Horsin' Around on the Moses Cone Park Blowing Rock Trail Ride

Updated July 3, 2008

From The President
I hope you did not miss the Asheville Show. It was a great success. I say this every year, but the horses seem to get better and better with each passing year and this year was no exception. Rita and her show staff did an outstanding job. The arena decorations rivaled Nationals. Four Winds West handled the show secretary duties without a hitch. Our youth did a wonderful job with the Flag Presentation on Saturday night. The Exhibitor’s Dinner on Thursday night was excellent. All-in-All it was another Great Piedmont Classic. As many of you know we had a yearling colt donated to the association for the benefit of our Futurity program by Vanessa Howard. Our youth did a great job in selling raffle tickets for the colt. We had the drawing on Sunday afternoon. You can imagine my shock when I read off the winning ticket number, name and address; Ticket # 137, Mr. Peter Everett, O’Dorny, Tralee, Ireland. Apparently Peter was at the show this year and saw the colt and bought the ticket, thinking he had little chance of winning. Peter told the show staff if he won, “send the colt first class to Ireland.” Peter keeps some of his Paso Fino’s in training in South Carolina. Peter is real excited about winning and stated that this is the first time he has ever won anything in a raffle. Congratulations, and enjoy this wonderful colt.

Mark the date July 12 for the annual Piedmont trail ride in Blowing Rock, NC to ride the scenic Moses Cone Park trails. Contact Brian and Jill Smith Please at 828-773-7777 or 828-268-0608 or e-mail brian@blowingrockrealestatenc.com or jillsmithdesign@hughes.net to let them know you are coming so and that they can plan for lunch.

Put July 11-13 on your calendar for the Equine Extravaganza at the State Fair Grounds in Raleigh. Ali Casey will be handling this event for the association. This should be a wonderful event to showcase our breed. Ali could use some help manning our booth. Please contact her if you can provide her some assistance.

This is an election year for our association. Kathy Williams and Deborah Carrington are serving on the Nominating Committee. Please contact them if you would like to give some of your time and expertise back to your association. We will be electing a new President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director positions’.

We have a new Pathfinder Committee Chairperson, Diane Maury. Diane has volunteered to handle our Pathfinder Program. You can reach her at 803-351-1589 or email her at rdfoxhillfarm@aol.com. I also want to thank Ingrid Ruppart for her role in kicking this program off and chairing this committee for the past several years.

We have several Trail Rides planned for the remaining months of this year, so keep abreast of our activities by going to our website and reading our E-News regularly. We have a youth clinic planned the last weekend in August that Ann Furr, DVM is putting together and our Annual Membership Meeting will be held on a date to be determined in November.

Have a great summer with your Paso’s.

Bill Kerns
President

Upcoming 2008 Events

The Moses Cone Park -- Blowing Rock, NC Piedmont Trail Ride is July 12th
Please come to Blowing Rock, NC to ride the Cone Park trails. Escape the heat and enjoy the scenery. We are also excited to have professional photographer Sandy Keys with us to take some posed and candid shots of the participants and their horses. You can see Sandy ’s work here hoovesandhocks.blogspot.com. We will be ready to ride by 10:00 am. If you are able to come early, Sandy may be available to get a few shots before the ride. Lunch will be provided. Click here to download Moses Cone Trail Map and Piedmont Blowing Rock Trail Ride Flyer (pdfs).

Please give Brian and Jill Smith a call 828-773-7777 or 828-268-0608 or e-mail brian@blowingrockrealestatenc.com or jillsmithdesign@hughes.net to let us know you are coming. Look forward to seeing everyone!

Thanks,
Brian and Jill Smith

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The Equine Extravaganza is July 11th - 13th in Raleigh, NC
Come see the The Equine Extravaganza at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC on Friday, July 11th through Sunday, July 13th. There are over 100 demos and clinics, a Kid's Corral, Give-a-ways, Colt Starting Challenge (both evening shows), and so much more. Friday and Saturday will have the "Equus Extraordinaire" evening show; the evening show tickets are $15 at the door or $10 in advance online. Entrance expo tickets each day are: $14 for adults and children are $8, and children under age 5 are free.

Piedmont PFHA will have a Paso Fino breed booth and stall there to promote the Paso Fino and Piedmont PFHA activities and farms. Piedmont PFHA volunteers are needed to help set up and man the booth during the expo. Piedmont farms and members are welcome to send literature to Ali to have available at the expo. There will be 2008 Piedmont Directories and the 2008 PFHA Farm Directories also. Piedmont volunteers are needed! Contact Ali Casey if you can help set-up and/or man the booth for part of the time over any of the three days. Ali Casey's phone is 919-556-6610 and her email is Aliwcasey@aol.com.

