BarnBiz n’ Bits

It is with great enthusiasm FCP introduces to you “Chef Louie” our very own equine staff writer! His contributions for the newsletter department will include the ultimate in horse treat recipes, and creative ideas to pamper your horse!

Louie comes to FCP as a celebrated, yet sadly retired AQHA show horse. A son of world renowned Zippo Pine Bar, Louie was born with an extraordinary “heart” shaped marking on his forehead giving way to his registered name “UnZip My Heart” and natural photogenic appeal.

Not one to join the pasture crowd, Louie has kept busy since his days in the show ring. With his on the go modeling and charities schedule Louie’s charismatic charm has touched the hearts of those who have had the opportunity to meet this remarkable gelding.

We look forward to bringing you Chef Louie’s column and hope you enjoy getting to know his antics as much as we have had in their presentation.

Special thanks to Louie’s personal friend June Evers ~ Author of the “The Original Book of Horse Treats” as he proudly brings to you her culinary talents. And to Tiffany Lynn for all her love and support, you’re the best “pet” a horse could ever have!

This is a quarterly newsletter as well as a blog to interact with others in the equestrian community, published by FCP Barns & Buildings.

FCP is proud to present our in house design consultants. Whether you’re in the market for personal use horse barns or a professional equestrian facility, this creative staff can blueprint your dreams from concept to completion.

Top Row: Craig Cole & Danny Parnell
Bottom Row: Kathy Cvelbar & Sales Manager Greyson Channing

Your animal depends on you for his or her well-being. In addition to providing love and affection, and daily care, they also need you in an emergency. Anyone who owns a horse should have a well stocked First Aid Kit. A plastic bucket with a lid is a great starting point. Have a bucket with a sealed lid large enough to hold the following supplies:
Stethoscope
Iodine solution
Hydrogen Peroxide
Neosporin
Saline
Sterile gauze sponges
Self-adhesive tape
Blunt-tipped bandage scissors, tweezers, digital thermometer
Cold packs (instant type)
Latex gloves
Duct tape use on hoof
Flashlight

Remember that when you travel to always take your First Aid Kit with you.

If any concern arises, NEVER HESITATE TO CALL YOUR VETERINARIAN!

Do you know your animal’s vital signs?
Temperature – normal body temperature is 99 – 101 F. (Most accurate way to take a horse’s temperature is rectally).
Pulse – the pulse rate of an adult horse at rest averages 30-40 beats per minute. (Horses’s rate can be found near the front of the left jawbone. Under the jaw bone there is a major artery that sticks out slightly, using your fore finger press against the artery firmly. Use a clock to time a 15 second period, multiply the number of beats by 4)
Respiration - the average respiration rate of an adult horse is 8-15 breaths per minute. Rates can increase or decrease with temperature changes, exercise, pain or fever. (Watch or feel the ribcage for one minute. Count 1 inhale and 1 exhale as one breath.

Nancy Chapman – Somis, California

Congratulations to Nancy Chapman on her new ranch and custom Metal Barn! Nancy’s facility went from concept to completion in just a few short months and as you can see from the photographs; “completion” passed all her expectations!

Sierra Vista Ranch is nestled on 22 acres surrounded by citrus trees and tall oaks in Somis, California. The ranch boasts a generous facility, consisting of large pastures, an L-shaped FCP barn with expansive size stalls, wide aisle ways, enormous tack room, hot walker, hay barn and deluxe wash and groom areas. Careful planning and creative design resulted in a cost effective solution to providing ample usable space for both horse and handler.

Shawn Hays is the resident trainer and he and Nancy’s mission is to provide top quality horse care, along with lesson and training programs that enable both horse and rider to reach their maximum potential. Competitive emphasis is placed by American Quarter Horse Association focusing on Trail, Horsemanship, Showmanship, Western Riding, Pleasure, and Hunt Seat Equitation.

Stuart Wilson, FCP Project Manager for Nancy’s project, states, “Nancy knew what she wanted and it was a lot of fun exchanging ideas back and forth. Because of Nancy and Shawn’s attention to detail, horses boarding at Sierra Vista Ranch receive the highest quality in attention”.

