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Artist: Kitty Burris Schachter
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I feel really good about 2015. Really good.
In a world that's gone crazy, the people I like to be with, Horse People, seem to have a renewed energy and optimism. Two Saturday nights ago, I went to Camden's Steeplechase Museum for the annual Thoroughbred Awards Dinner. More people attended than in the past few years and, as far as I could tell, everyone was feeling uplifted. This Saturday night I attended the Whips Meeting at the Carolina Carriage Club. Again, high attendance and high energy. With so many new people in the club, we went around the room introducing ourselves and telling the group what we drove. When it got to me, the last one, I confesses I didn't drive a team or a draft or a mini. I drive a five-year-old, gray....Prius.
Meanwhile over at Harmon Field the Blue Ridge Hunter Jumper Association was celebrating their year-end wins and accomplishments with (again) high energy and enthusiasm. Maybe it's just me (and it could be....I'm medicated) but it feels like we're pulling out of the Recession Doldrums and looking forward to a great year with our horses and horse friends. Industry watchdog Elizabeth McMillan of EquestrianProfessional.com says the indicators nationally and internationally are looking good too. I certainly don't want to jinx it, but I'm feeling really, really good.
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This Week
Jan 26 - Feb 1
27-29 Robert Zandvoort Dressage Clinic
at Rivers Edge Farm, Campbello, SC
Contact: Jodi Lees 864-921-105928
28 Adventure Travel on Horseback Series
Isothermal Community College-Polk Campus
Contact: Kate Barkschat 828-894-3092
31 Carolina Region HB Clinic
@ Riverbend Eq Center, Greenville, SC
Contact: ken@thejustfamily.com
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Think you have the right stuff? Sign up to ride in the amateur races, adult amateur or junior. Call Kelly Murphy to get the details at 864-457-3518. Deadline quickly approaching.
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Long Shadows Farm Mini Practice Event
500 Blackwell Rd, Campobello, SC
Sunday February 8, 2015
Organizers: Amy Barrington and Beth Perkins
Divisions: Starter, Beginner Novice, Novice and Training
Judges: Dressage - K.C. Betzel
Stadium: Amy Barrington
Cross Country - Beth Perkins
Entry Fee: $75 (payable to Amy Barrington) $25 to Long Shadows Farm plus
signed release and current coggins.
All dogs must be leashed.
 All participants will do a dressage test once, receive helpful advice about how to better your score, leave the ring and when ready perform the test a second time. Only the second test will be scored. At assigned times, riders will move on to the cross country phase with a course of no more than 10 jumps and be given the opportunity to do a do over, if they wish. The same format will be used for the show jumping phase. This event is intended to be educational but scores will be given as in any event and only the best scores will count. No phase will be timed. Starter: USEA 2014 Beginner Novice Test A
Jumps will be no higher than 2 ft.
Beginner Novice: USEA 2014 Beginner Novice Test B
Jumps no higher than 2' 6"
Novice: USEA 2014 Test A
Jumps no higher than 2' 9"
Training: USEA 2014 Test A
Jumps no higher than 3' 3"
Test of choice may be performed.
Please email Beth Perkins at mickbeth@windstream.net to hold your spot. Times will be assigned and course maps will be available on Saturday February 7th. Entries close February 4th. In case of bad weather, a rain date will be assigned.
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Wanted: Heavenly Donkey
 Last year Carol Greata provided a donkey for the Palm Sunday combined service for the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches of Spartanburg. She cannot go this year and is sending out an appeal for a replacement donkey for the service. Donkey must be bombproof. It is an outdoor service with 200 people, a choir, a bagpiper and incense. If anyone is interested in helping with this request, please call Carol at 864-472-3079.
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Farewell, Maude Carr
1942 - 2015
Equestrian Conservationist Philanthropist
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Groom Elite Program Graduates Instructors Class
The Groom Elite training program for professional grooms has graduated its first Instructors class in this area. Dr. Thann Boyum, Erin Gambrell, Lilia White and Anita Williamson are now qualified instructors. Taught by program director Dr. Reid McLellan of Lexington, KY, the four candidates focused on the elements of good horse management practices that professional grooms should master. The program has introductory to advanced levels. For more information on new classes forming, contact Isothermal Community College, Polk Campus at 828-894-3092.
Reid McLellan, DVM, discussing the equine digestive system.
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Tryon Hounds Say Goodbye to Jordan Hicks and Welcome Trey Bennett
Tryon Hounds announces with pride (and sadness) Jordan Hicks has been appointed to the prestigious position of Huntsman for the Piedmont Fox Hounds in VA. Jordan has served Tryon Hounds for eight seasons. The hunt club will miss him along with his wife Jen and daughter Kenzie.
 Tryon Hounds welcomes new Huntsman Trey Bennett. He is the former Huntsman for the Saxonburg Hunt in Pennsylvania and was selected from a large field of qualified candidates as the new Huntsman for the Tryon Hounds.
Bennett has experience in the disciplines of hunting, whipping-in, hound and horse care, horse training and show jumping. His home state is Mississippi. He will begin his service with the Tryon Hounds on April 1st.
