GEORGIA DRAFT HORSE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER ___________________________________________________________________________ No.1 April/May, 2003 2003 Officers Charley Lee, President (770) 928-1182 Bob Gosford, Vice President (770) 775-6228 Roxanne Janes, Sec/Treas. (770) 429-7110 Board Members Chris Davison (newly elected) Debbie Wiedemann Lawana Smith (finishing Kim's term) FROM THE PRESIDENT: I am starting out by offering an apology for not being heard from for so long. We have had lots going on that has kept us tied up. I want to encourage each of you to be an integral part of our Association this year. We need to hear voices and opinions about what you would like to see happen. As of now we have our Southeastern Show planned for Sunday, May 18th, at the Wills Park Arena in Alpharetta, GA. We are also planning on having a Youth Clinic at Thumblatch Farm after the show. We would like to highlight our youth and give them a day to work with horses and just be appreciated. We will be doing this as a hands on clinic and look forward to having some of our youth from the past in to help out. More on that to follow. We will be having our 10th Show at Perry this fall and need to strive to make this one our best ever. We need exhibitors and help with the show. Contact Lawana Smith if you are interested in helping with the Show. Our Show at Wills Park is going very well as of now. Mr. John Ayers has agreed to offer his services as our judge for this Show. We will be offering lots of different classes and are open to suggestions if you do not see what you like. We have, once again, highlighted our youth and given them lots of classes and split them up hopefully in fairness to all. We do need to get sponsors for all of our classes and donations just to help the show. You can sponsor a class for fifty dollars or can just make a donation to help us out financially. No donation is too big or too small. Please help us to make this a banner year for our Association by donating you time and talent at any event we might hold. We need each member and hope to offer back something of value. Lets get on track and start out be contacting us and letting us know what you want to do this year. Thank you, Charley * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Article from our newest member: Foal Train: An Alabama Based PMU Foal Placement Organization Edited 4-2-03 For Georgia By: Dr. Sue-Ellen Brown Clinical Psychologist Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine Foal Train Volunteer Foal Train began in 2001, when two determined women from the Mobile area decided to purchase slaughter-bound foals from Canadian Pregnant Mare Urine (PMU) farms. Elizabeth Creamer and Amy Boddie began with a trailer full of weanling foals that they arranged to have transported to Alabama. Little did they know that within one year Foal Train would grow to the level of transporting and placing over 200 foals in 2002! In September, 2002 the foals were transported all over the US, including Alaska, Maine, California. However the majority of the foals went to homes in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. This year's foals will include top quality Percherons, Belgians, Thoroughbred/Draft Crosses, Paint/Draft Crosses, and Morgan/Draft Crosses and Quarter Horses (both registered and unregistered). PMU farms are horse farms that collect urine from pregnant mares. The urine is then used to manufacture hormones for Hormone Replacement Therapy, which is primarily used by women during and after menopause. There are approximately 30,000 PMU mares in Canada and North Dakota that have foals in May & June every year. Most of the mares are draft breeds or quarter horses. Groups such as Foal Train work to find homes for these foals. Only about 2,000 foals are placed through foal rescue groups. Some foals are purchased by individual buyers, but the majority of the foals end up going to large auctions and then to slaughter. There is a demand for foal meat in Europe and Asia. Foal Train has agreements with several PMU farmers in Canada. The farmers send photos of the foals shortly after birth and send them exclusively to Foal Train to be posted on the internet. Once posted on the internet, they are