July 23, 2007
Volume 2, Number 2

Hello Friends!    Welcome to our second quarterly newsletter of 2007. 

We have a lot of news on our Ambassadors!  As always, be sure to keep me posted on your activities . . .

Nancy
Nancy Shearer
Land O'Lakes Purina Feed
(817) 269-0779
E-Mail:  Nancy.Shearer@PurinaMills.com

September, 2007
 

• Sept. 15   XTREME TRAIL HORSE CHALLENGE, 9:00 am, Lone Oak Farm, East of Lone Jack, MO.  Here is your chance to challenge your trail horse, kick it up a notch and ride extreme!  Spectators welcome -- bring your lawn chairs.  Adults, $3.00; Children, Free.  This is a benefit event for Winding River Equestrian Center and Riding Program of the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri.  For more information, call Linda Grimmett (816) 697-3162 or Patty Rose (816) 721-6796.  Click Here to view detailed flyer.
     

• September 28-30   DREAM RIDE IN THE FLINT HILLS, Flying W Ranch, Clements, KS.  Team Purina Mills Ambassadors will ride!  Three beautiful rides, great food, door prizes, Strategy® horse feed, equine clinics and live entertainment.  $125/rider, $65 non-rider.  For more information, call Suzan Barnes (620) 273-6763 or e-mail suzan.barnes@sbcglobal.net.  Click Here for more details on this event.

October

• Oct. 5-7   18^th ANNUAL "ON THE TRAIL TO A CURE" TRAIL RIDE 2007; Foote Ranch, south of I-70 on Hwy. 177.  All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society's research, education, advocacy and patient services.  Festival added for this year with lots more vendors, exhibitors and activities, plus a Luminaria Ceremony in the barn on Saturday night.  For more information, contact Steve Higgins (Trail Ride Chair) at (785) 410-6396.  Click Here for detailed flyer.  Click Here for registration form.

Tune in SUNDAY MORNINGS at 6:00 a.m. to 580 AM radio for the Better Horses Radio show starring Ernie Rodina (Bronco Ernie) and co-host, Dawn Dawson. Ernie highlights popular trainers and horse happenings. For more information, go to www.betterhorsesradio.com.
 

• Ambassadors Needed:  Ride the '07 Dream Ride!
  We need a group of our Ambassadors to ride the '07 Dream Ride in the Flint Hills of Kansas September 28-30.  Please let me know if you want to attend.  (See Details in the Event Calendar section above.)
   

• Need Business Cards?
  Let me know if you need any of our business cards to use at your clinics or on the road.  These cards include our current and updated website address and toll-free customer service or our website for further information.  Call or drop me an e-mail.  Click Here to view card layout.
   

• Ambassador Coupons Mailed
  2nd half Ambassador coupons were mailed out mid-July.  If any Ambassador has not received your coupons, please be sure to let me know. 
   

• Hoary Alyssum In Forages
  For information on the toxicity of this invasive weed species and its effect on horses, Click Here.  This article is from the Diagnostic Services of Michigan State University and will give you lots of educational material on this plant and how to deal with it..
   

• RFD-TV Features Purina Mills Horse Ambassadors - We hope you have had the chance to catch some of these episodes featuring our Ambassadors.  NRHA Inside Reining airs each Monday night, so it's just as close as your Dish or Direct TV satellite.  (Direct TV 379 and Dish Network 9409). Each program is run three times and the program runs Mondays at 4:30 pm, 10:30 pm EST and Tuesdays at 8:30 am EST. 
  Check the RFD-TV website (www.rfdtv.com) often to see schedule of upcoming programs.
    

• Animal Makeover™ TV - As you know by now, our sales and marketing program, Better Animals®, was unveiled in 2007.  Animal Makeover™ is part of our  Better Animals® concept.  I hope you have had a chance to catch some of the television shows by now.  Animal Makeover™ TV airs on RFD-TV on Tuesday's at 7:00 pm CST and started May 1st.  You can view clips from the show and find additional resources at our website, www.BetterAnimals.com.  For more details about Better Animals® and this exciting TV show, Click Here.
   

• Ambassadors Are Star Performers!
  To access the Ambassadors section of the Purina Mills Horse website quickly, simply Click Here.  Then save that location in your "Favorites" section so that you can conveniently access it.  (The website address is also listed below in the "Useful Websites For Horse Enthusiasts" section.)
   

• XV Pan American Games Held in Rio in July
  Some of our riders are in Rio de Janeiro now.  Click Here for details on the XV Pan American Games in Brazil held July 13-29.  (See more information below on Darren Chiacchia defending his individual Gold Medal.)
   
• Darren Chiacchia in Medal Position at Pan American Games!
  Purina Ambassador Darren Chiacchia of Buffalo, NY defended his Gold Medal at the Pan American Games.  Click Here to view article by Starting Gate Communications giving details of  Darren's eventing. 
  
