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HISTORY: Member News 2007
  Member News 2006
  Member News 2005
 

State Show Co-Chairs Appointed

 

WDMS President Leslie Schmidt has appointed State Show Co-Chairs:
The President also appointed Hal Burdsall (Black Earth) as Chairman and Dolores Slizewski (Merrill) to the Show Rules Committee. Other chairmen and committee member(s) to be announced.

  [9-21-07]  Back to Top

 

2008 WDMS Midwest Horse Fair Committee:

(confirmed 10-25-07)
  • Leslie Schmidt (Westfield), Chairman
  • Sandy Burdsall (Black Earth)
  • Julie Nelson (Eleva)

 

Fall Trail Ride
by Leslie Schmidt

 

The Fall trail ride was a HUGE success!! We had more than 30 members and guests show up for it!! Best trail ride turn out we have had in years!! The trails were in pretty good shape. There was some rain damage to them. The worst part was when we encountered ground bees early on in the ride on Saturday. After that everything was smooth sailing. We had a great time!  (In fact, we had such a great time that we can't find anyone who got pictures!)

We stayed at End of the Trail Equine Campground in Ontario, WI and rode at Wildcat Mountain State Park. We'll be going back there for our Fall 2008 Trail Ride on September 19-21, 2008 so plan to join us!

The following WDMS members and guests helped make the 2007 Fall Trail Ride a success:

  • John & Sue Jazdzewski
  • Don & Corky Smith
  • Jerry & Alissa Heinrich
  • Leslie & Rachael Schmidt
  • Dian Pinney
  • Jan & Moose Tassler
  • Holly, Richard & Allan Dardine + 2 foreign exchange students
  • Sharon Emerson (Holly Dardine's mom)
  • Chuck & Diane Gross and friend, Jerry
  • Loretta Larrabee and friend, Mike
  • Mike & Peg of Eau Claire
  • Cleo Herrick and granddaughter, Justice
  • Paula Olson and her husband + 2 sons
  • Tony Govine & guest
  • Carla

  [9-11-07]  Back to Top

 

Spring Trail Ride
A small group of members and friends had a fun time riding in Nicolet National Forest the weekend of May 19-20. They camped at 9 Mile All Sport Resort near White Lake, WI. Click to see the photos on the Trailrides 2007 page.

 

A Time to Say Goodbye

 

by Dianna Peschel

 

Hi, my name is Dianna Peschel and it is time for me to say goodbye for now but not forever. I am writing this to let you all know that I am leaving Wisconsin and taking a job at a Standardbred Breeding Farm in Springfield, Illinois. I have worked for them as an intern and now I am going back to manage one of their barns.

I feel I owe so many people so much from this club. You all have touched my heart in one way or another. You all have seen me grow from a kid who knew nothing to a rider and a trainer who is going to keep promoting mules and donkeys for the rest of my life. 

I’d like to start saying some Thank You's. 

First off, To my parents:  Without you I would not be where I am today. You have seen me through my wins and losses. You were there when I wanted to call it quits. Thank you for being there and not letting me. Thank you for your endless support. I won’t disappoint you.

To Don and Corky Smith:  Where do I start? You also have been there for me when times got rough. You took a chance with me and I will always appreciate it. You will always be in my thoughts and prayers.

To Ron Nyhouse: Thank you for selling me a great black jenny; she was a good girl whose life was ended too short. Also for giving me the chance to start your gelding. I wish I could do so much more with him. Thank you for also not giving up on me.

To Eb Warner: You sold me my Angel and I will forever be grateful to you for that. She was able to teach me so much. Thank you for giving me the chance to own her.

To Linda Osland:  Thank you for letting me lease Black. He was an experience that I will never forget.

To Moose and Jan Tassler:  Thank you for giving me a chance to ride my first mule. That is a moment I will never forget.

Last but not least, John and Kathy Jones:  You guys never hesitated to let me ride Jackson or Orbit. They are two mules that I will never forget.

