Rocky Mountain Breeders Association officials said the location needed to be changed because the time frame was too short for participants to obtain the necessary negative Coggins test requirement. Copper Spring Ranch regrets the change of venue. CSR veterinarians and management feel that the required health papers are necessary because of the number of brood mares, horses in training and studs on the ranch. For additional information, please call Ron Burns at 406.547.2165.

We wish them the best for a successful event.

On March 16, Dr. Ellis G. Farstvedt, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, is giving horsemen an in-depth program titled: “Lameness: How do we find it? How do we treat it?”

Farstvedt, the managing veterinarian at the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center, is going to explain the details, the expectations and a look at examples of the cases that respond best to new medications and treatment protocols.

His lecture on lameness from A to Z is going to cover new diagnostics like

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), digital x-rays and ultrasounds plus the alphabet of new treatments such as interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP), platelet rich plasma (PRP), autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) and stem cell therapy.

The session includes an overview of examination procedures that include the lameness exam, localizing the source of pain, imaging and possible treatments before exploring standard and new approaches.

This free program in the heated indoor arena at the ranch is the final presentation in the clinic’s winter lecture series.

Dr. Farstvedt is a nationally recognized, board certified surgeon who has conducted cutting edge surgeries at this state-of-the-art facility to the west of the Four Corners area of Bozeman with the most advanced equipment and technology to put performance horses back in the competitive arena.

He graduated from Oregon State University in 2001 with his medical degree and received his American College of Veterinary Surgery certification in 2005. He received a master’s degree in clinical sciences and completed a three-year residency in equine surgery from Colorado State University as part of his professional post graduate training.

Along with Farstvedt, Dr. April L. Knudson, DVM, the veterinary services manager for Merial’s Far West Region, is going to be a speaker. Dr. Knudson also serves as the veterinary technical leader for the company’s omeprazole products and equine vaccines. She received her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from the University of California, Davis. Before joining Merial, she operated an ambulatory practice and served as a consultant in equine gastric endoscopy for the company.

The lecture is being sponsored by Luitpold Animal Health and Merial.

For additional information and to make reservations, please call the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center at 406.522.4044.

Rod Cline and Lisa Armstrong

By Bill Brewster

The sixth annual Circle L Arena Horse Expo is scheduled for March 31 and April 1near Belgrade with popular clinicians, several expert speakers and dozens of Western and equine-related trade booths that all showcase this region’s expanding horse industry.

This year’s Expo is featuring clinicians Jeff Griffith of Gallatin Gateway, Mont., and Jeremy Young of Fishtail, Mont.

Griffith is a veteran horseman who spent most of his adult life as a working cowboy who has started hundreds of colts for many of the legendary ranches in the country. His early years were spent on Montana’s famous 130,000-acre Flying D Ranch which is now owned by media giant Ted Turner.

During the Expo, Griffith’s focus is going to be on working with competitive working horses. He has traveled with Buck Brannaman and has worked with and has been around some the world’s best horsemen including Barney Hinds, Cliff  Kelmer, Tooter Waites, Buster Welch, Leon Harrel and Bob Lowe. His first session is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on March 31 and at 3:30 p.m. on April 1.

Jeff Griffith

Like Griffith, Jeremy Young grew up on his parent’s working ranch – Fiddler Creek Ranch – near the Fishtail, Mont., ranching community. His training focus is training colts for working ranch use. He uses ground work exercises to obtain respect and control. Young’s clinic is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on March 31 and 10:30 a.m. on April 1.

Young’s topic is “Advancing the Two-Year-Old.”

“We brought back Griffith and Young so people can see how different trainers do different things with slightly different approaches to training,” according to Circle L Arena owner Rod Cline.

Cline has been managing the Expo each year long with his partner, Lisa Armstrong.

“We all need to learn new ideas and new approaches to keep up with this dynamic horse industry,” he noted.

Cline explained that there used to be large equine events in Bozeman and Helena years ago and they were cancelled. “We wanted to do something to get people out and let them know that spring is just around the corner. It’s also a way to give something back to the public that comes each year and supports all of our events at Circle L.”

