HAT Chat Articles –
February 2005
A word from our President
I’d like to take this time to point out a couple of things in this newsletter that I hope will be of interest to you.
Stallions and breeding are extremely important in the equine world. Future generations of the horses we all enjoy depend on the choices made in the breeding shed. That’s why I am pleased for HAT to offer the Stallion Showcase. This list of local stallions includes a wide variety of breeds and individual qualities to suit almost anyone’s tastes or needs. If you are planning to breed your mares this year, I encourage you to spend some time looking through the Showcase.
On the flip side of breeding is foaling, an equally important part of the whole process. Our Shows and Events Committee has put together a Mare and Foal/ Breeding Management Clinic for the 28th that will give everyone a chance to learn some of the ins and outs of preparing for those new babies and taking care of them when they get here. If you have a pregnant mare, a new foal on the ground, or you’re thinking about getting into breeding, you might find this clinic very helpful.
HAT has a lot more coming up this year, so keep checking back…or better still, why don’t you just come on out and join us!
Roger Dougan
HAT President
The HAT Stallion Showcase
Is Here!
HAT Chat’s annual Stallion Showcase is
included in this issue. Look for it
following page 12.
This year’s Showcase
features a wide selection of local stallions representing many breeds, from
Appaloosa to Welsh Pony. We welcome
approximately a dozen new additions to our Stud List, as well as several new
Showcase advertisements for your consideration.
HAT would like to
thank all of the owners who have chosen to participate in this year’s Stallion
Showcase!
Mare & Foal/Breeding
Management Clinic February 28th
HAT is pleased to
announce a Mare and Foal/Breeding Management Clinic will be held at the Grayson
County Courthouse on Monday, February 28th at
Dr. Hayes will be presenting
information on the needs of mares from the time leading up to foaling and
through subsequent care of both mother and baby. Mr. Powers will discuss starting and running
breeding and stallion management programs.
The fee for this
clinic is $7.00 per person, which includes dinner. Registration is required by Friday,
February 25th in order to attend. To register, contact the Grayson County
Extension Office at (903) 813-4206 or (903) 813-4202.
If you have a pregnant mare or a new foal, or if you currently have or are considering standing a stallion or starting your own breeding program, then this event is for you!
Association News
2004 HAT Scholarship
Follow-Up
HAT Vice President Sandra Shiver recently had the pleasure of visiting with Brooke Reynolds, the winner of the 2004 HAT Scholarship. Brooke is attending Texas Women’s University, where she is maintaining a 3.9 grade point average. She also works part-time, but still finds time to do some barrel racing.
Brooke again expressed her appreciation to HAT for their financial assistance.
HAT wishes Brooke continued success in her college endeavor!
2005 HAT Scholarship Program
HAT will again be awarding a $500 scholarship to a graduating senior in the Texoma area. An information sheet describing the program and listing eligibility requirements is included in this issue.
Upcoming
Events
Rose Hill Stables
Schooling Day and Combined Test
Rose Hill Stables will hold a two-day Schooling Day and Combined Test on February 12-13 (schooling on the 12th, and the test on the 13th).
For more information, please contact Felicia Abbott at (972) 924-2549 or by e-mail to felicia@rosehillstables.com. You may also visit their website at www.rosehillstables.com.
Purina Mills Workshops
Once again, Purina Mills is bringing its Horse Owner’s Workshop (HOW) series to the Texoma area. These workshops, part of Purina’s Equine Education Seminars program, bring specialists in equine nutrition, training, and veterinary medicine together with horse owners to discuss the latest developments in their fields. Horse owners who attend HOW sessions also have the opportunity to ask questions about their individual horse’s needs or situations.
Everyone who attends a workshop receives valuable information and product savings coupons, as well as the opportunity to enter drawings for prizes offered by Purina and its HOW sponsors (which include such companies as Lexol, Oster, Pfizer, Exiss Trailers, PMI Nutrition, Carhartt, 3M Vetrap, and John Deere).
The best part of all is that it costs nothing to attend! All you have to do is call or go by a location where a HOW event is being held and register. All the currently scheduled workshops in the Texoma area are listed in the Activities Calendar. Seating is limited, so be sure to sign up early.
For more information about HOW, contact Purina Mills at (800) 227-8941 or visit their website http://horse.purinamills.com.
Susar Farms Announces 2005 Show Schedule
Susar Farms has announced its 2005 schedule of open horse shows. Their shows will be held on the following dates:
Susar Farms has been having open horse shows since 1977, and some of the adults who participate today started showing at Susar as babies in lead line. Classes offered are a mixture of Western and English, and are divided into three age groups – Under 12, 12-17, and Open. The format is generally along the lines of a schooling event, with judges who care about teaching and want to see people acquire skills and confidence.
Show fees are $7 per class or $50 all day.
For more information or to pre-register for an upcoming show, contact Susan at (940) 566-0630 or e-mail susarinc@verizon.net. You can also visit their website at http://home1.gte.net/susarinc.
Extension Service News
by Eddie Baggs, CEA-Agriculture
Pasture Establishment
Spring is on its way and many producers will be seriously thinking about re-establishing permanent pastures. Many improved pastures are over grazed and the only thing to do is start over. Establishment of pasture is not cheap, but it will always be cheaper than feeding out of a bag or the hay barn. However, the expense of establishment sure provides an incentive to “do it right the first time”. This will mean starting with a smooth, firm and weed-free, moist and fertile seed bed.
You must think of grass as a crop to get the most out of improved pastures. Initial tillage could include moldboard plowing, heavy disking with an offset disk, chiseling, or subsoiling. In many cases, heavy plow work may already be too late, especially if you are trying to over-come a hardpan or other serious structural problem. The soil should be worked with a disk no matter how you initially open it up, to eliminate trash and reduce clot size. The seed bed should be firm and free of clods but not fluffy. A rain should settle the soil nicely after working, or you may use some sort of weighted roller or cultipacker to establish the desirable seed bed for sprigs or seed.
Fertility is a very important part of pasture establishment and a soil test is strongly encouraged to start off right. It will be important to start with a complete fertilizer (based on the recommendations) in the root zone. A complete fertilizer contains Nitrogen (N) - Phosphorus (P) - and Potassium (K). Both P and K are fairly immobile in the soil and will probably need to be applied since rain will not get them where they need to be by the time the grass is growing. Nitrogen can be top-dressed and will move down into the soil when needed and the producer should plan on always applying it in split applications since it is used quickly and may leach. The demand for nitrogen will increase as the pasture matures.
Improved pasture to most folks means hybrid bermudagrass like Coastal or Tifton 85. These grass plants do not produce seed and therefore, must be planted by sprigs or tops. There is seeded bermudagrass such as common, Giant and NK37 available. All should be planted in early spring. The hybrid grasses will offer a jump in quality and possibly quantity. However, the seeded bermuda's are not far behind. The native grasses will be another step down but many of them make a more-than adequate pasture. Call the Extension Office with questions on pasture establishment and pasture grass choices.
Educational programs conducted by the
This Month’s Recipe
Easy Chicken Pot Pie Serves 6
1 pkg (6 oz.) chicken flavored stuffing mix
1 2/3 cups hot water
3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1 pkg (10 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1/4 tsp dried thyme leaves (optional)
· Preheat oven to 375° F. Add hot water to stuffing mix and stir until just moistened, then set aside.
· Place chicken and vegetables in 2-quart casserole. Mix soup and milk, then pour over chicken mixture. Top with prepared stuffing.
· Bake in oven 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Note: