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HISTORY: Member News 2007
  Member News 2006
  Member News 2005

 

Mule Wins Top Honors
Member Don Smith (Montello) and his mule, June Carter, took Supreme Champion honors at the first ever Wisconsin State Horse Council (WSHC) Equine Foundation Show on October 8-9 in Elkhorn, WI. Next year's show is scheduled for October 7-8 at Heartland Stables in Custer, WI.   [11-30-05]  Back to Top
 

Member in Mules and More
Our Vice President Ron Nyhouse and his new mule, Jake, are lookin' good in the November 2005 issue of Mules and More ! (page 7)  [11-30-05]  Back to Top
 

Members Join
Caroline Trail Ride

 

(L to R) WDMS members Ron Nyhouse, Dian Pinney, Matt Pinney, Donna Gabbei and friend Beth Mislivachek  [click photo above to see enlarged version]

 

Sept. 30 - Oct. 2, 2005 WDMS members Ron Nyhouse, Dian & Matt Pinney and Donna Gabbei joined the 17th Annual Caroline Lions Colorama Fall Trail Ride in Caroline, WI (just north of Marion). It is billed as "Wisconsin's Largest Trail Ride" and boasts 1,500 equine on the ride. 
         But wait!  Look how short those ears are! Ron Nyhouse was on his new mule, Jake, but we hear he was one of only 4-6 mules on the ride. Our other longeared friends evidently got the weekend off as Donna rode her foundation Quarter Horse gelding (Coco) and Dian rode her Quarter Pony (Star) while Matt (Peppy) and Beth (Little Man) also rode horses. They reported terrific weather and a great ride. [10-12-05]  Back to Top
 

Long Ears & Short

 

Corky Smith riding groom at Villa Louis Carriage ClassicMembers Don & Corky Smith (Montello, WI) have been busy with equine activities of both long ears and short ears. Don represented the Wisconsin State Horse Council (WSHC) as a clinician at the Northern Illinois Horse Fest, August 27-28. He presented Mule Basics 101 and has been invited back for 2006. Corky rode shotgun and groomed for a friend and her Norwegian Fjord at the Villa Louis Carriage Classic in Prairie du Chien, Sept. 9-11. Don represented WSHC at the Villa Louis event to promote the upcoming WSHCEF show (Oct. 8-9).   [9-12-05]  Back to Top
PHOTO:  Corky Smith (on the right in white shirt) riding groom for a friend on the cross country course at the Villa Louis Carriage Classic. [Click photo to see larger pic.]
 

2005 Fun Show:
A Bird's Eye View from the Crow's Nest
 
(Left) Jan Tassler and Ethan Plantz help Emma Hesier and Patches in the arena as announcer Ron Nyhouse and Donna Gabbei watch from the Crow's Nest. (Right) Riders and their mules ready to start a fun day.

 
by Donna Gabbei

Results & Photos    

Despite badly needed torrential rains only days before, the WDMS First Annual Fun Show went on as planned on August 13th. Our host, the Tomah Saddle Club, worked tirelessly to dry the arena and, in the end, mostly succeeded. A couple of low spots just added a little extra challenge to some of the games. Hal Burdsall’s perfectly orchestrated swan dive into the dirt earned him a special prize as he was the first (but not last) to “come off” of his animal.

The antics of our fearless young people, Kat Althoff, Jess Stehl and Ethan Plantz made for many exciting moments. Most of us “older” riders could only quietly watch as their skill, speed and youth burned up the arena. Oh, to ride like that again and not hobble around for a week afterwards!! Rachael Schmidt and Gingerbread really clicked at this show and went home with many ribbons for their efforts. Sandy Burdsall and her mule Tucker showed us that careful and steady progress wins the ribbons over fast and wild riding.

There were a few new faces at the show. Mya Clay and her mule Ike. Emma Hesier and her mule Patches. They gave the 12 & Under (and also the adults!) some competition. Both of these young ladies went home with several ribbons and prizes and BIG smiles on their faces. Tracy Roof (with Mr. Mule) from the Tomah Saddle Club, Blackie and Lynn also were new faces for us at the show. They seemed to have a good time also. Blackie’s BIG 16-3 hand mule Ann A Belle could really cover some ground but climbing back up on her was really a challenge without a ladder.

