Do you ever visit the Black Prong website at Blackprong.com. Well check it out today. We've added an enhanced event calendar feature, have updates to our BP Member Club Program, new maps and direction options, streamlined our reservation and event booking processes, and made it easier for you to volunteer, sponsor, and reserve vendor space at our two upcoming 2010 Horse Driving Trials (HDT).

Black Prong now has its very own Facebook Page! For real- time updates and news alerts become a Black Prong Equestrian Center fan today!!!

If you have a special occasion such as a birthday party, wedding, anniversary, family and work outings, annual meeting, think of Black Prong as the perfect option. Reasonable prices and our one-of-a-kind Pavilion overlooking Maureen's Fall's Water Hazard. The Pavilion is a spacious and sun-filled room with sliding glass doors on three sides and wrap around balcony. It is perfectly accented with a beautiful stone fireplace and has built in audio and visual capabilities. It can easily seat 100 comfortably or 150 standing. To inquire please fill out a Reservation Inquiry Form or contact us at 352-486- 1234.

As we roll into 2010 many driving competitors will be gearing up for two Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) events: Singles World Driving Championship to be head in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy on July 30 - August 1, 2010 and Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Lexington Kentucky 2010 - September 25 - October 10, 2010.

Not only will Florida this winter be a hot spot for driving competitors leading to selections for the United States Team at the World Equestrian Games - WEG 2010 many other disciplines will hold qualifying and selection events in Florida. The WEG is comprised of the world championships for eight equestrian sports: dressage, driving, endurance, eventing, jumping, para dressage, reining, and vaulting. Games are held every four years, two years prior to the Olympic Games, and are governed by the FEI.

As the best single and four-in-hand drivers in the country via for a spot on the United States teams, three FEI Selection Trails for these driving championships will be held in Florida and all within an easy drive from Black Prong. These competitions include: The Inaugural CAI Little Everglades International at Little Everglades Ranch in Dade City, Florida; January 29-31, 2010 CAI Sunshine State at the Florida Horse Park in Ocala, Florida; February 25-28, 2010 CAI-A Live Oak International at the Live Oak Plantation in Ocala, Florida; March 18-21, 2010

Volunteers are the key to making an event successful! We welcome and greatly appreciate volunteers from all backgrounds and levels of experience. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, make new friends, and develop interpersonal skills all while having fun doing it! Prior volunteer experience or horse experience is not necessary. We have many different volunteer assignments such as parking and grounds support, scribes, wheel measurers, score runners, gate attendants, safety check, course spotters, cone- setters, timers, and start/end of marathons sections.

Additionally, gift vouchers will be provided to our volunteers during the Nature Coast Horse Driving Trials (HDT) on January 23-24, 2010 and the Black Prong HDT on March 13-14, 2010 as an added way for us thanking you for your continued dedication and support. We'll also offer space for vendors and have class sponsors for these two shows. If you're interested in volunteering, vendor space, or sponsorships, please download the form from our webs ite.

This 2009/2010 season there are many exciting events on-site and off-site in other nearby Florida communities. The three largest on-site events are the Nature Coast HDT & Combined Test January 23-24, 2010 and Black Prong HDT & Combined Test March 13-14, 2010 for the driving enthusiasts.

At both HDTs there are is a new option for a two- phase event: a Combined Test (Dressage and Cones Only) available for all levels and offered at a reduced price. As always these events will be American Driving Society (ADS) rated shows offering Training, Preliminary, Intermediate, Advanced with classes for Singles, Pair, Tandem, Four-in-hand, and Very Small Equine (VSE).

And for the riding enthusiasts the Goethe Challenge Endurance Ride is December 19, 2009 with a Vet check on Friday the 18th. This is an FEI rated show offering 25/50/75/100 mile options. Bookmark and check our Events Calendar frequently as we will post new events throughout the season.

A: Driving is the oldest competitive equestrian sport, indeed, horses were long driven before they were ridden. When the need for horses as a primary form of transportation subsided, horses and driving became a recreational sport, and a fast growing one at that. It was the Duke of Edinburgh (GBR), FEI President from 1964 - 1986, that got the wheels turning in 1969, where interested parties were summoned and the first rule book for Combined Driving was produced. The modern driving competition format thus consists of three phases, namely Dressage, Marathon and Obstacle Driving with the three alternatives - a single horse, a pair or a team of four. Following the elaboration of the first rule book in 1969, it is only natural that Driving became the fourth FEI discipline in 1970. Source: http://www.fei.org

We encourage you to share this newsletter with friends and family who are as passionate as you about "all things equestrian"! Simply use the "forward e-mail" link at the very bottom of this newsletter. They can sign up to receive it free for themselves by going to our home page www.BlackProng. com and entering their e-mail address in the "Receive our Free E-newsletter" signup box. They will receive a welcome e-mail, asking them to reply and CONFIRM that they want to receive it.

Let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions for information in the next issue. Email to blackprongcenter@aol.com