Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Press Release - U of MN to host Unwanted Horse Summit on Saturday, March 8

I'll be attending the Unwanted Horse Summit at Leatherdale Equine Center on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus.  Here's their press release:

University of Minnesota to hold Unwanted Horse Summit

The problem of unwanted horses in Minnesota and across the U.S. has increased significantly over the past six years.  In 2012, the University of Minnesota was awarded a grant from Morris Animal Foundation to investigate the reasons, costs and solutions for unwanted horses in the upper Midwest and Texas.  Results from the research, and additional solutions to the unwanted horse issue identified by cooperating organizations, will be discussed at the Unwanted Horse Summit on Saturday, March 8, 2014, from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm at the University of Minnesota Leatherdale Equine Center in St. Paul, MN.   

Speakers and topics at the Unwanted Horse Summit include:
·      Julie Wilson, DVM, MN Board of Veterinary Medicine - Investigating the Unwanted Horse Problem in MN, WI, and TX      
·      Dennis Sigler, PhD, Texas A & M - Horse Prices and Seller Reasons from Sale Barns in MN, WI, and TX
·       Becky Bott, PhD, South Dakota State University - Working with Underserved Equines in South Dakota           
·       Julie Wilson, DVM, MN Board of Veterinary Medicine - International Efforts in Horse Welfare
·       Jennifer Williams, PhD, Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society - Best Practices for Equine Rescues
·       Tracy Turner, DVM, Anoka Equine – MN Horse Council, American Horse Council and American Association of Equine Practitioners Efforts to Improve Horse Welfare
·       Katy Bloomquist, Esq., Bloomquist Law Firm - Engaging Law Enforcement in Horse Welfare Cases
·       Barb Colombo, Esq., Hamline University School of Law - Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition: Gains and Growing Pains
·       Stacy Bettison, Esq., Bettison Consulting LLC. - Media Relations:  Pitfalls and Opportunities

A number of organizations involved with addressing the unwanted horse problems will also be in attendance, including the Animal Humane Society, Equine Law Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association Animal Law Section, Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue Foundation, Minnesota Horse Council, Minnesota Horse Welfare Coalition, Refuge Farms, Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Sundown Horse Shelter, This Old Horse, and Truhaven Ranch.


Program registration is required by Wednesday, March 5, 2014.  The registration fee is
$25/person, and includes a program proceedings, lunch and refreshments. Registration is available online at
https://www.regonline.com/UnwantedHorseSummit and additional information can be found at www.extension.umn.edu/horse/.  Funding for the Unwanted Horse Summit is provided through a grant from Morris Animal Foundation. 

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Looking for summer horse camps?

It's February and the season of panic for parents who still haven't found the perfect summer camp for their kids.  After fielding inquiries about horse camps and doing a bit of research, I decided to make some calls and send emails to put together a list.

If you just want to scour North America for camps for kids, www.camppage.com is a helpful finder.  Here's a link to their horse-camp finder:
http://www.camppage.com/equestrian_horseback_riding/equestrian_camps/horse_index.htm

The Minnesota Horseman's Directory, on the MN Horse Council's web site, has 50 listings for horse camps:  http://www.minnesotahorsemensdirectory.com/category.php?category=camps

The YMCA offers a number of different camps with horseback riding programs in Minnesota and western Wisconsin.  Learn more about them at http://www.ymcatwincities.org/camps/.

Below is a list of stables offering summer horse-camp programs who have contacted me or been brought to my attention. Programs are day-camps unless noted.  I'll keep adding as I learn of more.  Note - this is not an endorsement of any program(s), just a list of what's available.

St. George's Dressage Academy, offering sessions for children and adults in Stillwater, MN

LeFever Training Center, offering an Arabian-centered program in Hudson, WI

Woodloch Stable, offering horsemanship day-camps in Hugo, MN

Bunker Park Stable, offering horsemanship day-camps in Andover, MN

Circle R Ranch, an overnight horse-camp in Long Prairie, MN

Nature's Divine in Becker, MN

Skyrock Farm in Hamel, MN

Majestic Pines Farm in Afton, MN, offering "Little Pines Adventures." Website coming soon.
Lori - 612-328-0957

My Legacy Farm in Corcoran, MN

Camp Shamineau, an overnight children's and family camp in Motley, MN

HHH Ranch - Hastings Horses & Huskies - offering horseback riding day-camps in summertime and dogsledding in the winter. Located in Hastings, MN.