The Simon Says game seemed to be especially difficult as many riders went “out” very early in the game. Announcer Ron Nyhouse had to get quite clever and quick in his orders to fool the last few riders and end the game. Just when we thought the show was winding down we started “Bare Ass” Barrels! Could anything be more exciting than riding a mule at break neck speed with almost nothing to hang onto?! At least no one got hurt!!

In the end great fun was had by all. We met a few new friends, watched some great mules and riders perform for everyone’s entertainment and got some great exposure for the club and our longears!! We hope to do it all again next year and maybe have a few donkeys in our bunch also.

A special THANK YOU! to everyone who helped make our 1st Annual Fun Show a big success!! We couldn’t have done it with out you.     [8-20-05]  Back to Top

 
Donna Gabbei (Poynette) assisted Ron Nyhouse in the crow's nest announcer stand and helped plan the show as a member of the 2005 Fun Show Committee. Her husband, Tom McMillan, manned the arena gate for the show. Show Chairman was Leslie Schmidt.
 

Introducing Summer

 

Ron and Vickie Nyhouse of Little Wolf Ranch in Marion, WI would like to introduce Summer. Summer was born Monday, June 20th about 10:30 a.m., the day before the first day of Summer.  Her mother is Little Wolf Tikki, a 59-inch Mammoth Jennet and her daddy is 58-inch Little Wolf Maxwell. Ron can be reached for proud poppa details at nyhouse@frontiernet.net  [6-24-05]

 
 Two months old and look at me now! 

[8-23-05]  Back to Top
 

Mules at Gaited Horse Clinic

 
FrancisHal and Sandy Burdsall took their gaited mules, Francis and Tucker, to a Gaited Horse Clinic in Spring Green on May 14-15. Well known gaited horse expert and clinician Liz Graves of Minnesota taught and demonstrated the variety and continuum of gaits from the hard trot to the Tuckerhard pace, with all the smoother gaits in between . . . and discussed how and why each gaited breed gaits as it does. Liz  "marked" each equine to illustrate individual structure  then explained how biomechanics facilitate the different gaits and are indicative of the various gaited breeds. Participants had group and individual lessons  to determine which gait(s) each animal could (or should be able to) do and how (or if) those gaits could be achieved or improved.  

Photos: Francis (upper left) and Tucker (right, with Liz Graves in foreground) marked up to illustrate biomechanics. Both mules exhibit the structure of their gaited dams: Francis - Foxtrotter and Tucker - Tennessee Walker.   [5-23-05]  Back to Top
 

New Gaited Mule Babies !

 

RZ NoNameYet mule babyRZ SophieWDMS members Matt and Jackie Zimpel of Rocking Z Ranch in Eleva (WI) proudly announce the arrival of their first two gaited mule babies!  Palomino RZ (no name yet) and jet black RZ Sophie were born May 8 and 9 -- which made for a rather sleepless Mother's Day weekend (how fitting!). The Rocking Z raises Foxtrotters and now Foxtrotter mules with their spotted gaited Mammoth Jack, Grey Gus. Maybe we'll see these cuties and their mommas at the WDMS State Show in June?? Their next mule baby isn't due until August so the Zimpels can catch up on a little sleep before then. Visit them online at www.rockingzmules.com    [5-11-05]  Back to Top