Nancy lives and breathes horses - her passion for horses began as a young girl on her grandparent’s farm in the south. Nancy dreamed about owning a ranch and building her own barn for as long as she can remember. She tells us that her FCP barn truly is a dream come true because it’s based on ideas that came to her during the last 45 years of “noodling”.

Nancy not only works full time and travels all over the world as a C.P.A. and Financial Adviser for the Entertainment Industry – but she is also extensively involved in showing quarter horses nationally. Her success at the shows has enabled her to qualify for and compete at the AQHA Bayer Select World Show Finals that are held each summer in Amarillo, TX. In recent years, she finished in the top ten in numerous events on her now retired favorite mare “Barpassing Thru” (aka Jetta) and on her up and coming young horse, “Zippos Kat Man Do” (aka Teddy).

Again, we salute Nancy Chapman and Sierra Vista Ranch as FCP’s Barn of the Month and we encourage you to contact her for a tour of her facility (she loves to show it off) and see what FCP can do for you.

The Nation’s Premiere Equine Exposition & Equestrian Gathering
The 8th annual Equine Affaire in the West will be held at Pomona Fairplex and will have something to offer to horse enthusiasts of all ages, all breed persuasions, all levels of expertise, and all equine disciplines. FCP is once again the Official Barn Builder and Proud Sponsor of the event.

Training Clinics
The 2008 Equine Affaire in Pomona will feature in-depth clinics conducted by many of the nation’s foremost trainers, coaches, competitors, and Olympians.

Seminars & Demonstrations
Industry experts will present four full days of seminars and demonstrations on an array of topics relevant to all horse enthusiasts — from new horse owners to seasoned professionals. More than 60 seminars and demonstrations in the demo ring and the at the seminar stages will cover subjects as wide-ranging as Chinese herbal medicine and equine acupuncture to trail riding and equestrian vacations to breeding and business marketing and much, much more.

Trade Show
Equine Affaire’s trade show will fill six exhibit halls and the outdoor areas in between! Visitors may browse through acres of tack, riding apparel, trucks & trailers, health & grooming supplies, farm & barn equipment & builders, jewelry, books, publications, videos & DVDs, art, accessories, and gifts.

Breed Pavilion
The Breed Pavilion will showcase most major breeds of horses as well as several unique breeds. The Breed Pavilion features a combination of exhibit booths and stalls where individual breeds will be represented by their associations and a rotating cast of select stallions, mares, and geldings.

New This Year — Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race™
The Extreme Cowboy Race — as seen on RFD-TV– is a competition in which horses and riders will work through an obstacle course while being timed and judged on their abilities. Top competitors will receive cash and other great prizes.

Arabian Horse Association Youth Pavilion
The Arabian Horse Association Youth Pavilion is a special place for horsey kids of all ages. In addition to educational and horse-related exhibits, the Arabian Horse Association Youth Pavilion features presentations throughout each day by many of today’s most popular educators, demonstrations by various horse breeds, plenty of fun activities for kids, and a Celebrity Horse Showcase.

WHEN: JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 3, 2008

WHERE: FAIRPLEX, POMONA, CALIFORNIA

HOURS: THURSDAY-SATURDAY 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM AND SUNDAY 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

FCP DISPLAY BARN: Outdoor Exhibit between buildings 22 and 7.

Please stop by our modular horse barn display and say hello to our design consultants … and don’t miss our free drawing! See you there!!

From Chef Louie’s Hors(e)d’Oeuvres

Stuffed Molasses Apples

Ingredients:
apples
cup bran
carrot, shredded

• ¾ cup molasses
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup sweet feed

sprigs of carrot top greens
seedless grapes
confectionery sugar

As you would a pumpkin at Halloween, core two apples and remove as much of the center as you can. Set aside.

Mix shredded carrot with bran, molasses, brown sugar and sweet feed in a large bowl. Add more molasses or bran to give mixture a stiff consistency. Scoop mixture out of the bowl and press tightly into cored apples.

Garnish: Drizzle small amount of molasses over the top so it runs down the sides of the apple. Add a sprig of carrot greens, top with a green seedless grape, and sprinkle with confectionary sugar. Serve immediately!