Gulf Coast Donkey and Mule ASSociation

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Our show photographer for 2008 - 2009 will be Sarah Hall. You can visit her website to view photos of past shows, and find contact information. You can link to her website at: www.sarahhallimages.photoreflect.com

Below are some examples of Sarah's work. She brings her own spectacular backdrops, and specialty photo set-ups to the shows. She also takes a lot of candid shots, and works with each exhibitor individually to make sure their animals (and kids) look their best! Sarah's photos are what make the GCDMA shows extra special!

Lester’s Big Adventure

GCDMA member Mike Boggs and his four year old gelding mule, Lester (named for GCDMA supporter Lester Smith), have begun the next adventure in their lives together.

We have all seen Mike and Lester at shows for a couple of years now. Lester has been shown in halter classes from a weanling to present. He has won several Model Mule titles and many class championships. Mike began to train Lester at a very early age and not only did he excel in conformation classes he was very comfortable and well trained in the arena.

The day came for the transition to saddle mule. Things seemed to be going along nicely and one day something changed. After a trip to the emergency room for Mike it was decided that Mike would visit his friend and neighbor Jerry Diaz.

Jerry and the family’s Three Creek Ranch are located outside New Braunfels, Texas. Having been recently proclaimed “Charro De Corazon”, cowboy of heart, in the April 2007 Western Horseman magazine article we can see why Mike has such great respect and admiration for his friend.

Mike boast proudly that he watches many visitors of the ranch walk past the many well bred horses in the barn and walk straight to Lester to stand and admire the long ear prodigy in the barn. Lester is the fourth mule that Jerry has trained and he states that Lester is the most intelligent by far. Within a short period of time Jerry and Lester were well on there way to creating a great riding mule for Mike.

We look forward to seeing Mike at our upcoming shows and events and sharing his experiences with the Charro and how his techniques and training relate to the mule versus the horse. I am sure we will all enjoy sitting and talking with Mike at the arena and learning from this experience.

It is really great for all of us mule fans to watch as one of our own enters what is normally a world dominated by horses and allow others to see why we enjoy our longears so much.

To enjoy more news about Jerry and his many accomplishments visit his web site www.charrojerrydiaz.com

2006 GCDMA Sportsmanship Award

When we think of Sportsmanship, we are usually talking about how a person treats other competitors at a show, or how they react when they win or lose, but there is really much more to good sportsmanship than that. Have you ever noticed that some people just seem to be on the positive side of life all the time? These are the kind of people that we all like to be around. Why is that? Well, one theory is that sometimes we are fortunate enough to have around us those who are not only good examples, but great “encouragers.” Perhaps this encouragement is what is really at the heart of good sportsmanship.

Have you ever been waiting to go into a class feeling as though you may not do very well, but you have already entered, and don’t want to embarrass yourself by walking away? We have all been there, and have talked to many others in the same position. Or have you ever completed a class feeling as though you just made a big fool out of yourself? Well, we have done that too. Where sportsmanship really counts is when someone is willing to tell you that you’re holding the wrong trail pattern, or your boot is untied; or better yet, what a great job you did even though you didn’t place.

Well, let’s go even further than that. What about when a person has been through a great deal of physical trauma, to the point of near death, and after undergoing major surgery and overwhelming odds, still continues to come to events and show their donkeys and actually SMILE and encourage others? Sound almost “angelic”? Well, we happen to know such a person, and this year he will be the recipient of the Gulf Coast Donkey and Mule ASSociation Sportsmanship Award. In fact, he is the reason it has come into being.

Danny McMillan was ill for some time before he learned that he was having some major health issues. Even during the early stages of his illness he was always pleasant to others, and never complained. When we all learned of his illness and hospitalization, there was a great deal of support from the donkey community, but I doubt very many know just how sick Danny was. In fact, we are very fortunate to still have him with us. The most amazing part of all of this was that Danny maintained such a positive attitude throughout the entire ordeal. Then much to our amazement, he began to show up at events again, and show his donkeys. With his wife, Debbie, who has gone through many personal and physical trials herself, doing much of the work and showing, he still came and showed when he was able . Now if you know Danny very well, you know he loves his donkeys! I have no doubt they were a great source of strength and encouragement to him, and in fact was heard saying several times that he would be glad when he could drive his donkey again. But what we all treasure is what he gave to us during these last couple of years.

Danny has shown us all that great odds can be overcome!

Danny has shared his friendship and love with many, in spite of his own personal obstacles.

Danny has taken the time to encourage other people at shows, even when he was the one who needed it most!

Danny is ALWAYS positive, and NEVER complains!

Danny has demonstrated a quality of life that encourages us all to be better competitors, and better human beings.

Even when Danny encountered “hard luck” in the ring, he still came out a winner in everyone’s eyes!

Danny’s great attitude, perseverance, and outstanding display of sportsmanship has not gone unnoticed by the GCDMA, and it is with great honor and joy that we present him with a Sportsmanship Award, to be presented at our Annual Awards Banquet on January 13^th, 2007.

Thank you Danny.

GCDMA at Rio Brazos Expo

May 12, 13 & 14 in Navasota, TX at Camp Allen Convention Center. Miniature donkey owners from all over the United States as well as attendees from the Canada, England Switzerland, Holland & New Zealand. The three day event was packed with education and training events. David Sessum, Rose Jones and Jeannie Richards manned the club booth at the event. We received several new members and had the chance to promote our club to a large group of people. David moderated many of the educational talks and represented the club in great fashion as always. We began the sell of our raffle tickets for a breeding to Lil Angels champion herd sire and one month training by Jeannie. Thank you to Ken and Jeannie for the donation, the funds raised will help the club continue on. Thanks also to Jeannie for the donation of the donkey soaps that we sold at the booth. We have a few left so if you missed out we will offer them for sell at the National show in October.

GCDMA member Carolyn Christian did a wonderful job as chairperson coordinating such an event. Tammy McCleney and Kathy Loudamy were superb coordinating their events. It was great to have so many of our members present at this event. A fun filled event for all in attendance.

David Sessum and Butch Davis

Micro chipping, Equine Theft &

Universal Identification

GCDMA Booth

Jeannie Richards spoke during two sessions over the weekend.
She offered tips on training your donkey for non-driving events in the show ring.

Dr. Tex Taylor spoke on training issues concerning donkeys of all sizes.
His talk was titled “It ain’t broke fix it” and as always was very interesting.
A large crowd was in attendance to learn from his years of experience with donkeys.