Piedmont Member News

Welcome New Members
Bethany Drain, Mt Ulla, NC
Jeannie Lins, Salisbury, NC
Rick and Kimra Mullins, Mullins Farm, Clintwood, VA
Robert Alan Roach, Mt Ulla, NC
Loraine Searcy, Roanoke Rapid, NC
Carolyn and Amanda Tucker, Mt Ulla, NC

Piedmont Spring Training Clinic
Piedmont PFHA will be hosting a training clinic on March 12-13 at Minter's Rancho Paso Bravo in Lexington, NC. This will be a unique opportunity for you to polish your skills and learn from some of the best trainers in the country who reside in the Piedmont region. Don't miss this opportunity!!

Topics included will be conformation evaluation, groundwork, flexibility, gaining respect, farrier work, equitation, horsemanship, and gaiting problems. Horses will be accepted and we will have time both days for horse-rider teams to work with individual trainers. Whether you are a seasoned competitor, just starting in the showring, or want to enjoy a safe horse on a trail ride, this clinic will help you accomplish your goals.

Clinic attendance fee for Piedmont members is $50 for the two day weekend or $30 for one day only. Piedmont members may bring horses for the clinic and receive instruction at $25 per each horse. Piedmont non-members is $60/weekend, Piedmont non-members is $35 for single day and horses (non-members) are $35. Each youth is $10 per day or youth are free with 2 paying adults. Stabling is available at $10 per day. Lunch and snacks will be included both days. For safety reasons, please leave small children at home.

Please return the reservation form with your payment so we can accurately plan for food and facilities. Many of your Piedmont trainers are donating their time to offer you a great clinic so plan to be there!! Click here for reservation form to print off. Make checks payable to Piedmont PFHA and return this form with your payment to Milda Minter, 1833 Perryman Road, Lexington, NC 27295. If any questions, contact Milda Minter: 336-764-4785. On clinic day, call (336) 731-4540 or (336) 225-0214 for information.

Hours	Saturday Training Clinic Schedule	Clinicians
8:45 - 9:00 AM	Welcome. Introductions
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Conformation: good and bad points. Getting your horse prepared for Bella Forma	Bill Minter
10:00 - 11:00 AM	Flexibility: why it's important and how to get it	Shaw Laney
11:00 - 12:00 N	Putting your horse "on the reins" What this means and why it's important	Juan Carlos Iriarte German Higuera
12:00 -12:30 PM	Lunch Break: BBQ dinner
12:30 - 2:00 PM	Saddle Fitting Clinic	Riley Kester
2:00 - 4:00 PM	Continuation of on the reins; Bitting discussion	Juan Carlos Iriarte German Higuera
4:00 - 6:00 PM	Individual Lessons for those bringing horses (horses/riders will be evaluated as to need and then worked individually)
6:00 PM	End of clinic for Saturday session
Sunday Training Clinic Schedule
9:00 - 10:00 AM	Groundwork
10:00 -11:00 AM	Horsemanship: how to ride to help your horse	Milda Minter
11:00 - 12:00 PM	Individual Lessons for those bringing horses
12:00 - 1:00 PM	Lunch Break - Sub sandwiches
1:00 - 2:00 PM	Gaiting problems: figure out the cause and cure
2:00 - 3:00 PM	Farrier work to help your horse	Charlie Minter
3:00 - 5:00 PM	Individual Lessons for those bringing horses
5:00 PM	End of clinic

Bring extra chairs. Clinic will be held rain or shine.

Piedmont Training Clinic Hotels: Holiday Inn Express, Peter's Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem (336) 788-0232, regular rate $105, group rate $70; Holiday Inn Express in Clemmons (336) 778-1500, rate $75; and Super 8 Motel in Clemmons (336) 778-0931, rate $62, group rate $56 if we get enough rooms. These hotels are about 15 minutes from clinic location.

Piedmont Training Clinic Directions: from I-40 in Winston-Salem, take exit #192 which is Peter's Creek Parkway. Go right (south/west) onto Peter's Creek Pkwy which is also Hwy 150. Follow this for 12 miles, just past the Pallet Resources Co. take a left onto Hoover Road, go 7/10 mile, go right on Heritage Drive, 2nd house on left.

