Arizona Fox Trotter Association (AFTA)
P.O. Box 33       Cave Creek, AZ  85327-0033

Well, summer is almost over.  It seems like we went from the coolness of winter suddenly into summer.  What happened to spring?  With the heat comes the exodus.  Half our Board of Directors (the female half) went to the mountains, not to be seen again in these parts until fall.  Yes, five women commandeered trailers and horses and set off in a convoy for cooler climes.  We had our general membership meeting June 6th and the big question was:  with so many key people out of the equation this summer, can we do a National Trail Ride for 2005?  Last year's committee has retired.  The planning would have to start pronto.  New folks have stepped up to the plate.  Barry Slaybaugh has volunteered to take care of the utilities (porta-potties, trash removal, manure etc.).  Bonnie Andersen will be the ride committee coordinator.  Alicia Thompson and Jennifer Rinaldi will do the promotion, advertising, t-shirts, hats and badges.  Clare Ross will snag the entertainment, arrange the raffles and prizes.  Randy Ware, Jennifer and John Rinaldi, Clare and Carol Ross, Karen and I, and Judy Kipen will preride the trails.  Deb Stevens and Karen King will take care of the laborious and time consuming job of registration and liaison to the participants.  I believe we got us a committee.  Because the National Trail Ride has become our signature event, it is the one thing for which AFTA is known across the Country, and it has become our largest source of income, it is important that we continue the tradition.  It has become something that is expected of us, and we can all be very proud to have a part in it.  Just because we have snagged a few volunteers doesn't mean the job is done.  If you have any inclination to contribute your time and energy to this project please, please call one of us and volunteer to help.  We need you!

BOARD MEETING
Board meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month, 7:00 p.m., at White Dog Ranch, 39342 N. 26th Street, Cave Creek.  Our next meeting will be Tuesday, October 5th.  All members are welcome and encouraged to attend.  If you are not a board member, please call Karen King (623-465-7577) to confirm the meeting location and time in case of any changes.

NATIONAL TRAIL RIDE 2005 COMMITTEE MEETING
Those interested in working on the 2005 National Trail Ride Committee, please attend the meeting on Tuesday, October 5th at 5:30 p.m.  The meeting will be held at White Dog Ranch directly before the monthly board meeting. See address above.

The dates for the National Trail ride are January 22, 23 & 24, 2005.  There will be a special recognition dinner scheduled after the trail ride to honor the 2004 and 2005 National Trail Ride Committee members.