For horse lovers who has attended in the past, you know what great shopping deals there are, plus the clinics are entertaining and educational! There has always been many new people interested in Paso Finos that stop by the Piedmont booth to get more info and chat about the smoothest riding horses in the world. For more details on the daily events, see the Equine Extravaganza website: www.equineextravaganza.com.

P.S. From Bill Kerns: Piedmont Farm Members, Piedmont Paso Fino Horse Association will have a booth at the Equine Extravaganza at the NC State Fair Grounds on July 11-13. If you have any promotional information that you would like to be displayed at this event please send it to: Ali Casey, 115 Jared Way, Louisburg, NC 27549. This will be a very well attended event that will give us a great venue to promote our breed and you farm. Please get your information to Ali ASAP.

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The NC State Fair Horse Paso Fino "Raleigh" Show is October 20th
2008 NC State Fair Show & Class Listing Flyer
New for 2008 will be the Trail Obstacle class moving to the outside arena. Trail is the first class after the lunch break, and this will give the trail class exhibitors a chance to practice the obstacles ahead of time. It will also have the main arena available for schooling during the lunch break. The Pleasure Driving class was removed from the schedule due to lack of participation. The Wine Glass class will be moved to after the Performance Championship as then exhibitors will still be in "formal" attire for this fun class. The Wine Glass class will be the last class before the lunch break. There is usually a good spectator crowd at that time in the arena. Draft Horse classes will again be intermixed with the Paso Fino classes in the evening. The earlier move-in time of 4pm on Sunday which suited exhibitors better in 2007 will again be available. The Pole Bending "fun-sport" class was popular with exhibitors and spectators alike in 2007 will be held again, so let's see a few more Paso Finos in that class to make it even more exciting to watch!

Glenn Petty is the NC State Fair Show Manager. Flat Rock Farm's Ali and Paul Casey will be hosting their delicious Bar-B-Que to exhibitors on Sunday night again. Rick Shaffer and Derek Fernandez are the judges for the show. Fred Moretti is the PFHA steward.

Contact Lynn Gallup for more info at (919)362-5966 or at info@gracewoodpasos.com.

Lynn Gallup
NC State Fair Local Show Chair

2008 Piedmont Classic Report
The Piedmont Classic 2008 is now history. The horse count was down by about 14 – 15 %. The quality of the horses at the show was fantastic. The show preserved it’s reputation as the regional show to attend if you want to know who well you will do at the Nationals. There was a good spectator crowd throughout the four days.

Mountin Hopes therapeutic riding facility was sponsored again by the Piedmont Classic. They collected donations and also received referrals for children and horses. They are very excited to return once again next year.

Jeanne Griggs, her father, Al Urich, and Nancy her friend, did another wonderful job with the decorations. Nancy Crumley of Kingsport drew the horse that was used in the theme this year. Many thanks to Nancy for such a beautiful design.

The show staff did a phenomenal job this year. The same number of classes was run this year as lat year, but in four days. The latest ending time was 9:30 pm and that was after having entertainment at 7 pm. Jeanne Griggs worked the Paddock with the assistance of Eddie Velasquez. Paulette deNault and Bernie Santana were the announcers and they very quickly established a great routine.

Piedmont’s Youth were well represented during the flag presentation. Margaret Gergley sang the National Anthem. What a beautiful voice she has! Ann Furr, Angela and Jerry Dodson organized an informative youth clinic. Christi Meyer was the presenter.

Joey Burnett and “Scotty” gave a crowd thrilling reining demonstration on Friday evening. It was so well received he was asked to do an encore performance on Saturday evening.

Rita Magaha
Piedmont Classic Show Chair

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Online Piedmont Membership Directories
The online Piedmont Farm and Membership Directory pages have been updated this month. Take advantage of adding a live email or website link, cost is only $10 per link and stays current as long as your membership stays active.

2008 Piedmont Futurity Update
The Piedmont Futurity continues to grow. See the updated Futurity Stallion listing. Any offspring from a nominated stallion is eligible to enter the Futurity Classes and, once nominated, each horse can show until its eligibility is finished. Futurity classes are shown at Asheville, along with regular show classes during the Saturday/Sunday show. If you have any questions, email Jerry Dotson jkdotson1@charter.net.

When making your breeding plans, consider these Piedmont Futurity Stallions whose offspring can show in the futurity and win money. Offspring of many of these stallions are also eligible to compete in the Breeders Sweepstakes at Nationals so you can have several chances to win additional prize money. The owners/agents are listed along with their phone number for contact.

Piedmont Classic Stallion Auction
Look for the August update on the 2008 stallions breedings that will be available from the 2008 Piedmont Stallion Auction.