From I-85 coming from the south, take exit #83 which is Hwy 150 East. Follow this for about 15 miles. After you pass the Texaco station on the right, go another 1/2 mile and go right onto Hoover Rd, go 7/10 mile and go right onto Heritage Drive, 2nd house on left.

Camp Croft State Park Trail Ride
Piedmont will be sponsoring a trail ride at Camp Croft State Park on Saturday, March 26th. We plan to be ready to ride at 10 and have mapped out a good set of trails for gaited horses. We will be splitting up into small groups so riders and horses will be comfortable, unhurried and uncrowded!
A good hot "home cooked" meal will be served for lunch, so please come and join us for a day of fun and fellowship! Please let me know your coming by Monday, March 21st, so I can get a count for lunch. Croft is a nice facility with camp sites and a 55 stall barn with wash racks. If you need any
information please contact: Jeanne Griggs (864) 487-9565 or email jeannegriggs@bellsouth.net.

Carolina Classic -- Piedmont PFHA/USEF Show, Clemson, SC
Dates: April 15 - 17, 2005
Show Information
Show Class Schedule

The Carolina Classic is a double pointed show to be held on April 15, 16 & 17 at the T. Ed Garrison Arena at Clemson University. Our Judges for this year are Helen Frost for the Friday schedule, Javier Suarez and Mike Cumming for the Saturday and Sunday schedule. Helen Frost will be putting on a Show Clinic on Friday night. Exhibitors and their horses are welcome to participate. The Clinic will be preceded by a BBQ dinner. Saturday evening we will have a Pizza Party followed by our Piedmont PFHA membership meeting.

The show schedule will have several novice classes for the beginning exhibitors. This event will be an excellent start for the show season for both the experienced and beginning riders and horses. We look forward to an excellent show.

At the Clemson show we will have a membership meeting Saturday after the show, which will be important for our national level exhibitors, because we will pick the judges for the 2005 National Show. If you want your opinion known, you must attend the meeting. We also will need to make some decisions about the Clemson show, because if it doesn't get good support this year, we may have to face the tough decision of canceling that show or trying to find another facility in a different part of our region. Your attendance at that show will speak volumes. We have planned a novice and amateur-owner friendly schedule, so this is your perfect opportunity to get ring time. Come Ride with Piedmont! If anyone has any questions regarding the Carolina Classic, please call Bill Kerns at (828) 883-5550.

Heritage Farm Fun Show
The 3rd Annual Fun Show at Heritage Farm will be held on Saturday, April 2nd, in Lexington, NC. Classes are offered for Paso Finos along with many other “generic” gaited, English, Western, game and Conformation classes. Click here for the Heritage Farm Fun Show Class List. There will be a raffle of a 2 yr old red dun Paso Fino gelding, El Destino de Greco, or “Desi”, for $5 per ticket, or 5 tickets for $20. All proceeds will benefit the Center United Methodist Church Christian Fellowship Center. This show will be promoted to the public and a breed display will be set up. Entry fees are reasonable and show attire is not required. Our Judge will be Ms. Alice Page of Kingsport, TN. A Coggins Test dated 4/3/04 or later will be required for entry onto the farm. Please contact Charlie or Milda Minter (336) 764-4785, if you want a class schedule or can sponsor a class. Click here for more info and photos of the raffle gelding.

Startown Amateur Owner Clinic
It is time to register for the Amateur Owner Clinic at Startown Stables held April 25-29, conducted by Alvaro Iriarte. This intensive week long Clinic will offer you insight and thought provoking concepts on working with your Paso Fino from the master trainer, Alvaro Iriarte. The clinic focuses on the needs of the Amateur Owner rider. There will be hands on sessions with your horse in addition to lectures that will offer the tools and understanding you need to bring out the best in yourself and in your horse. This year’s clinic will be followed immediately by the 6th Annual Saddle Up for St. Jude Charity Fun Show. This will give you the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your newly learned skills in the show arena. Space is limited. Contact Startown Stables at (828) 465-3322 for more information and registration or visit the website www.startownstables.com.

