Piedmont Youth Cassie Oaks wins PFHA two Youth Nationals Events
Piedmont's own Miss Cassie Oaks of Enoree, South Carolina, scored a double win at the PFHA National Show when she won the Youth Hippology contest for the fourth consecutive year and was also named the Youth Essay Contest winner. The grand prize for the essay contest was a beautiful black Paso Fino gelding, Napoleon de Suenos, generously donated by Oscar and Kendra Vasquez. A big Congratulations go out to Cassie!

Piedmont Owners and Horses Win Many National and Reserve National Championships at the 2005 Grand National Championship Show in Perry, GA
Here are the class listings with the 2005 National and Reserve placing horses and their Piedmont member - owner. Congratulations to all who showed and placed at Nationals!

Team Coloso's Success at 2005 Nationals
Team Coloso and it’s participating members enjoyed a wonderful national show. Highlights involved taking the Grand National Pleasure Mares & Fillies Championship class (Bill Minter rider) and Reserve Grand National Champion titles in Bella Forma Mares, Performance Colts & Stallions, and Amateur Owner Pleasure Mares & Fillies. Third place Grand was also won in A/O Performance Colts & Stallions. Team Coloso enjoyed winning national and reserve national title in Breeders Sweepstakes Fillies. Along with these titles, a total of 10 additional national titles and 7 reserve national titles were also celebrated along with other placements at this show. Coloso’s Musica PM was the High Point Horse at the National show and once again Ponderosa Coloso was the highest money winner in the Breeder’s Sweepstakes classes. Congratulations go to all of Team Coloso and it’s members for a great show!

Glen Petty gets rave reviews on his job as the new PFHA National Show Manager
Glen Petty is the President of the N.C. Horse Council and also the NC State Fair Horse Show manager. He was also contracted to manage the 2005 Grand Nationals. Here are some thoughts from Glen on the Paso Fino Grand Nationals:

From the Piedmont President
With this time of year comes the planning for the next year, to make it even better than this one. Included in the September 2005 Password issue you will find a membership survey which will help your Piedmont officers and directors determine some show alternatives for the next few years. Please take the time to complete this survey and return it as indicated by October 10. We will use your responses to develop a plan which we will present at the annual membership meeting on November 5.

In the September issue of the Password we have printed the Piedmont by-laws, the current version which has been in effect for at least the past 10 years. I ask each of you to review them and contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. I will be proposing some by-law changes which will be sent out in October for your review as required, in order for the vote on changes to be done at the annual meeting on November 5. We will be electing one director at-large this year also. Watch for the October mailing so that you can vote by absentee ballot on the by-law changes and the director's position if you cannot attend the meeting.

We are developing a marketing committee to work within Piedmont PFHA to promote our activities and the breed to the public. I would like to see us highlighting more the horses for sale, stallions at stud, breeders, and trainers within our region. We are gathering information and should have a plan of action to present to the membership at the November meeting.

Our annual banquet this year will be informal, as per member suggestions at the Clemson meeting in April. We have also changed the trophies from "practical" to "fancy" and so this year we will be awarding beautiful silver pieces to the Piedmont High Point winners. Make sure you attend the banquet to claim your award in person! All Piedmont shows for the year counted in the tabulations, beginning with the NC State Fair in October 2004 and ending with the Columbia, SC, show on August 6, 2005.

Our region enjoys many successful activities, from one of the top shows in the country (Asheville) to trade shows (Southern Horse Festival) to great fun shows and wonderful trail rides all over our region. Most of these activities take a great deal of planning and support to make them successful. One of the benefits of our region is that we are large and we can provide activities for everyone no matter what the interest or experience is relating to the Paso Fino breed. We each have our areas of prime interest and enthusiasm, but please remember that it is our love of this breed and our desire to further it that we all share. To this end, in any planning we do, we can disagree but we do not have to be disagreeable (thanks to Marcia Davis for that quote). Please keep this in mind as you consider what you feel our plans should be for the coming year.

Remember it is time to renew your Piedmont membership for 2006 so you don't miss out on the activities and voting this fall. This region works for you but we cannot be successful without your support. Thanks to each of you for your participation, suggestions, or help in the past year. I look forward to another enjoyable year in Piedmont PFHA.

