My how time flies! Not too long ago it was winter and we were wishing for warm weather, then we were wishing for cooler weather. Now listen to us. We are back to wishing for warm weather again! Where did 2007 go!

As most of you know, this will be my last newsletter for 2007. I have many obligations this upcoming year, which actually began 6 months ago. These obligations have kept me from giving you 100% of my time in preparing your newsletter. In the last two months I have barely been able to get the newsletter to you before the meetings. I have had to resort to outside help from those who already have obligations of their own to the club. Thanks Bob and Judy! So, regretfully I must step down. At our last meeting, our webmaster agreed to accept the responsibility of your newsletter. My hat goes off to Caroline Johnson (CJ). I know she will do a great job for you guys.

As some of you know I spent the weekend at Smoke Rise Ranch in Glouster OH with 125 other riders along with Tom Seay (pronounced See) and his crew. Tom and Co. produce the # 1 TV show Best of America by Horseback on RFD-TV. For those of you who have DirecTV that is channel 379. The show will air in Feb or March of 2008. You can go to their website www.bestofamericabyhorseback and see the pictures they took at Smoke Rise during the filming. Be prepared there are almost 1,000 pictures on there from that weekend. My pictures are in the 400 and 800 slots.

I had the pleasure of riding with Tom on Sunday. What a cat bird! We never tired of the stories he had to tell. He elicited humor & laughter wherever he went. I could not ask for better company.

Tom’s crew was just as personable. We were treated like royalty. The Smoke Rise Staff was great as well as all the clinicians involved in the weekend extravaganza. The $50 fee was not just to ride with Tom for the weekend BUT to learn from all the clinicians made available to us DURING the weekend festivities. Many of the clinics were hands on. There was no extra charge for 1:1 involvement or assistance to a problem you might be having with your horse. We were encouraged to ride with a CSI saddle pad on the trail, or with an American Bridle Bit that has been 6 yrs in the making. Some horses went out with their head tossing but came back from the trail walking like a horse should. We experienced saddle fitting by Tucker Saddlers. We also had the opportunity to ride a Tennessee Walker. A young lady there was promoting this gaited wonder, so she was letting riders experience the comfort of riding, as well as explaining the gaits of the Tennessee Walker. Clinician Kerry Kuhn was more than glad to work with us 1:1 with problem areas we might be having with our horses, all you had to do was ask. We had nutrition seminars, hobbling demonstrations, Ohio mounted Search and Rescue demonstrations, guitar playing and cowboy music at night around a campfire. Along with the $50 fee was a $20 fee (optional) for the Saturday banquet with Tom and crew and 187 other individuals. Along with that $20 fee we were given a great snack on Friday night as we were introduced to Tom and his crew. There was a wonderful breakfast on Saturday morning as well as the Saturday Night Banquet. Camping costs and stalls were optional. I opted for 2 stalls (bedding furnished) and a camping spot with electric and water for two nights and 3 days. I did get personal autographs from Tom and his crew and my picture taken with him. What more could a girl ask for, besides another horse of course.

Well, I guess I am your president for another year. I think I forgot it was voted that elected officers serve a 2 year term. So, you have the same crew as last year with the exception of Tana doing the newsletter.

First off I want to thank those of you who showed up for our Thanksgiving get together at CJ & Keith’s. The deep fried turkeys were delicious, if I might say so myself, as were the delicious dishes prepared by our members to go along with them. I want to thank Keith for putting together an obstacle course for the pleasure of our members. Apparently we have some good trail horses in the group as he stated he was going to have to make it more difficult next year. Fifteen riders attended the trail ride and many more for the TG Dinner. It was cool and down right cold as the sun went down but Keith & CJ had a nice warm campfire a going for us so we survived. Thanks again to all!

As you know our annual Christmas Party and meeting will be Dec. 12th on Wednesday at the Eagles Club on Wheeling Ave. Dinner will be at 6:30pm and the meeting at 7:30pm with the party to follow along with our white elephant gift exchange. As in the past if you wish to participate in the exchange of gifts bring a gift (brown paper bag is fine, wrapping paper is not necessary) and join in the fun. No name is necessary on the gift as who knows where it will end up. If you want to bring your favorite dessert to enjoy with our Christmas meal please feel free to do so. Once again the Eagles will be preparing our Christmas dinner. Please call me, Bob Oakley with your reservations BY DEC. 7^TH so I will know how many dinners to order. Home: 740-432-3515 or my cell at 740-260-3515

As you know, Paula Duff, Tana Casarez, Linda Stewart and Patricia Rich attended the OHC state meeting on Sunday, Nov. 13^th 2007. They had a great time. They said they were not going to comment on the food or tell you that anything was "awesome." We made approximately $167 on the silent auction. We found it only fitting to offer Morgan Co. a % of the take but they declined stating the auction was for our benefit as being part of the state meeting involvement. Our delegates thanked Troy and Anne for their gracious hospitality.

