. Thanks for all of you that attended. We are very proud to be hooked up with Dave and Phil Solum of Mid America Equines Sales; and with that, we will be joining forces to do more things to “Raise Your Equine Experience To A Higher Level”.

Make sure you plan to attend the “Extreme Cowboy Race Weekend, June 23rd & 24th at the Saddle & Sirloin Club in Kansas City, Missouri. This is going to be a great weekend full of fun and excitement. Word is out that equine clinician, Kerry Kuhn, is going to be hanging around there the week after to do clinics for the public. The race is full; but if you have questions about The Extreme Cowboy Race Weekend, contact Bill Hull at 913/208-6381. It will be an unbelievable weekend!

Just as you are having withdrawals from the Extreme Cowboy Race Weekend at the Saddle & Sirloin, you can head down to Ottawa, Kansas the next weekend, June 29,30, & July 1, for the 4th Annual Old West Cowboy Days. You won’t want to miss that weekend either. Information is below in the calendar section.

If you want to post your events on our website, www.betterhorsesnetwork.com, you can send them to Sally Dwyer at sdwyer70@aol.com and get them posted at no charge. To get your event advertised in our Better Horses Network Electronic Newsletter, you can contact JoAnn Riggs at priorityone@charter.net, and she will do that for a minimal charge.

We are in the process of putting together our 2007 Summer Edition of the Better Horses Network publication. It will go out about the first week of June. If you are interested in running an ad, give me a call at 785/418-6047 or e-mail me at ernest_rodina@purina-mills.com . The deadline for the paper is May 15th.

All of you enjoy your family and horses, and let me know if I can be of help.

Happy Trails!

Ernie

Calendar of Events:

May

June

July

September

The Better Horses Radio Show continues to grow!  Tune in to one of the stations airing our show:
              
                Saturday    9:00am - 10:00am         KMDO 1600 am - Fort Scott, KS
                Saturday    4:00pm - 5:00pm          KFRM 550 am - Clay Center/Salina/Wichita, KS
                Sunday      6:00am - 7:00am           WIBW 580 am - Topeka or listen on-line at http://www.580radio.com/
                Sunday      6:30am - 7:30am           KFEQ 680 am - St. Joe, MO
                Sunday      9:00am - 10:00am         KDKD 95.3 fm - Clinton, MO
                Sunday      4:00pm - 5:00pm           KOFO 1220 am - Ottawa, KS

PLUS . . . we've gone cross-country with the Better Horses Network!
  WOCA - Ocala, FL       KMPH - Modesto, CA       WLEG - Lexington, KY        KSEV - Houston, TX      KLAY - Tacoma, WA
 

             

For rates and placement information,
please click here. 

For rates and placement information,
please click here

LISTING EVENTS IN OUR NEWSLETTER -- If you are an organization or business who would like to list your event in our Calendar Section, click on the Event Listings box above for rates.  Then contact Jo Ann Riggs at e-mail address listed with your request.

CLASSIFIED AD LISTING --  If you are interested in a Classified Ad listing, click on the Classified Ad box above.  Rates and placement information is located directly below the box.  Simply click on "please click here."  Be sure to check our Classifieds each newsletter as ads are changing all the time.

NEW CATEGORY FOR WEBSITES -- Due to many requests for website listings, we have a new section in our Classified Ads called WEB LINKS.  Check this section from time to time as we add website links that may be of interest to you.  Enter our Classified Ads and click on Web Links, then click on the name listed and you will be taken directly to that party's website. 

 Our subscriber list has grown to over 6,300+ recipients -- almost entirely horse-owning households! 
 Our ad and event services are a great way to reach those people!

Horse Management Tip

Start The Season Off Right

By Stephanie McAlexander
Training at Seven Oaks Ranch

Finally, the weather is getting warm and everyone is ready to head down the road to the next show, trail, or clinic. I don’t know about you, but it usually takes me two or three times to have EVERYTHING in the trailer that I need. Today I’m going to give you some tips to make that first event fun and organized!

First, make a list of things you need prior to leaving. Check to make sure you have brushes, hoof picks, flyspray, mane/tail combs, and any other grooming products you may need. If you are going to a show, add shampoo, and conditioner. I like to use Infusium on my horse’s tail to keep it soft and tangle free for show time. Also remember to pack the face grease, baby powder for white legs, wipes to clean noses, a coat conditioner spray, and hoof spray to shine those feet. Don’t forget rubber bands and a spray bottle for water to band your horse’s mane.