Please contact Robbie Davis at (704) 895-4071 or email: ElPorvenir@aol.com with your bids on any 2008 breedings purchased. Bid is closed as soon as payment is received. Make checks payable to: PPFHA Mail to: Robbie Davis, 18600 Shearer Rd., Davidson, NC 28036.

Piedmont Pathfinder's Program
The new year is rolling right along with trail riding, so keep logging all those hours you ride and send them in monthly. If you haven’t joined, or for more information on the Pathfinders riding rewards program. This program is on hold right now while a new chairperson is found. Send in your $25 to join Piedmont’s Pathfinders program and get your T-shirt to start and a supply of forms to record your miles.

We have a new Pathfinder Committee Chairperson, Diane Maury. Diane has volunteered to handle our Pathfinder Program. You can reach her at 803-351-1589 or email her at rdfoxhillfarm@aol.com.

Download the Piedmont PathFinders Hours log in PDF format.

Rewards include:
50 hours - hat
100 - coffee mug
300 - cantle bag
400 - safety kit
500 - sweatshirt
1000 - jacket

A special prize will be awarded to the rider with the most hours at the end of each year. Membership is open only to Piedmont PFHA members. Double points will be awarded for any sanctioned trail ride regardless of group/breed. Signature of trail host required. To join, send $25 and T-shirt size to:

Piedmont Pathfinders c/o Robbie Davis, 18600 Shearer Rd., Davidson, NC 28036

Piedmont High Point Awards
Robbyn Young is the 2008 Points Chair. If you have a question, please contact Robbyn at robbyncita@netzero.com. Good Luck to everyone and wishing you a successful, fun show season.

2008 Piedmont PFHA Guidelines for High Point Awards (revised)
1) High point awards will be tallied for all PFHA recognized classes for each show year, from September 1 to August 31.

2) Any PFHA point show which is sponsored in full or in part by Piedmont PFHA will count towards high point tallies for that year.

3) Points will be counted based on official PFHA guidelines for each show and class, as per the PFHA rulebook. Championship points count in addition to any points earned in the corresponding regular (qualifying) class.

4) Only horses owned by Piedmont members (current members at time of each show) will be considered for Piedmont high point awards. All owners of a horse must be Piedmont members in order for that horse to be eligible for high point awards. Members do not have to live within the geographical territory of the region and do not have to have their national voting affiliation with Piedmont in order to compete for high point awards.

5) Should a class not have a Piedmont-owned horse which has won points in a given show year, a high point for that class will not be awarded for that year.

6) For youth and costume class awards, points will accumulate for each rider in each class regardless of the horse(s) ridden by the youth or costume rider. All youth and costume riders must be Piedmont members but their horses may be owned by a non-Piedmont member (in which case those horses cannot compete for any horse category awards).

7) If points are withheld from a class or show by the national PFHA because of incomplete requirements, improper class, or ineligible rider, (or for any other reason), those points will also be withheld from counting towards Piedmont high point awards.

8) In addition to the individual class high point awards, awards will be given for the following overall categories:

• Overall High Point Horse
• High Point Amateur Owner Rider
• High Point Stallion, Mare, Gelding
• High Point Sub-Junior and Junior Youth Riders

High point trophies will be awarded at the annual membership meeting and banquet in the fall of each year after the appropriate show year has ended.

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PFHA Registration Special
The Registration Department is once again offering a special price for horses over 720 days of age. This time this offer will be done in stages by the sex of the applicant horse. The first horses this special will be offered to are mares which fall into this age category. The applications for these horses must be postmarked between the following dates:
Mares - Oct. 1 & Oct. 24, 2008
Stallions - Dec. 1 & Dec. 26, 2008
Geldings - March 2 & March 28, 2009

Visit www.pfha.org for more information.

From The Trail

This year’s calendar is shaping up nicely. We have old favorites and some new adventures. We hope you will join us.

If you plan to participate in a Piedmont Ride you must be a Piedmont member and make reservations with the Trail Host. This is an insurance requirement for designated Piedmont Rides. You must contact the host with your name(s) of the people riding and a telephone number where you can be reached. Your Trail Host will need this information to verify your membership and so you can be contacted in the event the ride has to be canceled due to weather or other reasons. If you are not a member you will be required to join before the ride.

Trail Etiquette: Be a courtesy trail rider, if your horse kicks, please tie a ribbon on its tail so others will know to stay clear. If you are riding a stallion, please ride in front of the group so as not to annoy mares. Do not run up on horses from behind trying to catch up or take off in front without warning those around you first. Pay attention to your Trail Host instructions. Remember you are there to make sure everyone has a good safe ride.

