FEBRUARY & MARCH 2008  MoRHA NEWSLETTER  

The VFW hall in Warrenton, MO was the site for the Missouri Ranch Horse Association’s 2007 Year-End-Awards banquet and 2008 Kickoff Member’s Meeting. Although it was a bitter cold evening, the festivities could not have been warmer. Almost a hundred ranch horse enthusiasts showed up for the delicious smoked turkey and beef brisket served by Cattleman’s BBQ catering company of Silex, MO. Cattleman’s is owned by MoRHA members Dennis and Cindy Cappel and the food was delicious.

 President Mike Kavanagh gave a short summary of just where MoRHA has been and what we have planned for 2008. He discussed the upcoming shows, the youth clinics that are in the works, the ARHA convention and 2008 ARHA World Show in TN.  Next was a brief slide-show presentation that showcased our year with snapshots of our 2007 shows and clinics. After the bountiful dinner, Mary Stassi our 2007 Award’s Director handed out the 2007 high-point year-end-awards. Christine Watts-Wright, our Youth Director, made the announcements and congratulated the winners. Then they had their picture taken with Mike Kavanagh, MoRHA president.  The high-point awards included belt buckles, horse sheets, jackets, and a variety of embroidered items such as rope, garment and bridle bags.

 The MoRHA copyrighted logo items were such a big hit as year-end-awards that we have decided to make logo jackets available to all MoRHA members that might wish to purchase them. We will post details as they become available on the website.

 Jukebox Productions of St. Charles brought in a self-programmable jukebox system and member Louie Conti handled the DJ duties in a very cool style. Our MoRHA members danced all night and showcased their skills with the Boot Scootin’ Boogie and the Cha Cha Slide. I better not mention that I received e-mails from MoRHA Vice President Mary Ann Cash and MoRHA President, Mike Kavanagh, whining about how their feet hurt from dancing so much. I better keep that information to myself, but I’m thinking that our MoRHA officers will have to Cowboy-Up a little to prepare for their next MoRHA dance duties.

 MoRHA wishes to thank the all MoRHA members and friends who made the silent auction such a huge success.  The banquet attendees were able to bid on a fantastic vacation package to Golden Hills Trail Ride in Raymondville, MO or another to Cross Country Trail Ride in Eminence, MO.  There was a huge selection of equine items such as horseshoe art, homemade wine, equine home décor, tack, and riding lessons available. The list seemed endless and the auction table was crowded all night with folks wanting to take home a bargain or two.

 We were honored to have Jerry and Erica Keeney, our ARHA President and Secretary, attend our banquet this year.  They drove here from Nancy, KY just to visit with the merry MoRHA crowd.  Jerry stood up and expressed his congratulations to our charter on all our 2007 accomplishments. He said was particularly proud of the job we have done with our MoRHA youth member program. Jerry expressed the belief that the youth members are the most important assets that the ARHA has and MoRHA could not agree more. We sent them home with a coveted MoRHA Cowboy/Cowgirl-Up award, a copy of our DVD MoRHA slide show and a basket of goodies with homemade chocolates to accompany them on their return trip.

MoRHA was proud to award Maggie O’Leary the 2007 Youth Scholarship. In addition, Maggie won the high-point award in the youth division on the 15-year-old mare Te Topsy Turvee, owned by Cathy Jackson. Cathy won the amateur high-point award on Topsy. MaryAnn Cash, Topsy’s trainer, exhibited her in the open division and brought home that high-point year-end award. Champion in all three divisions set the bar high for those horses competing in the future. Topsy was also shown at the ARHA 2007 World Show in Bowling Green, KY.  Maggie was her exhibitor in the youth 14-18 trail class, where once again Topsy and Maggie brought home the Championship title. We could not be more proud of these four MoRHA females, Maggie, MaryAnn, Cathy and Topsy.

The ARHA 2008 Convention was held in February at the Executive Inn in Owensboro, KY. This newsletter will be written prior to the convention and I have no doubt that MoRHA showed up in force to receive their many year-end awards. If this convention was anything like the 2007 convention the Missouri delegates dined and then danced all evening.

 We have had some changes to our 2008 show schedule. Our first Missouri Ranch Show of the season is March 8 & 9 at Midway Expo Center, Columbia, MO. This show is a 2-day and double-judged event to be held in the large indoor arena at the Midway Exposition Center in Columbia, MO.  Linda and Bill Black, ARHA judges and cutting horse trainers from Indiana, will officiate both days

 In April, MoRHA will move the show southwest to Mt. Vernon, MO. We know that having a show in the Springfield, MO area is a little out of our normal comfort zone, but we hope to attract a lot of new ranch horse owners and exhibitors from the Southwest Missouri area. Dr. Roger Cole, DVM, equine dentist, and a favorite MoRHA member, has been instrumental in helping us promote this event. We ask all MoRHA members to support our charter and come show at the Mt. Vernon show in April.

 The May 17 and the June 7 show will be held at Midway Expo Center in Columbia, MO. They have been moved from the Ashland Arena.

 Be sure to check the website frequently for the latest information regarding dates or arena locations, www.missouriranchhorse.com.

 MoRHA directors and members are wishing Michelle Britton, daughter of our best volunteers Becky and Joe Britton, a speedy recovery from her equine-related accident. We are optimistic that Michelle will be back in the saddle in the near future.  Please say a prayer for Michelle who will be recovering in the Rusk Rehab Center in Columbia, MO.

A Jim Dudley reining clinic has been put on hold until further notice.

 Our officers/directors meetings are generally scheduled on the first Monday of the month. Please e-mail me at missouriranchhorse@yahoo.com regarding any suggestions, constructive criticism or comments about MoRHA events or activities. I promise that I will pass them along to the most appropriate person for a prompt response.

 Until next time, happy tails!

Shannon Hart-McInerney