Our Story

                     Mackinac Horsemen's Association

                                     est 1998    a 501(c)(3) organization

 

History of the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association

In 1977 Mary Milton passed on the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association legacy to Leanne Brodeur, Trish Martin, Barb Fisher, Candice Dunnigan, Brenda Bunker, Melinda Porter, and the Gough family, who had been involved in the annual horse show for many years. In 1979, Mary Milton campaigned to finance the building of a permanent riding and show ring at Great Turtle Park. Prior to the ring at GTP a snow fence, erected at various locations had served as the annual horse show arena.
Off and on, since 1972, Ms. Brodeur taught lessons to anyone with a horse and begged, borrowed or “stole” horses for those who didn’t. Jack’s, Cindy’s and Chamber’s Riding Stables allowed her to borrow horses after business hours for lessons a couple of days a week.
As the decades wore on there were fewer private horses on the Island mainly due to lack of stables to keep horses. Because of this many of the Island’s summer and year round children were no longer able to grow up having their own pony or learning about horsemanship as the previous generation had, thanks to Mary Milton’s lessons.
In 1997, Ms. Brodeur formed the Mackinac 4-H Horse Clubs with an enthusiastic group of Island kids and became a 4-H Leader through the Mackinac County MSU Extension. They named their clubs Giddy Up & Go for 5 to 8 yr. olds and the Galloping Gliders for 9 to 18 yr. olds.
Now we had the kids, but no horses for them to ride.
Brodeur conceived a program whereby she would act as an agent to find horses for adults and families to lease for the summer; hence the MHA Lease-A-Horse and Share-A-Lease programs.
Now we had the kids and the horses, but no place to stable the horses.
Ms. Brodeur had in mind a stable which had been sitting empty for a couple of years. After conferring with a number of local horse people about her plan, she approached the owner of Mission Point Resort John Shufelt in the fall of 1997 to ask about his unused stable on Mission Hill. Ms. Brodeur asked if he would consider leasing it for a home for the lesson horses, he not only agreed to lease the stable for $1.00 per year, but generously offered to pay the utilities so that she could begin her program. The plan was that horses could be leased by individuals and housed at the Mission Hill stable with the understanding that in return for stable space, the horses could be used by Ms. Brodeur for lessons a certain number of hours per week for lessons for 4-H members. In the spring of 1998, Ms. Brodeur asked several community horse people to come together and formally revive the former Mackinac Island Horsemen’s Association into a committee which became the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association.
From 1998 until 2004 the MHA was considered a committee of M.I.R.D. with a separate
account and filing taxes under M.I.R.D.’s 501(c)(3) status. Ms. Brodeur wrote the first
grant to the Mackinac Island Community Foundation for scholarships for financial
assistance for lessons that same year.
During this period a number of changes occurred, the program grew and more events
were added. In addition, the riding ring at Great turtle Park had to be moved to another
part of the Park to make way for a soccer field. This was accomplished with the help the
help of about thirty volunteers. Also, with no advance notice the Mission Hill Stable was
sold in two parcels to the Chambers and Bensers, who have generously allowed MHA to
remain and continue the program. It then became evident that the MHA needed to begin
it’s search for a new home and form it’s own non-profit corporation. In doing so, the
original committee members took on the role of fundraisers and overseers of the already established MHA and Ms. Brodeur took on the position of Executive Director.
In 2004 the MHA applied for non-profit status which was approved in 2006. That same year an Ad Hoc Committee was formed to start exploring options for a location for the MHA - 4-H stable.
In 2005 the MHA officially endorsed a Community Stable Committee to work with
private and public options for a new location. This committee is comprised of community members from all areas of interest, brought together to preserve the horse culture on the Island through the construction of a public stable for the 4-H program horses and others in the community to stable their horse and provide equine educational opportunities for all.
In 2006 the need for a new stable became even more urgent, as one of the two lots, which comprised the Mission Hill Stable, was being developed for three homes. Construction of the first home was completed in 2007. A number of private properties have been investigated and discussions with the Mackinac Island State Park Commission have ensued. Several explored options have fallen through and at this time the Mackinac
Community Stable committee is negotiating with the Mackinac Island State Park
Commission on the lease of a piece of property located on British Landing Road across
from Wawashkamo Golf Club.

MHA and MIRD
The Mackinac Horsemen’s Association is indebted to the Mackinac Island Recreational
Development, Inc.(MIRD)for their many years of supporting the annual horse show with their volunteer time, allowing the MHA committee to shelter under their 501(c))(3) status, and on continuing to help maintain the horse ring at Great Turtle Park. 

Original MHA Committee Members
June 3, 1998
Mrs. Candice Dunnigan, Ms. Patricia Martin, Mrs. Penny Barr, Mrs. Jodi Gough, Mrs.
Cynthia Gough, Ms. Denise Romano, Mrs. Marta Olson, Mr. Brad Chambers, Ms.
Leanne Brodeur, Consultant/Director

Founding Board of the Mackinac Horsemen’s Association
November 12th, 2004
Candice Dunnigan, Chairperson
Cathy Arbib, Vice Chairperson
Michelle Stuck, Treasurer
Patricia Martin, Secretary
Lin Sheppard, Corresponding Secretary
Leanne Brodeur, Executive Director/Consultant

Articles of Incorporation
November 12th, 2004
Incorporators
Leanne Brodeur
Patricia Martin
Cathy Arbib

Mackinac 4-H Horse Clubs - Original Members 1997 - 2000

 

Instructors/Leaders
Leanne Brodeur, Barb Fisher, Jodi Barna - 4-H Leaders
Jeanne Kolatski - Junior Leader

Galloping Gliders(9 to 18 yr. olds)
Jennifer Wightman

Katie and Suzanne Porter
Brad Putz

Allison Jones
Jim Hagenbaugh

Claire and James Dunnigan
Shannon Haan

Veronica Gough
Brita Olson

Woody and Blisse Beardsley
Maureen Bacon

Nicole and Natalie Hribar
Patric Schlehuber

Andrea Myron
Katie Rearick

Miles Benjamin
Libby Benjamin

Peggy Bynoe
Miranda Morse

Katie Holt
Lake Sweet
Alex Wilruth

Tabitha and Stephanie Ratchford
Melissa Bunker

Jason Petit
Emily St. Onge

Christina McLean
Sarah Schwerkoske

Rebecca Schnaar
Sam Winsor

Tiffany Rausch

Giddy up & Go(5 to 8 yr. olds)
Paul Fisher

Laurel and Graham Young
Jane Finkel

Audrey and Emily Benjamin
Darcy and Morgan Brodeur-Bunker

Lucas Karhoff
Audra and Zola Murray

Jake Haan
John Luciani 
Justin Buchloz

Nathan Meirs
Jaun Lopez

Kate Dupre
Alehandra Pastoor

Rodney Winsor
Kaia Olson

Codie Steensma
Danielle Wightman

Annie Porter