Ideas for involvement: If you know the trails at the host location, offer to help your Trail Host lead a group. Often we have those that prefer to go slow or are on a young horse and prefer a smaller group. Also, if we have more than 10 horses, it is nice to split into smaller groups to ride and meet back at and allotted time and location. Coordinate with your host to help lead a group.

Offer to help with food: Not everyone rides or prefers to ride as long as the trail may be. If you are a short ride person or a non rider who has tagged along to enjoy the day, ask your host what you can do while the others are riding, volunteer to set up tables, pick up ice, drinks and food.

Things you need to bring: Lawn chairs. Shovel and/or poop scooper. Leave no trace at all facilities so we may continue to enjoy the opportunity to ride there.

We have some new and exciting places to ride this year. Hope to see you there. If you have any questions, suggestion or would like to be a trail volunteer to help with our trail rides, please contact me at (336)413-5204 or email: pasolink@yadtel.net.

Happy Trails!
Candace Link

Piedmont Trail Ride: Moses Cone Park, Blowing Rock, NC is July 12th
http://www.blowingrockequestrian.com/ For camping and stall info. Trail Host: Jill & Brian Smith, phone: 828-268-0608, Email: brian@blowingrockrealestatenc.com

Piedmont Trail Ride: South Mountain, Connelly Springs, NC is August 9th
(Camping & stalls available) website: http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/somo/home.html. Trail Host: Candace Link, 336-940-2936 H, 336 413-5204 Cell; Email: pasolink@yadtel.net.

Each trail host has graciously accepted the responsibility for leading rides at locations they often ride. If you plan to participate in that ride, you will need to contact the host so they can obtain a head count for the ride and food. Some rides are in locations where food is not nearby and will require you to pack a lunch. If the ride requires a packed lunch your Trail Host will inform you to bring your lunch, a dish for potluck or tell you food is provided.

Trail Riding Buddies
If anyone would like to be a Riding Buddy, or if you want a Buddy to ride in a Park you are interested in exploring, please let us know! Remember to be courteous enough to give all these folks at least a day or two’s notice! If anyone else would like to volunteer to be a Riding Buddy, or if you want a Buddy to ride in a Park you are interested in exploring, please let me know so I can put the information in the Newsletter. Contact Marcia Carrico at (336) 998-1111 or casacarrico@yadtel.net.

Marcia Carrico has volunteered to be a “Riding Buddy”, if anyone wants to come to Salem Lake Park in Winston-Salem and needs someone to ride with them. Call (336) 998-1111 or email her at casacarrico@yadtel.net.

Brian & Jill Smith have volunteered to be “Riding Buddies”, if anyone wants to come to Moses Cone Park in Blowing Rock, NC. Call (828) 268-0608 or email them at brian@blowingrockrealestatenc.com.

Valerie Fox has volunteered to be a “Riding Buddy”, if anyone wants to ride at Cane Creek Park in Waxhaw, NC and needs someone to ride with them. Call (704) 243-0113 or email her at vfox@alltel.net.

Candace Link has volunteered to be a “Riding Buddy” if anyone wants to come to Pilot Mt, Latta Park, New River Trail and Sand Hills State Forest and needs someone to ride with them. Call (336) 940-2936 or email her at pasolink@yadtel.net.

Piedmont Trail Ride Requirements
You must be a Piedmont member or Trail Ride Member, and contact the Trail Ride Host prior to Trail Ride deadline to participate.

Trail Etiquette
Be a courteous trail rider. If you horse kicks, please tie a red ribbon its tail so others will know to stay clear. If you are riding a stallion, please ride in front of the group so as not to annoy mares. Do not run up on horses from behind trying to catch up or take off in front without warning those around you first. Pay attention to your Trail Host instructions! Remember, you are there to make sure everyone has a good safe ride.

Attention All Trail Riders ... Join the Piedmont Path Finders Program
Piedmont PFHA is proud to announce the a new riding rewards program called "Piedmont Pathfinders". It will be like the national PFHA Pasos For Pleasure program. For a one time membership fee of $25 you will receive a T-shirt and log sheets to track your hours. Contact Diane Maury, phone: 803-351-1589 and her
email is: Rdfoxhillfarm@aol.com. Dianne is the new chair of the Piedmont Pathfinders program. She will keep track of log sheets. Download the Piedmont PathFinders Hours log in PDF format. Click here for more info.

PFHA Ticket to Ride Program
The Ticket to Ride is completely free to participate in for PFHA members. Members will complete a "ticket", which can be downloaded from the PFHA website or requested by contacting PFHA. Once the ticket is complete it is returned to the PFHA to be eligible for drawings that will take place at the Grand National Championship Show. You do not have to be present to win. You must be a member of the PFHA at the time of all rides and at the time of the drawings.