Clean, conditioned tack is also very important. Spring is a good time to check all your leather equipment for cracks or breakage. Replace any torn leather, such as a latigo strap or a compromised rein. Keeping an extra set of reins, a lead rope, and a halter in the trailer is a good idea. You never know when something might get broken.
 
A first-aid kit for humans and one for horses is also a good idea. Storing gauze pads, vet-wrap, antibiotic ointment, and Bute in a storage bin that stays in your trailer enables you to handle those minor emergencies. Also make sure you have your veterinarian’s phone number in your vehicle just in case.
A notebook with important paperwork should stay in your truck or trailer. A copy of your horse’s registration papers, your breed membership card and current coggins should be with you at all times. A health certificate from your veterinarian is also important. Many states require you to have one as well as many horse facilities.
 
Last, but not least, check over your pulling vehicle and trailer for any maintenance issues that need to be addressed. Make sure tires, brakes and lights are in good condition. Having a mechanic look things over can prevent you from being stuck on the side of the road or worse. Be sure you have a jack, tire iron, and way to block your trailer in case you need to change a tire.

A little extra time of preparation before you leave can help you to have a great first outing of the spring!  Happy Trails!

Horsey Treat Recipe

May is here!  Flowers are budding, and the sun is shining (most of the time)!  Before and after that wonderful springtime ride, don't forget to pamper your favorite horse.  Try this recipe to show your special friend just how much you care . . .

Sweetfeed Balls
 
  Ingredients:
 1 cup sugar
 1/3 cup light karo syrup
 1 cup water
 ¼ tsp. salt
 1 tsp. vanilla
 Sweetfeed

Cook first three ingredients to medium-crack stage (280o by thermometer). Add salt and vanilla. Stir into sweetfeed. Grease hands and shape mixture into balls. Place on wax paper to set.

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Timely Reminder

When it comes to Equine Research, Purina Mills is the company that can say . .

“WE FEED OUR FEED TO OUR HORSES, BEFORE WE ASK YOU TO FEED IT TO YOURS!”

Useful Websites for Horse Owners:

Questions & Comments:

We at Better Horses Network would love to hear any questions, comments or suggestions you might have, and we are always looking for items to add to this publication.  To contact us, please send an e-mail to Ernie.Rodina@agbusinessmail.net.

For placement of stallions in the Stallion Corral section, please contact Connie at the following e-mail address: Connie.Rodina@agbusinessmail.net.   For Classified Ad placement, please send an e-mail to JoAnn at JoAnn.Riggs@agbusinessmail.net

Be sure that you don't miss a single issue of the Better Horses Network E-Newsletter!  Please add Ernie.Rodina@agbusinessmail.net to your address book, especially if you are a Yahoo!, America Online or Hotmail user.  This will help ensure you'll receive all deliveries from us in a timely and consistent manner.

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Contact Information:

To submit any information you would like us to consider for publication on our website, in the printed publication or on this newsletter, e-mail your information to associate editor, Joann.Riggs@agbusinessmail.net   Also, we are always interested in hearing your ideas about the value of this newsletter or whether you have any problems downloading or viewing this document.

If you are not currently receiving our printed publication of Better Horses Network and would like to be on our mailing list, please send your check in the amount of $10.00 payable to Better Horses Network and mail to Better Horses Network, PO Box 722, Ottawa, KS   66067.  OR . . . go to our website at BetterHorsesNetwork.com and click on "Registration Center."  You will be guided through the easy process of paying for your subscription on-line through PayPal.  Either way, you will be a subscriber and will receive five issues of our Better Horses Network magazine mailed directly to your home. ( If you don't want to receive it in the mail, you can always pick up a free copy at your local participating Purina Dealer or other distribution points, but your subscription will assure timely delivery directly to your home.)

Remember, if you have additional e-mail addresses of friends or contacts that you would like to add to our electronic newsletter subscriber list, see section above entitled "Add-A-Friend" to get them on our e-mail mailing list -- or you can always contact Ernie.Rodina@agbusinessmail.net or surface mail to:

Better Horses Network
10715 Kahlmeyer Dr.
St. Louis, MO  63132

Happy Trails Everyone!

Ernie Rodina

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