AFTA TRAIL RIDES & ACTIVITIES

9/17/04. Whew!  What an exciting summer!  June 12 myself and 4 other adventurous ladies started off on our trip to Colorado.  Our first stop was Cortez, Co. where we met up with some neat ladies who live there.  They advised us of some beautiful riding in their area.  Our first campsite was north of Mancos near Jersey Jim.  We rode some beautiful trails there for about a week, then on to another spot in the Dolores area.  Since there was still a threat of snow in the higher country, we stayed in these lower locations.  From there we traveled up to Montrose and stayed at the fairgrounds while we replenished our supplies.  We read about a place called Soap Creek near the Blue Mesa that actually had horse corrals, nice trails and was free!  What a beautiful place to ride.  We stayed there over the Fourth of July, enjoying the cool weather, great trails, lots of wildflowers and met a nice couple who gave us some more ideas of where to ride.  From there we went up to Crested Butte towards Gunnison at Horse Ranch Park.  it's a large meadow with a few picnic tables and rest rooms.  Again, the price is right.  Its free!  We had some interesting visitors-deer.  They just sauntered into camp looking for some of that nice certified hay to eat.  The horses didn't seem to mind and we all got some nice pictures of the deer standing next to our horses.  We met a neat lady who is writing a book on horse trails in Southwestern Colorado.  It was wonderful to have her as our "guide" for a day.    We had quite a lesson that day learning the names of flowers, mountain ranges, and some history of the area.  What a wonderful experience!  We agreed that the Crested Butte area was our favorite.  From there we went to Silver Jack area south east of Montrose, then on to the Lizard head Wilderness area.  I drove into Norwood to visit some friends and let poor ole Smokey have a little R&R.  My friends took me to the Norwood Rodeo and dance.  I love those small towns activities.   We  drove into Ouray and enjoyed a day relaxing in the hot springs.  AHHHHH!  After the nice relaxing interlude, I met up with my riding buddies and we went off to Pagosa Springs.  Yep, some more beautiful scenery.  Some of our fellow campers were having a wedding so we were treated to some live music!  Of course, we spent a day in Pagosa Springs soaking in their hot springs.  Then we went across the river for some excellent Mexican food!   Then back to camp for some more beautiful riding.  Sadly, everybody went their own way from there.  It was such a great summer and we were all sad to see it come to an end.  But--There always next year!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 – There has been a change in our October Moonlight Ride location.  I think this will be a lot of fun!  Our ride will start at 6pm.   The new location is Pioneer Village on I-17 north of Carefree Hwy. They have been very busy re-furbishing the historic buildings.  Our ride will be approximately 3hours long, then we can enjoy dinner, drinks and dancing at their café.  For those who are self-contained and want to spend the night, they have a wonderful Sunday Buffet that I hear  has some great food!   Plus we are welcome to ride our horses thru town to see all the work they have done restoring the historic buildings. This will be RSVP so I can tell them how many to expect.  Please call me ASAP so I can let them know.  You can reach me at 623 465-1234 or my cell phone 602 510-7775.  You can leave a message at either number if I don't answer.   See you all there for a GREAT time!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20 - Something different and fun!  We'll have a versatility clinic at Sam and Karen Pallin's home on Saturday at 12 noon.  Pot Luck dinner Saturday night. Those who are self contained are welcome to spend the night and enjoy a trail ride on Sunday, leaving 9:00 a.m.   So come on out! It will be fun to let our horses display their talents on a completely different level!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11 - Christmas Party at Dan and Jeanette Green's home in Maricopa. This is the same location as last year and a great time was had by all! We'll have the annual potluck and gift exchange.  The riding here is very easy!

4^th ANNUAL NATIONAL TRAIL RIDE ARIZONA – Come join “The Arizona Fox Trotters Association” in lovely Central Arizona for our 4th Annual National Trail Ride January 22, 23 & 24, 2005. Last year’s ride was a resounding success, so register early. We have limited space! For registration information, please contact Karen King, (623) 465-7577.

AFTA CLINICS – Look for the following clinics coming the Spring of 2005: Gaited Clinic; Ranch Roping Clinic; and a Camping Clinic. More information in future newsletters.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING IN NEWSLETTER

Members: 3 line ad/3 months (no photos) – Free.
Mail info to AFTA, P.O. Box 33, Cave Creek, AZ 85327-0033
or e-mail to cavecreekking@aol.com.

Non-members: 3 line ad/3 months (no photos) - $15 pre-paid. Mail check payable to AFTA, send check and information to AFTA, P.O. Box 33, Cave Creek, AZ 85327-0033
  ____________________________________________________

AFTA MERCHANDISE FOR SALE
* Shirts - $8.00   * Hats - $10.00   * License Plates - $15.00

* Contact: Karen King, 623-465-7577

BEAUTIFUL BLACK FOX TROTTER GELDING.  Smooth gait; 14.2 hands, 850 lbs., 15 years old, goes without shoes; responds well to Pat Parelli’s Seven Games. Asking $4000, but will consider all offers. Please call JamesHutchinson at  480-982-4186.

CAMPER FOR SALE. ’95 Six Pack cabover camper, fully self-contained; good condition. $3,000. Might consider trade for Fox Trotter. (520) 424-3514.

FINE FOX TROTTERS FOR SALE!   Check the sale page on www.stargaitranch.com or call 602-622-4251 for info.

HORSE SITTER. Savvy horsewoman will horse sit your precious babies while you are away...Gilbert area only!  Jaurich@cox.net or 480-632-6231.

