Horse Slaughter, Business, and National Forests

From Susan:

"Here is a very interesting article about the Thoroughbred Industry's objections to the horse slaughter issue raised recently in Ocala at an invitation-only meeting with Ric Keller, R-Orlando, a member of the Congressional Horse Caucus.

The Thoroughbred Industry says there isn't sufficient alternatives (such as OTTB adoption) and retraining facilities in place to handle the 65,000 horses a year that they produce which aren't suitable for the race track, which is why they want the slaughter to continue so the meat can be sold for consumption in Europe and Asia.

It also covers their concerns about needing illegal immigrants to provide "affordable labor" on their horse farms. They say they wouldn't be able to stay in business without being able to rely on the work of illegal immigrants.

And a very interesting mention is the recent decision by the US Government(without going through Congress) via the USDA to begin selling off sections of US National Forests. Nearly 1,000 acres of environmentally sensitive watershed lands in the Ocala National Forest is slated for sale-- land which is necessary to protect our water system.

Those in other states may want to check on the Government's plans to sell-off portions of the National Forests in your states, to cover the budget shortfalls producing by the Administration's questionable priorities of tax cuts for those who don't need them while selling off US assets and cutting back on services to those who need those services now more than ever before.

Read the entire article for more details:
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060228/NEWS/
202280345&SearchID=73238471445953

Then contact the USDA and your Congressional Representatives to make your views on these important issues known. And please pass the word.

Susan"

Equine A Cappella

A friend sent me this (it is fun!):

"Click below and wait for the entire screen to load up with all four horses and a fence in front of them. Then click on each horse. Make sure your sound is on. Re-click on any horse to make it turn off or turn it back on again. Somebody did some real wizardry of programming to coordinate this! Try clicking on the horses from left to right then right to left then just one or two at a time... It's fun and a good stress reliever. Have fun!"

http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.swf

March 2006 Newsletter

Hello Everyone,

I'm here trying to put this together and camp out at Fires
Creek. We have had a great turn out for the meeting with
R.E.Vann, our local Forest Service Ranger. We formed a
partnership with them and set up our Trail Trotters program.
We have a committee headed by Joe Shook to get this program
going. They met out at Bristol Horse Camp March 1st. With
Steve Rollins the Ranger out at Fires Creek. They will give us a
report at the next meeting. You need to please come as we will
be asking members to donate a pole or cement towards fixing up
the horse camp.

March 18th is a Poker Ride at Dawsonville Forest put on by
GERL. The cost is $15.00 for the day. Some of us are going
over Thurs to camp the weekend. Need more information call
me or Darrell Adams.

April 1st is our St.Jude ride. We need people to work at the
tables registering riders and helping at the rest spots. If you can
collect before the ride it will made things a lot easier.

Mountain Valley Country Store did a H.O.W. clinic last
weekend. I hope you were able to come We learned a lot about
our horse care products. Thanks Chip!

Make sure you visit our sponsor page, as these people are
supporting our club. Also check out the chat page too!! We have
lots to sell and people looking for stuff.

Our next meeting is March 9th at 7 pm at the bank in
Hayesville. We have a lot going on and if you want to be a
part then please try to come or ask someone about the meeting.
It takes us all to make this a great club!

Happy Trails, Esther

March 2006 "Chat Page"

FOR SALE: two large tents, one has 3 rooms.B camper/van, very nice, has everything you need for all the comforts of home,Btwo horse slant/with dressing room@Corn Pro@ in real good condition, mats , spare.BCamp stove,new in box. Call Sue or Larry at (706)374-7605
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FOR SALE: over the truck camper, has bathroom with shower and sink. Queen size bed, table that makes into another bed. Call Donna at (838)389-1186.
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Boarding at Cozywoods Stables, call Randall Parker at (828) 389-9785
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NEEDED! I have been given the use of 5 acres out on Cold Branch Rd. From Ed. Snowdon, for Rose to be able to keep Sammy near her house. I need any kind of fencing to make it possible for Rose to have Sammy near her. So if anyone has T -poles they want to donate or wire please call and I will come and pick them up. I will be looking for helpers to get this fence up for Rose!!
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FOR SALE: Two horse/ trailer, call Joyce ( 706) 897-5965
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Don't forget April 1st is our St.Jude Ride, bring a friend!! Fires Creek, Hunters Camp, 10 am.
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Congratulations to Peggy Giddens on her new horse trailer and two new horses.!!!!!!
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