U.P. Riders News
May-June, 2009

Playing keep away in the hotel pool with Chippewa County competitors

Our coach, Cathy W., had coordinated with the Menominee coach to stay in the same hotel. As it turned out, all three qualifying teams from the U.P. stayed in the same hotel. We got to know both counties a little bit playing in the pool with them on the Friday evening before the competition and on Saturday evening after. They were really nice, and I think we all had a great time hanging with them.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, April 18th, we headed to the MSU campus- talk about exciting! We signed in at the front desk and then where directed to the huge lecture room in Anthony Hall for a brief orientation. Nick and Emme would be playing against each other and 3 other individuals in 3 rounds. The Marquette team would play a total of 5 rounds which started 9:30 a.m., broke for a 1/2 hour lunch break, and continued until 3 p.m.

After winning the regional competition, the coach, Cathy W., and several dedicated parents dissected their studying material to build up the weak areas uncovered at the Regional’s. Hence the Marquette kids came to the State Horse Bowl competition with a wider range of knowledge and stronger playing skills.

Our county also provided 4 adult volunteers to help the game run smoothly: Jill C. read questions, Tony B. and Chris C. were scorekeepers and Jean G. agreed to step in at the last minute to be the buzzer box operator.

This was a really exciting trip and journey to both practice for and compete in the State Horse bowl division, and I do not nearly have the space to say all of the comments that I would like to say here, so if you would like to read more, click on the photo pages link below and I will try to tell a bit of the story above each of the images.

The team would like to thank all their supporters especially those individuals and businesses that helped sponsor their trip down to Lansing: Marquette Community Youth Foundation, 1430th Engineer, Silver Spurs Saddle Club, Marquette County Horse Club, Upper Peninsula Horse Association, the 4-H Council, Marquette County's Michigan Extension Service, Animal Medical Center, Northern Veterinary Associates, Performance Plus Stables, Norm & Cynthia Johnson, & Cathy Ruprecht.

Equine Dentistry Demonstration Meeting

By Cammy S., U.P. Riders Reporter

On March 21, 2009, the U.P. Riders met at Performance Plus stables for an equine dentistry demonstration.  Dr. Meyer is a veterinarian specializing in horses and also horse dentistry.  He lives and works near Madison, Wi., but travels to provide care at different farms in Wisconsin and Michigan.

Dr. Meyer cleaned several horse's teeth as we watched.  First the horse would be sedated with two medications in an injection.  This wouldn't put the horses to sleep, but they were very groggy.  They even walked a little crooked.  Dr. Meyer had different tools to file down sharp points on teeth. 

Katy Martin's horse, Banjo even got a tooth pulled!  It was a wolf tooth, an extra tooth that would be in the way of a bit and cause pain.

The trailer of supplies from the Madison equine clinic also contained a digital x-ray machine and other tools.  They could use the x- ray machine to take pictures and diagnose foot or other problems at the same visit.  They even had an ultrasound machine to look at horse pregnancies.