St. Judes Charity Startown Fun Show
Startown Stables is hosting the 6th Annual Saddle Up for St. Jude’s Paso Fino Show & Gala on Saturday, April 30th. This year’s event will feature the Paso Fino Fun Show where participants can practice their showmanship and exhibit their horses to the general public. Check out the Silent Auction table - last year’s event offered gift certificates to restaurants, spas, gift baskets and collectibles. There will be fun for the entire family! Don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets - Startown Stables once again has generously donated a Paso Fino Colt as the Grand Prize.

There are many opportunities for you to help! We need show sponsors, class sponsors, donations for the Silent Auction and much more! The participants in the show have the opportunity to be a “St. Jude Sponsored Rider” - each rider will collect pledges for their participation and be recognized for their special contribution. Last year Piedmont PFHA member, Pat Norman, was the highest sponsored rider, she said “it was easy to raise pledges, just ask everyone - they love to help St. Jude!” Call Startown Stables for more information at (828) 465-3322 or check out www.startownstables.com.

Piedmont Trail Ride Clinic
Saturday, May 7, 2005 8am – 5pm
Foothills Equestrian Nature Center, Tryon, NC

A Trail Riding clinic will be held on Saturday May 7th at FENCE in Tryon, North Carolina.
Trail safety, horse conditioning and care, horsemanship plus trail ride will be presented thru the format of the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) rules and judging. Instruction will be given on proper horse care before, during and after a lengthy trail ride. Trail safety and becoming a team with your horse will be discussed. There will be group and individual instruction. A five-mile trail course with usual trail hazards will be part of the clinic. Both the horse and rider will be judged on their performance with group discussion at the end. This clinic is for all individuals interested in trail riding whether for your own personal pleasure or those who are looking for a more challenging medium for them and their horse.

The NATRC organization promotes the following:
1. To stimulate greater interest in the breeding and use of good horses possessed of stamina and hardiness, and qualified to make good mounts for trail use.
2. To demonstrate the value of type and soundness in the proper selection of horses for competitive riding.
3. To learn and demonstrate the proper methods of training and conditioning horses for competitive riding.
4. To encourage good horsemanship as related to trail riding.
5. To demonstrate the best methods of caring for horses during and after long rides without the aid of artificial methods or stimulants

About Mary Britt, Trail Ride Clinician
Our presenter will be Mrs. Mary Britt who has been involved with horses since the ripe old age of 5-years. During the years from 5 thru 25 she showed many different breeds of horses in the smaller local horse shows successfully. In 1968 she was introduced to competitive trail riding and entered her first competition on a Walking Horse she owned at the time. In 1970 she managed her first competitive trail ride and was the second person east of the Mississippi River to manage a sanction NATRC ride in 1972. She got her horsemanship judge’s card in 1974. She has served on the NATRC regional board in many different capacities, has been a National director and managed many sanctioned rides, done clinics and has been an advisor for other managers since 1985.

Mary Britt has over 13,000 distance rider miles, has taken four different horses to multiple National Championships placing 2nd and 3rd in the Nation at different times with different horses and has competed many others successfully. She has bred, raised and trained all her own horses. Currently, she is retired from the Federal government and competing one of her own horses in distance riding both endurance and competitive trail events throughout the nation. She owns a Boarding facility, gives riding lessons and does a limited amount of training. Mary was also a certified Paso Fino judge for several years. She is married to Jack Britt who is the individual who introduced her to competitive trail riding. He has judged seven Paso Fino Nationals, competed in horse shows and distance rides. He placed one of the horses he bred, raised and trained Nationally and still loves fine horseflesh. He has volunteered his services at every ride they have attended in an effort to help keep the sport alive. Jack has volunteered to assist at our clinic.

Pre-registration will be required due to the facility requiring the Release/Waiver form turned in to them prior to the beginning of the event. Entry Form, Release/Waiver form, copy of negative coggins and check must be received by May 1, 2005. Mail to Jeanne Griggs, 900 W. Buford St., Gaffney, S.C. 29341 For information and/or directions call Rita Magaha at 864-457-2255. The facility has stalls available for $15 per night, clean your own. Also on the facility they have three apartments; a one, two and three bedroom apartment. Rates start at $45 for the one bedroom. Call Melissa at FENCE, 828-859-9021 to reserve stalls or apartments.

