MyHoofPrints

Deadline Jan 31: Trail riders have chance for Hermit Park upgrade

(Like trail riding? We've started recording our rides in Equestrian Adventure.)

LARIMER COUNTY, Colorado -- Horseback riders could get better campsites, trailer parking, corrals, picnic tables and tent pads at Larimer County's Hermit Park, but the county needs letters of support by January 31 in order to make all this happen.

Hermit Park, located two miles southwest of Estes Park, includes 1,362 acres of forested slopes, open meadows and intact wetlands. The county lacks money of its own for the improvements, and is applying to Great Outdoors Colorado (lottery funds money) for funding.

A suggested letter of support follows the addresses below, which you can copy and paste into your own document. Letters of support need to be postmarked or faxed by Jan. 31 to the following two recipients:

Zac Wiebe

Larimer County Department of Natural Resources
1800 S. County Road 31
Loveland, CO 80537

Ph: (970) 679-4534
FAX: (970) 679-4574 

AND:

Great Outdoors Colorado Board
c/o Jackie Miller
1600 Broadway, Suite 1650
Denver, CO 80202 

SAMPLE LETTER:

Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund
c/o Jackie Miller
1600 Broadway, Suite 1650
Denver, CO 80202

Dear Ms. Miller:

I am writing to show my support of the Kruger Equestrian Campground Development grant application. The improvement of this Camp Area will benefit the citizens and visitors of Larimer County for years to come, and will provide Hermit Park the revenue it needs to be self-sufficient in its operations and management activities.

Hermit Park fills a niche that is not currently available in the Estes Park area. The campsites in Hermit Park are far from one another, creating a back country "feel", while also accessible by vehicle. Based on experiences at Rocky Mountain National Park, I believe the large population up and down the Front Range wants a camping experience in the summer, in the mountains with cool temperatures that have a back country "feel" with good accessibility. Additionally, the large group camping center and cabins at Hermit Park fulfill another unique niche. Rocky Mountain National Park has only one group camping area, and it is very often full by reservation throughout the summer. Church groups, Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups, to name a few, are frequently disappointed that they cannot find available space in Rocky Mountain National Park. As you know, Hermit Park's group camping center is an exceptional area for these, and even larger groups. Unlike Hermit Park, Rocky Mountain National Park has no cabins available for rent.

Upgrading Hermit Park is more important now than ever. Over the last decade, growth in Larimer County exceeded the average rate for the state by 5%. Because of its close proximity to a popular vacation destination, Hermit Park will be a popular destination point for locals and visitors alike. With support from Great Outdoors Colorado, Larimer County can continue to improve this amazing property.

It is for these reasons that I strongly support the Hermit Park grant application as submitted by Larimer County. The protection of this property will forever benefit the citizens and visitors of Northern Colorado, and the redevelopment of Hermit Park will allow those citizens to enjoy the property firsthand. I encourage Great Outdoors Colorado to participate in this crucial redevelopment effort.

Respectfully,

Your Name and Contact Information

cc: Zac Wiebe

(Many thanks to the Colorado Horse Council for their e-mail alert regarding this opportunity for Colorado's trail riders! Have you joined COHOCO yet?)

 

Rising from the ashes: After nearly dying in barn fire, Neville Bardos up for Horse of the Year, Olympics

What are the chances of nearly dying in a barn fire and coming back to be a contender? Not just a contender, but on the short list for Horse of the Year, and the Olympics? If horses could talk, you could ask Neville Bardos, a Thoroughbred who has done just that, what it's like to be a hero. Whether Neville wins Horse of the Year will be announced tonight at the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) convention. Click here to read the New York Times story on Neville's near-death experience and recovery. Click here for the Horse Junkies United story on Neville's fiery and crafty personality. Above, the Neville Bardos Syndicate's video update, includinging one of Neville's dressage workouts (about 3:30 into the clip). Below, Neville performing at the 2010 Rolex.

Poll: Will Neville Bardos win Horse of the Year?

Jan. 13 update: Neville Bardos named Horse of the Year!

Morgan horse rescued from 'bottomless swamp'

“He's a good Morgan,” Mr. Grant said, talking of his deep affection for Roo. “I raised him from a puppy.

via www.telegram.com

It sounds like that unique Morgan Horse spirit and a lot of human teamwork saved “Roo” here! Click on the Telegram link, above, for the full story!

If you like stories about Morgans, try: Winning Bet!

 

Design begins on $5-million Shields St. corridor project

We received notice last week that design has started on the Shields Street Corridor Project, a plan to widen Shields adjacent to our stable, and replace the bridge spanning the Poudre River.

