Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Chiropractic opportunity

On my last visit to California I had a fortunate opportunity to meet and use Michael Agrella's chiropractic skills. Michael has agreed to come back to the area during our Havarah clinics to help keep the horses and people well alligned. His next visit will be Saturday the 10th of Feb at Riverland Farms in Sanger.

I asked Michael to give us a bit of his background...

" About me, I have 8 years experience with humans and 5
years exp with horses, dogs, and cats (I have even
adjusted a ferret...once!). Chiropractic is my
passion, and my life. For undergraduate studies, I
went to UC Davis, and studied Biology. My
professional license and certification is from Life
Chiropractic College West, and is called "Doctor of
chiropractic", or chiropractor. I am also licensed by
the AVCA- the American Veterinary Chiropractic
Association (which is a separate one year post
graduate degree program).
Chiropractic for humans and animals covers a very
broad spectrum as far as benefits, uses, and
treatments."

At that visit a few of us humans had adjustments and I believe at least 4 horses were treated. All of us had nothing but great things to say afterwards.

Anyways just thought I'd share this with you, if you are interested let me know so that I can arrange your lesson time with a work-out from Michael to follow.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Snow white

I've been waiting and waiting and it finally happened! Last week we had our first snow flurries and it was soooo pretty :) Then this week we actually had enough that it made the ground white; Mark didn't like it very much, he thought his world was captivated by ghoasts... however I don't think I've ever seen Quiggley happier, he played ALL DAY! Charly just continues to terrorize all his pasturemates and destroy as many of his clothes as he can, if I do have children I think I'll request a girl! Supposedly the next few days are going to be COLD and produce "measurable" amounts of snow; we'll see how excited I am after that!
Oddly enough I still give California huge props for the snow skiing/snowboarding areas... I had my first trip on Sunday and I did have a great time HOWEVER it was nothing like the slopes at home.

Ram Tap Combined Test, volunteers

Saturdays schedule

For this coming Saturday at Ram Tap; please show up at the metal container by the "tower" 7:30am or earlier; Judy Rosin will be there to check you in and give you a Ram Tap buck.


Val Burch, scribe @ arena #1 all day ending at 2:24
Rosella Hunter, scribe @ arena #2 morning shift, arena #5 12:00-1:40pm
Natalie Pitts, scribe @ arena #2 12:40-2:40
Blair Rotert scribe @ arena #4 all day
John Marshall scribe @ arena #5 morning shift RING STEWARD arena #2 12:30-1:50; #3 1:50-2:40
Terry Vaughter ring steward arena #1 all day
Judy Rosin ring steward arena #2 morning shift ending at 11:42
Cassie Harkins ring steward arena #4/#5 all day

Thank you all soooo much!

Sunday is still in progress, I am looking for more helpers... if you can help 7:30-1pm please let me know :)

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Filling out event entry forms

www.evententries.com SAVE this to your favorites, it will be your favorite, I promise :)

This year the eventing comittee changed the entry forms, so it is now a new learning experience for everyone...not only the first time competitors. However if you use the above website (which is free) you only have to go through this once. Go to evententries and become a new user, get a username, password and it is completely self explanatory from there (however you can still call if you have questions)

** IF you are going to be competing at the Beginner Novice level your horse does NOT need to be registered with any of the event affiliations, nor do you. BUT is cost effective for you to become a member (as a rider) so you don't have to pay non-member fees all year...plus there's lots of perks! To do this go to www.eventingusa.com and find the become a member page, dowload and fill in, send in and on your horse show entry form write that your "number" is pending.

** IF you are going to compete novice or training, your horse does need to be registered and it is ONLY $25.00; again www.eventingusa.com

** IF you have not done any competitions yet, write that in the section that asks for experience... event secretaries do not like un-marked sections

** One the back page of your printed out entryform there are slots for lots of signatures...
1) you are the rider, sign that
2) whoever owns the horse or is responsible for the horse signs as owner (or agent for the owner)... don't worry about the USEF registration number if you don't have one (and are competing at the lower levels)
3) trainer.... as odd as this sounds.... I don't need to sign for you ... this slot is in need of someone over 18 years old that will be held accountable for how your horse is presented at the show (in terms of legality.. no drugs on board :) )... since I am not at your home barn to witness daily feeding it is best that I don't sign this... if you are over 18 you can sign for yourself, otherwise have a parent be your "trainer"
4) coach ... this slot is optional, so we don't need to worry about it

******* Make sure to put down a phone number that will be reachable the weekend of the event under the "emergency" section.... SUPER important!!!!
_______________________________________________________
As for lingo for the entry form...
BN = Beginner Novice
N= Novice
T = Training
jr = 18 and under
yr = 21 and under
sr = 18 and over
O = open
A = amateur
_______________________________________________________
I think that this should cover most of your questions, I've been known to forget important details so really call if you're confused... secretaries really do not like bad entries :)
ALSO if you have not already started, it would be a great idea to look over a "rulebook"... I think they have them online www.eventingusa.com or you could also get a hard copy by request.
For instance do you know that you can now wear smooth leather half chaps? (only do this if you show them to me first and DO NOT have tall boots)
Dressage whips MAY be carried in a test, if it is not a championship class. BUT not any leg wear on your horse.
DO you know what bits are legal for dressage?
There's TONS of rules to this sport; read up!

Monday, January 08, 2007

Winter training sessions...

The first week of January kicked off "HE"'s first of our series of winter training...it was quite a success and we should all be thanking mother nature for the week of good weather! I appreciate all of you who stuck around during your vacation time and hopefully you found it well worth your while. I was so impressed with the riding that I saw that I am making a change to our show schedule; we will be starting out the year at RAM TAP's FEB horse trials. This will be the first event for many of you, so there are a few things you'll need to know about;

1) How to enter
2) Dress codes
3) Registration requirements
LOOK for all of this on the next blog...

All of you competing in the Feb Ram Tap should plan on volunteering at the January combined test (also at Ram Tap)...Jan 27 and 28th...Mark it down :)

Should be an exciting group; we have enough for a very strong adult team and almost enough for a junior team...
Laurel, Val, John, Cheryl ----Adult BN
Bianca, Alyssa H --- Junior BN (find one more for a team)
Jestine ---- novice
Rosella - training
**** If anymore of you are interested let me know, the next schooling session will be set up before the end of the week.