Circus Big Top graphic

WDMS at Midwest Horse Fair
 The Circus Comes To Town
Entry to WDMS at the Horse FairLots of WDMS members did lots of work and had lots of fun showing and teaching visitors about our longears at the 2005 Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, April 15-17, 2005. PHOTOS of Horse Fair 2005
Members who brought their longears:
  • Shannon Aritolla-Christian
  • Scott Christian
  • Chris Peschel
  • Natashia Duesterhoeft
  • Randy Krueger
  • Leslie Schmidt
  • Jessica Stehl
  • Jan Tassler (Ethan Plantz up)
  • Sandy Plantz
  • Hal Burdsall
  • Sandy Burdsall (Pat Fitzgerald up)
Participation:
Breed Demos
(Sat + Sun)		 All who brought their longears
Flag bearer - Evening Breed Parades (Fri + Sat) Ethan Plantz on Moses
Parade of Breeds
(Friday)		 Randy Krueger with Jafar (baby zedonk) & Honey (donkey mom)
Parade of Breeds
(Saturday)		 Leslie Schmidt on Mizz Izzie
Hal Burdsall on Francis
Parade of Breeds
(Sunday)		 Chris Peschel on Snickers
Hal Burdsall on Tucker
Members/family who helped with setup, takedown, and manning the booth:
  • Leslie Schmidt
  • Kathy & John Jones
  • Sandy & Hal Burdsall
  • Melissa Dickson
  • Chris Peschel
  • Natashia Duesterhoeft
  • Sandy & Steve Plantz
  • Ethan Plantz
  • Jessica Stehl
  • Ron Nyhouse
  • Jan Tassler
  • Linda Osland
  • Randy Krueger
  • Denise & Ken Peschel
  • Lots of other members stopped in to visit and offer support.
  • Did we miss your name?
    Tell the Webmaster 
    [4-20-05]  Back to Top

Mules Train Judges
Don and Corky Smith (Montello) provided several mules for review at the Wisconsin State Horse Council (WSHC) Judges Seminar in Waukesha, March 18-20, 2005. The mules helped train WSHC judges to evaluate desirable conformation traits in mules for judging halter classes.      [3-25-05] Back to Top
 

Wisconsin Livestock
Premises Registration

        In early 2004, the Wisconsin Legislature passed a law mandating premises registration effective November 1, 2005.

        The law applies to any premises where livestock (other than dogs/cats) are kept, including a single horse, mule or donkey, but does not include individual animal identification.

        Registration must be renewed (info updated) annually but there is no fee at this time.

        Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to mandate livestock premises registration. The USDA has since made the Wisconsin system the prototype model for a national comprehensive livestock identification system.

        Before November 1, 2005, Livestock Premises Registration is voluntary and easily done online at the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium (WLIC). It only takes a few minutes. 

Read more about the Livestock Premises Registration law on the Wisconsin Dept. of Agriculture site.       Back to Top
 

Back to Top

Fall Trail Ride

(L to R) Dave Hauser, Mary Hauser, Tom McMillan,
Donna Gabbei and Leslie Schmidt
by Leslie Schmidt
 
Sept. 16-18 at Wild Rock Park, Neillsville, WI
 Originally, the WDMS Fall Trail Ride was to be held at Underdown Trails and Campground in Merrill, WI. Luckily, someone, who by chance came across our website and saw this information, contacted me by my e-mail link that is posted on the website (Thanks, Julie!). She knew of a mountain bike fall trail ride that was to be held at the Underdown Trail system that same weekend. This new information started us scrambling for another acceptable location for our trail ride. We posted our dilemma on the website and soon I received an e-mail from member Jenny Neuendorf. She suggested the Wild Rock Park by Neillsville, WI. (Thanks, Jenny) Wild Rock has a nice camping area. It has convenient water and toilet locations. Some campsites had electric hook up. At the entry to the park was a well stocked area with the different brochures of trail maps and information. They even had a children’s playground that was as nice as some school playgrounds I’ve seen.

Friday - I arrived at the campground Friday afternoon with my mule, Mohawk. Dave and Mary Hauser were already there. After I got settled in we decided to go for a ride while we waited for John and Kathy Jones to arrive. We took the Seven Sisters trail that turned out to be about a 2½ hour ride. It was an interesting trail well marked by blue signs. In some areas there were trails within the trail. You could choose an easy path around an area that was steep, rocky or a water crossing or take the more difficult path. The ride was pretty uneventful considering that some trails are shared with ATV’s. We didn’t encounter any ATV’s on Friday but Saturday was another story. 