available for sale. The new foals will start being posted in April 2003. The only requirement to buy one of these foals is you must be approved by Foal Train. This means you fill out the application (available on the Foal Train web site) and send it in. Once approved, you can pick the foal of your dreams! A down payment of half the purchase price will reserve the foal for you. Prices are set by the farmers and generally average around $500. Shipping prices are kept as low as possible, often less than $250 to Alabama or Georgia. Drop-off points are pre-arranged so that people in the surrounding areas can go pick up their foals. In 2002 year, the drop off point for Georgia was Douglasville, GA. Last year, our cut-off date for purchasing foals was August 1. However, there were still some Percheron and Belgian foals that were not reserved before the cut-off date. Foal Train purchased some of these unreserved foals and brought them back to Alabama in September. These foals were sold from Alabama. Occasionally, older foals become available throughout the year. Watch our web site for updates. Also on our web site you will find a newsletter and a PMU group discussion that goes on continuously so everyone can get up to date information and exchange knowledge about PMU foals. For those of you who do not own a computer, most public libraries now have computers for public use where you can access the internet for free. Foal Train is an all-volunteer organization and does not profit in any way from the sale of these foals. Our goal is to save as many of these foals as possible. Placing foals will also increase the awareness of the general public about the existence and needs of these foals. If you are interested in learning more about Foal Train, please visit our web site at http://www.foaltrain.com, write to Liz@foaltrain, Amy@Foaltrain or call Dr. Sue-Ellen Brown at (334) 667-6894. As one of the founders of Foal Train, Liz Creamer says, "If you feel a tug on your heart, follow its lead." Sue-Ellen Brown, Psy.D. Clinical Psychologist Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine Center for Human-Animal Relationships Tuskegee, AL 36088 (334) 727-8082 sebi2i@aol.com Visit Our AOL Homepage at; http://www.tuskegeebond.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Calendar of Events: April 24-26 National Clydesdale Sale Springfield, IL (815-247-8780) April 24-26 Topeka Spring Carriage Sale Topeka, IN (260-593-2522) April 29-30 Eastern States Draft Horse Sale Sunbury, OH (419-734-2013) May 10: Ken & Roxanne Jane's Farm Fun Day - White, GA (770-479-7110) May 18: Southeastern Draft Horse Show Alpharetta, GA (770-928-1182) May 23-24 National Carriage, Antique, Draft & Driving Sale Perry, GA (888-864-2299) May 29-30 Allen County Draft Horse Sale Ft. Wayne, IN (260-710-1546) June 7 Muhlenberg County Fair Draft Horse Pull - Greenville, KY (800- 844-1601) June 7 Wilkes Arts & Heritage Fest Draft Horse Pull - Wilkesboro, NC (336-667-6960) June 7-8 Brocton Spring Fest & Draft Horse Show - Brocton, IL (217-385-2450) June 19-21 Topeka Summer Carriage Sale Topeka, IN (260-593-2522) June 20-21 Carson Summer Invitational Sale Listowell, Ontario, Canada (519-291-2049) July 2 Grundy County Fair Draft Horse Show - Morris, IL (815-264-3948) July 4-5 Horse Progress Days Mt. Hope, OH (330-852-4603) Schedule of Events Cont'd. July 10 Marshall Putnam Fair Draft Horse Show - Henry, IL (309-463-2300) July 11 Heart of Illinois Draft Horse Show Peoria, IL (309-446-3777) (815-247-8780) July 18-19 Spencer County Fair Draft Horse Pull – Taylorsville KY (502-477-9992) July 26 LaPorte County Draft Horse Show LaPorte, IN (219-778-4981) July 30- National Belgian Show Aug 2 Davenport, Iowa (563-285-4270) Aug.10-12 Illinois State Fair Springfield, IL (217-487-7609) Aug. 12-13 Whiteside County Fair Morrison, IL (815-772-7077) Sept. 19 Central Illinois Draft Horse Market Arcola, IL (217-268-3859 #3) Sept 25 Davies County Draft Hose/Colt Sale Cannelburg, IN (812-486-2582) Sept. 25-28 Big E Draft Horse Show West Springfield, MA (413-205-5016) Oct. 7-11 Waverly Fall Midwest Horse Sale Waverly, Iowa (319-352-2804) Oct. 9-10 10th Annual Georgia Nat'l Fair & Draft Horse Show Perry, GA (770-422-5142) Oct. 16-19 Michigan Great Lakes