The March 18 meeting of the Trailblazers was held at Tri-County Feeds, where Jeannie Waldron combined with Sarah Fletcher to give us a program on Lyme Disease in Virginia, affecting both humans and horses. It made its appearance in the late 1990's evidencing fever, swellings, and lameness, caused by infection from the deer tick, currently renamed black-legged tick. Now symptoms are more subtle and may be more easily mistaken for other problems. The immune system is evolving so that symptoms are not as obvious. Horses lose flexibility and just don't seem to be doing well - the "ADR" or "ain't doin' right" syndrome. Jeannie says some Lyme problems may be co-infections with something else, to further complicate matters. Ticks can carry a wide variety of problem-causing diseases.

Jeannie uses the "snap" test to check for Lyme titers. There is a new test from Cornell that is supposed to tell acute from chronic cases, called Luminex, due out sometime. The Western blot is not as accurate in her opinion. She uses a 30-day treatment plan using tetracycline, etc.

Lyme can cause uveitis, sore backs and behavior problems. peripheral neuropathy nerves are damaged that affect the sensitivity to skin.

25% of ticks in this area are probably positive for Lyme disease. Only test if the horse has symptoms - otherwise a waste of time. There are two vaccines for dogs which Jeannie has used on horses. Vaccinate, then vaccinate three weeks later, then six months later.

We enjoyed an extensive Q & A session with both ladies and very much appreciate their time. There was not much business discussed, but May 2 will be the annual show at The Grove.

  April Minutes:

 The April 15, 2010 meeting of the trailblazers commenced at 8:00 p.m. at Denny’s restaurant in Warrenton. The treasurer reported a balance of $5,765.46.

The Fauquier equestrian forum is selling raffle tickets for $25.00 as a fundraiser for construction of a riding facility for public use. Winner has choice of a small stable or gazebo to be constructed on their property. Please support this worthy endeavor!

Marriott would like to have us put on a dinner event out there.

The April 18 ride will be at Phelps wildlife management. May 16 will be Andy Guest (Shenandoah). June is tentatively at G.W.Forest in West Virginia.

The May 20 meeting will be at Karen Corl's new barn and Reid Folsum will talk about barn building.

Anybody know of a nice place for a social meeting in June? (I have a suggestion - why not a picnic at one of the wineries? I was at a nice one in Delaplane that has picnic tables and hammocks down by a stream, easy to get to on route 17 by the railroad tracks. Also has a covered pavilion by the winery in case of bad weather. Jy)

The fun show is May 2 with rain date of May 16. Mr. Tufts will mow the field. The gate to the ring needs repair - has a broken hinge. Round bales are stored in the trail ring - not sure if we can have them removed. The release forms need supplementing. Mary will be doing her thing, and Ed will announce.

I found this recipe was in an old issue of the Horse Journal and since it seems safe enough, I’m going to try it on my itchy little Appy. Maybe it will work for your horse too. Let me know what kind of results you get and we’ll publish them in an upcoming newsletter. Karen H. Kachur

1/4 tsp Campho-Phenique (in drug stores)
1/4 tsp of Calm Coat www.calmcoat.com (Great product for dogs and horses—I’m using it now.)

Mix these two products into a 13 oz jar of petroleum jelly (Vaseline or a generic) You can soften the vaseline in the microwave until it softens, then add the two other products and mix thoroughly. Apply a thick layer of the mixture after it has cooled down and solidified with a small spatula. Use 2 – 3 times a day or whenever the horse is itchy.

The vaseline provides a barrier, while the Campho-Phenique is also a barrier, repellent, anesthetic/disinfectant. Calm coat also provides a barrier, soothing essential oils and acts as a repellent as well.  Relief should be obvious immediately due to the anesthetic properties of the Campho-Phenique.

TRAILBLAZERS FUN SHOW

THE GROVE

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Photos from the Fun Show held on May 2 are posted on the web site – so be sure to check out all the activities of the day!  If you have any questions about the photos, contact Karen H. Kachur at kdk521@yahoo.com.

