Why Not Try The Awesome Trails?

Why Not Ranch owner, Beth Kerasotes

Looking for a place to stable your horses that has access to great trail riding? Why Not Ranch is a new stable catering to avid trail riders, located off Highway 50 near the Duck River in middle Tennessee. There are 20 miles of tree-lined trails on over 800 acres, with access to nearby Natchez Trace State Park, for trail riders’ pleasure.

Owner Beth Kerasotes opened the stable last August, hoping to attract trail-riding enthusiasts. “I have ridden all my life; the area is really pretty and I love to go trail riding. I thought this would be a good place for people who love trail riding to board their horses, so they don’t have to trailer their horses to go trail riding,” Beth said.

Beth came to Tennessee from Springfield, Illinois after selling the family movie theatre business that she ran. She had lived in Illinois all her life, but at age 45 she was ready for a change of jobs and scenery. Searching the Internet for some property in Tennessee, she found this property of 800+ acres on the Duck River and fell in love with the abundant creeks, woods, and wildlife. She didn’t realize what dramatic a impact the move and new life would be, but she absolutely loves the property and having time to enjoy her horses and to learn more about horses in general.

Beth has had horses since she was 5 years old and began her horse career showing Saddlebreds. She was able to show with and learn from some of the top Saddlebred trainers around. But the politics of showing became tiresome, and she found trail riding with her Rocky Mountain horses much more rewarding.

Why Not Ranch is the realization of her dream to share beautiful country, horses and trails with others who have similar interests. Beth offers both full and pasture board, and training facilities. The stable is brand new and facilities include a 66 X 180 indoor riding arena, a round pen, and 12 X 12 stalls with mats. The stable is also open to day riders at $10 per day, where the 20+ miles of trails can be an all-day ride. The majority of trails are in wooded areas, so even on the hottest day of summer, the ride can be pleasant. Beth has plans to add more trails this fall.

Why Not Ranch is a 30-40 minute drive south of Franklin and Spring Hill, Tennessee and is 20 minutes from Liepers Fork. For more information, call Beth Kerasotes at 931-583-9188.

September 29-30—Old Mound “Saddle-Up” For St. Jude Trail Ride

The 8th annual trail ride, hayride, and dance will be held on September 29-30, 2006 at 824 Old Mound Road near Friendship, TN for the purpose of raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. The success of last year’s ride included over 300 riders, 15 teams with wagons, two 40 foot hay wagons loaded with folks, and hundreds of others who just came for the fun. Donations from individuals, businesses, and the auction reached over $35,742.00.

Raising Thoroughbred Race Horses In West Tennessee

Raising Thoroughbred race horses is a dream of many people, especially during the first of May when all attention is on the Kentucky Derby. Few people are able to succeed in the business, but Fayette County attorney Jim Gallagher seems to be doing it well—and enjoying it. His prize horses are raised at Gallagher Farm on Highway 196 near the Hickory Withe community.

“Sore Spot” Fuels Controversy At TWH National Celebration

For only the second time in its 67 year history, competition at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was temporarily suspended on Friday evening, August 25. The first time was because of stormy weather; this time it was due to stormy disagreement between U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors and participants in the event, after the inspectors disqualified a half dozen horses on the grounds they had been intentionally injured to enhance the high-stepping gait for which the Tennessee Walker is so well known.

Around The Sorghum Field We Go

These riders were among approximately 100 that participated in a trail ride at Burton's Sugar Farm on Hwy. 72 in Michigan City, Mississippi. The ride was held to benefit This Horse Is Silent Cares charity.

This Horse Is Silent Cares Trail Ride

On August 26 approximately 100 riders rode at Burton's Sugar Farm in Michigan City, Mississippi to benefit This Horse Is Silent Cares charity.

Team Penning With Donkeys

Larry Bass (left) and Aubrey Lemmons (right) co-owners of Coyote Run Arena in Mason, Tn stand among donkeys they will use in their September 23 donkey team penning. They have had three pennings this summer using the donkeys rather than the traditional cattle.

Tennessee Junior Rodeo Association 2006-2007 Queen Crowned

The 2006 Tennessee Junior Rodeo Association State Finals were held August 25th-26th at the UT Martin Arena. Tori Bonacquista was crowned 2006-2007 Rodeo Queen. She is 11- years old and is the daughter of Mark & Ginny Bonacquista who live in Henderson, Tenn.

“Building Trust And Confidence” Clinic With Fred Woehl Scheduled

Fred Woehl, nationally known clinician is bringing his “Building Trust and Confidence” clinic to Village Creek State Park, near Crowley’s Ridge, Arkansas, October 13 and 14.

