Welcome
to the.... PRESIDENT
: JOHN AYERS if you have questions, comments or suggestions. Remember, the GDHA is YOUR club! Our Purpose and Goal The
Georgia Draft Horse Association is a
non-profit organization with the primary objective of
promoting the use of draft horses throughout the State of Georgia. Our
goal is to bring individuals with a love for these
magnificent animals together at a variety of events and History The Association was originally formed in the mid-1980's by a group of people interested promoting and using draft horses and mules in Georgia. Then known as the Georgia Draft Horse & Mule Association, many programs were set up involving shoeing, grooming, harnessing and training the horse and mule for work and pleasure. There were field days, wagon trains and draft horse and mule shows where the public was invited to observe, with the main objective being social and promotional. In 1995
the name of the association was changed to the Georgia
Draft Horse Association with the purpose Gwinnett County Fair through exhibits and shows. In 1994 the association was invited to the National Fairgrounds & Agricenter in Perry, Georgia , where our draft horses were exhibited to the public. Since that time, we have held a Class C Draft Horse Show each year in mid-October at the Georgia National Fair. *** ATTENTION *** The Perry 2011 Show Results are now available HERE. The Perry 2011 Photos by Jill Monroe are now available HERE. _____________________________________________________________________________________ |
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CHRISTMAS PARTY! John & Anna Ayers have again
graciously offered their home for our annual Christmas Party! Everyone come for a nice evening of good
friends, good food, & great conversation!
Feel welcome to bring family and friends! JANUARY MEETING! The
January 2012 Meeting will be Saturday, January 7 at the GA Farmer’s Market
Restaurant located in Forest Park, GA.
Come at |
2012 BOARD NOMINATIONS! We
have received 4 nominations for the 3 vacant Board Member positions for
2012. (John Ayers, Carla Beckom, Jack
Beckom, & Jennifer Cline) A ballot
page with each candidates bio is attached and should be completed and must be
received before the January meeting.
Vote for 3 nominees. Family
memberships may vote two ballots and individual memberships get to vote 1
ballot. You may mail your ballot(s) or
bring them in person to the meeting. If
mailing, send to:
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NEW GA DRAFT HORSE RESCUE MEMBER! We have a new GDHA member that is a Percheron & Draft horse rescue! Here’s Iron Gate Percherons’ Goal Statement: Most Percherons and other Draft horses are only used for a purpose, let it be breeding, pulling farm equipment, carriage, etc... when their job cannot be performed to the owners liking, the horses are just thrown away to the auction, where most end up in the slaughter/kill pen. This is very sad, but true! Our goal is to try to save as many of these horses as we physically can by going to auctions and purchasing (saving) them refurbishing all their medical & nutritional needs and finding them safe, loving forever homes. Many people are not aware of how wonderful a Percheron performs as a riding companion, through our Rescue, we hope to inform the public & community of this simple & rewarding new job for these gentle giants. Although our primary mission is focused on the Percheron & Other Draft Breeds, we would NEVER turn away any other horse in need of our help. With the veterinary needs, feed, and care they are in need of, as well as, providing them with the love, compassion, and attention some of them have never known. As with most non-profit horse rescues, though, the number of wonderful animals we are able to rescue depends so much on our budget. With your support, in the form of a donation or sponsorship, means we can continue to grow and expand our provisions and clean housing that we provide for these horses. Donations can be made on our website under Donations in the "How To Help" tab to the left of the page. With your generous help of a donation on behalf of our Percheron Draft Horse Rescue will financially help to provide excellent care for our horses, to align the organization financially and provide the best care for our horses by exercising fiscal responsibility with every Donated dollar. Also to gain efficiencies by managing expenses and optimizing resources, including Volunteers, Individual Sponsorship, Equine Foster homes and involvement from our local community. Our vision is to rescue as many possible neglected Percheron Draft horses and provide the Care, Training, Love & Patience needed to allow for a successful adoption to their forever homes. Please join us in our efforts and let people know that there is a need for support! The more people we can educate about horse rescue, the more support we will have to help save these noble animals. Many people still do not know anything about the efforts that go into a Horse Rescue. Spread the word by telling all your friends and neighbors or add our link to your website! If you would like to drop off a Feed or Hay donation; Donate by check, please make check payable to: Iron Gait Percherons, Inc. 114 Hancock Mountain Trail Waleska, Georgia 30183 PayPal: help@igprescue.org http://www.irongaitpercherons.com Thank you & God Bless! Denise Polydor Founder IGPR | _________________________________________ GDHA MEMBERS ON THE MOVE IN 2011! Congratulations to these folks out there representing our Association with grace & style with their draft horses! WORLD CLYDESDALE SHOW (Madison, WI): Shannon
& Mark Martin of Classic City Clydesdales: N. AMERICAN INTL. LIVESTOCK EXPO (Louisville KY): Lamar
& Crystal Mitchell of Southern View Percherons: Shannon
& Mark Martin of Classic City Clydesdales: Lynn
& Tom Johnson of TJL Farms: Johnny
& Rebecca Cannon of FairWinds Farm: NC
STATE FAIR DRAFT HORSE SHOW (Raleigh, NC): Lynn
Johnson of TJL Farms: |
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NC STATE FAIR DRAFT HORSE SHOW (continued): Rebecca
Cannon of FairWinds Farm REINBOW
CLASSIC REGIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS (Cleveland,
TN): Spirit
- owned by Shane Brown TN
STATE SPECIAL OLYMPICS – SADDLE-UP SHOW (Franklin, TN): Doc
of Circle Arrow of FairWinds Farm: MURRY
COUNTY SADDLE CLUB (Chatsworth, GA) Brittany
Edgerton and Draco – High Point for 3 years running – over 100
blue ribbons in Western Under Saddle Classes, 4 Belt Buckles, 3
Halters, 3 Saddle Pads. LINCOLN
COUNTY FAIR (TN): Lamar
& Crystal Mitchell of Southern View Percherons: MULE
DAY (TN): Lamar
& Crystal Mitchell of Southern View Percherons: BEDFORD
COUNTY FAIR (TN): Lamar
& Crystal Mitchell of Southern View Percherons: FENTRESS
COUNTY FAIR (TN): Lamar
& Crystal Mitchell of Southern View Percherons: |
PUTNAM
COUNTY FAIR (TN): Lamar
& Crystal Mitchell of Southern View Percherons: NORTH
GA DRAFT HORSE SHOW (Dalton, GA): A
full day of classes, lots of good food, friends & fun was the
name of this show! The GDHA Members that attended were: Brittany
& Richard Edgerton I
don’t think I saw anybody leaving without a bunch of ribbons too!