Fun Show Pictures

Trailblazers Shirts and Hats Available

Trailblazers’ polo shirts, sweatshirts and caps are available and can be purchased at Trailblazers meetings and events or by contacting Vickie Bowling at vbowling@comcast.net or 540-937-7744

2009 Calendar of Events

Current negative Coggins and signed release form required for all Trailblazers events with horses.

 

 

Internet Sites of Interest

The internet can provide a wealth of information about horses. If you have one that you find to be particularly good, please send it to Karen Kachur to share with the group. Here is a list of some you may find useful:

www.horserentals.com [boarding and horse rentals]                      
www.equine.com [horse sales]
www.horsecity.com [training and items for sale]                              
www.dreamhorse.com [horse sales]
www.kbrhorse.net [resistance-free training articles]                       
www.horsetrails.com [trail information]
http://www.roughridersonline.com [rides in the Eastern part of the country]
www.nttp.net/resources/index.html [National Trails Training Partnership website resources]
www.nttp.net/resources/trailbuilding/index.html [National Trails Training Partnership website on Trail Design and Construction] www.nttp.net/resources/trailbuilding/index.html [Presentation from Anne O'Dell, Designing Shared Use Trails to Include Equestrians, select the publication]
http://railtrails.tranguard.com/ [Trails for the Twenty-First Century, from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy - See RTC's bookstore]
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/publications.htm [ FHWA's Recreational Trails Program publications (includes trail-related publications from the USDA Forest Service)]
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/ [Recreational Trails Program]
www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/ [Transportation Enhancement Activities] http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/orgdirectory/equine.html  [This site contains a comprehensive list of agricultural and consumer organizations in the state]
www.battlefieldequestriansociety.org  Battlefield Equestrian Society (BES)
www.ustrailride.org U.S. Trailride (USTR)
www.thegehs.org Gettysburg Equestrian Historical Society
www.choa-va.com Culpeper Horse Owners Association

Some New Web Sites to Check Out

www.horsemotel.com
www.baycreekranch.com
http://www.nps.gov/appa/

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) supplies timely information about monitoring and management of equine diseases through the National Animal Health Surveillance System (NAHSS).  The NAHSS web site can be reached at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nahss/equine.

“Old Friends” offers a safe and comfortable retirement home for champion thoroughbreds that no longer turn a profit.  Started in Kentucky by Michael Blowen after he discovered 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand met his end at a slaughterhouse, it is the only facility of its kind that will accept stallions.  Find out more about “Old Friends” at www.oldfriendsequine.org.

The Gingersnap Girls Equine Education and Rescue, based in Hamilton VA, was started in 2004 to rescue horses and to educate the public regarding humane treatment.  Their web site is www.gingersnapgirls.org

2010 Club Officers and Staff

• President – Karen Corl–(540) 349-1412 or kcorl@comcast.net
• Vice President –Nancy Treusch – ntrides1@aol.com
• Secretary – Jennifer Young (540) 349-8155
• Treasurer –Vickie Bowling, (540) 937-7744 vbowling@comcast.net
• Education Chairman – Anita Barry bothyfarm@comcast.net
• Trail Ride Coordinator– Barbara Virgo barbaravirgo@msn.com
• Web Master: Sandy Bailey – crimsonandclover1@comcast.net
• Newsletter: Karen H. Kachur – (540) 347-5510 or kdk521@yahoo.com and
• Judy Burke -- (540) 788-4140 or judyw1@msn.com
• Membership: Ron Corl – (540) 349-1412 or roncorl@roncorl.com

"Until you have volunteered at an event, you are not allowed to whine!"  Jim Wofford.

 

Classified Ads  

Attention Members: You can now get one free ad per month up to 25 words.  

 

 Send advertisement with check payable to Trailblazers, Inc. to:

Karen H. Kachur
8247 Squires Lane
Warrenton, VA 20187
 

you can also e-mail your advertisement to (send check to address above):

kdk521@hughes.net

If you would like to receive the Trailblazer newsletter via the web site every month, or would like a copy of the membership list, contact Karen Kachur at kdk521@hughes.net.

 

For Sale...

 

 

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• Trailblazers Liability Release form .doc (Microsoft Word) format
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