Here's What's Coming Up . . .

Tuesday, April 19. Dinner Meeting -- 6:30 p.m. in the backroom of the Murrieta Sizzler. The public is definitely welcome. Doug Burge, Executive VP and General Manager of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association will discuss various industry developments. This will include California's new October Yearling Sale, co-sponsored by CTBA and Barretts Equine Ltd. SPECIAL NOTE: The nomination deadline for this sale is April 11, so don't let it slip by!
     If you have special questions or topics you'd like for Doug to cover, send them to cboots@webtv.net.
 

Here's What's Been Happening . . .

Those folks who missed the March 15 meeting due to foaling mares, etc., missed a very entertaining evening.
     The presentation by Nancy Nunke from Spots n Stripes Ranch in Ramona was both informative and entertaining. There, she and her husband David raise zebras and the various crosses. But the surprise at the end of the meeting what what made the evening especially memorable . . . we slipped out the back door of the Sizzler to find a beautifully behaved and unbelievably adorable 9 day old zebra. On a scale of cuteness, that little guy ranked WAY above the cutest TB foals I've ever seen, and we all know how special they are!! 
     From what we learned earlier, we knew it was a Grants Zebra as its markings extended in beautiful symetry all the way down to its hooves, which were dark and very dainty. The head and muzzle were very refined, and the huge dark eyes appeared accented with eyeliner. And yes, if you stroke a zebra's coat with your eyes closed, you can feel the stripes as the dark and light hairs have a different texture. That's David and Nancy in the photo at the left with an eight-month-old "miniature horse" and the nine-day-old zebra foal.
     The zebras and crosses Nancy sells go for a variety of uses, mostly the same things horses are used for. They have unusually strong and flexible hindquarters, so excel at jumping. At the moment,Nancy is looking for awell-conformed 16.2 mare to cross with  one of her zebra stallions to produce a taller, more elegant animal for the showring. To learn more about their program, visit http://www.spotsnstripes.com/. You'll enjoy it!

At our February 15 meeting, Gary Cranney, DVM, again drew a capacity crowd with his insight into the problems facing us during foaling and breeding season. What makes him a favorite with our group is his willingness to discuss possible solutions to specific problems brought up by the audience, drawing on his own extensive experience as well as research results and AAEP reports.

  Our January 18 speaker was Craig Dado, Direcor of Marketing for Del Mar Racetrack, who gave us a crash course in marketing principles, then showed us how they are successfully targeting the young female market.

  The  December 21 Holiday Party was very special, graciously hosted by Keith and Barb Card at their lovely Hi Card Ranch in La Cresta. Thank you!
     And we want to make note of the many years of service Hank Loots gave our group as Treasurer -- collecting for the meals at the dinner meetings etc along with handling all the finances, keeping our non-profit paperwork done, year after year.
     We've found a diligent successor in Lita Tabish, and Hank will take her spot on the Board. Another new Board member is Jerry Murphy, manager of Sue Briles' Burma Ridge Ranch in Bonsall. Jerry will finish out Dan Schiffer's term, as Dan thinks it likely he will be leaving the area. Dan, the entire Schiffer family, and their farm manager Joe Pruitt have been loyal supporters of CTFMA for many years, and he will be missed.

A capacity crowd attended the November 16 meeting featuring Dr. Barrie Grant of San Luis Rey Equine Clinic, and his new clinician Dr. Brad Scheuch. They discussed the clinic's new CAT Scan machine and how it fits with other diagnostic tools, showing the images from actual cases to illustrate the kinds of cases where the CAT Scan can reveal the problems that could not be found with more traditional techniques.
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