Jeremy Young

Over the past few years, over a thousand horsemen have turned out for the Expo to listen to the clinicians, other speakers and to visit over 45 trade show booths. He said a support staff of volunteers from the regional horse industry help Circle L Arena to set up and operate the event.

A new highlight this year is the program being staged by the local Backcountry Horsemen’s organization.

At 2 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, the members of Gallatin Backcountry Horsemen are providing programs on packing safety to give horsemen an overview of information about this growing recreational activity.

Clark Kinney of Belgrade, a member of the Gallatin Backcountry Horsemen, said the program is going to cover the tools and pack boxes that are used by the group when assisting the Forest Service to maintain trails on the public lands. As part of the presentation, Dale Moore of Belgrade plans on displaying four pack mules that are loaded with different packs which are used by for trail work by the volunteer packers.

Kinney said the Backcountry Horsemen are providing a booth at the Expo where questions can be answered and more technical information can be provided. At the booth, a video which was produced by Bob Hoverson, a former Forest Service packer is being shown.

To help the public keep up-to-date with emergency safety techniques, the Expo has added a new event. On Sunday, April 1, at 12 p.m., the Gallatin County Central Valley Fire Department is presenting a program on the latest information on CPR to help people attending the Expo to obtain information that could help to save lives.

At 1 p.m. each day, Copper Spring Ranch, one of the event’s major sponsors, is offering a program by the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center veterinarians about new developments in equine medicine practices.

Other featured speakers include presentations each day at 10 a.m. by farrier Kyd Kelly on hoof care.

For additional information check the web site at www.circlelarena.com.

“The interest is coming from Canada, Washington State, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and even from the Midwest, Copper Spring Ranch Event Coordinator Harry Huntsinger said.

“They are among the best clinicians in their disciplines,” Huntsinger added, “and they are known as excellent teachers, as well, in their respective fields.”

The first event of the season is the Ken Smith Pole Bending Clinic on March 2, 3 and 4 with the first session beginning on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. It continues on Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Although all actual slots are filled for participants in the arena, it is still possible to audit this clinic. Smith said competitive pole bending is all about horsemanship. He maintains that pole bending is by far the most complex and challenging of the speed events with numerous lead changes and turns required.

On March 10, 11 and 12, Lynn Smith’s goat tying and break Away roping session holds sway at the indoor arena with the classes beginning each day at 9 a.m. Smith’s popular “Better Basics” clinics are designed to improve each student’s skill and technique for faster, more consistent and competitive times in the rodeo arena. Although, the clinic is full, it is still possible to audit her clinic.

Rod Lyman, a highly regarded former PRCA rodeo contestant, is holding his steer wrestling clinic on March 16-18 with sessions starting at 8 a.m. each day. Lyman’s clinic is filled with 15 steer wrestlers and several younger chute “doggers” but it is still possible to audit the clinic.

The barrel racing clinic with Lisa Anderson, scheduled for March 30-April 1, has been postponed until further notice due to scheduling conflicts.

Huntsinger said the clinics are being held as a way to help improve the ability of the rodeo athletes in the region. In addition, it is the goal of the Gilhousen family – owners of the ranch – to provide a way to contribute to the education of members in this state’s horse industry.

For additional information, contact the ranch office at 406.585.7008 or go to the website – copperspringranch.com.

Miller is scheduled to speak about the topic: “Feeding Your High Performance Horse.” His specialty with the Cargill Company is forage analysis and ration quality improvement.

“It is important to get the right foundation with the forage,” he noted recently while talking about the upcoming lecture, “so it is important to take the forage analysis and then use it as the basis for the animal’s nutritional program.”

“The other feeds you use are just supplementing the forage so we need to get more in lockstep with the forage first,” he noted.

Miller has worked for Nutrena as a nutrition specialist in the states of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada and Utah for the past five years.

He is a frequent guest lecturer at his alma mater, BYU Idaho, and he has been a special guest speaker at Utah State University, the University of Idaho and College of Southern Idaho.

