Washington, DC (May 24, 2010) – The need for federal legislation ending the slaughter of and providing safer transportation for American horses came to the forefront again last Tuesday, as we witnessed another horrific accident involving an overturned cattle trailer carrying 30 horses.
At around 6:00 am on May 18, 2010, Christopher Dobbin of Missouri fell asleep behind the wheel of a stock cattle trailer hauling horses bound for slaughter in Mexico to a temporary feedlot in Texas. Eleven of the 30 horses died as a result of the careless and inhumane transportation methods used by Dobbin, who was issued a reckless driving citation. This unfortunate accident underscores the desperate need for quick and thorough legislative action to end the slaughter of American horses and provide safer transportation for equines.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is reminding Floridians to create an emergency response plan for their animals as hurricane season approaches. Bronson says people should not wait until the last minute to think about how they are going to evacuate or shelter their animals during a disaster. People may need to leave their homes quickly and a well-thought-out plan will help ensure the safety of animals and the peace of mind of their owners.
Bronson’s Division of Animal Industry website http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/ai (click on “Emergency Management”) links to numerous websites that provide information about pet-friendly emergency shelters and hotels. There is also extensive emergency preparedness information for owners of large and small animals. Some tips for people with animals include:
Wellington, FL – May 21, 2010 – Gigi Stetler, owner of RV Sales of Broward, recently prevailed in her protest against Equestrian Show Holdings LLC, over trespassing charges alleged to have occurred at the 2010 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival. Stetler and RV Sales of Broward have been a longtime sponsor at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, FL, and have had a standing sponsorship contract since 1992. In 2010, however, the Winter Equestrian Festival chose not to renew Stetler’s sponsorship contract after securing her confidential client list under the ruse they were getting in line to prepare files for the 2010 show year.
According to Stetler, she was on the show grounds at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center as a “spectator, exhibitor and participant of the horse show,” the weekend of February 12-14, 2010 and had an enjoyable show. Then on February 16, 2010, she received a cryptic email letter advising her that she was not permitted on any of the show grounds and should she come on the grounds she would be arrested for trespassing. This warning was sent on behalf of property owners, not the show Licensee, and was not defined in time and scope. After attempting to rectify the problem head-on with the property owners and getting nothing but delay and inattention, Stetler filed a protest with the USEF for the horse show refusing her entries and not allowing her on the show grounds. On March 24, 2010, Stetler was given a full day hearing, with all parties in attendance, with the USEF Hearing Committee in Lexington, Kentucky, and on May 17, 2010, the USEF made a unanimous decision in Stetler’s favor.
Todd Minikus and Pavarotti tied with Cara Raether and Ublesco for the first place prize in the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic. Photo By: Lindsay Y McCall/PMG.
Lexington, KY – May 22, 2010 – Tonight’s amazing finish in the $55,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix, sponsored by Audi of Lexington, will go down in history. The crowd went wild when Todd Minikus and Pavarotti crossed the finish line in an exciting 35.24 seconds to take over the lead during the jump-off, but when Cara Rather and Ublesco managed to stop the timers at the same 35.24 seconds the night became historical.
The fantastic grand prix at the Kentucky Spring Classic was held in the Main Stadium, site of the show jumping events for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, with the course designed by Conrad Homfeld. The first round had 16 jumping efforts that included a liverpool, a double combination, and a triple combination. Ten riders were able to complete the first round without fault and advance to jump-off. The short course began over a single vertical and a made a sharp right turn to a single oxer before making a left turn to the oxer-vertical double combination. Riders then made a made dash to a single vertical, which they had to slice before continuing to a single oxer. Finally they made a full circle to a single vertical before galloping home over a large oxer towards the gate.
“Now is the right time,” commented Geoff Teall, a note of enthusiasm in his voice at the prospect of having the strength and programs of the American Hunter-Jumper Foundation (AHJF) now go to supporting the similar goals of the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) and its Foundation.
Since its inception in 1992, the AHJF has established itself by creating a new vision for the sport of hunters in the United States. Now after five years of growth, the USHJA has not only established these same goals but has the resources, staffing and vision to take them even further.
NFHJA (North Florida Hunter Jumper Association) and FCHJA (First Coast Hunter JumperAssociation) will be again sharing a horse show weekend in May. FCHJA will be Saturday, May 29th and NFHJA will be Sunday, May 30th. We hope everyone will do their best to exhibit at both shows. It is sure to be an affordable weekend and great practice for all before the brutal heat of the summer hits! Many exciting things are in store for exhibitors who participate in both shows this weekend: very special High Point prizes, drawings, awards and even a cookout. We are very thankful for our sponsors: The Gift Horse, the title sponsor of the weekend, The Riding Habit, Feedin’ Time, Horses in the South & Casual Creation Photography, whose combined efforts made this very special weekend possible. Please be sure to read the prize list carefully and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Both shows are NFHJA & FCHJA sanctioned. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!
THE GIFT HORSE NFHJA MAY SCHOOLING SHOW Sunday May 30, 2010
Where Every Horse & Rider Has A Special Gift
The Gift Horse
Sponsors: The Gift Horse, The Riding Habit, Feedin’ Time, Casual Creation Photography and HorsesintheSouth.com
NFHJA Also wishes to thank our friends at FCHJA, Nancy Wines & Patty Runk for their cooperation, hard work and dedication!!