Pictured: Trey Bennett with hounds
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NC Wildlife wants your input on local game lands
Dierdre Lightsey of Rutherford County keeps a sharp eye on public policy and legislation as it pertains to public access to trails. She sends us this heads up:
Wildlife is opening up a public comment period for user access (yes, including equestrian) on some of our local Game lands. Please take a moment to read the article and at the bottom you'll find a link to get your comments in, deadline fast approaching.
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You Know You Live in Horse Country....
 when the local orthopedist has a life-size equine sculpture in his office.He knows where his bread is buttered.
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Survey Says....
Early results from the 2015 EquestrianProfessional.com industry survey has revealed some interesting trends at first glance:
1. Horse professionals are struggling to find properties and/or facilities that are close enough to their client base. We've suspected that equine land use would become an issue for some time. However, this is the first time it has shown up in our survey.
2. Horse professionals are finding it challenging to re-educate clients who have unrealistic expectations and preconceived ideas about horses and riding because they have succumbed to large marketing campaigns and Internet information about training horses. At the webinar we'll share some tips for how to combat this.
3. Horse professionals are having difficulty getting hobby riders to commit to more comprehensive programs i.e. following a successful and progressive learning track of taking regular lessons, moving on to leasing, then buying and (for some disciplines) onto competition. You'll hear our take on a proactive way to tackle this issue.
Perhaps none of these challenges come as any surprise. However, it is only the tip of the information iceberg that this year's survey is providing. EquestrianProfessional.com has over 450 responses so far and the goal is to hit 1200 survey responses. And, they need your help.
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On the Horizon
4 Equestrian Trail Coalition of WNC
Rutherfordton, NC
Contact: dr.b@rutherfordlargeanimal.com
7 RVPC Mounted Meeting
Contact: Denise Ritacco ritacco5@hotmail.com
7 Greenville Foothills PC Feb. mtg.
at Riverbend Eq Center, Greenville, SC
Contact: ken@thejustfamily.com
8 FENCE Hunter Pace
Contact: www.wchpace.org
10 RVPC Unmounted Meeting
Contact: Denise Ritacco
ritacco5@hotmail.com
11 Equine Art: Drawing 8 wk course
at Isothermal Community College, Columbus
Contact: Kate Barkschat 828-894-3092
21 Carolina Carriage Club Trace Pace
at Windridge Farm, Rutherfordton, NC
Contact: Price Story p_story@bellsouth.net
22 Hunter Pace
at Windridge Farm, Rutherfordton, NC
Contact: www.wchpace.org
28 TROT Volunteer Training
at FENCE
Contact: Carol Ten Broek 828-894-6510
28 GFPC Horseless Rally and Gymkhana
at Riverbend Eq Ctr, Greenville, SC
Contact: ken@thejustfamily.com
28 Ride-A-Test with Jodi Lees
at Windridge Farm, Rutherfordton, NC
Contact: info@windridgeservices.com
28-Mar 1 Nanci Lindroth Eventing Clinic
at Windridge Farm, Rutherfordton, NC
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Tryon Riding & Hunt Club Community Support through Equestrian Sport Click or call to join the TR&HC and to renew membership today! 828.863.0480
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Seasons to Taste
Cooking Classes and Catering in the Foothills
Upcoming classes 6-9 pm
$50 per session
January 22nd Spicing Up Winter with Latin Flavors January 29th Barley and Buckwheat Hearty Winter Grains February 4th Wok It!
917-312-9012 |
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Got manure?
 Manure removal, yard and farm maintenance, lime/fertilizer, gravel and more. Keith Gambrell 864-804-1953 |
Tryon Horse Country Community page. Make it your page for all things Horse Country. Got news? Post it. Looking for a groom? Post it. Selling a saddle? Post it. Again, only one rule: Be Nice.
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1st cutting timothy
1st cutting timothy/orchard
Both $13.75 each
2nd cutting timothy/orchard expected within 2 weeks
NC Hwy 9 South across from Pierce Plaza
828-289-4230
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Muddy, dirty, icky blankets?
Get them cleaned.
Fast turnaround.
Your horses will thank you.
EquiDress.
864-979-9334
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Click Here to read issues you may have missed
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All types of equestrian properties.
Exquisite Equestrian Properties
in Tryon Horse Country
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Coming to town for a show or other event?
Need more info on Visiting the Foothills? Click Here. |
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Up Top
"Are You Listening?"
Artist Kitty B. Schachter
Kitty Burris Schachter was born in New York City in 1953. Kitty began her career at MacMillan publishing. She returned to school at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, with a focus on Fine Art and Equestrian Studies . In addition she pursued courses at the University of Missouri with her eye on veterinary medicine. Circumstances returned her to New York and finally to Florida which brought Schachter together with her husband Ben L. Schachter, an equine veterinarian. Together, they built their practice, Wellington Equine Associates, for which she has acted as anesthetist for all surgeries performed. They have two wonderful grown children, Carl and Suzanne. Visit her WEBSITE.
All art is protected by copyright laws.
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