A member can complete as many tickets as they wish. The more tickets a member completes the better their chances are for the drawing. The tickets will be held at the PFHA until time for the drawings. The ticket has five spaces to have completed before the ticket can be returned to the PFHA. Every time you participate in a PFHA sanctioned trail ride it will count for two rides. A non PFHA sanctioned ride is worth one ride. You may use organized trail rides (must have a Ride Manager and be advertised) or any other event you participate in with your registered Paso Fino. Backyard pleasure riding/exercising can not be used for the Ticket to Ride program. Have the ride manager initial the spaces and sign off on the back of the ticket.

Online Horse Trail Directory
Check out the website called www.horsetraildirectory.com. It is a growing website where trail riders can critique trails and facilities all over the country.

Piedmont Membership

Join Piedmont PFHA
There is a new printable size Piedmont membership form online you can print and mail. Remember a person buying a Paso Fino horse from a Piedmont member can give the buyer a free annual Piedmont membership, along with a PFHA membership (need free new membership form from PFHA). 2008 dues are now due! Ride Guest Membership category available for one trail ride at $10.00. The Piedmont website Membership page will be updated in the January update to include all members who have renewed, so renew or join now to be included. Joining as a Piedmont Farm membership includes being listed in Piedmont's online Farm Directory, Membership Directory, includes your website listing, entitles you to 3 votes, and include 1-2 adults.

Piedmont Membership Directory available
If anyone needs a membership directory mailed directly, please let Milda know and one will be send to you. This is the directory that was handed out at the Piedmons remember to fill out the paperwork for any new buyers to get a free one year individual membership in PIEDMONT as well as PFHA. There is a separate form for Piedmont and PFHA. The Piedmont form is the regular membership form. The PFHA form can be downloaded from www.pfha.org and must be sent to PFHA with the original registration papers to transfer the horse to the new member.

Invite them to participate in any of our events, make them feel welcome in our association. Give us their name(s) so that we can send them a membership directory. Your involvement could make the difference as to whether they stay with us or drift away from the breed or association. Our association is here to help and support us all. Please stay involved and help keep Piedmont PFHA one of the most active regions in the country.

New E-News Update for 2008
Please put your email address on your renewal form to receive the newsletter electronically by email. The new monthly Piedmont E-News started in September 2007.

• If you are a Piedmont member and do not receive the monthly enews, check your spam filter and allow email to be received from piedmontpfha@yahoo.com.
  
• Consider adding piedmontpfha@yahoo.com to your list of contacts in your email address book.
  
• Please check that your current email is on record with Piedmont's secretary and on the website's membership directory page http://www.piedmontpasofino.org/pages/membership.html.
  
• You can also email piedmontpfha@yahoo.com and give your current email address.

For the newest Piedmont e-news format, be sure to have your email program allow graphics and images and "html" to be turned on. The format is in the introductory phase, and has been favorably received by members. Please note and check the “opt-out” of a printed snail mailed newsletter on the 2007-2008 renewal form, which will save our organization many hundreds of dollars per year.

Piedmont PFHA Website and E-news Deadlines
The 25th of each month will be the tentative deadline for getting new information to the webmaster with a target date around the1st of each month for page updates to be online. Email information in MS Word or text, or notepad format if attachment or within the email message to Lynn Gallup webmaster email . News and Event photos should be sized to 72 dpi before emailing.

Paso Fino Horse World Regional News and Deadlines
From Lori West... Do you, your child, or a friend, have an accomplishment with a Paso Fino that you would like to share with the rest of our members? Would your child enjoy seeing their photo and name in print? Did you enjoy a Piedmont event? How about taking the opportunity to encourage a new Paso Fino enthusiast publicly? Please send your news and photos to Lori West, and help make the Piedmont PFHA regional news column in PFHW interesting to read by all PFHA members. Your info and photo might also appear in the Saltblock Gazette.

Deadline for submission of news for the Piedmont article is the first day of each month. Send news to: Lori West, 74 Gibbs Road, Leicester, NC 28748 or email to lorihwest@yahoo.com. Lori's phone/fax 828-683-1793.

Piedmont Password Deadlines
Email or send your Password news to Martha Wishon, 4110 Williams Rd., Lewisville, NC 27023
phone: 336-945-3885 or email rbpasofino@aol.com. The Password deadlines are the first day of the following months: January, March, May, July, September, November. The Password is issued bi-monthly and is mailed around the 10th of the stated months.

Piedmont PFHA Website Advertising Rates

Ads run for one year and text info can be updated if horse is sold or price changes.

Text Only For Sale Ad. Up to 50 words; Ads runs up to 1 year (Piedmont member rate); may be canceled if the horse is sold. Includes e-mail link and URL link - $25.
(Non-Piedmont member rate - $35).