There Will Be Equestrian Trails At Shelby Forest

Members of the Meeman Shelby Forest Trail Savers are excited to learn that their organization’s proposal for a recreational trails grant was approved! MSF Trail Savers was recently chosen out of hundreds of applicants to receive a Federal grant to fund their plan to build equestrian trails in Meeman Shelby Forest, in north Shelby County, Tenn. Committee members Jerry Shile and Linda Dennington went to Nashville August 24th to receive a “symbolic” check from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Jim Fyke for over $77,000 to fund the project.

St. Jude Saddle Up Event Features Bull Riding, Barrels And More In Mason, Tenn.

A Saddle Up for St. Jude Show event featuring bull riding, barrel racing and fun events for the kids will be held on October 27 and 28 at Coyote Run Arena in Mason, Tennessee.

Bull-A-Rama Returns To NWMCC In Senatobia, Miss. September 16

Student athletes, amateur riders and professional bullriders will compete for hundreds of dollars in prize money when the John Deere Tech BULL-A-RAMA returns to the Northwest Mississippi Community College Multipurpose Livestock Arena Saturday, Sept. 16, at 8 p.m.

Pony Pulling—A "Little" Horsepower Can Go A Long Way

There's an enormous variety of horse-related sport out there, but every once in a while something pops up on the radar screen that many equine enthusiasts may never have heard of, or hadn't thought about for a long time. Pony Pulling is one such activity, and rest assured it's alive and thriving all over the country, especially in the Mid-South.

In Michigan City, Mississippi—Cherokee Valley Ranch Offers Training And Stabling

“It didn’t take as long to get here as I thought it would,” is a phrase Barbara King and Sarah Smith often hear when folks come to their Cherokee Valley Ranch and Stable near Michigan City, Mississippi. Barbara and Sarah and their husbands partnered to found the riding stable on Wilburn Road just inside the Benton County line in 2000, and they offer a variety of riding activities. It’s an easy drive down Highway 72 from Collierville, and once there, one has “entered the quiet zone,” Barbara says, with 200 acres of land to ride across, an outdoor arena with jumping course, or an indoor riding area - whatever one prefers.

Equine Acupuncture—How This Ancient Chinese Procedure Works

Daisy is stiff to the right and refuses to take the right lead. Junior stops short before a jump and has developed vices. Bob’s left side has lost muscle mass and he is painful over the back. Black boy is not really lame, but our times are slower around the barrels. No matter what we try our paint is a chronic colic. Is there anything we can do? The answer is definitely yes! All of the above ailments and many more have been successfully managed and corrected with the use of an ancient form of Chinese medicine called Acupuncture.

Why Not Try The Awesome Trails?

Looking for a place to stable your horses that has access to great trail riding? Why Not Ranch is a new stable catering to avid trail riders, located off Highway 50 near the Duck River in middle Tennessee. There are 20 miles of tree-lined trails on over 800 acres, with access to nearby Natchez Trace State Park, for trail riders’ pleasure.

Nutrena Releases New LiteBalance™ Formula

Nutrena has just introduced its new LiteBalance™ controlled-calorie formula for overweight horses, easy keepers and horses on all-forage diets. The new formula, says Jim Ward, DVM and equine management consultant for Nutrena, is part of an ongoing commitment by Nutrena to bring new, more advanced solutions to every day problems in equine care and nutrition.

Old West Relocates

Old West Stagecoach line relocated from Oakland, Tennessee, to Rossville on August 15. Old West is a family owned and operated horse stable, offering full service boarding facilities, horseback riding lessons, horse training, private parties and camps for children.

Mid-South Fair Seeking Entries For 2006 Rodeo Queen

The Mid-South Fair PRCA Rodeo runs Friday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Sept. 24. The Mid-South Fair Rodeo Queen contest will be held during the Friday and Saturday performance of the Mid-South Fair PRCA Rodeo at the Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, TN. Holly Scott from Dardanelle, AR is the reigning Mid-South Fair Rodeo Queen.

Pinto Horse Association Hosts 1st Congress & Futurity Horse Show in Tulsa

The Pinto Horse Association of America is hosting the first-ever Congress and Futurity Horse Show on Nov. 8-12 at the Expo Square in Tulsa, Okla. With the recent success of the Pinto World Show (over 27 percent growth), this new show is expected to be well attended.

Safety When Holding A Horse

The horse is a large, strong animal, and can hurt a person even without meaning to if he moves suddenly. It is always wise to keep safety in mind when handling a horse even when just holding him for something simple like grooming or having a friend mount him.