Retired race horses get “Second Start at Cloud” By Donna Sullivan, industry a service by tak- how to run fast and turn Editor ing these horses and it left.” So re-training them As horse racing enthu- gives our students a for other uses is the first siasts watch their favorite chance to explore the dis- step in the process, with steeds circle the track, it ciplines within the horse the eventual goal being likely never crosses their industry, such as racing, horses that are suitable for minds what becomes of Western riding, English adoption. the equine athletes once riding, jumping and cattle Six horses arrived on their careers are over. handling.” Their agree- the campus two years ago, Founded in 1982, the ment states that TRF will ranging in age from 5-11 Thoroughbred Retirement pay for feed for the years old. “An older horse Foundation (TRF) strives horses as well as basic will sometimes come to protect retired racehors- care, while the training re- around faster than a es from neglect, abuse and sponsibilities and equip- younger one, depending slaughter. They found a ment costs fall to the col- on their dispositions,” partner in a relatively new lege. Zenger-Beneda explained. program at Cloud County Bill McGuire, Depart- At first only advanced stu- Community College in ment Chair of Agriculture dents were allowed to Concordia called The Sec- at CCCC, started the work with them. ond Start at Cloud. Equine program, known as She taught the Intro to Marshal Kohlman, Salina, spends time with King, a thoroughbred obtained through According to Nancy The Horse Play Series, Horsemanship class last the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Zenger-Beneda, Dean of four years ago and was in- spring, and recalls the day Sciences and Business, the strumental in forging the her students finally got a of time in the classroom,” several who had never ties. “As the program program is a win-win partnership with TRF. He chance to get into the she described. “When we been on a horse before. I grows, we hope we can situation for everyone is known for saying, saddle. “It was a wet were finally able to get in remember one girl got on grow the facilities as involved. “We provide the “These horses only know spring, and we spent a lot the arena and ride, I had the horse and her face just well,” Zenger-Beneda lit up. It was exciting for said. me to be able to take With support from the something that we have in Kansas Thoroughbred As- the rural areas and share it sociation, they are cur- with someone who had rently raising funds to never experienced it be- build an indoor facility fore.” that will benefit not only “Another highlight is the equine classes, but the watching the horses rodeo and horse judging progress,” Zenger-Beneda teams as well. “There continued. “And to see the are a number of ways students have a sense of people can be involved,” accomplishment as they Zenger-Beneda said. “We grow in their knowledge are always looking for base and affect the horses’ people who would like to behavior and perform- support kids in the ag in- ance.” dustry and these activi- With approximately ties.” twenty students enrolled in “The college is excited the four courses of the about the future of this Horse Play Series cur- program, and providing riculum, the program opportunities for both stu- The partnership with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation allows the equestrian classes and rodeo team could use four more hors- dents and the ag industry,” access to quality horses. es, but is limited by facili- she concluded. Landowners on Chisholm Trail worry about rights (AP) Like veins through wards the beginning of the land is touched by the cement post that says Kansas is privately owned the wild-west heartland, process,” said Frank Norris Chisholm Trail. “Chisholm Trail’’ on their land,” Norris said. “There is America’s intestates were with the National Parks Sue Noland of Clearwa- property. Noland said she is no power that the Parks once dirt trails carved out Service. “A year ago in ter started the Chisholm fine with that being there. Service has for National by travelers, cattle and cow- March, Congress passed a Trail Landowners Alliance. She just wants to make sure Historic Trails in which in boys. Now all that flows bill requesting the Secretary The trail bisects three-quar- her land is protected now any realistic mode we through those veins is histo- of Interior to study the ters of her family’s 160 and in the future when the would ever acquire any ry — a history the National Chisholm Trail and the acres. She said people tres- family farm is passed down property or ever infringe on Parks Service is hoping to Western Trail for feasi- pass on her land already due to the next generation. the rights of existing private preserve along the Chis- bility as National Historic to a railroad track that runs “Can they come in at property rights.” holm Trail. Trails.” through it — they think be- some point and say, ‘Okay, He said he realizes there The parks service is ga- The parks service has cause of the tracks, the land we’re just going to desig- will be owners who are at thering information work- held public meetings along is open to the public. She is nate this 200 feet, but you both ends of the spectrum, ing towards making the trail the trail including one in worried this will happen to can’t cross it with your ma- some wanting to show off — which stretches from Wichita earlier this summer. a higher degree should the chinery?’’’ Noland asked. their segment of the trail, Texas through Kansas — a “To an overwhelming de- Chisholm Trail become na- “Well, then we’d have to go some who don’t want the National Historic Trail. The gree there has been public tionally recognized. out on the road, a half-mile public to be on their land. Chisholm Trail would join support expressed thus far “If there’s some big deal down, and a half-mile up to “And that’s perfectly the Trail of Tears National for the trail,” Norris said. made about ‘this is where get to that same field.’’ okay as far as we’re con- Historic Trail and the Ore- “People like the idea of rec- the Chisholm Trail was’ on The National Parks Serv- cerned because this is en- gon National Historic Trail ognizing the heritage of the farm ground,” Noland ex- ice basically said landown- tirely a cooperative part- as national landmarks. The trail.” plained, “I don’t want peo- ers can be as involved as nership effort,” Norris said. Chisholm Trail stretches However, there are still ple thinking, ‘Oh, we can much or as little as they “We’re not treading on nearly 800 miles. questions being asked by walk through there.’’ way. “It’s an established property rights whatso- “We’re still really to- area landowners, whose Currently there is a small fact essentially all of ever.” Page 2 Grass & Grain, September 14, 2010 The Learning Post By Gordon Morrison Concordia Rancher and Several years ago my husband’s sister sent him one of those desk calendars that had Former Agriculture Educator a cartoon for each day of the year. It was a “You Might Be a Redneck If . .” calen- dar. What his city-dwelling sister didn’t realize was, that what she considered a joke was actually a snapshot of our life. “If you’ve ever hauled a hay bale in the trunk of your car . you might be a Red- neck.” Excuse me, how else am I supposed to feed the animals at the fair? A Bit Of History From Feeding a baby while bottle-feeding a calf — that makes me a Redneck? I thought it made me a multi-tasker extraordinaire. The Greatest Generation What got me started thinking about the calendar was that the other day my son Last week we attended a funeral ing for the rest of the platoon to needed me to drop some hay samples by the Extension office for testing. I didn’t re- for a World War IIveteran, our cross the river and join them, a big ally notice the aroma of fresh-cut hay as I drove to work that morning, but by the time friend Clarence Herman, who be- German tank rumbled down the I got in my car at noon, all I can say is, it’s a good thing there weren’t any cattle longs to that group of people that street. One of their own men had a around. They’d have been on my car like, well . like cows on a bale of hay. Tom Brokaw referred to as the bazooka gun but did not dare fire The scent that permeated my vehicle has lingered for the past few days and I have “Greatest Generation.” This has upon the tank, for the Germans to admit, I kind of like it. In fact, if they made hay-scented car air fresheners, I’d prompted me to review WWII histo- would have retaliated without go right out and buy one. Not just for the scent, but for the memories it evokes. ry about the battles in the Euro- mercy and blown the house apart. Memories of loading the kids, show gear — and yes, the hay bale — into my car for pean theater, particularly D-Day. Clarence related an experience the fair; memories of baby lambs in my bathroom and tripping over four pairs of About three million soldiers, that he said was his greatest shock mudboots on the way to the front door.