Horsy News, Views and Attitudes

Vol. 1 Number 6 -- August 20-26, 2007

Summer Fair Special Issue Reid Olsen on his horse Buddy riding in the Wiggins Parade

Parade and Festivities Bring Thousands to Wiggins An estimated crowd of two thousand residents and visitors enjoyed this weekend's parade and competitions to celebrate the end of summer. Over fifty mounted riders and pony carts drove along the parade route through downtown, lead by Barbara Wiggins and her pony Beauty. Many residents continued on to Olson's Horse Farm to watch and participate in the day's competitions. Pam Crandal of Crandal Stables was junior competition high point for the day, winning both the flat work and hunt seat competitions. Best baked goods went to Mrs. Susan Sanders who won both the best pie and best cake divisions. Her granddaughter Lulu Sanders described the cake: "It's Grandma's special chocolate three layer cake. In between the cake layers she puts whipped cream and frosts it with butter cream frosting and sprinkled with bittersweet shaved chocolate on the top as decoration." Continued on next page Wiggins Weekly Publisher Elizabeth Allison takes the reins during driving competition at Olson's Horse Farm

Prize Winning Tomatoes This display of fruit was organically grown by Wiggins resident Cynthia Stewart. Clockwise from top left, jumbo Roma tomatoes, rainbow tomatoes, Cherokee purple and Lombardi red tomatoes, with jumbo cherry tomatoes in the foreground.

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Continued from previous page Summer Fair Brings Season to a Close Barbara Wiggins' apple butter won first place in the preserves division. Best pickles were spicy bread and butter pickles put up by Cynthia Stewart, who also took first place for homegrown vegetables with a huge display of organic tomatoes. "This year my garden has done really well, mainly because I've switched to using organic methods. Some of my friends give me their horse manure, which I let decompose down and then make into 'compost tea' that I put on my garden. The results have been nothing short of spectacular!" Stewart continued, "There's nothing like coming out and picking fresh fruit and vegetables from your backyard and cooking them right away. Bought vegetables, even from the local market, don't even come close." This year's Summer Fair benefited the Wiggins Volunteer Fire Department, which is raising money to purchase new equipment for the firehouse. Fire Captain Roger Edwards took a moment to thank the many people who helped with this years' event. "Our old engine needs replacement and we think that this event will put us over the top in getting the funds for purchase a newer model." "Many thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and the thousands of participants and visitors who made the Summer Fair a success" Edwards continued. DD, a border collie, won the sheep herding trials at this year's Summer Fair

LEARN TO SPEAK HORSE YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q. How do I ask my pony to pick up its foot? Every horse or pony must have its feet cleaned regularly, preferably once a day during grooming. Sometimes horses do not want to pick up their foot for cleaning or for a horse shoer. Usually it is not hard to explain to your pony what it is that you want. The hard part is to get the pony to say, "Sure, I'll do that." If you are working with a pony that is new to you, have someone help you the first time you try to pick up its feet. You must be sure that it is safe to get close to that horse. The proper way to ask a horse to pick up its foot is to stand next to the leg you want the horse to pick up. Face towards the pony's tail. Holding a hoof pick in one hand, gently slide the other hand down the back of the horse's leg to the pastern, then wrap your fingers around the pastern and squeeze gently while you say "Foot." Horses are very sensitive. They can easily feel a tiny fly anywhere on their body. So the horse will feel your hand on its pastern and most trained ponies understand what you want the first time you make this request. If the pony does not lift its foot, squeeze the pastern again, slightly harder, and say "Foot!" If the pony does not lift its leg, repeat the stroking motion and squeeze again, this time squeezing even more firmly. Keep doing this to the back of the leg, even if it takes a long time. The horse will become annoyed that you are continuing to squeeze and will begin to shift around, looking for the "release" or reward that happens when you stop asking. If the foot you are asking the horse to lift up shifts, even a little bit, let go of the foot and praise the pony lavishly, petting it everywhere. In horse training, you must always 'reward the slightest try'. Remember, you cannot force a pony or horse to do anything. You just want to make sure that what you are asking them to do is the easiest way for them to get you to stop asking. If you are consistent, your horse's answer will usually become "Ok, I can do that." To get your question answered, send an email to Webmaster @ clubponypals.com

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Thought for the day

Personality goes up and down the reins.