In addition to his work for Nutrena, he is an owner-manager of his family’s farm and commercial cow-calf operation in Eastern Idaho that also includes over a dozen Quarter Horses.

Miller and his wife, Marcy, have three daughters, Hallee, Blyss and Sicaly. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and working on the ranch.

Zak and Marcy recently received the Excellence in Agriculture award from the American Farm Bureau Federation for the work in equine nutrition for the states of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah.   In addition, their work ranked in the top ten nationally for the year.

The March 16 program is being presented by Dr. Ellis Farstvedt, DVM, MS, ACVS Boarded Surgeon, about the topic -  “Lameness: How do we find it? How do we treat it?” Dr. Farstvedt is the managing veterinarian at the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center. The lecture is being sponsored in part by Luitpold Pharmaceuticals and Merial. Dr. April L. Knudson, DVM, a member of the Merial Equine Veterinary Professional Services Team, is also speaking during the March program.

Topics to be covered include new diagnostics and treatment advances in the industry.

The CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center is located at Copper Spring Ranch where it serves as a regional referral clinic, surgery facility, reproduction center, sports medicine and general equine veterinary practice which is open to all horse owners.

For additional information, contact the CSR Equine Sports Medicine Center at 406.522.4044 or go to www.copperspringranch.com.

At the state-of-the-art veterinary facility, Dr. Rolfe is going to supervise the comprehensive reproductive service that covers the gamut from semen collection, freezing and collection, to embryo recovery and transfer, phantom training and reproductive management of the mare and stallion. In addition, he plans on utilizing his extensive background in sports medicine and general equine medical service as part of the highly trained team.

He comes to the veterinary clinic at Copper Spring Ranch from Fort Collins, Colo., where he operated the Performance Equine, LLC, practice for seven years in that state’s busy horse center.

Rolfe received his doctor of veterinary medicine degree from Oregon State University in 1999. After graduation, he returned to his home town in Reno, Nev., to work in a mixed animal practice before returning to Oregon State University to serve as a clinical instructor at the ambulatory service for the college’s teaching hospital.

While there, Rolfe headed up reproductive and dental courses for fourth year veterinary students and aided them with lameness-focused electives while also served the equine clients of the community.

At Corvallis, he recognized a strong passion for equine sports medicine and began to pursue his interest in treating the equine athlete. In the process, he continued to obtain more advanced experience on advanced reproduction and sports medicine at referral equine practices in several states.

Rolfe’s professional experience has included extensive reproductive work with clients in the Flagstaff, Ariz., with high-end performance mares and stallions.  During his career, he has treated equine athletes ranging from multiple NFR qualified barrel horses (including a two-time NFR arena record holder) to numerous Grand Prix level dressage horses.

While in Fort Collins, his practice ran the spectrum from work English and western performance to complex reproduction cases with valuable brood mares.

To advance his knowledge, Dr. Rolfe has completed an intensive six-month detailed course in equine chiropractics at Options for Animals in Kansas. Through the course, he obtained bio-mechanical and chiropractic knowledge that he applies on a daily basis to his practice when he is evaluating horses.

“It enables me to pick up on subtle points and gives me insight into where to look to diagnose challenging problems,” he said.

For the past five years, Rolfe also has been competing in dressage competition. “I started challenging myself and it helps me to understand the horse on another level and as a result, it helps me to be a better veterinarian,” he noted.

Another associated project is to obtain his certification as an F.E.I. approved veterinarian.

Rolfe’s wife, Tracy, is currently working as a high school counselor in Fort Collins and plans on joining her husband at the end of the school year.

Dr. Ellis Farstvedt, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVS, is the managing veterinarian at the CSR Sports Medicine Center. Other veterinarians on the staff are Dr. Lisa Baller, DVM, CVA; Dr. Mandi Holland, DVM, and Dr. Alan Goldhahn, DVM.

Greg Best bio info:

http://en.wikepedia.org/wiki/Greg_Best

http://www.nzequestrianvacations.co.nz/

Clinic dates TBD

To be contacted about upcoming Copper Spring Ranch Clinics, please fill out the form below. If you are outside the United States please call 406-585-7008.

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