Saturday - After Donna Gabbei and Tom McMillan arrived Saturday morning, we set out for our ride. The first 1½ hours were on a road that was shared with ATV’s and there were plenty of them!!  A few of the mules didn’t really care for them but they tolerated it all pretty well and without incident. We ended up taking a trail into the woods that was marked with small yellow and green paint spots on the trees. After a ways there was no visible path on the ground and the trees were very thick. It became more and more difficult to follow the paint marks on the trees, especially with the leaves being green and yellow. We spent miles breaking brush. We decided that someone must have gone through and marked the trees for a future path. It was obvious that nobody had been on this trail all season. It was an interesting ride and it really put our mules to the test. We had a muddy area where the mulesDave Hauser & Molly would sink in half way up their legs. If you were at the front of the line you would eventually lose the path and have to back out of an area until the trees would allow you to turn around. Whoever found the next paint spot got their chance to lead until the path would again be lost. We even came across a spot where someone was baiting bears!!  YIKES!! 

After about 3½-4 hours we came to an area that had been “clear cut” and we completely lost our trail. With the help of Mary Hauser’s GPS we made it back to camp only a little worse for wear. We ended up being out for about 5-5½ hours. (It seemed much longer.) Back at camp, Kathy Jones had the best T-bone steak dinner waiting for us and after that ride we all had the appetite to finish it off!! 

Sunday - Everyone pulled out of camp by noon on Sunday but not before I had Mary give me a lesson on the best way to use a GPS on the trails. I have one but had never really figured out an effective way to use it. Now I’m prepared for Sept. 30 when I take my daughter and niece to Starved Rock State Park riding for the weekend.  BRING IT ON!!       [9-25-05]  Back to Top

 

Fun Show Trail Ride


Linda, Jess & Jan Dave & Dillon Leslie & Rachael Hal & Sandy
Hostess Linda Osland (ctr) with granddaughter Jess Stehl (left) and Jan Tassler Dave Hauser with his Fjord mule, Dillon Leslie & Rachael Schmidt Hal & Sandy Burdsall

 
by Hal & Sandy Burdsall  
 
Immediately after the Fun Show on August 13, a small group (Leslie & Rachael Schmidt, Hal & Sandy Burdsall, Dave Hauser and Jess Stehl) continued on to Fantasy Farm in Warrens to camp at Linda Osland's place and ride her trails on Sunday, August 14.

Linda and her husband Carl (yes, folks, he does exist!) provided wonderful hospitality as Linda made sure everyone was settled in with people and animal accommodations and Carl manned the bar and grill as potluck plenty appeared from everybody's coolers. The Martha Stewart Award for Gourmet Camping Potluck went (as usual, we understand) to Leslie for her delicious Muleskinner Bundles. (Don't know what those are? Guess you'll have to join us for the next trail ride and hope she makes them again!)  We finished off the evening with a couple hours of longear tales, lessons in burning marshmallows in layers, and slow sipping around Linda's cauldron campfire.

Sunday morning, we headed out on mules with Jess and Black in the lead and Linda, on her donkey, watching our backs. Most of the ride was on old logging trails except when Dave found reason to wander through the woods as is his preferred track. This was Sandy’s first-ever trail ride away from home and, for her, had its tense moments as we went up hills that she realized she would later have to come down. (As a trail riding veteran, Rachael was a great role model.) The trail wound through mixed hardwoods and pine plantations and, with temps of about 75 degrees and no bugs, conditions were perfect. 

Our only challenge was about halfway through the ride where we found a tree down across the trail in a dense brush area on a steep hillside. It caused just a bit of concern when Dillon decided “I can get under that" and tried . . . with Dave still in the saddle. Dave convinced him otherwise in time to not get peeled off the topside. We all ended up having to dismount (yep, Sandy too) and walk around the end of the tree through heavy brush but all got remounted on the hillside and finished the ride without further incident. Once back at Linda’s we had lunch before we packed up and headed home with good memories of a fun overnight and trail ride with friendly folks and great hosts.
Thanks Linda and Carl !!      [8-27-05]  Back to Top

 
Sandy says special thanks to the trail ride group for their patience, pointers and encouragement. It was fun!
 

 2005 State Show: Family Fun with Longears
 
Show Photos     Show Results     Show Sponsors
 
Mule Pleasure ClassLots of fun with longears and nice folks pretty well sums up our 2005 State Show held June 4-5 at Heartland Stables in Custer, WI (near Stevens Point).