Piedmont Classic -- Piedmont PFHA/USEF Show, Asheville, NC
Dates: June 15 - 19, 2005

Show Officials Show Fees First Show Class Schedule (Wednesday - Friday) Second Show Class Schedule (Friday -Sunday) Documents Required, Directions, Stalls, Prize Money, Hotels Win A Horse Trailer Futurity Info

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Piedmont Classic Asheville show should be even bigger than last year, with the 3rd annual "Dinner in the Dirt" and stallion exhibitions for Saturday evening. Prize money of over $95,000 will again be awarded in amounts to rival that of the PFHA Grand National Championship Show. Exhibitors are coming from all over the east and from as far away as Colorado, so let's show them what southern hospitality and friendly competition are all about! Come Ride with Piedmont in the beautiful Blue Ride Mountains of North Carolina. There are many tourist attractions in the Asheville area if your family wants to vacation at the same time.

The Piedmont Futurity at the Asheville Show continues to grow. See the Futurity Stallion listing and a nomination form. 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. Remember, the absolute deadline is June 1, 2005 for horses to show in the 2005 Futurity. Geldings have a chance to show every year from yearlings to 5yr olds. Don’t miss this opportunity to win extra money at Asheville! If you have any questions, call Milda Minter (336) 764-4785 or email mpminter60@aol.com.

General ridden by Lori West in 2004

Congratulations to General , the 2004 #7 PFHA Top Ten Gelding
The outstanding Paso Fino gelding General, shown by Piedmont's Lori West, earned enough show points to become the PFHA #7 Top Ten Gelding in 2004. Congratulations to General and owners Greg and Lori West of Echo West Farm in Leicester, NC. General earned 512 points in Pleasure, 132 points in Performance and 60 points in Bellas Formas. General also became the 2004 National Champion Amateur Owner Gelding in Perry, GA. Watch for a story about General in the Paso Fino Horse World May 2005 issue.

Rita MaGaha, John McAbee, Savanna Wood and Linda Wilson in
the Saddleseat Pleasure Class, at the the Camp Croft State Park Open Horse Show

Piedmont Paso Finos Dominate at the Croft State Park Horse Show!
The first Spartanburg Horseman's Association horse show of the season was held at Camp Croft State Park on Saturday, February 19th and the crowd from Piedmont "ROCKED"! A rarely beautiful day for February was the back drop for our horses and riders. Pasos (who are welcome in EVERY class), participated in a wide variety of classes. Linda Wison won her very first blue ribbon in the English Pleasure - Adult class and then went on for another first place in the Saddleseat Pleasure. The lovely Rita MaGaha took the blue in the Three Gaited Saddleseat class. Ray Wyant entered his colt in several of the barrel classes and demonstated the versatility of our wonderful horses to many who have never seen a Paso Fino. This was a very first attempt at showing for several of our horses and riders and they all did us proud, winning many other ribbons, impressing spectators, and gaining the confidence to go on to more challenges!

Other Piedmont riders at the show were Jeanne Griggs, John McAbee, Savanna Wood (first time exhibitor), and Kristen Painter (first time exhibitor). The stands were full of Piedmont folks as well, who's encouragement and support was greatly appreciated. "TEAM PIEDMONT" cheered
on exhibitors, helped with tack, took pictures and gave their help in many, many other ways.
The next show at Croft will be on Saturday, March 19th. Please come and join us for a fun day, in a relaxed atmosphere. If you need information about the show you can visit their web site at www.shahorseshows.com, or contact Jeanne Griggs (864)487-9565 or by email
jeannegriggs@bellsouth.net.

Piedmont PFHA Youth Celebration Show, Morristown, TN
Dates: July 30- 31, 2005, Great Smoky Mtn. Expo Center

The purpose of this All-Youth Paso Fino Show is to highlight the great competition by our youth in all areas of the showring. There will be all the regular PFHA youth classes, plus youth championships in all 5 divisions (fino, performance, pleasure, equitation, and horsemanship). We will also have all the regular PFHA specialty classes (versatility, trail, etc), fun classes, and game classes. There are classes for seasoned competitors as well as first-time riders.

