New Horse in Summer Riding Program is MICF-Scamper

“Horses are something to make friends with, nice to pat, great to hug, and oh, what a joy to ride.”

– H. Pinch, “Happy Horsemanship”

There was a new horse in the summer riding program this year. He came to Mackinac Island this May and will be leaving his new home in a few weeks. The horse is a gray Arabian gelding who is 22 years old. His name is Scamper, MICF-Scamper to be exact, and those initials mean something.

In the spring of 2005 Leanne Brodeur, director of the Mackinac Horsemen's Association, applied to the Mackinac Island Community Foundation for money in which to purchase a horse that would be owned by the MHA. The idea, backed by the MHA Board, was to help balance and upgrade the horses used by the children in the program on Mackinac. Several of the summer program's horses are close to, if not more than, 30 years in age.

Scamper has proved to be overall a steady trooper and has been accepted by his stablemates as "one of the gang."

Scamper has proved to be overall a steady trooper and has been accepted by his stablemates as "one of the gang." He is spending this September with fellow geldings, Blue Moon (a small Appaloosa) and Blaze (a small Halflinger pony). He seems content.

As he had never been on Mackinac, he had quite a bit to get used to. The period of adjustment for a new horse to Mackinac varies greatly. It is not an exaggeration, but for some horses, it can take upward of three seasons. Even then, something such as the jingling of a taxi and team, or the cannon blasts from the Fort, can unsettle them to jitters.

For Scamper, a routine of regular use and lessons was new. Prior to coming to Mackinac, the horse had been used as a family backyard horse and was trail ridden. Actually, the horse has spent his whole life in Northern Michigan. He was born in Cheboygan. He’s not a large horse, some 14 hands in height. This size is good for the smaller and younger riders, yet he has a good strength and has had many students on his back this year.

One aspect of Scamper's new life here, was that he was part of the "share a lease horse program." He was co-leased by the Relenge and Steensma families, but used for lessons by various registered students in the program. Scamper found himself on the trails, in the riding ring, the Hunter Pace, and two horse shows (where he aided one girl, Gabrielle Golden, to win first place in her division). He himself had a learning experience in being used both Western and English and in a riding clinic. Scamper was ridden by Leanne in the Adult Formal Labor Day Weekend Ride, and he did beautifully.

The Mackinac Island Community Foundation grant for the program was $2,500. Scamper, at $650, is a relative bargain in the horse world. The Association hopes that the reserve money will go toward another horse of equal or higher caliber next year, and they have a set of standards that a potential horse must meet before consideration.

What happens to Scamper this fall? Good question. He will reside off Island, and most likely have the winter off. In the upcoming spring, one hopes he will be fit and ready to start the whole process again. You can find out more about MICF-Scamper and the rest of the MHA Mission Barn horses on www.mackinachorses.com.

See you in October.

Candice Dunnigan is an active member of the American Equestrian Association, the Waterloo Hunt, and the Mackinac Island Horsemen’s Association. Seasonally she resides at Donnybrook and Easterly Cottage.