Thanks to anybody else that I forgot to mention. My life has definitely been influenced by all from this club. Moving on is a scary thing. But thanks to all the people I met along the way who I have learned from, I am able to square my shoulders, put my head up and move forward. I will keep in touch and see you all again. 

Goodbye and Good Luck to all!       [2-28-07] 

 

Memorial Day Weekend: 
Trail Ride in Minnesota

 

Wanna come along?

 

A growing group of club members is planning to go camping and trail riding at Zumbrota Bottoms in Minnesota (near Theilman, MN) over the Memorial Day Weekend. Some of them have ridden there in the past and report having a great time!

Campground accommodations are primitive (outhouse & water pump) and camping fees are just a donation. Check out the Zumbrota Bottoms web site for a little info and contact Dian Pinney at 608-587-2571 for details about the group's plans and joining them.                                          

  [4-6-07]  Back to Top

 

Gingerbread:  RIP

 

 

   

Gingerbread takes care of Rachael Schmidt (left)
and her cousin Nikki - circa 2001

 

A few of the people she owned:
  Joyce Freel
Linda Osland/Jess Stehl
Leslie & Rachael Schmidt
  [3-31-07]  Back to Top
 

Back to Top

Indiana Trail Ride - Hoosier National Forest

 

by Leslie Schmidt

 

Leslie Schmidt, Dian Pinney & Rachael Schmidt at the Midwest Trail Ride in IndianaOn September 30, my daughter Rachael, Dian Pinney and I (R to L in photo at right) headed out to Norman, Indiana to spend the first week of October at The Midwest Trail Ride campground. It is located on the edge of the beautiful Hoosier National Forest. 

October 1 - 7 was their annual Fall Festival Week ride.  For $240 per adult and $180 per child we got seven nights of camping with water and electric hook up and three great buffet style meals a day. Each night we had some kind of entertainment such as a Casino Night, Bingo, Karaoke, a band and more. For $50 more we got a covered stall for our equine for the seven nights. 

The trails are very well maintained with good footing. (Photo at left:  Dian & Rachael on the trails.) They are also really well marked corresponding to the trail maps so you don't have to worry about getting lost. I would say the riding there is at an Intermediate riding ability. There are a few ridge areas but the trails were a nice width there. It has some hilly trails with a few good climbs. We didn't have any water crossings because all the creek beds were dry. They haven't been getting much rain in that area for a few years now. 

 

There was a trail that went to a church that was built in 1881. It is the original church in it's original location. There are hitch'n rails, a toilet and a picnic table there so trail riders can stop and take a break. The church is always open so you can go inside and look around. Another trail took us to an Old West Town. It had been bought and moved onto that location by the person who owned that piece of property on the edge of the forest. Trail riders were allowed to ride into the Old West Town to look around but the buildings were all locked because of past vandalism.  (Photo at right: Dian Pinney on Maggie in Old West Town)

It was a fun and relaxing week. You rode on your own, not as a guided group. That was nice because we didn't have to be up and moving at the crack of dawn to make a group ride. They provided sack lunches for people who were going to be out riding during that time of day. We enjoyed it so much that we re-booked for the same week next year!       

 

Rachael & Leslie Schmidt on great trails in Hoosier National Forest
 
Rachael on Molly in Old West Town Leslie holds the mules at a rest stop
L to R:  Molly, Maggie, Leslie & Mohawk
 
Leslie & Rachael at the 1881 church Rachael and friends at the
hitch'n rails at the 1881 church
 
Leslie checks out the mule accommodations
at the Midwest Trail Ride Campground
in Norman, IN  		We'll be goin' back to ride those
trails again next year!
 

  [10-21-07]  Back to Top

 

2008 Donkey Calendar Features WDMS Members

 

Cover Calendar pin-up girl Lenore Mangles
driving B.A. Killer on
Cover of Bob Mischka's new
2008 DONKEY Calendar

Click to order calendars

 

Well-known equine photographer and "calendar guy" extraordinaire Bob Mischka has added a new calendar to his line for 2008 . . . DONKEYS . . . and it features four WDMS members and their donkeys!  According to the Mischka Press site:

 

After years of fielding requests for a donkey calendar produced with the same attention to detail and quality materials as our other wall calendars, we gave in. This calendar respectfully celebrates the useful and versatility of the modern donkey, jacks, minis, and standards. The calendar is 12" wide and 19" tall (when opened).