Milda Minter
Piedmont President

Piedmont PFHA Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Banquet is Saturday, November 5th at El Escondite in Waxhaw, NC
This year we're going casual! Join us at Valerie Fox's El Escondite in Waxhaw, NC, near Charlotte for our membership meeting at 3:00 p.m. followed by the awards banquet at 5:30. Banquet is free for Piedmont members and $10 for guests.

Come at 3:00 for the membership meeting where many important items will be discussed, followed by barbeque and a great time with your Piedmont friends. If you'd like to go early and trail ride over the farm's wooded trails and open fields, please let Valerie know. Some stalls may be available. There are motels available in the area so contact Valerie for information if needed.

Please RSVP for the banquet by November 1 to Milda Minter, mpminter60@aol.com or call 336-764-4785.

Directions: from I-77, take I-485 East to Rea Road exit, turn right (south), go to Providence, turn right, go to Waxhaw*go over railroad tracks and turn left at the light*go approximately 1/4 mile to fork, take right-hand fork, which is Old Waxhaw-Monroe Road and has a sign saying to JAAARS. Go about one mile on Old Waxhaw-Monroe Road, turn hard right onto Sims Road (at Piney Grove Church), go 1.4 miles, driveway is on left with sign saying "Fox Farms." Follow drive to red barn. Farm address is 7505 Sims Road, Waxhaw, NC.

For further information on hotels or trail riding contact Valerie Fox, 704-243-0113, vfox@alltel.net, or visit her website at www.elescondite.net. We look forward to seeing you there!

Meeting Agenda, 3:00 p.m.

Call to order
Secretary's report, minutes from last meeting
Treasurer's report, written update on financial position
Show Reports:
1) Clemson Show, April 2005
2) Asheville Show, June 2005
3) Youth Show, July 2005
4) Columbia Show, August 2005
5) NC State Fair, October 2005
6) 2006 Show Schedule and Planning
7) fun shows
8) non-point open shows
Futurity Report
Trail Ride Reports
Marketing Committee
Discussion on National PFHA matters/Board Delegate Report
Other Committee Reports
Other Old Business
Voting on By-law Changes
Voting on Director Position
New Business
Adjournment

All of these items are important to our members. Please plan to attend and discuss these items in person if at all possible. The awards banquet will follow the meeting. Hope to see you all there!

Marketing Committee
If you have marketing expertise, or just want to help us with ideas or implementation to promote our region and members and horses, please contact Milda Minter about serving on the marketing committee. We need to have a plan for 2006 in place for approval at the annual meeting.

Election for Director At-Large
We will be electing one director at-large at the annual meeting. If you are interested in running for this position, please contact Ann Furr, nominating chairman, by October 5 so that your name can be included on the absentee ballot which will be mailed to the Piedmont members in October.

Show Updates
Many of you have concerns about our shows and where you think we need to promote our horses, in particular the Clemson arena. Our final report for Clemson 2005 showed a minor loss of only $300 for that show, which included major expenses for ribbons, management, and exhibitor parties totaling about $9,000 (expenses we wouldn't have there in 2006). We had a good turnout this year and had some novice and fun classes which were popular. Clemson is actually one of the most reasonably-priced facilities, at $650 for the arena per day and about $22 per stall for the weekend.

Our recent one-day show in Columbia had a good turnout of horses and spectators. This show was sponsored by the Pure PR Association. They are moving this show back to N. Augusta for 2006 because of the extreme cost of Columbia Fairgrounds, at $750 per day (plus half for warm-up days) and $1,600 for each barn (72-80 stalls) for the first day and $800 per day per barn after that, no matter how many horses you have in each barn (could be 5 or 50). This factors to $40 per stall but you have to pay for every stall, whether used or not. This is an unreasonable fee to pay and is one of the reasons we left Columbia for Clemson several years ago. While our Columbia show used to max out the barns, several factors have changed since then, namely the arena costs, the number of shows in other regions (so people don*t need to come to ours as much), and some rule changes which prevent a judge from judging the first day and then showing the rest of the show (which saved us expenses and brought more horses).