One of the highlights of this show will be a clinic on Saturday evening after the show to instruct our youth riders how to prepare for the Youth Mundial (World Cup Show) that will be held in the US in 2006. Judges Carlos Tobon and Carmen Micheletti will conduct a practice class and then a clinic and will answer any questions and give pointers on how to compete in the Mundial. Riders who went to the 2004 Youth Mundial in Puerto Rico will be in attendance to help as well. This is an excellent opportunity for all youth to learn how the Mundial classes are handled and to prepare early for 2006 competition.

Watch for the show bill in the Paso Fino Horse World starting in the May issue and in the April edition of the Piedmont E-News. Judges are Carlos Tobon and Carmen Micheletti on Saturday (separate judging and placements), with Betsy McHugh and Larry Whitesell on Sunday (separate judging and placements). The
Steward is Amanda David. Morristown, TN is between Kingsport/Bristol area and Knoxville off I-81. This will be a regular point "AP" show, not USEF sanctioned. For information or to volunteer time or sponsorships, contact Milda Minter at 336-764-4785 or mpminter60@aol.com. Thanks in advance for your support.

Piedmont Notices

2005 Piedmont Futurity Reminder
The Piedmont Futurity continues to grow. See the Futurity Stallion listing and a nomination form. 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. Remember, the absolute deadline is June 1, 2005 for horses to show in the 2005 Futurity. Geldings have a chance to show every year from yearlings to 5yr olds. Don’t miss this opportunity to win extra money at Asheville! If you have any questions, call Milda Minter (336) 764-4785 or email mpminter60@aol.com.

Asheville Show Trailer Sponsor
One of the major sponsors for the Asheville Show, The Piedmont Classic, is Southern Star Trailers of Brunswick, GA. We will have a trailer drawing for our Region for the next 9 years, thanks to the generosity of Larry Herrington, owner/manager. The trailers are all the Silver Star brand, offering top features and safety for your horses, plus ease of handling and light weight. If you are looking for a new trailer of any size or type, contact Larry at (912) 261-8484 and wee what he can do for you!

Paso Fino to Be Featured for the May/June 2005 Trail Rider Magazine
For those interested in advertising, the Paso Fino will be on the cover of the May/June issue of Trail Rider and there will be a large breed spotlight story inside. The deadline for advertising space is March 10. If you would like to advertise in this issue please contact:

Kimberly M. Douglas at 318.597.0034
Pat Eskew at 303.661.9282, ext. 209
Chris Maedche at 505.865.7050
Nick Griggs at 806.622.2225

Piedmont Membership
There is a new printable size Piedmont membership form online you can use. 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). If you have not renewed your 2004 membership, you will not receive the Password edition. There is a new Trail Ride Guest Membership category available for one trail ride at $10.00.

Important Piedmont News Deadlines
Piedmont PFHA Website 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 notepad format if attachment or within the email message to Lynn Gallup webmaster email . News and Event photos should be sized to 72-100 dpi before emailing.

Paso Fino Horse World Regional News and Deadlines
From Lori West... Have you and your horse, your child or friend accomplished something you would like to see in print and share with the rest of our region? Did you have a great time at a Piedmont event, and would like to let others know what they missed? Would you like to encourage a new Paso Fino enthusiast publicly? If so, please send it to Lori West. I am asking each of you to help by providing news and photos.

Deadline for submission of news for the Piedmont article is the first day of each month. There is a 60 day print publishing deadline, so early submission is essential. Photos can be scanned and emailed at 300 dpi resolution, or send prints to me with a stamped, self addressed envelope for their return. Most digital cameras by default take shots at only 72 dpi, not very good for printing. Please adjust your cameras to take the highest quality photo possible. Send news to: Lori West, 74 Gibbs Road, Leicester, NC 28748 or email to lorihwest@yahoo.com. Lori's phone: 828-683-1793; Fax: 425-963-5074.

Piedmont Password Deadlines
Email or send your Password news to Marcia Carrico, 305 Clayton Drive, Mocksville, NC 27028. Fax: 336-998-1111 or casacarrico@yadtel.net. 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 contact Lynn Gallup or see the Advertising page for more info.
• Farm and Membership Directory Email and/or Website URL Links
  Don't you want your website 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

Southern States Feed Program
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 Milda Minter, by mailing or giving them to her at any Piedmont event. Thank you for taking the time to support the Futurity through this program.