WELCOME NEW AFTA BOARD MEMBERS
Judy Kipen, Deb Stephens & Bonnie Andersen

PAST BOARD MEMBER
Thank you, Randy Ware, for your services

TREASURER’S REPORT
Previous Balance: $11965.36
Deposits: $0
Checks Written: $139.65
Current Balance: $11825.71

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Have a change of name, address, etc.? Please contact our Membership Committee.

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As the Versatility classes seem to grow ever popular with many breeds, AFTA is looking to bring Ranch Roping for the first time in many decades, to the Phoenix area! Ranch Roping is one of the component classes of the overall Versatility classes in many breed shows, yet instruction in it is difficult to find, even in AZ. Missouri Foxtrotters seem to be a natural for this, as their breeding was for the ranching, mountainous rocky country of the Ozarks.

Ranch roping is a fun & exciting horse activity for serious cowboys or weekend buckaroos! When roping gets mentioned most folks think of rodeo-style calf or team roping. But that is a more modern and highly competitive version. The old way of handling cattle on the open range for doctoring and branding involving the use of "la reata" (lariat, catchrope, gutline, whaleline, maguey) for catching and holding the animal while a groundman did the deed is a far cry from that high speed deal. Ranch roping was done slowly so as not to stress the cow, being as it was probably sick or a young one that was about to be stressed enough by the branding and castrating that cattle undergo, then and now. On occasion it might involve high-speed pursuit as in wild cattle catching but generally it was considered a sign of poor stockmanship to chase the cattle when roping. Standing or walking shots were preferred and sliding your dallies, and even picking a forefoot up in the loop to keep the cattle from choking down, was requisite. If you handled the cattle poorly you did not stay on the payroll long.

Ranch Roping is the art of “La Reata”. Its roots run deep in the vaquero/ long rope/ dally style rope use still found in The Great Basin of the US and scattered throughout Mexico. It is now enjoying a revival with renewed interest not only from cowboys, but from recreational horsefolks too. The sidearm, houlihan, scoop loop, the Johnny Blocker, La Flor del Viento roping throws, all speak to a level of skill at cattle catching that is now more than rare where it used to be commonplace. But in addition they speak to a level of refinement in a horse and a level of horsemanship in a person that was also disappearing. Now, that kind of horsemanship expertise appears to be, thankfully, on its way back.

The essence of roping and being comfortable, with a rope around horses is just plain good horsemanship. Ropes go with horses likes peas in a pod. It’s a fun way to expose your horse to a variety of new skills and experiences as well as refining your and his current abilities. Roping, and the maneuvers and control you will need with your horse while roping, gives meaning to what you do with those reins and all. It also builds a lot of confidence in you both.

The work around cattle and the use of the rope will help a lot of horses to focus on their rider and get a better feel going between them. It will also get the horse accustomed to a level of commotion that tends to be bothersome to horses that do not get the opportunity to be this active. It is not a matter of de-sensitizing the horse as much as it is making the world and being with you a more safe and interesting place to be. The beginner can learn right along with the horse (as opposed to the faster & more dangerous) Calf or Team Roping, as this is ranch style roping and it is supposed to be done slow, either at the walk or a standstill whenever possible. This allows the rider and horse to generally stay out of trouble, to build a solid feel for each other and to have things go relatively smoothly as they expose themselves to more complicated situations.

Even without live cattle the use of a rope with your horse will allow for a lot of development and refinement of your relationship. Dummy roping requires fine and subtle control of your horse as you set your shots up. Dragging logs will expose your horse to the idea of pacing himself at your request and practice at handling the rope and popping your dallies without fear of anything running off with your rope. Just the swinging of the rope around all sides of the horse will build calmness in the animal that is helpful in all respects.

In this clinic you will learn several types of roping loops & what situations to use them in, but also how the throws are scored on level of difficulty. You will also begin to learn the Vaquero Bridle horse style of horsemanship, & mostly have

Fun! You will gain confidence in yourself & your horse. Hope you can join us.

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