HOLIDAY NEWSLETTER, January 2001.

Happy Holidays to all of you,

I usually try and make this a Christmas letter, but things have been so busy around here– it’s turned into a New Year’s letter. First of all, I’d like to Thank each and every one of you for your continued business. With out you and your animals, I wouldn’t be who I am. I thank you for being part of my life. The past year has been terrific to me and my family as well. The big Y2K thing– well– whatever! Many of you know what happens in my life all throughout the year, but just in case you missed something, here is a brief recap of 2000 and what we will look forward to in the year 2001.

As usual, I start out the new year attending the Michigan Horseshoers Association annual contest and clinic. The year 2000 was no different. Our association invited International Horseshoeing Hall Of Fame member Eddie Watson to share his knowledge and many, many years of experience with us. For a man with seventy some birthdays, he can really shoe a horse and taught us how to do it with glue! I will again be heading for Lansing January 4th, 5th, 6th, & 7th 2001 to attend this years learning experience as well as take my newly appointed position of Secretary for the Michigan Horseshoeres Association's.

Unfortunately, I was unable to make the Annual American Farriers Association Convention in 2000, due to the lack of a hotel roommate. They hold our convention in some pretty fancy convention centers and without another gal to share the hotel bill, it’s just too much. 

So for replacement education, I spent 5 days in lower Michigan traveling form one Farrier to another. Spending the day working for each different Farrier taught me different things about horses, shoeing, business management, client relations, & tool maintenance, just to name a few. Receiving five different opinions day after day gave me lots of information to absorb. Day one was spent with Henry Detweiler and his apprentice Lavern Mast. I happened to be there on one of their traveling days, so I drove them from farm to farm, as they are both Amish men. We worked on 16 draft horses that day and 5 saddle horses. There was lots of foot to look at, and lots of learning. Day two was spent with Bill Rue. It was a real give and take day. We both learned new tricks from each other. 

Day 3, Michigan Horseshoers Association President, Garnet Oetjens entertained me. Our conversations between farms was filled with philosophy and theory. He also lectured me on my tool care. Andy Canoy guided me through day 4. He’s a big man with a big sense of humor. I bet you can image what kind of day that must have been. He also lectured me on tool care. After the days work, we spent time in his shop working on clipping shoes. I’ve come a long way since that day, many of you have seen my progress through out the summer. 

My final day was spent with past MHA president., Matt Johnstone. He operates a multi-Farrier service. He currently has 3 trucks and 4 employees, besides himself. There were things to be learned from that operation as well. As for 2001, I am heading back to the American Farriers Association convention. 

This March I will be traveling to Kansas City, MO for 5 days of lectures, demos, contests, trade shows, and Farrier friends.

Most everyone has seen my new truck. I’m so proud to have it. I waited a long time to have just what I wanted. Reaching that goal feels good. And as if that wasn’t enough, in addition to my new truck, I also was very fortunate to be able to purchase a Stone Well cap. Stone Well is a company in Genoa, NY who costum builds these types of units uniquely for Farriers. My father traveled with me to NY to pick up my unit and we had quite an exciting trip. Actually, a little too exciting, and the new transfer case was a real set back. Getting home with my new mobile shop was pretty difficult, now it seems to have all been worth while.

I started my American Farriers Association Certified Farrier testing process in October. This is the beginning of a huge ‘deal’ to me. The test is completely voluntary. There are three portions to the test, a practical exam, a written exam, and a display of shoes with specific modifications manufactured by the examinee. The practical exam requires the examinee to shoe two feet in a specific time limit. Gene Armstrong, instructor at Cal Poly in California scored my shoeing work. The foot is scored at three different stages covering 28 different areas. I was a nervous wreck. Gene is a very strict and difficult examiner. There were 8 of us testing that day. Numbers drawn from a hat gave us an order to select the pairs of feet we would shoe for our test. I drew the number 8, which left me no choice of hooves. I got what was left, hind feet! I was sure I would fail. When I received my passing score, nobody could knock the smile off my face. Only two of us passed that day. I will now continue on, attempting my written exam while I attend the AFA convention.

Rosedale Stables currently is home for 14 horses and ponies. That’s a lot of manure to shovel. I enjoy the chores. They help keep me active during the slow shoeing season. I have set up a Farrier shop at the farm which is equipped with a coal forge and three anvils. I have plans to purchase a second gas forge so I’ll have one for the shop. I enjoy spending time working (playing) in my wood stove heated shop where the phone doesn’t ring!

I hosted Thanksgiving in my home this year. A real nice treat to have my family visit me. My nephews and niece (& sister-in-law) have grown to love Aunt Jennifer’s farm and the U.P. They spent 4 days here after Christmas too. We spent Christmas day in Novi and also made a trip to Mackinac Island a few days ago for a late Christmas with the Horn grandparents. We took the boat to the island & then flew home the next day. Looks like there will be an ice bridge in a week or so.

Brian and Joe were both active with the Tri– County Speed Horse Association over the summer. Joe collected enough points to claim the Reserve Barrel Racing, Reserve Pole Bending, & Reserve All Around Trophies at the fall banquet. It’s time for him to move on to another pony so Jasmine will be his “girl” for the 2001 season. Brian will continue to ride Champ for their second year together. And of course, I still have good ‘ol Copper. You won’t find us spinning barrels but there’s good chance of running into us on the trails!

I now have my very own space on the world wide web. My brother has been aiding me set up my site. We are still heavily under construction. I look forward to expanding my site and plan to include a classified page for my clients and friends to post their agricultural items for sale. I invite you to check it out & watch it grow. The address is www.jenniferhorn.com.

I wish everyone well and look forward to seeing you soon in the new year.