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2012 Newsletters

MAY

Don’t forget May 5th is SHTRA’s Plow Day and Trophy Pull at Sleepy Hollow State Park. Please join us watching teams plow up the soil for wildlife food plots that will be planted later. The plowing will begin about 10:30 am and continue until afternoon. The noon break will feature the Ovid Lion’s Club’s lunch wagon. SHTRA will donnate sets of movable bleachers to the Park for use will different fundraising events. The dedication will happen after lunch. At 2:00 pm the challenge pull will take place for the lovely traveling trophy won by Don Brown last year. This years winner will also have his or her name placed on it. Admission is free, but you’ll need that State Park Passport to enter. SHTRA will offer horse drawn wagon rides to transport viewers to the pull site. There may be a team for you to drive for a donation. For more info contact Gary at 989-834-1813 or Gale at 517-290-7624. Mark you calendars for a chance to view your rural heritage.

Memorial weekend will have the Blazing Saddles 4-H Club hosting a SHTRA camping weekend. Donations welcome for trail support. All trails will be open for riding and the new lake loop offers the added option for cart driving. Mary O Dell’s group will have the campfire burning for the weekend for camp cooking. All are invited to join at $12.00 a night and to bring your own food if you join them. Contact 989-288-4522 or our website www.shtra.org.

By the time of this publication, there will have been the spring workbee on April 28 - 8 am-? and the MEMBER EXCLUSIVE Rotten Egg Hunt April 22- 2:00 pm. Info on that later. The minutes for the April 17 and May 8 Board meetings will be posted on the web

Here are some of the upcoming events- Our Rotten Egg Hunt -April 22 2:00 pm, Plow Day-May 5 10:00 pm, Blazing Saddles 4-H Camping at Sleepy May 26-28-open to everyone ride or drive, Drive in the Park July 13-15, The DAMN Ride w/Ice Cream Social-July 27-29 w/ glow stick rides, perfect timing, and the stick horse race, The Legend of the Haunted Hollow w/Sleezy Barb CMO Aug. 24-26, The Great Sleepy Hollow Treasure Hunt-Sept. 7-9, Full Moon Madness Sept. 28-30 w/ GLHA and Sunday’s Rangers 4 -H Club Judged Trail Ride, Ichabod Crane Days and The Spooky Ride Oct. 12-14. Check the web www.shtra.org for flyers, contact info and phone numbers!

Remember that our new trail along the lake and over the dam is open- for riding and driving. Carts are not on rest of trails 24/7 due to locked gates and slippery hills. Enjoy!

Happy Trails,

Marsha Putnam

APRIL

Don’t forget the April 22nd Rotten Egg Hunt and May 5th Plow Day!

MHC’s Horse Expo weekend was a very busy time for Sleepy Hollow members. A big thank you to Gale, Lorrie, Carrie and Chanda for preparing a new display board for merchandize-like the new shirts and tanks. It looked great and left room for all our event flyers! Thanks goes to all the booth workers who donated their time recruiting twelve memberships for SHTRA and Linda who helped me set up and packin’ it out! We offered a drawing each day for a free one year membership that these lucky folks won; Cheryl Gambler, Mason; Sue Young, Swartz Creek and Lisa Cooper, Leslie! See you on the trail!

Congratulations honors also go to SHTRA charter member Therese Kline for the prestigious MHC Volunteer of the Year. Member Mike Foote was another SHTRA MHC Catalyst winner. Charter Member Julie Ann Townsend won the Priefert’s round pen door prize. SHTRA was presented grant monies from MHC for a trail project. Way to go!

At the March 13th board meeting, plans were discussed for several projects- trying for more trail mileage and camping. Planning continued for May 5th Plow Day with the official gifting of sets of bleachers to the park. We are expecting teams from all over the state to attend for the plowing of wildlife food plots. Wagon rides and lunch concessions will be available for the public. The traveling trophy pull will be held in the afternoon. This event has become the park’s logo. The only equine logo in the entire state park system! Mark your calendars and don’t miss it.

Plans were discussed for upcoming events. Here are some of the events- Our Rotten Egg Hunt -April 22 2:00 pm, Plow Day-May 5 10:00 pm, Blazing Saddles 4-H Camping at Sleepy May 26-28-open to everyone ride or drive, Drive in the Park July 13-15, The DAMN Ride w/Ice Cream Social-July 27-29 w/ glow stick rides, perfect timing, and the stick horse race, The Legend of the Haunted Hollow w/Sleezy Barb CMO Aug. 24-26, The Great Sleepy Hollow Treasure Hunt-Sept. 7-9, Full Moon Madness Sept. 28-30 w/ GLHA and Sunday’s Rangers 4 -H Club Judged Trail Ride, Ichabod Crane Days and The Spooky Ride Oct. 12-14. Check the web www.shtra.org for flyers, contact info and phone numbers!

Remember that our new trail along the lake and over the dam is open- for riding and driving. Carts are not on rest of trails 24/7 due to locked gates. Enjoy!

Happy Trails!

Marsha Putnam, President

MARCH

Note: the Date for the annual Dennis Austin Memorial Night Ride had to be changed to July 27-29. Please make your calendars for this DAMN weekend event!