  Highlights & Lowlights

A Family Affair:  Numerous family groups showed in classes including members, non-members and out-of-state guests:
 
  • Mom-Daughter: Leslie & Rachael Schmidt (Westfield, WI)
  • Mom-Son: Sandy & Ethan Plantz (Hillsboro, WI)
  • Brother-Sister: Chris & Dianna Peschel (Westfield, WI)
  • Sisters: Katie & Jennie Maurer (Verona, WI)
  • Sisters: Jan Tassler (Ontario, WI) & Sandy Plantz (Hillsboro, WI)
  • Grandma-Granddaughter: Dolores Slizewski & Hannah Zastrow (Merrill, WI)
  • Husband-Wife: Hal & Sandy Burdsall (Black Earth, WI)
  • Twins: Jeremy & Megan Nelson (Eleva, WI)
  • Mom-3 daughters: Terri Hurley and Mary, Jennifer & Alyson (Grand Meadow, MN)
WDMS Show & Participants: 
 
  • First-Timers:
    • Rachael Schmidt  (Westfield, WI)
    • Sandy Burdsall  (Black Earth, WI)
    • Kat Althoff  (Plainfield, WI)
    • Alyson Hurley  (Grand Meadow, MN)
    • Jerry Cosgray (Royal Center, IN)
    • Know of a First-Timer we missed? Tell the Webmaster
  • Oldest-Youngest:
    • Oldest - (?) Hal Burdsall (60+) (Black Earth, WI)
    • Youngest - Rachael Schmidt (6) (Westfield, WI)
  • Largest Class:   Riding-Trail  with 18 entries
Thanks to many: 
 
  • Registration, Silent Auction & Sales Volunteers: 
    Kathy Jones, Vickie Nyhouse, Denise Peschel
  • Gate/Door Tenders & Ring Crew Volunteers:  John Jones, Dick Slizewski, Dale & Kim Maurer, Steve Plantz, Ron Nyhouse
  • Awards:
    • For making & donating "50+ Hi-Point" leather belt buckle award - Dolores Slizewski (Merrill, WI)
    • For making the Hi-Point Awards - Maurer Family - Dale, Kim, Jennie, Katie (Verona, WI)
  • Awards Distribution:  Sally Altoff (Bancroft)
  • & probably a bunch we didn't mention. Thank you!!
  • Did we forget someone? Notify the webmaster.
Camping Capers: 
 
  • Driving Classes waiting to enter arenaThe weather threatened off and on during the days (with a couple short cloudbursts) but saved its severe activity for middle-of-the-nights to terrorize the campers.
  • Who was that bouncing through the parking lot in a pop-up?
  • Whose mules serenaded the campers most of the night?
  • There was a big turnout at the campfire Saturday night.
Other Stuff: 
 
  • Safety prevailed and we had no accidents or unplanned dismounts again this year.
  • This was the 5th year that the WDMS State Show was at Heartland Stables and the site, accommodations, hospitality, food and service were wonderful as usual. Thanks, Bill & Betty!
  • This year (2005) is WDMS' 20th Anniversary year.

[6-17-05]  Back to Top

 

Diehards Kick Off Trail Ride Season

 

Around the campfire at the Spring Trail Ride

(L to R) Holly Dardin, Loretta Larrabee, Cleo Herrick, Sandy Plantz
and Kathy Jones at Ukarydee for the Spring Trail Ride

 

 by Leslie Schmidt

               Photos by Leslie Schmidt
Loretta & Sally keeping warmThe turn out for the WDMS Spring Trail Ride (May 13-15) may have been small, but us diehards had a good weekend of camping and trail riding. I had been watching the weather for a week and it wasn't looking too promising for our annual trail ride. When I arrived at Ukarydee Friday evening, I thought my daughter, Rachael, and I were going to have the whole place to ourselves. It looked deserted. As we rounded the corner I finally saw a few trailers. Way back in the corner was Sally and Loretta's trailer along with Holly's trailer. John Jones & Ethan PlantzHolly's cousin Cleo (Herrick) also came along, that made 5 of us for Friday night campfire stories. 