They did have some excitement on the way home. Tana did a 360 on the ramp off 270 onto 70E while on the way home from the state meeting. Tana said she heard Paula say "Good driving!" but she couldn’t reply as her heart was in her throat as she landed them safely on the side of the ramp in the grass and mud. Tana said the transition was so smooth she thought if a cup of coffee had been on the dash, it would still be there. It was raining and cold and no excessive speed was involved so our only conclusion was that she must have hit a patch of black ice. Thank the good Lord for watching over them and Tana’s better half, Rich as he almost hit a deer, in that same car on Monday night, slid over an embankment, totaling that same vehicle.

If possible please have mileage sheets & dues in by the Dec. 12, 2007 meeting. We need to get all this information to the state in a timely manner. Reporting trail mileage is optional but it is what helps keeps our trails open. You turn the mileage sheet into me and I in turn send it to the state by the Jan. 30^th, deadline. They have asked I send it, preferably, by the 15^th of Jan. 2008 and it would be absolutely wonderful if we could turn our mileage in by the end of Dec. So I am asking you please turn in mileage sheets to me at the Dec. meeting to make our mileage tally painless to our State Trail Boss. Thanks!

We have a new chapter in OHC. Welcome to OHC Brown Co.! Harrison Co. received their packet for membership and are ready to go. Welcome Harrison Co.! There were two more counties that wanted to start up but as of yet Rick had not heard from them. I believe they were Marion Co. and Sandusky Co. but don’t quote me on that.

The state will be sending out a Co. questionnaire to each chapter asking for information as to what activities, fundraisers etc., we have been involved in this past year and they are still asking for description of the trails as well as pictures, which they feel will help handicap individuals chose a trail more suitable for them to ride. Beaver Creek has a trail for handicap riders, handicap accessible, for walk or trot only.

There was a discussion of dues increase but they said there was more to be studied on that.

Linda Weese thanked all booth greeters, members and non-members (our own Linda Stewart was a booth greeter) who visited and/or attended the OHC booth at the Equine Affaire. We solicited 54 new members during the Equine Affaire. We will be able to use a 1.5 inch binder this year for our Picture Album. They would like for all chapters to turn in a CD with photos of club functions, trail work, accomplishments, fund raisers etc. Our regional reps. will contact us to prepare the CD. We provide the pictures. They also were discussing OHC members with an expertise in an area to hold a ½ clinic session in the small corral area next to the OHC booth. Example-Camping with your Horse 101. Contact Linda Weese if you are interested in holding one of these clinics.

You can buy your Equine Ins. ANYTIME during the year, just remember if you already have it, the Ins. will lapse if not kept current. You receive a new certificate of Ins. each year. Approximately 25% of the members took the Ins. the first year. Currently there is one member in litigation with an insurance claim. We asked to be kept up to speed as how this situation will turn out.

We are suppose to receive information on how to apply for grants, it seems several clubs applied for grants this past year and received monies to assist them in upgrading trails and campsites where they ride.

It was voted that we join the horse coalition. Paula can explain that more in depth or go to the state website for further explanation or to our State Reps. Troy and Anne.

The state has once again has asked us to supply information to them as to how many of our members "do not" ride. Please email Paula Duff or call her if you do not ride. pduff23@gmail.com or call her at 740-432-1907 or cell-740-680-1330 there was some question as to what is the criteria for trail riding miles. Arena riding is NOT trail riding. Farm or road riding is considered trail riding. Bill Unger will be posting the criteria for trail riding on the state website or you can email him and he will send you the hand out for that information. Members who never show up at a meeting are considered riders since we don’t know that they are not. That is why they need a list of riders in the club that do not ride.

Chris Muth 12/15

Paula Duff 12/31

John Voorhies 12/10

Cindy Voorhies 12/12

Chester Gray 1/8 CJ & KEITH 12/28

Lorie Watterson 1/11

Towana Larrick 1/26

Rowena Young 1/29

Dee Gee 1/13

Once upon a Christmas time a candy maker noticed the people had forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Their Christmas spirit was missing as they hustled and bustled in and out of his store. There was no time for "hellos" and no time for "Have a Merry Christmas" greetings. This saddened the candy maker. What part could he play to bring back the spirit and true meaning of Christmas? Suddenly a thought raced through his mind as he hurried to the back of his shop where his candy ovens were. He began to mold with loving hands, a stick of white candy, white to symbolize the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus. The candy had to be hard to symbolize the Sold Rock, the foundation of the Church, the firmness and the promise of God. Then he molded and shaped the hard white candy into the image of a Shepherd’s staff, a J to represent the precious name of Jesus and also to represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd." The staff with which he had used to reach down into the ditches of the world and lift out the fallen lambs, who, like all sheep, had gone astray. Then he stained it with red stripes. He used 3 small stripes to show the scourging Jesus received by which we are healed. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life. When the candy maker was finished he held up his masterpiece and smiled with reverence. What a powerful message in such a small piece of candy! Thus, we have the Candy Cane.

Although it is said this s a mythical accounting for the reason of the making of the Candy Cane, the meaning is still there. So now, every time you see a Candy Cane, remember the wonder of God and his son, his great love, that was born at Christmas to bring us Hope, Peace and Love, with the promise of Eternal Life.