We are considering a Camden facility. It is $800 per day and approx. $30 per stall. It is similar to Braselton, GA, in that the arena is covered with an outdoor warmup, down a hill from the barns and the barns are a distance away. It does have a restaurant on site and plenty of wash racks, and a nice atmosphere. It will be miserable, however, if the weather is bad. It is between Columbia and Florence on I-20, but not in a metropolitan area. Other facilities that have been suggested are Lake Waccamaw near Wilmington and Fence in Tryon, NC. We are looking into the details for using these. Other facilities might be available, such as Latta Plantation near Charlotte, but it doesn't have a covered arena, which is a necessity when planning a point show and hoping for a good turnout. It also has deep sand footing, unsafe for our horses. Williamston, NC, may be available. Some of these facilities would not be suitable due to extreme weather at certain times of the year.

Remember that we rely on other regional members to support our shows, just as they rely on us to support theirs (GA, TN, VA, etc). While we can develop an ideal plan, often times the facilities are not available or they conflict with major events or shows. Many of you know already that the Clemson dates for 2006 (April 14-16) fall on Easter weekend. If we switch the show to Camden for April 7-9, 2006, then we fall on Easter weekend there for 2007. The problem with any facility is that once you give up your dates, you most likely cannot get them back, because the facilities we like are popular with everyone else also. We lost Clemson once and took many years to get it back, so it's unlikely if we give it up totally for 2006 that we can get it again. Our original plan was to skip Clemson for 2006 and return there in 2007, but this may not be possible. If we hold the Clemson show in 2006, we would plan to show on Friday only or Friday and Saturday only, with a shortened schedule on Saturday so exhibitors can travel home on Saturday for Easter Sunday with families.

One of the issues is that we don't get many spectators to our shows. Unfortunately, neither do our PFHA national show or shows of other breeds. Our large shows may not be the best place to gain new members, instead the fun shows, expos, parades, and trail rides and open houses may accomplish this better. We placed over $2,000 in ads (print and radio) and flyers for the 2005 Asheville show. While we had a good crowd and many horses were sold at that show, we cannot clearly tell how many new people were there because of our advertising campaign. Our marketing committee will be addressing this issue in a mass approach for the entire region and all our events. Any point show we do may not be better than Clemson is now in drawing spectators, and our marketing campaign may make the difference anyway.

For those of you who wish to try the Columbia facility, there are non-point Paso Fino classes at the SC State Fair in October. If you support this show, we may be able to get this show PFHA sanctioned in the future. If you are interested in the possible promotion possibilities of this venue, then it won*t matter about the points anyway.

We all show for a variety of reasons, for fun, for high-point competition, just enough to qualify for nationals, to see how well our horses can compete, etc. Keep in mind when you fill out the enclosed survey that each show may have a different purpose, all of which are valuable to some of our members. One of our options will be to do a series of smaller one or two day shows at several different facilities to see which ones we like. This would also be dependent on available dates. We could also not have a spring show at all for 2006 and just attend the Gainesville, GA, show, which got moved up to the last weekend in April for 2006 but will return to its May dates in 2007.

Your responses to the survey will answer many of these questions. Please think your answers through for the benefit of our Piedmont association. Thanks in advance for your positive thoughts about these issues.

RFD-TV helps find new Piedmont member their first Paso Fino
Kim Muncy was having pain riding a different breed, and saw the RFD_TV South Dakota ride and started searching for a Paso Fino. Kim bought the first one she rode (Monita de MaGarita). The fit was perfect, and the bond instant. Daughter Ashley started tentatively, overcoming a fear of riding after seeing her mom get seriously hurt on a horse. By the end of the day, with friend Jeanne Grigg's help (and her horse, Tsar), Ashley was all smiles and loving it. Hmm...shall we take bets on how long it takes for them to have to get another Paso Fino? These new converts were a direct result of seeing the video on RFD-TV. The power of television marketing is a tool we should use more often.