 

 

April 2008

June 2008

Randy Krueger's minis
Annie and baby Nitro

Don Smith & CDR Munro

  

September 2008 November 2008
Katie Maurer & Milton Lenore Mangles & B.A. Killer

 

Visit the Mischka Press site to order calendars - $11.95 each - and view their 200 other fine products including calendars of Mules, Driving Horses and Draft Horses.

  [9-11-07]  Back to Top

 

 Fun Show 2007

 

This year's Fun Show was our third and was held on August 25 at the Tomah Saddle Club grounds in Tomah, WI. Kids and adults, donkeys and mules participated in 22 fun games and races and had a blast! There were ribbons, door prizes, good food and we're all looking forward to doing it again next year! Click for 2007 Fun Show RESULTS & PHOTOS

  [9-11-07]  Back to Top

 

Midwest Horse Fair - Madison, WI
April 19-22, 2007

 

Photos of 2007 Midwest Horse Fair
For participation in this year's Midwest Horse Fair . . .
  • We clipped, bathed, groomed, practiced, trained, cajoled and trailered our longears.

  • We moved (lock, stock and tee-shirts-for-sale) into Barn #5 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison for 4 days of great weather and long hours of showing off our beloved donkeys and mules.

  • We practiced in the coliseum, pranced in the daily Parade of Breeds, carried flags to open the evening shows, strutted our stuff in demonstrations, and shopped 'til we dropped.

  • We had a great time with great folks then we packed it all up and drove home, exhausted, to remember a fun time and rest up a bit before we think about maybe doing it all again next year!

 

A big THANK YOU to our members who made the huge effort and commitment to spend 4 days exhibiting their longeared buddies at this year's Midwest Horse fair on behalf of the club: 

 

Hal & Sandy Burdsall with Tennessee Walking Mules Gabby Hayes and Tucker

Randy Krueger of Spectrum Ranch brought 2 mini donkey mamas and their babies

 

Lenore Mangles with standard donkey,
Bad Ass Killer

 Jenny & Katie Maurer with standard donkey, Milton (Katie in cart with dad Dale helping)

 

Jeremy & Megan Nelson with jumping mules Pete and Jack Jessica Stehl with Trakehner mule,
Pershing's Black Caruso

 

Rachael Schmidt with
mammoth donkey, Mizz Izzie 		Donna Gabbei (front in pink) & Dian Pinney (R. rear in pink)  with mini donkeys, Stella and Daisy

 

Special thanks to:
  • Leslie Schmidt who masterminded our participation as club chairman of the event with her committee, Sandy Burdsall and Kathy Jones.
  • Julie Nelson & Leslie Schmidt who spent lots of hours and great ideas creating Rock, Roll & Ride! theme decorations for our stalls and booth.
  • Jeremy and Megan Nelson (with Pete and Jack) for representing us in the American Equine Idol talent competition on Friday night.
  • Parents Bob & Julie Nelson, Dale & Kim Maurer and Leslie Schmidt for all their work helping their kids participate.
  • Wayne Good of V and W Fence Co. (Escanaba, MI - vwfence@hotmail.com) for the gift of a 10' pole for our mule jump.
  • Members who spent time in the club booth greeting visitors, answering questions and selling club promo items.
  • Many others who helped with items or preparations for club participation in this year's Midwest Horse Fair.

Mark your calendars to join us at next year's Midwest Horse Fair
at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, WI:  

April 18-20, 2008

 

  [4-23-07]  Back to Top

 

 
Member News 2007 (articles above) :
 
   
 

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Mark your calendar for our  2009 State Show = June 6 - 7, 2009

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