Interwest Consulting Group and King Surveyors have been chosen to head up this phase of the $5-million project, according to the notice. Larimer County plans a spring open house to showcase design concepts, and construction is slated for 2014.

Click here for the letter and Shields Street Corridor Project update we received from Larimer County.

Click here for the Larimer County North Shields Street (County Road 17) Corridor Improvements web page.

Previous post: Larimer County, Fort Collins team up on Shields St. project

Other development next to our stable - Commissioners: No tax dollars as "charity" for mobile home park residents

Low-cost gelding clinic offered to decrease unwanted Kentucky horse population

"Sir Winston Churchill once said, 'We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.' Horses provide a living for tens of thousands of Kentuckians, so we want to repay some of that debt by giving something back that will improve their lives,"

via www.kentucky.com

Ah yes, the humane society approach. I wonder if other organizations will follow suit. I also wonder if anybody has thought about this for wild horses. At least it's better than slaughter.

Fert-igation, value-added farming, chickens at home, fruits, nuts - and more!

On the heels of talking about the upcoming Colorado State University Extension energy workshops, I found this little treasure among the pounds of junk mail the Post Office sees fit to deliver, the annual Colorado Agriculture "Big and Small" and Small Acreage Conference, Wednesday and Thursday, February 15th and 16th.

Lately, all I have time for is the occasional one-hour webinar, but if I had time to travel, the following look new and interesting: Building a Value-Added Business, New Fruit and Nut Trees for the Front Range, Fertigation with Drip Irrigation, Backyard Chicken Production, and (hopefully something new on manure management), Manure Utiization.

One-day ticket: $125; two-day ticket: $175. Gasp, I know, but I've been to this conference several times, and it pays for itself in tidbits that make farming, ranching and stable ownership easier. My only suggestion would be that they add speakers pointing out ways to deal with ever-evolving land use rules and increasing government regulations.

If you are a non-profit vendor, you can have a booth if you register for the conference. For-profit "sponsors" can get vendor booths for $250, $500 and $1,000 sponsorship levels.

 

 

Workshops: Ag (and horse stable) energy-saving strategies

Attend one of five regional workshops to learn about agricultural energy audits, efficiency, and renewable energy.

Farmers, ranchers and stable owners looking for ways to save on energy costs may want to follow this workshop series. The Colorado State University Extension Energy website is also full of resources to help us horsey types save energy and money. Thank you to our stable client, Dr. Ragan Adams, CSU Veterinary Extension Coordinator, for this heads up!

You might also like Mother Earth News': Build A Solar Stock Tank

Visit the Build It Solar website.

'Big butt' saddles find home on the range

With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that a third of U.S. adults and 17 percent of children are obese, Western wranglers and outfitters say they are doing all they can to accommodate the widening of waistlines and other anatomical areas.

via www.reuters.com

I grin when I think of these giant saddles. At least they are using upsized horses to do the job. I thought it would be neat if all the draft foals produced while generating Premarin hormone therapy for women found a home in dude strings.

According to TheHorse.com however, the Premarin industry, under fire in 2004 for mass-producing low-value draft-cross foals as a byproduct of pregnant mare urine, switched to mostly breeding purebred draft horses and sport horses. These babies fetch a hefty price. (The only PMU draft-cross filly ever boarded at our stable had OCD, which limited her athletic ability.)

The height of the Premarin controversy: A 2004 MSNBC video investigates the use of pregnant mares to produce urine for the hormone therapy drug Premarin: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3995076/ns/dateline_nbc/t/hrt-horses/#.TwCc2tSvKSo

A giant leap forward for racehorses

It is rare that a good idea is hatched by the political asylum that passes for government in the great state of New York

via espn.go.com

The state of New York came up with a productive idea - use part of lottery proceeds to support retraining of "retired" race horses, rather than let so many go to slaughter. Click on the ESPN link, above, to learn more. 

Finger lickin' good

(The conclusion, Fortune Cookie: A Christmas Tale)

Fortune Cookie

Part 1: Will it ruin Christmas and a chance at love?

Part 2: The crunch of metal on stone

Part 3: Blood covered her hand

Part 4: 'Heads up! Loose horse!' 