International DHS East Lansing, MI (269-721-8853) Oct. 23-24 Buckeye Fall Draft Horse Sale Dover, OH (330-893-2303) Oct. 28-31 Topeka Fall Draft Horse Sale Topeka, IN (219-593-2522) =============================== Up-Coming Show: Southeastern Draft Horse Show May 18th, 2003 – Wills Park, Alpharetta, GA Tell all your friends about this show. A class sheet and Entry Form are included in this Newsletter and also posted on the Web Site. The GDHA finances this show entirely from contributions and businesses & individuals sponsoring classes. This is the 3rd year for this show and always enjoyed by all who participate. It's especially good for the youth and a great way to expose a new horse to the show ring. It's also good experience for those who have not shown before or would like to get better acquainted with the whole aspect of showing. If you would like to help sponsor, or make a contribution to the show, please complete and mail the Contribution Form in this Newsletter to: Roxanne Janes, Sec/Treas. GA Draft Horse Association 1273 White Road White, GA 30184 If you have any questions, you can call her at (770) 479-7110. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Southeastern Draft Horse Show Wills Park, Alpharetta, GA Sunday, May 18, 2003 Starts: 10 AM Contact: Pete (678) 455-0119 or Charley (770) 928-1182 Class List: 1. Youth Showmanship 2. Youth Under Saddle 12 & Under Western 3. Stallion 2 & Under 4. Youth Under Saddle 12 & Under English 5. Ladies Cart Gelding 6. Ladies Cart Mare 7. Youth Cart 12 & Over 8. Stallion 3 & Over 9. Champion Stallion 10. Filly Foal 11. Filly Yearling 12. Mens Cart Gelding 13. Mare 2 Years Old 14. Mare, 3 & Over 15. Champion Mare 16. Adult Under Saddle English 17. Adult Under Saddle Western 18. Youth Under Saddle 13 & Over English 19. Gelding 3 & Under 20. Gelding 4 & Older 21. Champion Gelding 22. Youth Under Saddle 13 & Over Western 23. Mens Cart Mare 24. Adult Novice Cart 25. Pleasure Driving 2 Wheel vehicle 26. Jr Cart 12 & Under 27. Mens Team Show classes cont'd. 28. Ladies Team 29. Youth Team 30. Pleasure Driving 4 wheel vehicle 31. Unicorn 32. Costume Class 33. Four Horse Hitch 34. Stick Pony 5 & Under 35. Six Horse Hitch * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A BLESSED DAY AT ROC-KEN ACRES Roxanne and Ken Janes have a new barn and will be having a get together on May 10th to have the barn blessed. All those who would like to participate, be there at 11:00 and Bob Gosford will be officiating the blessing at 2:00 pm. If you plan to attend please RSVP by Saturday, May 3rd in order that enough food be prepared. The Janes are furnishing Ham & BBQ and request that you please bring your favorite dish to compliment the meal. Call Roxanne (770) 479-7110 or Lawana (770) 422-5142 if you have any questions or need directions. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * WE NEED IDEAS……………. The Board would like to hear from the members as to what you would like to see accomplished by the GDHA this year. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. We've not had a fundraiser in a while which would greatly benefit us financially, so if you have any ideas on this, please get in touch with one of the Board members. It has been brought to our attention, that we still have T-Shirts; however, only in size "large". They are of excellent quality and are selling for $10 each. If you would like to have one (or more), please let the secretary know. (Roxanne @ (770) 479-7110) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * FROM THE NEWSLETTER STAFF: Remember this is your association and any thoughts or ideas that you have will be appreciated. Also this Newsletter is the "life line" of the association and is a place where members can become acquainted and learn first hand how others are enjoying their horses, whether it be working or playing….how a particular problem was solved, etc. We would love to have any "news" of your farm, experiences with your horses, etc. Let members know that you are having fun and learning from your experience of owning a draft horse. Don't forget to take advantage of the Website: www.georgiadrafthorse.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations to all of you who have new babies to brag about this year.