February 4, 2025 Meeting Minutes

Call to order at 6:30pm

Equine Knowledge Game “Horse Bowl” led by Riley with game buzzers. There were four teams of about 4 people working together. Please see the end of the minutes for the questions asked.

Secretary Report was emailed out on 2/3/25. No corrections needed

Motion: Kristina Second: Chrystal    Approved

Treasurer’s Report emailed on 2/3/25 with the agenda. 

Motion: Gail Hayek Second: Gena Garton    Approved (January and February reports)

Clubs 501c7 status - 

Kristina shared updates regarding discussions with a lawyer about the club’s non-profit status. It has been advised to move the club from a 501c7 social club to a 501c3 organization. This allows for the club to continue to grow charitable and educational opportunities in the community while raising money to put towards public events, grounds repairs, and other club needs. 

Lawyer advises that changing to a 501c3 non-profit status will allow for business sponsorships in support of the club’s mission to be tax-deductible. 

If the club chooses to engage in the process of changing status to 501c3, the lawyer indicated the soonest this could be effective is May/June 2025. 

• Motion to allow the board to spend up to $500 for the lawyer fee.

Motion: Gena Second: Laura  Approved

Committee Reports:

Grounds Committee - 

• Mary Legg is taking over as grounds committee chair for 2025. 

• The grounds have been winterized. The only winter concern brought up is the battery in the tractor. The grounds committee will consider a trickle charger that doesn't overcharge and look into best practice for tractor battery care.

Show/Events Committee - 

• 2025 ribbons have yet to be ordered and Three trophies were donated to the club to be used as awards. 

• A list of shows was handed out at the beginning of the meeting. Concern was expressed about a conflict for the June 21st pleasure show with the Twilight Horse Show hosted by Washington County 4 H. Show committee will look at possibly moving the pleasure show to Sunday June 22nd and the Speed/Fun show to Saturday June 21st. Show committee will look further into resolving the show conflicts. 

• All Pleasure, Fun/Speed, and Ranch shows are entered for the Border Run, DCHA, WQHA, and NOSHA and are awaiting completed 2025 show bills for them to be fully approved by the series hosts. 

• The MFSC Drill Teams will be starting practices on foot in March and will move onto horseback once the grounds are sturdy enough to do so. If anyone has interest in riding on the drill team(s) in 2025 and are not already in the group chat, contact Megan Crass Peterson on FB or watch the MFSC facebook page for updates on when practices will begin.

• The Jan 11th banquet was overall very nice at a nice venue. Some complaints from those at the last tables served receiving cold food. A total of 47 people were in attendance including new members. 

Wisconsin Horse Council - 

• Best of America By Horseback will be in Wisconsin the last weekend in May at Southern Kettle Moraine and in April at Midwest Horse Fair.

• Volunteer opportunities at Midwest Horse Fair to help run the WHC booth are available. Volunteers help pass out info from/about WHC and interact with fair attendees including spinning the wheel to award prizes.

NEW Bylaws Committee - 

• Gena and Alexa have agreed to step up as co-chairs to run the bylaws committee.

NEW Buckaroo Booster Committee - 

• Rob agreed at the first ever Buckaroo Booster Meeting to be the chair person.

• As the club grows the need for money arises. Such as club shirts with sponsors on the back, road frontage signs for advertising/sponsorships, online merch shop, and raffles

• Graphic designs already exist for printing

• Spending to be put towards 

  • Arena Footing

  • Watering the arena

  • Outdoor stalls/pens

  • Repair to arena fence

  • Bleacher handrails

• Goals are yet to be set for 2025 funds raised

• Raffle tickets possibly for 2026 raffles earlier in the year to be ready for more tack sales. 2025 raffle tickets will be worked on and selling will begin once they are set up.

NEW Sunshine Committee - 

• Julie Lovas (not in attendance) agreed prior to the February meeting to be the chair person

• The committee is looking for members to join. The committee will be responsible for welcoming new members, holding meeting attendance raffles, and other positive things!

NEW PR Committee - 

• Sara Dreyer has stepped up as committee chair.

• Chrystal will continue to update the MFSC website

Old Business

• Julie Wolf was unable to attend the meeting to discuss quotes about garbage disposal for the 2025 show season. This will be discussed at a future meeting.

• In regards to an additional port-a-potty for use during show seasons, Mary Nettisheim was unable to attend the meeting with the quotes she received. Jody Bently mentioned that she possibly has a connection and will get quotes for a handicap port-a-potty.

• Please share any upcoming rides/events to the FB page! No one has been out trail riding due to the cold weather. 

New Business

• Lawn Mower Budget Setting 

  • Upper 8k into 9k ($8,650 approximately) for a new zero turn commercial mower. The purchase would be tax exempt with the club 501c status change. Kristina has the connection for the discounted rate.

  • Rob has possible connections for a “Grounds Crew” company and will get quotes. There is a possible opportunity to exchange services for advertisements on the grounds.

    • Motion made by Gena:  Explore up to 5 landscaping companies for possible lawn care services in exchange for advertisement during Club Show season  and if one can’t be found then up to $9000 towards looking into a new zero turn commercial mower

Second: Irene Approved

• Increase Membership Fees? 

  • Raising membership fees could deter new members from joining the club while trying to grow at this time

• Community Trail Ride Event

  • Club has interest at a public park as club lead event with non-members

  • Would need to check with insurance in doing a community trail ride not on the grounds.

Motion to Adjourn the meeting by Jeanie Braun Seconded by Rob Approved

Meeting Adjourned at 8pm

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 4th, 2025 at:

Waukesha State Bank Community Room 

W249N6688 WIS-164 N

Sussex, WI 53089

Members in attendance:

Jody Bentley-Ebbinger, Jeanne Braun, William Eder, Gena Garton, Sara Dreyer Glaszcz, Hayley Grafenstein, Rob Borgmon, Gail Hayek, Rosie Lambert, Irene Lape, Mary Legg, Laura Lenhardt, Dakota Lenhardt, Kristina Michels, Jeanne Neuburg, Chrystal Schilz, Alexa Smith, Tina Steinhagen, Riley Turinske

Questions asked for “Horse Bowl” game (Not in order):

• What do the initials TPR stand for? 

  • Temperature, Pulse, and Respiration

• What are the five basic coat colors or horses? 

  • Bay, Black, Brown, Chestnut, White

• Name three ways that the horse has served man. 

  • Beast of burden, war machine, recreation, source of food

• Name three parts of the horse's head that a bit will put pressure on when you pull back on the reins. 

  • Corners of the mouth, bars, tongue, roof of mouth, curb groove, nose, and poll

• What are the four natural aids that are used to tell your horse what you want him to do?

  • Voice, hand, legs, and weight/seat

• When leading a horse, the loose end of the lead rope should NEVER be where? 

  • Coiled tightly around your hand, wrapped around any part of your body, or dragging on the ground

• Name four parts on the horses front leg found below the elbow. 

  • Forearm, knee, cannon, pastern, coronet, chestnut, fetlock, and hoof 

• Name three signs of colic in a horse. 

  • Pain in belly, lying down, rolling, restlessness, pawing at ground, sweating, kicking at belly, and discomfort

• What are three natural gaits of a horse? 

  • Walk, Trot (jog), Canter (lope), run, and back

• What are four of the five walks that may be asked for in a dressage test? 

  • Working walk, collected walk, medium walk, extended walk, and free walk

• What are four parts of the horse found on the head of the horse? 

  • Forehead, eyes, face, bridge of nose, nostril, muzzle, upper lip, lower lip, ear, poll, jaw, and throatlatch