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February 6, 2007
Volume 3, Number 3

Hello, Friends! 

Sorry about getting this a little late, but the first Monday in February really snuck up on us. We had a great 4th Annual Priority Clinic last weekend in Topeka. The clinics, entertainment, and Cowboy Church were great. I want to thank all who participated and helped to make this such a huge success.

I hope to see many of you the next week at one of our HOW meetings featuring equine clinician, Jody Cunningham. There is still room in his riding clinic on Saturday, Feb.17th, at the Rocking V Ranch near Topeka. Make sure you check out the calendar to find out where the nearest Horse Owner Workshop (HOW) meeting will be to you. I really appreciate the team work with area Extension Offices in helping with the Jody Cunningham Tour.
                As a reminder the dates and locations are following:
                        Monday, Feb.12         Douglas County Fairgrounds Community Building
                        Tuesday, Feb.13         Double W Ranch-Paola, KS
                        Wed., Feb.14             Cowboy Couples Outing-Camp Wood/Elmdale, KS
                        Thurs., Feb.15            Seven Oaks Ranch, Spring Hill, KS
                        Friday, Feb.16            Rocking V Ranch, Topeka, KS
                        Sat., Feb.17                Rocking V Ranch Riding Clinic with Jody Cunningham

Again more information about the Jody Cunningham Tour is on the calendar page of this letter and in the latest Better Horses Stallion Edition.

By now you should have received the latest copy of the Better Horses publication. I hope you enjoy the 2007 Stallion Edition. I am excited about the New Enhanced -Strategy Horse Feed with Feed Guard. After 13 years with this successful product, Purina Research did some adjusting and enhancing of nutrients to the product. Along with enhancing the vitamin and mineral package and some other improvements, we have trademarked our “quality assurance program” as FeedGuard. The bottom line is that the “Best Just Got Better”.

Thanks for all who replied for my quest to find a broodmare. I will have to tell you about the mare I ended up with. Let me know if I can be of a help to you and hope to see you at one of our HOW meetings. Until next time!

Happy Trails!

Ernie

PRINTED PUBLICATION:   BETTER HORSES NETWORK

Reminder:  To continue receiving all issues of Better Horses Network delivered directly to your home, you will need to send your check in the amount of $10.00 payable to Better Horses Network.  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 you.)

Calendar of Events:

February        

March        

April

May

June

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
 

             

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 classified ads

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NEW LISTING!  Stud Service in Classified Ads -- SMS Cowboy Up, picture and information included.  Click Here to view this new listing in our Classified Ads.

NEED A RENTAL TRUCK FOR TRAILER TOWING?  Call Interstate Truck Rental & Sales -- For more information, call (800) 900-0532
or visit www.interstatetruckrental.com.    Click Here to view ad

Be sure to check all our Classified Ads. Click on the Classified Ad box above and then choose any category you would like to view.

If you are interested in advertising an item or just advertising your business or service, click in the box immediately below the Classified Ad box above for rates and placement instructions.

Please note we also have a Stallion Showcase section which is available for placing stallion ads. (Click the link in the box immediately below the Stallion Showcase box above for rates and placement instructions.)

Our subscriber list has grown to over 6,300+ recipients -- almost entirely horse-owning households!  Our ad service is a great way to reach those people.  We hope our Ad Services are are an informative and beneficial addition for our readers!

Horse Management Tip

Finding the Right Horse (Part 2)

Last issue, we began the discussion of buying the right horse. This time, we will continue with meeting the sellers, trying the horse and the pre-purchase exam.

When you have located a horse that meets your expectations, the next step is to meet the current owners and ride the horse. Do not be afraid to ask lots of questions! Unfortunately, in today’s world the market is a buyers beware market, and sellers are not often quick to list the downside of the horse. Some important questions to ask may include, "Does the horse have any vices such as cribbing, or weaving?  Does the horse load and haul well in the trailer? How easily can you clip the ears? How does the horse handle the show pen or trail?"  Also ask to see the horse’s show record and for previous medical information. Ask about routines at home and away. The owner or trainer should be happy to answer these questions; and remember that there are no stupid questions!

Once you have chosen a horse that suits you, you are ready to have a pre-purchase exam completed. Be sure that a vet of your choosing and not that of the owners does the exam. If the horse is located far away, you may choose to pay the travel expenses of your own veterinarian, or ask for a recommendation from your vet. A pre-purchase exam should include a general physical check-up, a lameness exam, and possibly radiographs of any joints where lameness was found. Some people choose to have radiographs of all limb joints to rule out any problems.

Remember that a pre-purchase should not be on a pass/fail basis. Rather, it can show you what areas the horse may have problems with in the future. No horse is perfect. Some problems can be manageable and worth taking the risk. While a slightly older horse may show signs of beginning arthritis, proper maintenance may give him many good years for a learning youth. The same horse, however, may not be the right one for someone who seeks to make a profit on the horse if it is sold. The veterinarian should be able to give you a best and worst prognosis of any problems found, thus helping you to make an informed decision about buying the horse.

For those who may not want to spend the money on the pre-purchase, keep this in mind: Can you afford to buy another horse if this one does not work out? Spending a few hundred dollars can save you a lot of money and aggravation in the long run.

I hope that by following this plan of action,  horse buying can be an enjoyable process for you. Something can be learned from each horse you work with. Always look for the positives in each prospect, but keep in mind your goals and be sure the horse feels right for you. Happy hunting!!!

Horsey Treat Recipe

Cheer Me Up Horse Cookies

6 cups bran
2 cups oatmeal
2 cups cracked corn
2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 tblsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs
16 oz. sweetened apple juice
2/3 cup molasses
6 tblsp. corn oil

Preheat oven to 325oF.  Roll the dough into one- or two-inch balls.  Place on greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 45 minutes or until they are dry and crisp.  (Dough is very sticky; it helps to dip your hands in water periodically while handling it.)  On a drab winter's day, this special treat should cheer up your favorite horse!

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Remember, if you have a friend or neighbor who would enjoy receiving our  twice-a-month Better Horses Network electronic newsletter . . . sign them up on the registration form provided on the Better Horses Network web-site.


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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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