Part 5: Blood dripped onto the tablecloth

Part 6: The ground loomed up at the woman

Part 7: Something fuzzy and wiggly tickled her neck

Part 8: The duo cast a long shadow on the leaf-strewn ground

Part 9: 'Snag-infested little beast'

Part 10: Not a woman to waste her rage

Part 11: 'Shoot, that ain't nothin' but a little speed bump

Part 12: 'Never get involved with a man to whom you owe money'

Part 13: 'Succulent buns, they're the best'

Part 14: Dam beavers at it again

Part 15: Talk about rider's block

Part 16: Shooting stars danced

Part 17: The still form in the frigid water

Part 18: Darkness closed around her mind

Part 19: Only five exist, each worth $200,000

Bodie and Rosalyn walked hand in hand to the front pasture. She had not seen Excalibur since the night of her near death, four days ago. Rosalyn was sure the doctor Bodie insisted on calling had been bribed to prescribe bed rest, just in case she had a heart attack or something.

But now she was free, and believe it or not, on a date. Before they left, Rosalyn insisted on checking Excalibur first. She picked her way across the lane in black patent high heels, topped by a fitted black Givenchy skirt, white silk blouse, cashmere coat gold chain necklace, and gold button earrings. The fashion statement was a gift from Bodie.

She munched the last of the fortune cookies from that FAT-company-idiot. The last cookie had predicted “a heartbreaking life unless you call Fiduciary Answers Today”.

If her penny proved worthless, Rosalyn supposed she would have to get used to these gifts of Bodie’s. He couldn’t help himself. Fortunately, the more time she spent with this man, the better he got.

Excalibur waited at the end of the pasture, still as a statue. Rosalyn stepped through the gate, and whistled. She held a new treat in her hand, something from her childhood. Excalibur's head shot up at her call. The golden gelding nickered, and ran toward the woman. She held out her hand with the Chick-O-Stick.

The horse slid to a stop in front of Rosalyn, and extended its muzzle. Whiskers twitched. Nostrils flared. Excalibur lipped the candy, took it in his mouth, and began chewing. A sigh escaped the horse. He lowered his head and let Rosalyn run her hands over sculpted golden ears. The horse rubbed its mouth along Rosalyn's sleeve, leaving a wet, green swath of saliva.

Bodie snickered. "Give a horse 10 minutes with a white shirt, and you’ll find boogers and slime that you never knew existed anywhere on earth."

Excalibur lowered his head for more scratching.

Rosalyn turned to Bodie with tear-filled eyes. “I think he’s learned to trust again.”

“Or maybe he just likes Chick-O-Sticks,” said Bodie.

His cell phone interrupted them. He listened, nodding. “I see. Thank you.” Bodie disconnected. He looked at Rosalyn. "Dry those tears, Roz. Your penny passed. You've got a deal. The $200,000 will be in your account tomorrow. It's amazing what you find in pond slime these days."

***

Rosalyn and Bodie sat at what would become their favorite table at the little Italian place, which as it turned out, Bodie also owned. They shared white chocolate cheesecake topped in raspberries and hot, dark chocolate sauce. The two had stopped at the local boutique to replace the horse-slimed blouse with an ivory version. In front of the boutique, the man in dreadlocks walked past them, brushing slightly against Rosalyn. “Winds of fortune, winds of fortune,” he muttered. He wore clean clothes, nodded, and flashed a big, green-eyed grin.  

“At least he seems happy.”

“Who?”

“That hobo guy with the dreadlocks.”

Bodie turned to look. “I don’t see anybody.” The hobo had disappeared.

***

In the restaurant, candles sent golden shafts of light dancing around the room. The violinist softly drew out the melody to “White Christmas.” A very large diamond ring glittered on Rosalyn’s left hand, not the tainted, cast-off circle of metal belonging to Money Mona, Bodie’s ex-wife, but an embedded diamond designed for a horsewoman.

Bodie had presented it to her two days ago while she was under house arrest. Now, clad in a black tuxedo sculpted to his lean frame, Bodie gave Rosalyn a fresh understanding of how Scarlett O’Hara must have felt when Rhett Butler walked into the room.

The chocolate sauce from their dessert dribbled off her fork on to the index finger of her ring hand. Rosalyn shook her head and fumbled for her napkin. “You sure you know what you’re getting into, Bodie? In case you haven’t guessed, I’m a slob.”

“Wait a minute,” he said. “Let me check.”

Bodie took Rosalyn’s chocolate-covered finger in his mouth. He delicately, meticulously, licked off the sauce. Rosalyn shivered.

“Oh yeah, that’s what I’m getting into,” said Bodie, “finger-lickin’ good for the rest of our lives."

“Stop being nice,” she said. “You’re making me cry.”

Rosalyn reached into her handbag for a tissue. She pulled out something crackly and hard. “Where did that come from?” She held it out for Bodie to see.

Sealed in shiny wrap, a Woo’s Fine Fortune Cookie lay on Rosalyn Mallory’s open palm.

(MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE! MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE FULL OF WONDERFUL SURPRISES. -- Karin Livingston)