Minnesota Horse Council

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine's Day!

02/13/2025

You may want to check out your barn electrical items. Make sure you have GFI outlets.

Please note, there are updates on this post on our page. If you would like the whole picture, the first addresses folks questions and the second is the amazing response from Farm Innovators. Worth the time to read.

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So scary!

The ups and downs and daily challenges of life on a working farm certainly keep us on our toes.

It goes without saying that there are daily twists and turns when it comes to running a sanctuary, especially in Winter, but the other morning we certainly did not expect to find this. Oh boy! We are sooooo lucky!

Frigid Northern New England temperatures mean frozen water buckets even in the barn (an absolute no for animal health) and so, like so many other farms, we have long used heated flatback buckets to provide our Rescues the “warm” water the need to stay hydrated. We have never had even the hint of a problem, even in my many years of farm chores long before Tomten - that is until this.

Known for keeping water ice-free during below zero conditions, these buckets have a built in thermostat, a hidden heater (it is in the walls of the bucket) and a storage area for the cord (we run the cord out of the stall through a hole to a plug that sits directly on the other side of the wall).

Of course, we are well aware they are plugged in and we check the plugs constantly as well as handle and get our eyes on the buckets regularly when anyone is in the stalls. These buckets are dumped daily, not to mention they are topped off several times a day and if anything looks off they are immediately replaced. But in this case, there was nothing to see until morning when we walked in the barn. Thankfully, the bucket had been topped at night check and we suspect the water is what led to a charred wall and not a full out barn fire. Thank goodness! Likewise our outlet did its job and shut itself off as well as flipping the circuit breaker for the entire aisle. Phew.

Wren, who was in that stall is thankfully fine although I am certain, a little leary of her bucket now and as for us, we’ll we are just sighing with relief and we are all so ready for Spring.

Update- our electrician has been here and our outlets are fine, up to code and worked as they should.

02/12/2025

02/10/2025

Please consider this request from the MN Horse Council Foundation.

02/10/2025

Good information to have for equine owners.

Spring is near, and your horse is ready to gallop into the new season! Anoka Equine's 2025 Preventative Care Days are here! We're offering appointment dates across multiple regions (check out the flyer for more details!). Give us a call and schedule your horse’s preventative care day today to set them up for a healthy, happy spring. Your horse will thank you! 🐴
763-441-3797
www.anokaequine.com

01/26/2025

Check this nutrition information out.

Send a message to learn more

01/24/2025

APHIS Stakeholder Message
HPA Final Rule Postponement – 1/24/2025

On January 24, 2025, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will temporarily postpone its final rule to amend the Horse Protection Act (HPA) regulations for 60 days from February 1, 2025 to April 2, 2025. APHIS published the final rule (89 FR 39194-39251) amending the horse protection regulations to provide, among other provisions, that the Agency will screen, train, and authorize qualified persons for appointment by the management of any horse show, horse exhibition, or horse sale or auction to detect and diagnose soring at such events for the purposes of enforcing the HPA. With the exception of § 11.19, which went into effect on June 7, 2024 and authorized the training of horse protection inspectors, the remainder of the rule was scheduled to go into effect on February 1, 2025.

APHIS will issue guidance to stakeholders for the upcoming horse show season in light of the postponement of the new rule.

The HPA is a Federal law that prohibits sored horses from participating in shows, exhibitions, sales or auctions. The HPA also prohibits the transportation of sored horses to or from any of these events.

Send a message to learn more

01/23/2025

So true.

Send a message to learn more

01/21/2025

Minnesota Horse Councils Grants Awarded

The Minnesota Horse Council uses the revenue from operating the Minnesota Horse Expo to offer grants to charitable/non-profit equine-related organizations in Minnesota. Grants of up to $7,000 are given as "seed money" to inspire new projects or capital improvements, or expansion of existing projects or services. Over the past 32 years, the MHC has awarded $1,338,826 in grants to equestrian projects in Minnesota.

This year grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Beltrami County Ag. Society to upgrade sound system for horse show arena, barn, Changing Gaits to build tack/medical supply room & training area, Chippewa County Ag. Society to replace show arena fence, add lights, Dirt Floor Arena to assist purchasing tractor for maintaining horse arena, Jack Pine Stables to purchase, install mounting lift for disabled riders, Lyon County Fair to assist in replacing horse stall doors at county fairgrounds, Marshall County Fair to assist in replacing fence on outdoor horse show arena, Meeker County Ag. Society to purchase building for lunch stand, horse equipment storage, Mounted Eagles to add 1 set of bleachers to their arena, and We Can Ride to assist funding for pilot program for seniors w/Alzheimers/Dementia.

