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Ride the Winds
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Posted by editor Mon Mar 5, 2007 12:53:38 PST
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0 responses 0 comments The Lilac Ranch Riding Club in Tehachapi has set an extensive schedule for the coming season. Director Melissa Moors says the Ranch will host Day Camps, Adventure Camps, clinics and playdays.

    The Day Camps are April 2-6, June 18-22, July 16-20 and Aug. 13-17. This kids program is geared for beginner to intermediate equestrians. Each three-hour day will include instruction in stable management, horse health and care, natural horsemanship, mounted games and arts and crafts. On the final day of the week, the kids will take a written and mounted test, followed by an awards luncheon.

There also will be an Adventure Horse Camp on June 24-30 at the Clear Creek B Ranch in Hart Flat, which was once owned by Noah Beery, Jr. Campers will bunk in a restored barn and with four counselors. Every day will include an educational adventure with Native American history, water color art, hiking and fishing, and will be taught by an expert. All meals are included.

The group also will have a series of Point Show/Play Days on April 7, May 26, June 23, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 22 and Oct. 27, plus a Trail Clinic on April 14 and June 16 with Shawna Dahl. For more information on times and prices contact Melissa Moors at 822-7062 or click www.lilacranchridingclub.com.

ETI Corral 83 Tehachapi Mountain Riders has a few trail rides scheduled for April. The usual First Thursday ride is April 5 in Stallion Springs. There's also a ride to Indian Wells, which goes through a scenic desert canyon below Owens Peak. The group also has Pacific Crest Work Day on April 22 and a Stallion Spring Work Day on April 28. For more information call Susan Wellington at 822-8131.

Western Wagons ETI Corral 14 is hosting a Trail Ride and Drive on April 28 and 29. The ride will start at 10 a.m. at the Wilburn Ranch in Rosamond and will travel through the Rosamond Hills into the Backus Road area of Mojave's Ancient Valley. There will be a bring-your-own-lunch break and it's hoped the wildflowers will be in bloom. The ride will proceed to the Moonraker Ranch on Backus Road for a potluck dinner, bonfire and overnight camping. Transportation of potluck dishes from the Wilburn's to Moonraker Ranch will be available. The ride will return to the Wilburn's on Sunday, via a different route. For those who prefer just a one day ride/drive, it is an easy shuttle between the ranches. ETI members are free and it's $5 for non-members. For more information, call Norm Noftsier at 270-1161 or Katie Christman at 824-2609.

The Tehachapi Western Events Association recently elected new officers. The new president is John Nelson, who previously was secretary. Al Anders, who served as the TWEA's first president for four years is now arena director. Terry Miller is the new secretary. The new officers will be installed at the organization's next meeting at 7 p.m. on March 5 at Jake's Steak House. For more information on upcoming events, click www.tehachapiwesternevents.com.

It's just about foaling time again, so it's time to get ready.

The mare should be current on vaccinations. Have a foaling kit on hand, which might include towels, sponge, disposable gloves, cotton and Betadine to swab the foal's umbilical stump. Dipping or spraying the navel with a disinfectant solution helps prevent navel infection. The stump should be swabbed two times daily for about three days. The mare should be wormed on the day of foaling to prevent the passage of the parasites, which can lead to diarrhea in the newborn foal.
Also included is a baby ear syringe to clean out the foal's nose if necessary, and some enemas to get rid of any excess meconium. A bucket with a lid to store the placenta until the vet comes should be near-by.

Once the foal arrives, assess the health of the mare. Is she acting normally? Did the placenta pass and is it all there? Lay the entire placenta out on the ground and check it for tears. There should only be one hole in the placenta where the foal exited. If you find that it is torn, or doesn't appear to be all there, call your veterinarian at once. A retained or torn placenta can lead to infection.

The foal should be up and nursing within two hours. Those first few hours of nursing are critical to the baby's immune system. The colostrum supplies antibodies needed by the foal to fight off disease, and these antibodies are absorbed through the gut only during the first 24 hours of life.

The vet probably should see the mare and baby as soon as possible even if everything looks fine. The vet will examine the placenta and also the general condition of the mare and foal for any complications, and that the foal is nursing properly. If everything checks out, you should sit back and enjoy watching the mare and foal interact.

The Bear Valley Springs Horseman's Club is holding a Bomb-Proofing Clinic on May 26-27 at the BVS Equestrian Center. It will be guided by two retired police officers from the Mounted Patrol and will be limited to 24 participants. The cost is $200 for the weekend and includes lunch. Cut off date for sign-up is April 15. For more information contact Joan Howard 821-1577.

Don't forget, if you have any information to report on the horse community such as upcoming events, clinics, raffles or you've won an award, contact Jill at 823-1114 or e-mail jillbn@yahoo.com, or drop material off at the Tehachapi News.
Jill and her husband John operate the Bar Double J Ranch on Cameron Canyon Road, raising performance quarter horses (barjjranch.com). They also run a production company, which will make videos, DVDs of your horse or set up a Web site.

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