Text with One Photo For Sale Ad. Up to 50 words; Ad runs up to 1 year (Piedmont member rate). Includes e-mail link and URL link - $40.
(Non-Piedmont member rate - $60).

Text with 2 Photos For Sale Ad. Up to 50 words; Ad runs up to 1 year (Piedmont member rate). Includes e-mail link and URL link - $50.
(Non-Piedmont member rate - $75).

Photos for ads should be digitalized or scanned; size specifications should be 300 px by 300 px max. and 72-100 dpi. There will be an additional charge of $25 per each photo that needs scanning. Please see the Advertising page for more info.

Farm and Membership Directory Email and/or Web site URL Links
Don't you want your web site and email address in the farm listing or membership listing to be just a click away? The link(s) will stay in place unless you don't renew you membership the following year.

• $10 for each Piedmont Member Directory email link
• $10 for each Piedmont Farm Directory email link
• $10 for each Piedmont Farm Directory web site URL link
  

Piedmont Business Sponsors

Southern States Feed Program - Piedmont Futurity Sponsor
Southern States still gives Piedmont money back on every feed bag coupon that is sent in and for bulk deliveries, which supports the Piedmont Futurity. If you feed "bag" feed, please take the time to clip the coupon (in dotted lines) off the back of each bag. Piedmont gets $.25 for Legends or Equitech bag and $.10 for every Reliance bag coupon submitted. Piedmont also gets credit for 50 lb. for bulk deliveries, so save the pink weight slip.

All coupons and weight tickets can be turned in any time to Joe & Eileen Wilhem, 1285 Stony Ridge Rd., Pinnacle, NC 27043. Thank you for taking the time to support the Futurity through this program.

Piedmont PFHA and Country Supply - Piedmont Futurity Sponsor
Recently I was ordering supplies from Country Supply online and discovered that they have a "donation program" called Country Care, which donates a portion of a customer's payment to a non-profit group of the customer's choosing. So, I signed up the Piedmont Futurity as the non-profit group we can contribute to. We will get up to 5% of purchases back (excluding dewormers and shipping costs), much like a Discover Card gives cash back.

In order to participate, all you have to do is make an order with www.countrysupply.com and after you put in your credit card information, you will see a box for "Country Care Code." In this box you should type Piedmont Futurity" written without a space between words. Country Supply will tally our corresponding purchases and send us a check monthly to benefit the futurity program.

Any of you who have shopped through Country Supply probably know that their prices on grooming supplies, barn tools and supplies, and horse care items are the best around. Please consider using them if possible and remember to type "Piedmont Futurity" as your Country Care Code. Pass this along to any of your friends who shop for horse supplies and ask them to help us out by shopping at Country Supply.

Piedmont Website Advertising
Got a Paso Fino for sale or a Piedmont Futurity Stallion to promote, now is the time to submit your Classified Ads for Piedmont's website. To include one photo in your ad is only $40 for Piedmont members for one entire year online on the world wide web. Piedmont classified ad pages are showing up in search engines, so get yours to be included. Currently there are a number of new ads that will be added very soon to the Sale Barn and Stallion Row web pages. Be sure your ads are included, so anyone on the web can find you easily! See the very affordable ad rates. Classified advertising helps to pay for the Piedmont website.

NEW Check out the Piedmont PFHA June 6, 2008 website stats for the home page (entry page usually into the Piedmont website's other pages. Over 34,000 hits! Take advantage of the exposure Piedmont gets on the world wide web with advertising your horses!

Promote Your Farm on The Internet
At Piedmont's website, on the 2007 Piedmont Paso Fino Farms Directory page, did you know that Piedmont Farm member may list their websites. If you would like to add a ACTIVE link to your website address OR email address, for the online directories, the cost is just $10 per each farm and $10 per each email link. As long as you renew your farm membership yearly, the ACTIVE link will stay in place without costing any more. People can click on your email or website direct without copying or pasting. If you have an email change later on, that can be corrected at no charge. If you have a regular Membership, you can add an ACTIVE email link from the Membership Directory page also. Cost is just $10. for an email link.

Send your check to Piedmont Treasurer, Robbie Davis, 18600 Shearer Rd., Davidson, NC 28036 with which links, and email the info to webmaster, Lynn Gallup.

