Craig Dansie is the President for the club this year. This is what he wrote up to share:
“I have been involved with horses most of my life. I have always loved being around them. I have had Quarter horses and Arabs and some grade horses.
In 1978 my family went to a foxtrotter auction with a friend. We just wanted to see the horses and what they were like and had no intention of buying one. Near the end of the auction a beautiful 2 year old sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail came out and they could not get a bid. I thought I would get it started so I made the opening bid and it was also the closing bid and we owned our first foxtrotter. He was just green broke but very easy to get along with so after 2 rides the wife and kids took over and I was back on the Arab. I decided I needed to get a gaited horse for me as I was tired of getting beat up on the trail rides. I bought another foxtrotter and everyone else rode him. I decided it was time to get rid of all of the square trotting horses and only have foxtrotters. This was in 1979 and we have enjoyed foxtrotters since that time.
We decided to start raising some of our own foals and I began looking for really good mares. I had been informed by several knowledgeable people that the mares were 60% of the equation. I have had the privilege of owning several world champion and reserve world champion mares and geldings. This past year, my mare Frank’s Praire Belle D won the open championship 4 year and older 3 gaited class at the year Old Futurity. She also won the 3 gait championship at the Utah Grand and the Great Western Celebration and the BHBFTA Show. She was also the 2 gait champion at our show. Belle was the high point Amateur 3 gait champion for the MFTHBA as well as the high point men’s 2 gait champion for 2009.
My daughter Michelle won the high point Amateur Ladies on our gelding Frank’s Hotshot D. I had another mare, Frank’s Nice N Easy, that was the 3 year old reserve champion mare and took 3rd place in the Championship. She was also Reserve World Champion 3 year old Mare and 3rd place in the WGC class in 2009. My other mare, Knight’s Shooting Star was the Reserve Champion 3 year old at the Breeders Cup in 2009.
I have been involved with the BHBFTA for about 15 years and have been the Secretary, Treasurer and President. I got involved with Foxtrotters because of my love of trail riding. They are the Cadillac of the trails. My first love is the trail riding even though I don’t get to do as much as I would like because of the shows.
My wife and I went on a great trail ride to Monument Valley with the Navajo Indians as our hosts and guides. It was really great place. I have enclosed a picture.” (see below)