  Update!  Darren is currently in third position heading into Sunday's final phase of competition.  Click Here for up-to-date details on his current Bronze Medal position.  Click Here for picture.
   
• Roger Wagner Records Big Win in Cutting!
  Click Here to read details as reported in the July 17th Daily Chatter newsletter.  Quintan Blue set an all-time Summer Spectacular record with her 229-point win in the Open Classic Challenge!
   
• Lindy Burch Hosts PRO Equine Event
  Equine Ambassador Lindy Burch hosted an impressive event with lots of great work by Gina Bagby, Tina Anderson, Jill Harbor and Nancy Shearer.  This was a prime example of good teamwork, strong planning and great Dealer support.  Click Here for details and pictures on this great event.
   
• NRHA Inside Reining Features Matt Mills & Dell Hendricks
  NRHA Inside Reining is now offering a CD with training secrets from the professional NRHA trainers that were featured on RFD-TV's "Wide World of Horses Presents NRHA Inside Reining."  Dell Hendricks and Matt Mills are featured on the first DVD.  Click Here for more details.
   
• Laura Kraut Takes Two Big Wins!
  Not only did Laura Kraut and Anthem win the Grand Prix of Madrid recently, but the pair won the Rotterdam Grand Prix also!  This was a huge event with the world's best competing.  Congratulations, Laura!
   
• Todd Minikus Captures $75,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix Win at Saugerties!
  Age before beauty!  Seasoned rider, Todd Minikus and Olinda capture the $75,000 Footings Unlimited Grand Prix at HITS Saugerties.  Click Here to view HITS write-up on the details of this event.
   
• Todd Minikus Wins $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix at Saugerties!
  Todd and Olinda edged out Addison Phillips and Trezebees to win the Ariat Grand Prix.  Click Here to view HITS write up on the details of this event.
   
• Sporting The Checkerboard!
  We are proud to see Van Hargis on the front cover of Performance Horse magazine.  And what is that great shirt he's wearing?  Click Here to view cover.
   
• Women Luv Horses Event
  A very special "thank you" for all of you who helped at the recent Women Luv Horses event.  We had the best location and the best decorated booth at this event.  We registered 115 people for the Better Animals® mailing list and 37 Horse group surveys.  We also had several locals drop by the booth for feed information.  Your hard work and extra effort for this event was well worth it.  Click Here to view pictures taken at our booth.
   
• Purina Mills National Horse Ambassador Program - Responsibilities  
  Don't forget about your responsibilities!  Click Here to review/print our list of responsibilities and expectations.  Display and talk "Checkerboard" at every opportunity!

• David Nelson Beats All Odds!
  Long-time Purina employee, David Nelson, recently went through some experimental treatment to help him fight his cancer.  David has made remarkable progress, and his story continues as he works to help other cancer patients as well.  Click Here for this miraculous story.
   
• Keep Your Sales Leads Coming!
  For those of you sending in your lead sheets, thanks!  We are having some great conversations and contacts with your sales leads.  This is what it’s all about.  Keep them coming!
   
• If Given the Opportunity, Let People Know Who Sponsors You!
  Take advantage of it, let people know who sponsors you!  I’ve noticed several of you have been gracious enough to plug your sponsors, including Purina Mills.  Let the public know who you endorse.  Give us a little plug or two; let us know you appreciate your sponsors! .
   
• Reporting
  Keep me posted on what you are doing!  You’ve got our expectations and responsibilities for each of you, so help me make my life easier at the end of the year at evaluation time.  Keep me informed on what you’ve been doing to promote Purina Mills and keep sending in your sales leads.  Sell and promote Purina Mills!

Nature's Essentials Free Balance 12:12 Mineral Block

This summer, we introduced the new Free Balance 12:12 Mineral block nationwide. (This will be replacing the current Horse Mineral 12:12 Block (E1 number 0001210).  The new Free Balance 12:12 Mineral block is available in a 40-pound pressed block, which is shrink-wrapped with a Nature’s Essentials label on the front and an easy-to-carry handle for your customers.  Click Here to view picture of our new block.

Like the old mineral block, this product will be manufactured by the Fort Worth plant and distributed around the country. Product should be in dealerships around the end of July depending on the current inventory of any old blocks at area plants.  Click Here for more detailed product information.
 

Useful Websites for Horse Enthusiasts:

       
        http://horse.purinamills.com - Purina Mills Horse Page
        http://www.betteranimals.com - Purina's Better Animals Website
        http://betterhorsesradio.com - Ernie Rodina Radio Show
        http://www.nchacutting.com - NCHA
        http://www.nrha.com - NRHA
        http://www.ustrc.com - USTRC
        http://www.hitsshows.com - HITS
        http://www.horse.purinamills.com/star/ambassadors.asp - Ambassador Section on Purina Mills Horse Website

Questions & Comments:

We at Purina Horse Ambassadors 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 Nancy.Shearer@agbusinessmail.net.

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Purina Horse Ambassadors
10715 Kahlmeyer Dr.
St. Louis, MO  63132