The Gift Horse NFHJA May Schooling Show
Where Every Horse & Rider Has A Special Gift
Sunday, May 30, 2010
FCHJA Sanctioned
Following the FCHJA May Schooling Show
Saturday, May 29th
Clay County Agricultural Center – Green Cove Springs, Florida
PRE-ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010. ALL STALLS MUST BE PRE-PAYED OR RESERVED BY CREDIT CARD TO GUARANTEE RESERVATION. PLEASE MAIL pre-entries to NFHJA, Post Office Box 24031, Jacksonville, FL 32241. Post entries will be charged a late fee of $10.00 per entry. Entries close: FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2010. A $12.00 schooling fee will be charged per entry. There is no schooling fee for Walk, Walk/Trot or Lead Line. Stalls are available for $30 & MUST BE PREPAID. STALLS RESERVED AFTER THE CLOSING DATE OF ENTRIES WILL BE $40 IF AVAILABLE.
The Gift Horse High Point Awards
The Highpoint Horse/Rider of the following Divisions will be awarded on Sunday at the conclusion of the Show. Horse/Rider must have competed at both the NFHJA show on Sunday & the FCHJA show on Saturday to be eligible to win.
Saturday, May 29th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Under the Pavillion between the outdoor Hunter Rings. Come feed your horse sized appetite at a cookout with hotdogs and refreshments after showing all day!
NO NFHJA SCHOOLNG FEES!!!!
For Exhibitors that participate in the FCHJA show on Saturday, May 29th
Thomas Mickel represented Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center aboard Belle in a Western Equitation class with the help of volunteer Jamie Miller during the Special Olympic Area Equestrian Games. Photo Courtesy of VTRC
Loxahatchee, FL – May 18, 2010 – Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center (VTRC) is currently preparing to participate in the Special Olympic State Equestrian Games, which will be held May 21-22, 2010, in Tampa, Florida. Sixteen riders qualified for the Games after competing at the Area level March 27, 2010, in Ft. Pierce, FL.
During the Special Olympic State Equestrian Games riders will have the opportunity to compete in English and western equitation, trail ride competition, dressage, and pole bending. The riders representing VTRC range from needing full support with a leader and two sidewalks to independent riders who walk, trot, and canter on their own. They also have several riders competing in the training level dressage tests.
The qualified riders have been working on dressage test, equitation skills, pole bending, and barrel racing to prepare for the exciting competition. In addition to the 12 students traveling to the Games, six horses and 17 volunteers will be in Tampa for the event to support VTRC.
Brewster, New York – May 18, 2010 – Pegasus Therapeutic Riding’s Pegasus Farm chapter announced today that The Rider’s Closet program, developed by Georgina Bloomberg, will now be based out of Pegasus Therapeutic Riding’s Pegasus Farm chapter in Brewster, NY. The program originated four years ago, when Bloomberg wanted to donate her lightly used show clothing to a good cause, but was not sure where to start. The Rider’s Closet began as an endeavor to provide a place where all equestrians could donate their clothing so that other riders who may not be able to purchase their own riding attire and equipment could take advantage of these otherwise expensive items that had been outgrown, but were still in good condition.
Thus far, The Rider’s Closet has already proven to be of great value to a variety of programs, including, but not limited to a number of intercollegiate riding teams. While The Rider’s Closet has been growing, so has Bloomberg’s equestrian career. Over the last few years, the demand has risen, and with Bloomberg traveling to various equestrian competitions around the world, she wanted to move The Rider’s Closet from a home-based operation, to a new home where it could get more attention. “I’m really excited about this move,” said Bloomberg. “It is a great situation for both the Rider’s Closet and the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding program. They have a first class program, one that I’ve been really impressed with over the years. I think the move will benefit a lot of equestrians on a number of different levels.”
Thousand Oaks, CA – May 19, 2010 – The United States Para-Equestrian Association (USPEA) would like to thank Kentucky Equine Research whose offices in Versailles, KY will house the ten United States Para-Dressage Team horses prior to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. This opportunity allows the horses a week to relax from travel before their debut at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Lexington, KY.
The USPEA is grateful to the entire Kentucky Equine Research group especially Founder and President Joe Pagan. Hope Hand, President of the USPEA noted, “We are so thankful that Joe and the Kentucky Equine Research facility are lending their facilities to us prior to the World Equestrian Games. The World Equestrian Games will be our first competition as the United States Para-Equestrian Team, so we want to make sure our horses are ready to perform to the best of their ability. The Kentucky Equine Research team is an important factor in our Road to Kentucky.”
The Tryon May Classic (May 28-30) will be held next week at Harmond Field. This USEF A-Rated event will be a small show since there are only 144 stalls and we still have stalls available. If you would like stalls please call our office at 843 768 5503.
The Atlanta Summer Classic I, II (June 16-27) – The prize list has been mailed and is also available online. We are not planning on any tents so we only have 690 stalls. Lots of new classes for hunters and jumpers this June.
The Charleston Summer Classic I, II (July 14-24) – The prize list is at the printer and is available online: http://www.classiccompany.com/showdocs.php#chz. This will be a fun show this year again and the biggest change is a shorter schedule, jumper classic and the USHJA hunter classic. We do limit the show to 450 so don’t delay on making your reservations.
All of the shows have prize lists online. If you have any questions or want to reserve stalls, call Tissy at our office. 843 768 5503