01/20/2025

MHC Horse of the Year Awards

The Minnesota Horse Council honors worthy service horses with the Horse of the Year Award by selecting a Horse of the Year winners based on candidates submitted to the Horse of the Year committee. This award has been broken out into categories: Service Horse in Memoriam, Lesson Horse, and Therapy Horse. This year we awarded 4 Horse of the Year Awards. Service Horse in Memoriam to Shadow accepted by Matt Nosko, Community Service Horse of the Year to Sedona accepted by Paula McGranahan, the Therapy Horses of the Year to Bandit from Jack Pine Stables accepted by Teri Gapinski and Jasper from We Can Ride accepted by Nita Hughes of We Can Ride.

01/20/2025

MHC Scholarship Winners

The Minnesota Horse Council awards educational scholarships through the Tony Gasser Memorial Scholarship Fund each year. This year's recipients were announced at the MHC Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 19th. Scholarship winners that were at the Annual meeting are pictured below with Scholarship Chairperson Trina Joyce: Harper Lostetter and Hannah Schwartz. Other recipients were Dylan Brenny, Kayla Gave, Makayla Hall, Mia Haskins and Katie Orth. These recipients were at colleges out of state and unable to make the meeting.

01/20/2025

MN Horse Council Pioneer Awards

The Minnesota Horse Council honors worthy individuals posthumously with the Pioneer Award, and places his or her name on a special display in the Coliseum on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. This year the Minnesota Horse Council honored Bob and Pat Fischer and Dana Sibbet.

Known for their lifelong dedication to fostering youth development, supporting the 4-H Horse Program and advancing the Arabian Horse breed, Bob and Pat Fischer exemplified the spirit of service and commitment celebrated by this prestigious award. The Fischers created a legacy in the broader equine community, contributing to the growth of the Minnesota Arabian Horse Association, the Steele County Free Fair and within their community. Their daughter, Candee accepted the award for her parents.

Dana Sibbert career spanned four decades with innovative work in creating custom show horse apparel and accessories which left an indelible mark on horse enthusiasts across the country. His career began in the family business, RaDon, Inc. and expanded by founding Appointments, USA in 2015. Dana's impact extended far beyond the business, known for his kindness, generosity and ability to forge meaningful connections, he cultivated relationships with customers, colleagues and friends that spanned decades and his influence will be felt for generations to come. Accepting the award for Dana was Cary Bartz.

01/20/2025

MHC Horseperson of the Year
The MN Horse Council's Horse Person of the Year was announced at the MHC Annual Meeting yesterday. Tom Crowley from Kellogg, MN was selected as the Minnesota Horse Council's Horseperson of the Year. Tom has been involved his entire life in the Minnesota equine industry. Tom grew up in the Slayton, MN area and is an AQHA judge and holds judging cards for APHA, NRHA, NRCHA, NSBA and Appaloosa. Tom has been a noted clinician throughout the states, breeds and trains paints and quarter horses, publishes articles on conformation, showmanship, western pleasure. He is a former 4-H horse project leader from Wabasha County. Tom currently serves as a AQHA National Director from MQHA and is active in the AQHA Professional Horsemen Association. He has a special interest in animal welfare and has served on the 2018 AQHA Drug and Medication Guidelines committee. He currently serves on the Professional Horseman Council. As a Professional Horseman he has been very involved in assisting individuals without medical insurance to receive assistance with their medical bills. . He assisted with the redesign of the Professional Horseman Crisis Fund Application. Tom has participated in the creation of the AQHA Professional Horseman Mentor Guidelines and Responsibilities. He also encourages capable individuals of integrity to apply for membership to the Professional Horseman Council. Tom has served on many committees for both the Paint Horse Association and the Quarter Horse Association as well on the Foundations for both organizations. He enjoys introducing our youth to the joys of riding a horse and is a supporter of Time to Ride.

Congratulations, Tom!

01/12/2025

https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/minneapolis-police-announce-passing-of-haven-a-cherished-member-of-mounted-patrol-unit/

The police department states that Haven, a 16-hand-tall Fresian/Shire/Quarter gelding, was born in 2008 and joined the MPD Mounted Patrol in 2017.

01/12/2025

Reminder, get your RSVP’s in! We need a final count by Wednesday this week and we’d love to see you there! 💙🐴

The Minnesota Horse Council Annual Meeting is coming up Sunday, January 19th. Be sure to make your reservations soon.

01/08/2025

The Minnesota Horse Council Annual Meeting is coming up Sunday, January 19th. Be sure to make your reservations soon.

01/08/2025

If you are looking for a day filled with everything horses - be sure to check out the 2025 Equestrian’s Workshop in Cannon Falls, MN on January, 18!
Speakers, shopping and a tack swap all in one place!

01/03/2025

Equine Emergency and First Aid class at Spirit Horse Center in Brainerd, Mn February 22,2024