Piedmont's Website Ranks High in the Top Search Engines
Have you got a Paso Fino horse to sell or a stallion at stud and need to get the word out to people who might be interested? Doing a search where www.piedmontpasofino.org would be ranked when typing in the key words: "paso fino horses NC" came up with excellent ranking results in the Internet's top search engines. Google had it listed as #1 on page 1. Considering Piedmont doesn't pay for any priority listings, these are exceptional results. Many surfers will not go past the first page in doing hits. Piedmont's website fell on the first page of these widely used search engines. Now is the time to get your Piedmont website classified ads in for the next month. The ads stay online for an entire year. Don't miss out on this Internet advertising opportunity. The rates are very cost competitive compared to other horse sites. See Piedmont's advertising page for rate information and submit your Internet ads. There are members and non-member rates.

Changes for the 2008 PFHA Grand National Championship Show
The Youth portion of the show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, adding an extra day to the National Show. This will hopefully decrease the number of days that these children would need to be absent from school as well as afford them the opportunity to shine in their very own "National Show".

Piedmont Open Circuit Horse Show Program

New dates for Open Show at Biggerstaff Park in Dallas, NC, known as the Triple Challenge are April 12, June 7 and September 13. These are the same format as the usual ones with PASO FINO youth pleasure, country pleasure, pleasure mares/fillies; stallion/geldings and championship; performance mares/fillies, stallions/geldings; and performance championship, interspersed with western pleasure and racking horse and game classes. Shows start at 10 am with the english/hunter division. Paso classes start after lunch break. Contact: Ann R. Furr, DVM, phone: 704-798-3460 or drfurr@alltel.net.

June 14th -- N.C. WHOA Versatility Show, Biggerstaff Arena, Dallas Park, Dallas NC. Dress code is casual. Please come and join the fun. GAP, model, showmanship classes open to all gaited horses.
Start time is 11am. Address is 1303 Dallas-Cherryville Highway, Biggerstaff Park, Dallas NC.

Oct. 11th -- N.C. WHOA Versatility Show, Ellis Park, Salisbury, NC. The event has a nice arena, good bathrooms, good basic concessions, and work out of your trailer- no stalls.Contact: Ann R. Furr, DVM, phone: 704-798-3460 or drfurr@alltel.net.

June 21st Gaston County Horseman's Association Open Show.
Paso Fino pleasure and performance classes offered for youth and adults. All breed show. More info coming in the near future.

Piedmont Open Circuit Horse Show Program
Don’t miss this opportunity to show Paso Finos to the public! You will improve your skills and those of your horse, without the pressure of PFHA shows, all the while making new friends and having lots of fun! It is hard to believe that the show season is already in full swing, but its not too late to join the Open Show Program. Sign up now for the Open Show Points Program.

You can find shows in your area by checking the Piedmont website’s calender of events. If you know of a show you would like to add to the list, just fill out the show approval form and send it to Penny Rose. You will receive points for any and all classes you place in at approved shows. Please send your Open Show reports in to Penny Rose as soon as you complete them, so she can keep on top of recording those points!

This year get your Regional High Point recognition. If you need additional information contact Jeanne Griggs, 900 W. Buford St., Gaffney, SC 29341 (864)487-9565 or email Jeanne Griggs jeannegriggs@bellsouth.net.

These all-breed open horse shows are a good way to promote the breed and sell horses, and can help increase membership in PPFHA. The program will provide shows for beginners who do not feel qualified for Asheville or Clemson. Points will be awarded to the rider rather than horse. Horses must be registered and riders must be members of PPFHA. Points will be given for any class a horse competes in for the top six winners in adult classes and to the top six winners in youth classes.

The contact for recording and sending open show circuit point sheets to is Penny Rose, 16976 Justice Branch Road, Littleton, NC 27850, phone 252-586-7978.

Piedmont PFHA Open Horse Shows Program Application Form [pdf file]

Piedmont PFHA Open Horse Shows Program Member Form [doc file]

Piedmont PFHA Open Horse Shows Program Points Worksheet [pdf file]

Piedmont PFHA Open Horse Show Program Eligibility

o Riders must be current members of Piedmont PFHA and must be members during each show which is counted towards high point tabulations
o Riders must pay a yearly fee (if any) determined by Piedmont PFHA
o Adults are 18 years old and over
o Youth are 17 years old and under
o Professionals are 18 years old and defined as pro per PFHA rulebook
o Horses must be PFHA registered
o Shows must be approved by Piedmont PFHA (before or within 10 days after show)
o It is the responsibility of each rider to turn in his/her class/show placement sheet to the Open Competition award program manager for tabulation

Points

o Points will be awarded to the rider, regardless of which Paso Fino is ridden
o Points will only be awarded for shows approved by Piedmont PFHA (before or within 10 days after show)
o Points will be a simple total of individual class scores
o Points will accumulate from September 1 through August 31 for each competition year
o Points will be given for any class a rider has been placed in, whether an open class or an all-Paso Fino class (includes equitation, trail, versatility, pleasure, rail, etc)
o Points will not be awarded for any show or class which awards regular points from the national association (those horses compete in the regular Piedmont high point system)
o Points will be awarded as follows:
First place = 6 pts, 2nd = 5 pts, 3rd = 4 pts, 4th = 3pts, 5th = 2 pts, 6th = 1 pt
Championship points will count double
Paso Fino Fun shows hosted by Piedmont PFHA members will count double