Saturday morning, Sandy and Ethan (Plantz) pulled in, the group was growing.  John & Kathy JonesJust about the time we were talking about when we should saddle up Mike Snell pulled in with a friend. Mike got us all motivated to get out of our lawn chairs and get saddling. We had a good ride Saturday. The weather really held out for us. When we returned to camp John and Kathy Jones showed up. What a great surprise. They stayed and visited for the day. 

 Rachael Schmidt peeking out of trailerSunday morning we awoke to John Jones knocking on all of our trailers telling us lazy campers to get saddled up. John and Orbit were impatiently waiting for a good Sunday ride. I can't believe how the weather held out for us. Sometimes it was cool and breezy in camp, but wonderful in the woods for riding. Rachael and I had a great weekend with Mohawk and Mizz Izzie. Most of all we got to kick off the riding season in the company of very special friends. It may have been a small group, but we had a great time!!   [5-18-05] 

 

More photos of Spring Trail Ride

Photos by Kathy Jones
Loretta Larrabee Sandy Plantz Sandy Plantz
& Leslie Schmidt
Ethan & friend Holly, Loretta & Cleo Loretta, Cleo & John

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Members Attend Brad Cameron Clinic

4 WDMS members with their mules at clinic

(L. to R.) Dian Pinney (Endeavor), Donna Gabbei (Poynette),
Leslie Schmidt (Westfield) and Ethan Plantz (Hillsboro)
at Brad Cameron Clinic near St. Louis, MO

 by Leslie Schmidt
Easter weekend (March 25-27, 2005), four WDMS members went to the Brad Cameron Mulemanship Clinic in Warrenton MO. Donna Gabbei took her new mule, Pershing’s Desperado (AKA Desi). Dian Pinney took her new mule Maggie, who she purchased from Ron Nyhouse. I thought a Brad Cameron Clinic would be especially good for my mule Pershing’s Millennium Bug (AKA Millie) although I didn’t want to ride her in the clinic myself. She is pretty green and my bruises don’t heal that fast anymore. So I convinced Steve and Sandy Plantz to let their son Ethan come along and work with Millie at the clinic. Ethan had started breaking her last fall so he knew what to expect from her. Now, I couldn’t go and just sit on the sidelines and watch, so I took my experienced saddle mule Mohawk. I took him to a Cameron Mulemanship Clinic last fall and enjoyed it so much, I figured I might as well do it again. Brad’s clinics not only teach you how to work with your mule, they really help you to form a bond with them.  

Here are a few of the things we learned: 

Donna:  If you're going to be the navigator on a long trip, it’s best to sit up front with the driver. That way, when the driver misses the exit, you will hopefully realize it before you end up in Chicago and have to pay $20+ in tolls.

Leslie:  When you're heading into Chicago with a trailer full of mules and you accidentally get into the I-PASS lane at the toll both areas there‘s no switching to a manual lane at this point. The I-PASS lane is for people who have a prepaid “pass” on their windshield which is scanned instead of paying cash at the booth.  The signs in the I-PASS lanes say DO NOT STOP. So we didn’t. I also learned that the cameras that catch your license plate must not catch it all the way at the top corner of the trailer. I haven’t received an Illinois toll bill yet. 

Dian Pinney and Brad Cameron at clinic
Dian Pinney on Maggie with
Brad Cameron at clinic

Ethan Plantz and Millie
Ethan Plantz on Millie

Donna Gabbei with Desi
 Donna Gabbei with Desi

Dian:  Those wonderful “5 star” mule pads that Brad sells have a front and back to them. The edge that slightly angles up goes to the front and, of course, the Brad Cameron stamp goes to the back where you can see it. If you don’t figure this out on your own, Brad will have you unsaddle and fix your pad during class. So much for looking like you know what your doing.

Ethan:  When riding a green mule, have a plan! That plan is what to do to get your mule under control if trouble strikes . . . trying to mount a mule at a dead run is NOT a good plan . . . bailing at the first sign of trouble is NOT a good plan. Also, if you go to the motel room next door, with your black stocking cap pulled over your face, scratching on the door in the late night . . . be prepared for paybacks!      [4-7-05]  Back to Top
 
 
Member News 2005 (articles above) :
 
   
 

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Mark your calendar for our 2008 State Show = June 7-8, 2008

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