Next Piedmont Trail Ride is at Latta Park on October 22nd
If you’re not riding the trails with Piedmont, you’re missing out! The next opportunity is Saturday, October 22nd at Latta Plantation Nature Preserve in Huntersville, NC. The bridle trails are wide pathways through the woods that weave across the park on the north and south sides of the main park road. Various combinations of loops and backtracking trips are possible. This county park is a 760-acre nature habitat, with an equestrian center and 80 stalls. Everyone should park at the Equestrian Center and be saddled, bridled and ready to ride at 10am. Reservations are required, so please contact Candace Link (336) 940-2936 or pasolink@msn.com.

Salem Lake Trail Ride is November 12th in Winston Salem
This ride is being held on Saturday, November 12 at a beautiful park in Winston-Salem, NC. The trails are wide quarry dust tree lined bridle paths around lovely Salem Lake. Flat ground ideal for novice trail horses. Paved trailer parking area. Please bring your pooper-scooper because this is a "leave no trace" area. There are 7 miles of bridle paths and a covered picnic area. Park gates open at 7am. Plan to be saddled, bridled and ready to ride at 11am. Lunch will be provided at 1pm.

Reservations are required because we need to know how much food to prepare and we may need to contact you in the event of any changes. Please contact the HOST, Candace Link (336) 940-2936 or pasolink@msn.com to let her know you are coming.

Fantasia Farms hosts "Horsin' Around for St. Judes" on November 12th
Fantasia Farms cordially invites you to join them for "Horsin’ Around for St. Judes" on November 12th, from10am until 2pm. There will be Paso Fino exhibitions, pony rides, food and refreshments, hay rides, raffles for prizes, used tack sale, free gifts & more…Food, Fun and Entertainment for the whole family! Donations appreciated and all proceeds will benefit St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital. Contact: Lauri Pistolis at fantasiafarms@direcway.com.

Gracewood Farm's Open House is November 13th
Gracewood Farm Paso Finos in New Hill, NC invites you to visit during the farm's Open House on Sunday November 13th from 1pm to 4pm. There will be a demonstration of Bridleless Riding on a Paso Fino at 2pm, plus viewing and test rides of the farm's Paso Fino horses.

Southern Horse Festival NC Championship Open Horse Show is Dec. 5th.
There will be an Open Horse Show to be held at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, NC during the Southern Horse Festival. On December 5th, Sunday afternoon, there are classes offered for gaited horses. Click here for a list of the Non-Trotting Classes or go to www.southernhorsefestival.com.

A Piedmont Youth Member can win a $500 US Savings Bond
In a program sponsored by Pinnacle Paso Finos, starting June 15, with the 2005 Piedmont Asheville Classic and running through Memorial Day 2006, a $500 US Savings Bond will be awarded to the Junior member who collects and turns in the most Southern States "Proof of Purchase" seals. So start clipping your Legends, Reliance & Triple Crown horse feed bags’ "Proof of Purchase" seals. An equal number of seals will be credited for each bulk feed slip turned in. Credit will be given by the actual number of seals or bulk tickets turned in (each 50lb feed equals 1 seal). Ask your friends, trainers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, neighbors, anyone you know who feeds Southern States horse feed to their horses. Proceeds from this drive will be used to fund the Piedmont Futurity program.

So, starting June 15th, 2005, mail your "Proof of Purchase" seals to: Joe & Eileen Wilhem, PINNACLE PASO FINOS, 1285 Stony Ridge Road, Pinnacle, NC 27043. If you have any questions call (336) 325-3052 or email joes9245@aol.com.

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. MSN had it listed as 3rd on page 1, Google had it listed as 5th on page 1, and Altavista had it listed as 12th and still on page one. 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.

Piedmont Activities now available on DVD
The Piedmont Clinic at Minter's Rancho Paso Bravo (April 2005) and the "Dinner in the Dirt" at the 2005 Asheville show are available on DVD from Galopando TV, $40.00 each. For ordering information, or for other advertising opportunities, call 1-877-PASO-DVD, or visit GalopandoTV on the web www.galopandotv.com.

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 new 2005-2006 directory that was handed out at the Piedmont Classic show in Asheville. It has the latest member listing and farm directory, plus officer information. It is also a valuable tool for new members or prospective buyers to see how active our region is. Call Milda Minter (336) 764-4785 or email mpminter60@aol.com.