Awards

o Year end high point awards will be given to the individuals with the top six point scores for the competition year
o Awards will be given in three categories: Adult, Youth, and Professional
o Awards will be given out at the annual Piedmont PFHA Awards Banquet

Eligible Shows (fun shows are double points)

• Southern Horse Festival
  Hunt Horse Complex, Raleigh, NC -- Gaited Horse Classes on Sunday
  First weekend in December
  Sammy Jenkins: (919) 201-3606; www.southernhorsefestival.com
• Heritage Farm Fun Show
  Lexington, North Carolina
  Milda Minter: (336) 764-4785; mpminter60@aol.com
• Spartanburg Horseman’s Association
  Camp Croft State Park, Spartanburg, SC 29302 -- 2 Paso Fino Classes + Open Classes
  3rd Saturday every month - February thru November
  Website: www.shahorseshows.com
• Gaston County Horseman’s Association
  Biggerstaff Park, Dallas, NC
  Last Saturday in April, June and August
  Dr. Ann Furr: (704) 279-7414; drfurr@alltel.net
• East Coast Open Show Circuit
  Eastern Agricultural Center, Williamston, NC-- 2-Day All-Breed Fun Shows
  Dates to be announced
  Website: www.eastcoasthorses.com
• Etowah Riding Club
  Turnpike Road, Etowah, NC
  Tracie Mitchell (828) 692-0096
• Union County Saddle Club Open Horse Shows
  East Sandy Ridge Rd, Off Highway 207, Monroe, NC
  Cindy Moser (704) 291-0196 or Vicki Lawton (704) 243-2126 www.unioncountysaddleclub.com
• Lincoln County Horsemen’s Association
  Ponderosa Show Grounds, Lincolnton, NC Contact Cindy Kincaid: (704) 747-7755 or email divineequinestables@yahoo.com. www.lincolncountyhorsemensassociation.org

Jeanne Griggs will be gathering info on Open Horse Show Schedules in the Piedmont region to promote Paso Finos amongst other breeds of horse owners. If you have an Open All-Breed Horse Show/Circuit you would like to be included, contact Jeanne Griggs at (864)489-9397 work or (864)490-5339 home or email jeannegriggs@bellsouth.net.

Southern Horse Festival NC Championship Open Horse Show is in December
There will be an Open Horse Show to be held at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, NC during the Southern Horse Festival. There are classes offered for gaited horses. For a list of the Non-Trotting Classes go to www.southernhorsefestival.com.

Spartanburg Horsemen’s Association All-Breed Horse Shows
The Spartanburg Horsemen’s Assoc is a non-profit all-breed organization that is having shows at Croft Park in Spartanburg, SC, shows. Paso Finos are welcome in EVERY class and each person is instructed to dress appropriate for their breed. More detailed information and class sheets can be found at www.shahorseshows.com or call Jeanne Griggs at (864)489-9397 (work) or (864)490-5339 (home) or email Jeanne Griggs.

The East Coast Open Horse Show Circuit offers Non-Trotting Classes just for Paso Finos and Peruvian Pasos. The other gaited breeds would enter in the Racking classes. Check out their web site for more info... East Coast Open Horse Show Circuit is held at the Bob Martin Eastern North Carolina Agricultural Center and offers year end awards. Contact info is Trish Andrews at 252-799-0334 or email sitrish123@earthlink.net.

Johnston County Horse Show Series
The Johnston County Horse Show Series offers a friendly and competitive atmosphere to riders of all ages and experience. The show is held at the Johnston County Livestock Arena in Smithfield, North Carolina starting at 9:00 am. A negative Coggins test is required and will be checked. Concessions are available at the show grounds. Cost per class is $7. Raindates for all shows are the following day on Sunday. Membership is available for those who are interested in competing for year end awards. Contact Michele McLaughlin for more information 919-934-1344 or email sileeno@ipass.net.

Directions from Raleigh: Take I-40 east to exit 319 McGees Xroads and turn left onton Highway 210. Go approx. 9 miles and turn left at sign that says Livestock Arena. About ¼ mile the show arena will be on right

Directions from Fayetteville – Take I-95 North to Highway 40 West going towards Raleigh. Take exit 319 McGees Xroads and turn right on to Highway 210. Go approx. 9 miles and turn left at sign that says Livestock Arena. About ¼ mile the show arena will be on right.

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