Everybody did great! ____________________________________________ These
shows listed above range in size from very small up to National level
shows, and everywhere in between. However, the size of the show
doesn’t matter – just getting out there with your drafts and
having fun is what it’s all about! Oh, and didn’t I hear
somebody once say that practice doesn’t always make perfect, but
it’s definitely going to help you get there! HOW TO GET YOUR HORSE SHOD 101! Rod and I took 2 horses to the Georgia Professional Farrier Assoc. Fall Contest & Shoe Show on October 7-8. They needed draft horses that would stand quietly for the farriers. The competition was held in Athens at the UGA Livestock Arena. The draft horse competition consisted of 16 two man teams of farriers, each team having 1-1/2 hours to shoe two feet (one front / one back). They started only with barstock and completely hand forged the shoes. The farriers were judged throughout the competition. We had a great time and were thanked continuously for bringing the horses. Most said they didn't get much chance to work with the draft breeds. Submitted by: Rodney & Barb Branch, Simple Pleasures |
WANTED: 2012 NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Due to other commitments, I won’t be able to continue with the newsletter for 2012. Is there anyone that would like to volunteer to take over this job? Please contact Roxy Janes @ (770) 479-7110. Thanks! Submitted by: Rebecca Cannon __________________________________________ SHOW PHOTOS ARE READY! Reminder: Don‘t forget the Perry Show Photos are ready for viewing and purchasing on line! Jill Monroe did a fantastic job! She really knows how to make us look good! Check them out @ her website: http://jill2285.shutterbugstorefront.com/ The pictures are AWESOME! Go see how great you looked and order lots of pictures! ____________________________________________ A STAR IS BORN! Hey, it’s Duke and Amy Fields! Wowing the crowd at the Perry Show – Taking first place in the Costume Class with the most awesome Breast Cancer Awareness Horse! Well, you never know who is watching, as Amy has received a request from the Marketing Department of the Breast Cancer Society of America to use their photo in their Breast Cancer Awareness campaign! What an Honor! Way To Go Amy & Duke! ____________________________________________ GDHA SPONSORED 2011 VOLUNTEER UPDATE: Spirit competed on behalf of the Reinbow Riders several times this year! This is therapeutic riding at its finest! Therapeutic riding is offered to riders beginning at age of 2 with physical, mental and emotional disabilities. They also offer adult classes. All classes are taught by NARHA [North American Riding for the Handicapped Association] certified instructors and have no more than 4 riders in each class. Denise Wright is the Program Coordinator/ PATH Intl Registered Instructor for the Reinbow Riders and is a great person and fantastic at what she does. Which is A LOT! | There
are 2 "drafts" that offer themselves up at Tri-State. The draft horse
that has been doing this the longest is Doc of FairWinds Farm owned by
Rebecca and Johnny Cannon. Doc is something else! This is a
horse that has done it all and seen it all! You can count on Doc
for anything and everything. He has more blue ribbons than anyone
else that I know and he doesn't disappoint in the therapeutic ring,
either! Of course, Spirit is the other horse! Doc and
Spirit competed at the Reinbow Classic Horse Show on May 26,
2011. Shane and I always try to make it to this one to help out
and admire all the athletic horse and riders! Their abilities
always blow us away! Spirit always does very well and Shane is
very, very proud of what Spirit does six days a week at Tri State
Therapeutic Riding Center. I know I have pictures of Spirit and
Doc with assorted riders posing with blue, red and yellow ribbons that
day. Yes, we are very proud of our draft horses. They truly are a
giving breed! 2011 Officers: President:
John Ayers (678) 753-0737 Board Members: Carla
Beckom: (770) 358-2678 ************************************ THE NEWSLETTER STAFF: Roxanne
Janes (770-479-7110) (roxannejanes@gmail.com) ************************************ GDHA Website: www.georgiadrafthorse.com Facebook: Georgia Draft Horse Association
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Board
of Directors
(click on the name to email) |
| John Ayers President 678-753-0737 (h) 706-354-0037 (w) |
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Vice-President 770-735-1549 |
| Carla Beckom 770-358-2678 |
| Barbara Branch 770-846-3983 |
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Ken Janes 770-479-7110 |
| Jack Beckom 770-358-2678 |
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Other
Contacts
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Newsletter
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| Show Committee |
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678-753-0737
(h)
706-354-0037 (w) |
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770-358-2678
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