• 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 contact Lynn Gallup or 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

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 PiedmontFuturity" 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 "PiedmontFuturity" 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.
Many thanks, Milda Minter

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 basvprop@bellsouth.net.

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@msn.com.

Ticket to Ride PFHA Program
Updated 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.

All-Breed Open Horse Shows News

NEW Show off Your Paso Fino at Open All-Breed Horse Shows
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 Jeanne Griggs. There is discussion of tracking potential points for Paso Finos participants.

NEW Southern Horse Festival NC Championship Open Horse Show
There will be an Open Horse Show to be held at the Hunt Horse Complex in Raleigh, NC during the Southern Horse Festival. On December 5th, Sunday afternoon, there are classes offered for gaited horses. Click here for a list of the Non-Trotting Classes or 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. The dates for the 2005 shows are September 17, October 15, and November 19. 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.

Last year we had Pasos shown in the Cross Rails class, a couple of the English Equitation classes (a few first places there by the way!), Pole Bending and Barrel Racing. However, classes 19 and 21 (which are Saddle seat classes) are the two that are predominantly, some months exclusively Paso Fino now! It really is a great show for beginners, students, as a "dress rehearsal" show for young or green horses, or a fun and inexpensive way to show in a very relaxed, family atmosphere! We hope to see lots of Piedmont Paso Finos at the next how! ...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.

NEW 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.

Classes offered are huntseat, western, english, trail, equitation & horsemanship, halter and several over fences classes. There are four age divisions Pee Wee (8 years and under), Youth (9-13 years), Junior (14-18 years) and Adult (19 and over). The show is approved for the Paint Alternative Competition (PAC), Arabian Horse Association Open Event Incentive Program (OEIP) and qualifies for North Carolina Quarter Horse Association, Appaloosa (ACAAP), Morgan Horse Association, Pinto Horse of America, American Donkey and Mule Association, Palomino Performance Program, Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association Versatility Program, and the International Spotted Horse Registry Association Show Point Recognition. 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 . Remaining 2005 show dates are: Sept. 10th, Oct.8th, Nov. 19th, Dec. 10th.

Directions from Raleigh: Take I40 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

PFHA News

2004 Paso Fino Grand National Championship Show: 53 minute program including highlights of the competition and festivities.
Youth Participation at the 2004 PFHA Nationals: 27 minute program features the Parade of Flags, Trail Ride and other Youth activities.
Basics of Trimming Your Horses Hooves with Don West.
Videos are $9.95 plus shipping. Please contact the PFHA at 813-719-7777 or via email mbrsecy@pfha.org to order.

Support The PFHA Sponsors
Corporate sponsor dollars help support programs so that the burden is minimal to our members. Please support our sponsors whenever possible to ensure that they will continue their support in the future.
PFHA Corporate Sponsor Midwest Source has a new website: www.midwestsource.net.

PFHA Signs New Sponsor
The Paso Fino Horse Association is pleased to announce that Galopando TV Magazine has signed on as a new sponsor for 2005. The partnership will enhance the promotion of the Paso Fino as Galopando TV magazine works to educate, entertain and update, and also allows people to advertise and sell horses, farms, tack and other goods. To learn more about Galopando TV visit www.galopandotv.com.

2005 PFHA Rule Book
The PFHA Rule Book which becomes effective 9/1/04 is now available on the PFHA Web Site. he book can be downloaded and printed off any pages needed. The paper version of the new rulebook can be purchased from PFHA for $10.00.

Ordering DNA Kits
You can now order DNA kits when registering your Paso Fino horse. Simply check the box under Section 1 on the Registration Application and include the $55. for PFHA members or $110 for non-PFHA members.

The 2004 Paso Fino Stud Book is available on CD from PFHA. They are $65.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling, Florida residents add 7% sales tax. To order contact PFHA at 813-719-7777, or via email at mbrsecy@pfha.org or PFHA, 101 N. Collins St, Plant City, FL 33563.

The PFHA Sponsors are now listed on the PFHA/Links page on Piedmont's web site. When shopping, support the official PFHA sponsors! They support PFHA.

