If you did not attend the 2004 IASHA Bus Trip to Ruxer Farm and the Amish village of Gasthof you missed one of the best bus trips that IASHA officers and board members have ever put together!

At 7:00 a.m. the IASHA bus left High Spirit Farm to pick up Marianne Gauger from the southern pickup.

With Marianne safely on the bus, everyone was off to Ruxer Farm! Located in Jasper Indiana, Ruxer Farm once housed about 250 horses, but today Mr. Ruxer upkeeps about 60 horses. Although the weather was cloudy the pastures at Ruxer Farm seemed to stretch into the horizon. Led by Mr. Ruxer we made our way into the barn where some noteworthy horses are kept. After viewing the horses in their stalls, trainer Mark Utoft presented the group with five beautiful horses: Sultans Royalty, Commander In Charge, Broadway And Hollywood, Sliver Me Timbers, and What’s The Deal. After viewing these wonderful animals Mr. Ruxer took the group into the round pen to show us how he “desensitizes” young horses. Mr. Ruxer feels that this is an important step in the process of making an American Saddlebred. Mr. Ruxer showed us his technique on a young horse named Marina Caprina, which was a unique and fascinating experience.

With a head full of knowledge from Mr. Ruxer and an empty stomach it was time for a home cooked Amish meal from Gasthof Village. Comfort food was served all around before loading on the bus to go to the Amish quilt shop, general store, and an authentic Amish home.