Our Annual Meeting Feb.4 was attended by over 80 members and guests. SHTRA thanks Danny Crampton and friends for entertaining us before the festivities began. Special guests were the new DNR manager, David Zmikly and Sandra Batie, Chair of the Equestrian Trail Subcommittee. She was awarded a SHTRA jacket as appreciation for all her hard work and time spent on this super committee. David spoke highly of the working relationship between SHTRA and the DNR. Gary and Sharon Fortin were granted Honorary Member status for their years of dedication and efforts to implement unique SHTRA draft horse events and foster the development of a cart accessible trail. Gale Moore was honored with a custom vest as Volunteer of the Year. Sleezy Barb Horsewear provided plants decorated by Linda Kraai for the table decorations and door prizes. Thanks Barb and Linda! I was presented with a dozen roses which I deeply appreciated. During the meeting the officers’ reports were given and the following six members were re elected: Carrie Barr, Lonnie Buck, Chanda Donnon, Gary Fortin, Val Lau, and Mary Mallory. Don Brown lead a spirited fundraising auction of donated items. The follow business donated to SHTRA: Tom’s Western Store, The Wire Horse, Sleezy Barb Horsewear, Clinton Vet Services, Bee’s, Dr. Roger Massa, Modern Concerts Salon, and TZC. Thanks! Check our web www.shtra.org for the latest in photos.

Plans were discussed for upcoming events. Here are some of the events- March- Expo, Rotten Egg Hunt -April 22, Plow Day-May 5, Blazing Saddles 4-H Camping at Sleepy May 26-28, Drive in the Park July 13-15, The DAMN Ride w/Ice Cream Social-July 27-29, The Legend of the Haunted Hollow CMO Aug. 24-26, The Great Sleepy Hollow Treasure Hunt or Can You Ride Like a Pirate?-Sept. 7-9, Full Moon Madness Sept. 28-30 w/ GLHA and Sunday’s Rangers 4 -H Club Judged Trail Ride, Ichabod Crane Days and The Spooky Ride Oct. 12-14. Remember that our new trail is open- for riding and driving.

For your information, the annual meeting for the Friends of Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Rail Trail (CIS) will be held Wednesday March 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm at the Ionia County Commission of Aging Building, Ionia, Mi at 115 Hudson St., Ionia, MI. The public is welcome and any interested persons. Equestrian use of the total trail is NOT BEING ALLOWED. Only several sections of the east end near Owosso/Ovid are currently being discussed as horse accessible. See www.cistrail.org.

Be looking for your memberships in the mail or use the handy electronic forms at the web or in this publication. Come join us-we have membership perks, great times and finally more trails and dates to camp!

Marsha Putnam, President

FEBRUARY

Mark your calendars for February 4th. That's the date for our annual meeting, potluck and auction to be held at the Victor Township Hall, 6843 Alward Rd, Laingsburg, MI. Hall set up starts at noon and Danny and Rex with friends will be playing before the 2:00pm dinner. Bring a dish to pass and any donated horsey item to auctioned off by the well-known auctioneer, Don Brown. Elections of Board Members will be held during the brief meeting after the dinner. Interested candidates, please contact me at 989-661-2541. SHTRA apparel will be available for purchase. Drawings for gas cards for paid memberships. It's a great chance to visit and see our 2012 plans. Get your jacket orders in!

Please check out our website www.shtra.org for a new map and photos of the south trail's opening and new pictures of the bridge. There will be a TBA workbee to cut out dead ash trees hanging over the trail. At the last meeting, the purchase of movable bleachers for the park was finalized. This will be a donation to the Park system and will help them and us at our many events.

Our next Board Meeting will be Feb 21 at Par Brown's. We'll be planning 2012 events, election of officers and projects. Here are some of the events: March - Horse Expo, Rotten Egg Hunt - April 22, Plow Day - May 5th, Drive in the Park July 13-15, The DAMN Ride w/Ice Cream Social - July 27-29th, Legend of the Haunted Hollow CMO August 24-26, The Great Sleepy Hollow Treasure Hunt or Can You Ride Like a Pirate? Sept 7-9th, Full Moon Madness with Riding and Driving September 28-30th and Ichabod Crane Days and The Spooky Ride October 12-14.

Remember to be looking for your memberships in the mail or use the handy electronic forms on the web or in this publication. Come join us - we have membership perks, great times and finally more trail!

Marsha Putnam, President

JANUARY

Mark your calendars for February 4th. That's the date for our annual meeting, potluck and auction to be held at the Victor Township Hall, 6843 Alward Rd, Laingsburg, MI. Hall set up starts at noon and Danny and Rex with friends will be playing before the 2:00pm dinner. Bring a dish to pass and any donated horsey item to auctioned off by the well-known auctioneer, Don Brown. Elections of Board Members will be held during the brief meeting after the dinner. Interested candidates, please contact me at 989-661-2541. SHTRA apparel will be available for purchase. Drawings for gas cards for paid memberships. It's a great chance to visit and see our 2012 plans.

Check www.shtra.org for a new map and photos of the south trail's opening and new pictures of the bridge. On December 12th, Gale Moore and Mike Wood installed bridge railings using our MHC 2011 funds. SHTRA thanks Michigan Horse Council for its support. The bridge looks great and I know many will love it! Thanks guys!

There will be a TBA workbee after hunting/holiday season to install additional signs and cut out over hanging trees.

Our next Board Meeting will be January 10th at Pat Brown's. We'll be planning 2012 events and projects. Here are some of the events: Feb. 4th for the Annual Meeting and Potluck. Rotten Egg Hunt - April 22, Plow Day - May 5th, Drive in the Park July 13-15, The DAMN Ride w/Ice Cream Social - July 27-29th, Legend of the Haunted Hollow CMO August 24-26, The Great Sleepy Hollow Treasure Hunt or Can You Ride Like a Pirate? Sept 7-9th, Fall Driving and Riding September 28-30th with GLHA and Ichabod Crane Days October 12-14. These are tentative dates with other events to come. Any one interested in hosting July 4th or Labor Day campovers?

Be looking for your memberships in the mail or use the handy electronic forms on the web or in this publication. Come join us - we have membership perks, great times and finally more trail!

Marsha Putnam, President