Piedmont PFHA and Country Supply

(Click on Coupon)
NEW. Country Supply Special 10% off Coupon to use online by March 6th. 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.

Piedmont Trail Ride News

NEW. Camp Croft State Park Trail Ride
Piedmont will be sponsoring a trail ride at Camp Croft State Park on Saturday, March 26th. We plan to be ready to ride at 10 and have mapped out a good set of trails for gaited horses. We will be splitting up into small groups so riders and horses will be comfortable, unhurried and uncrowded! A good hot "home cooked" meal will be served for lunch, so please come and join us for a day of fun and fellowship! Please let me know your coming by Monday, March 21st, so I can get a count for lunch. Croft is a nice facility with camp sites and a 55 stall barn with wash racks. If you need any information please contact: Jeanne Griggs (864) 487-9565 or email jeannegriggs@bellsouth.net.

NEW. Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference
The 2005 Southeastern Equestrian Trails Conference is July 14-16 at the Radisson Hotel in High Point, NC. Anyone interested in trails should attend. More info can be found at: www.SoutheasternEquestrianTrails.com or www.nchorsecouncil.com.

NEW. American Tobacco Trail
Volunteers are needed for a special Trail Workday at the American Tobacco Trail located in Western Wake County (Raleigh) scheduled for March 19 starting at 10 am to help clean up a new section of the trail soon to be opened. Contact Park staff at 919-387-2117.

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.

PFHA Trail Ride Calendar
The Trail Ride Calendar for 2005 includes all our favorite places to ride, plust a few new and exciting additions. Our goal is to offer rides in different areas of our Region so that all our membership can participate. Suggestions for locations are always welcome, so if you have a favorite place you would like to see us ride, please let me know so it can be added to our Calendar. Your trail ride chairman and trail bosses are planning wonderful rides all around the region. Our attempt is to have one ride per month. We are putting together a clinic on trail safety, trail training, and competitive trail riding for later in the year.

For those that are new to our Association, we try to offer rides to accomodate the needs of all our riders. Trails are selected for location and terrain that is geared toward the gaited horse. To ensure the enjoyment of all the riders, Trail Hosts generally lead two groups, those that prefer a slower pace and one for those that prefer a faster pace. The main goal is to arrive for lunch at the same time to enjoy fellowship with other riders.

The Trail Hosts listed on the Calendar of Events have 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.

If you plan to participate in a Piedmont Ride you must be a Piedmont member. Membership is an insurance requirement for designated Piedmont Rides. For non-members and/or members that may have guests that want to come ride, we do offer a one-time Trail Ride Membership for $10.00 per person 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 cancelled due to weather or other reasons.

Trail Ettiquette
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.

Ideas for Trail Ride 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 an allotted time and location. Coordinate with you 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 ride there.

We have some new and exciting places to ride this year. Hope to see you there. Happy Trails!
Candace Link, Trail Ride Coordinator, (336) 940-2936 pasolink@msn.com

PFHA Trail Ride Calendar
If you know of any trail rides your region is sponsoring, tell your region you want them submitted to the PFHA. If they are submitted to the PFHA they will be listed on the website, in the magazine, on E-News and in Association information packets for FREE. That means more people will attend and if you would like to participate in other trail programs provided by the PFHA (Ticket to Ride, Pleasure Trail, Endurance Trail, Competitive Trail) you can use these rides as sanctioned trail rides.

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.

Llyn Shook has volunteered to be a “Riding Buddy”, if anyone wants to come to DuPont State Forest near Brevard, NC and needs someone to ride with them. Call (828) 884-246 or email her at llynbill@citcom.net.

Piedmont E-News: January 2005 | February 2005
January-June 2004 | July-December 2004 | 2003

©Piedmont Paso Fino Horse Association, 2003-2005
Photos courtesy of Piedmont PFHA members
photos: PFHW: 6/1986, Lori West, Jeanne Griggs

Updated March 29, 2005
Published March 9, 2003
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