Ticket to Ride PFHA Program
The Ticket to Ride PFHA Program is a free program offered to PFHA members. Download the ticket from the PFHA website or or click here to get your ticket. Have the Ride Manager sign your ticket after each trail ride. Each PFHA sanctioned trail ride counts for two rides and non-PFHA sanctioned trail rides will be worth one ride. After attending five rides the ticket is sent to the Association office and you can start a new ticket. There is no limit to the number of tickets you submit to the PFHA. At the end of the year a drawing is held at the Grand National Championship Show. You do not have to be present to win and you must be a current member at the time of all rides and at the time of the drawing. Three tickets are drawn and prizes are awarded.

PFHA Paso Fino Video Sale
Sarah Holt is the new Assistant to the Marketing Director at PFHA. She announces this Paso Fino Horse Association video sale. Call 813.719.7777 to order. All videos $9.95 each, plus shipping. While supplies last. Buy 3, get one free, Buy 6 get two free.

These are all the videos that have been aired on RFD-TV; they are now on sale.

The Grand National Shows listed below are approximately 50 minutes
in length, and feature interviews, and championship competition
1 - 2000 Paso Fino Grand Nationals ______
2 - 2001 Paso Fino Grand Nationals ______
3 - 2002 Paso Fino Grand Nationals ______
4 - 2003 Paso Fino Grand Nationals ______

5 - EQUINE AFFAIRE, COLUMBUS, OHIO 2004 ______
Great Lakes PFHA Regions breed demos and interviews
Scenes from the 2003 Paso Fino auction in Perry, GA

6 TEXAS AMERICA WITH JOHN LYONS ______
High lights of the Paso Fino’s participation in this event,
plus the Texcelentes drill team performance

7 - 1999 MUNDIAL WORLD CUP ______
Pasos in competition from the US and many South American Countries

8 - PASO PARTICIPATION IN THE CARRIAGE OF THE HORSE SHOW
Features Stardust drill team. Lots of carriages and ______
a tour through the Horse Carriage Museum in central Florida

9 - CHAMPIONS IN PERRY/BEHIND THE SCENES 2001 ______
This video captures the action both in and out of the ring. Find out
what it takes to put on a show of this size. Interviews with youth riders
and horse owners. A look at the colorful stall decorations, exhibitor
booths and costume class competition.

10 - PASOS ON THE ROAD ______
Highlights of Equine Affaire, Piedmont Classic, and Spectrum Shows

11 - SMOOTHEST RIDE ______
Explains Fino, Corto, Largo and aspects of owning a Paso Fino
Original Smoothest ride video

12 - SMOOTHEST RIDE EVER ______
Similar to #11 but has various trail ride scenes with Mary Ann Kennedy
singing the Paso Fino song.

13 - VERSATILITY OF THE PASO FINO ______
Shows Paso Fino’s team penning, beach and trail riding, Extravaganza
show in Ocala, Florida, explanation of the Paso Fino gait, John Lyons
Interview.

14 - DON WEST CLINIC (back ordered till 6/30/04) ______
22-minute session of Don teaching basic Paso Fino horsemanship
Includes short clip of the Spectrum Paso show in Tampa, Florida

15 - SMOOTH TRAILS ON A PASO FINO ______
Various trail rides from the great northwest to beach riding in Florida

American Horse Council’s 2005 Horse Industry Directory is Now Available
The American Horse Council’s 2005 Horse Industry Directory is now available for purchase. This must have publication includes listings, both national and international, covering every segment of the equine industry. Updated yearly, it is the definitive source that puts the equine industry at your fingertips. The Directory includes listings for breed registries; racing, rodeo, show, sport and trail organizations; equine and welfare organizations; publications; state extension specialists; state departments of agriculture; state trails coordinators; to name a few. And, an index of all of the listings and telephone numbers are provided for easy access. The cost of the 2005 Horse Industry Directory is just $20 and it may be ordered by visiting the AHC website at www.horsecouncil.org, by phone at 202-296-4031 or by sending a $20 check or money order to 1616 H Street, NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC, 20006. The Directory is also a member benefit at certain levels of membership. Detailed membership information can be found on AHC’s website. The American Horse Council is the national trade association representing the horse industry before Congress and federal agencies monitoring legislation and federal regulations that would have an impact on the horse industry and work to create an environment that benefits horses and the people who depend on, care about and enjoy them.

USEF News

USEF Safe Rule Changes at Recognized Competitions
Lexington, KY - Consistent with one of the primary missions of the United States Equestrian Federation, which is to ensure the safety and welfare of both horses and riders, two important rule changes were approved at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors held in Louisville, Kentucky on January 16th, 2005. These changes should significantly contribute to safety at recognized USEF competitions. They involve the operation of motorized vehicles on horse show grounds by minors and the standards for safety helmets to be used in jumping competitions.

The first change was to rule GR301.5.a. The Board voted that beginning April 1st, 2005 minors who do not have a valid driver’s license which allows them to operate a motorized vehicle in the state in which they reside, will not be permitted to operate a motorized vehicle on the grounds of a recognized competition. This includes, but is not limited to, golf carts, motorcycles, scooters and farm utility vehicles. Penalties may include exclusion of the child, parents, guardians, and/or trainers from the competition grounds for the remainder of the competition and charges being filed against any of these individuals in accordance with Chapter VI. (Wheelchairs and other mobility assistance equipment for people with disabilities are exempt.)

The second rule change unanimously passed by the Board was GR318 which pertains to the use of approved safety helmets by everyone, juniors and seniors, competing over fences.
The Paso Fino Horse Association requested that the Board add to this rule that approved helmets be worn in all Paso Fino classes requiring jumping, and by all sub-juniors (exhibitors under 12 years of age) at all times when riding on the competition grounds of a Paso Fino show. The Board approved this addition.

2006 USEF Membership Renewals Available Online
Don't let your membership benefits lapse! In addition to being able to compete in more than 2,700 USEF-recognized competitions throughout the year, as a USEF member you receive:

To Renew On Line: Go to https://www.usef.org/content/aua/userSystemArea.php or click here for printable form. If you don’t have a Authorized User Account (AUA), you can create one through this page with your membership number (USEF # ) and last name. After creating your account, click LOG IN to log in to your Authorized User Account. Select 2005 Membership Application/Renewal to renew your 2005 membership under the Member Forms. A Licensed Official must also indicate the license(s) he/she is renewing. After renewing your membership, a page will appear giving you verification of credit card approval. Please print this page for your records.

PRINT your temporary United States Equestrian Federation 2005 or 2006 membership cards.
Congratulations, You have just joined On Line! If you have questions please contact the United States Equestrian Federation Membership Department or, for Licensed Officials, the Licensed Officials Department at 859/258-2472.

North Carolina Horse Council News

For Equine Hurricane Awareness and Preparation Information
Go to on the web: http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/an_sci/extension/horse/hurrican.htm

Horse Health Awareness. Protect your horse from diseases like Rabies (spread by wild animals, vaccinate once a year); Sleeping Sickness/EEE (spread by mosquitoes, vaccinate twice a year); West Nile Virus (spread by mosquitoes, vaccinate twice a year).

Interstate Health Permit
Horse owners who frequently travel out of state with their animals for horse shows and festivals can take advantage of a new agreement between the Southern states that will eliminate the need to obtain monthly animal Health Certificates. The agreement between Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia will allow horse owners to apply for an Equine Event Permit that will be good for up to six months in any of the listed states. Some states had reciprocal agreements in the past, but this is the first agreement of its kind in the South.

To receive a permit, North Carolina horse owners must send proof of negative Coggins test and Certificate of Veterinary Inspection along with an application and a $5 processing fee for each animal to the NC State Veterinarian. Owners must also submit proof of permanent identification, which includes tattoos, brands, microchips or digital photos showing the left and right sides, as well as a frontal view, of the horse. The issued permit will be good for six months, unless the Coggins test expires beforehand. Owners will still be required to carry the Coggins information and original Health Certificate with them when they travel. Owners will also be required to travel with a microchip reader if the equine is identified by microchip.

The application and more information about the Permit can be downloaded at the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Veterinary Division website, www.ncagr.com/vet/ or by calling (919) 733-7601.

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