CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION • ESSEX JUNCTION, VERMONT 2012 OFFICIAL PROGRAM EVERYTHING EQUINE 2012 IS SPONSORED BY: University of Vermont Extension • Poulin Grain, Inc. Guy’s Farm and Yard • Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar Blue Seal Feeds, Inc. • Equine Journal • The Horse Works Alltech • Farm Family Insurance • Charlotte Pony Club Northwestern Riding & Driving Club EXTREME AN EVENT 2012 HIGHLIGHTS: Featuring Eventing with Sue Berrill ON SUNDAY Special Guest Denny Emerson PHOTO COURTESY JOAN DAVIS/FLATLANDSFOTO PHOTO COURTESY DENNY EMERSON SATURDAY, APRIL 28 8:30 - 5:00 SUNDAY, APRIL 29 8:30 - 4:30
Transcript
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY EXPOSITION • ESSEX JUNCTION, VERMONT
2012 OFFICIAL PROGRAM
EVERYTHING EQUINE 2012 IS SPONSORED BY:University of Vermont Extension • Poulin Grain, Inc.Guy’s Farm and Yard • Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar Blue Seal Feeds, Inc. • Equine Journal • The Horse Works Alltech • Farm Family Insurance • Charlotte Pony Club Northwestern Riding & Driving Club
EXTREMEAN
EVENT2012 HIGHLIGHTS:Featuring Eventing with Sue Berrill
ON SUNDAY Special Guest Denny Emerson
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PHOTO COURTESY DENNY EMERSON
AN
SATURDAY, APRIL 28 8:30 - 5:00
SUNDAY, APRIL 298:30 - 4:30
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EVERYTHING EQUINE 2012 3
Welcome to Everything Equine 2012Dear Everything Equine Attendees,Welcome to the 9th Annual Everything Equine event. Over the years we have had headliners from a variety of disci-plines, yet because of a very small event (NOT) that coincides with our dates each year (Rolex in Lexington, KY any-body?), we have not been able to offer a full slate for Eventing. We are excited to bring you top of the line talent, and they are all Vermonters! We are excited to have Sue Berrill from Brownsville, VT as our headliner with us to conduct educational demonstrations on cross country and stadium phases of eventing, as well as some tips on tack needs. Another fi rst for us…these and a few other sessions will be outside! We will have several pony clubbers at different stages of training to help Sue show her stuff…this will pro-vide solid, sound information pertinent to all levels of riders. The show jumping will include a full course in the “big white ring,” and the cross country will include a consolidated series of cross country obstacles near the show jumping arena.
We have another popular local trainer giving insight on success in the Dressage phase. Andrea Waldo, a Level 1 Certifi ed USEA ICP Instructor, joins us from Triple Combination Farm in Ferrisburgh, VT where she teaches, coaches and competes up to Preliminary level in eventing. As a psychotherapist and a US riding instructor Andrea has developed a StressLess Riding Program that teaches creative, practical mental strategies and skills to help riders move past their fears and toward a more calm and focused mindset. In an exciting addition to the Sunday program, Denny Emerson, accomplished horseman and author from Strafford, VT will join us for a signing session of his new book “How Good Riders Get Good” and a “Trainer Training the Trainers” demon-stration in the outdoor arena.
While we have many exciting changes to this year’s show, the mission to provide solid, applicable information in the seminars and demon-strations remains the same. We have added an outdoor element to the event, and moved the arena to the North Expo building in place of the
Welcome to the 9th Annual Everything Equine event. Over the years we have had headliners from a variety of disci-plines, yet because of a very small event (NOT) that coincides with our dates
country and stadium phases of eventing,
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome to Everything Equine .......................... 3-5
Map of Grounds & Facility ....................................... 15
Saturday Schedule of Events/Demos ............... 30
Sunday Schedule of Events/Demos ................... 31
PAGE #
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Demonstration Pen. Our seminars will take place “upstairs” in the two larger rooms, and information on those topics and speakers will be avail-able at the uvM extension/information Booth at the entrance to the north expo building. the times, titles and locations will appear (as usual) in the schedule grid on the inside of the show booklet. And, take some time to read the articles presented here…there is some great information on topics that range from effectively addressing equine issues with vt legislators to uvM extension’s responses to tropical Storm irene.
horsin’ Around has moved back to Saturday night (April 28, 6:30 p.m.) and requires a separate ticket. Chittenden County Farm Bureau is again co-sponsoring this event with the Champlain valley expo, and their portion of the proceeds was invested in the “Chittenden County horse Farm of Distinction” program. two farms (Steeple ridge Farm in Charlotte, vt and Missy Ann Stables in Milton, vt) were awarded this honor at the vermont Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in november. Also, the pilot program was developed with a goal of paving the way for other vermont Farm Bureau counties to use materials for their own program. For more information: (http://www.vtfb.org/vermont-farm-bureau-Chittenden.html).
i encourage you to share your thoughts and experiences at everything equine through the individual speaker evaluations and the computer evaluation at the uvM extension Booth. that information is impor-tant for program planning and identifying issues that affect the vermont equine industry. Finally, don’t miss the everything equine extreme trail Challenge taking place on Sunday morning (10:30 a.m.), it should provide an exciting test of horsemanship and finesse!
enjoy, learn and be safe in all of your horse endeavors,
Betsy greene Extension Equine Specialist,
University of Vermont
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thank you for joining us at everything equine “An extreme event” one of the largest equine events in new england for horse enthusiasts. this is our ninth year, and we are excited about the all new layout & programming for “everything equine” including:
• Our theme this year is Everything Equine “An Extreme Event,” featuring eventing with Sue Berrill.
• Sunday April 29 our special guest will be Denny Emerson, “One of the most influential horsemen of the 20th century...” (The Chronicle of the Horse, 2002).
• The Extreme Trail Challenge with $2,700 in prize money on Sunday April 29 at 10:30 am—1 p.m., coordinated by the Northwestern Riding & Driving Club is a great addition.
• The Poulin Grain and Guy’s Farm & Yard Arena has been moved to expo north.
• Blue Seal Feeds & Farm Family Insurance Breed Row has moved indoors and will be set up in expo South.
• Equine Art Exhibit, artists in various media with a special focus on horses have a chance to submit their work for display and appreciation.
• The Charlotte Pony Club will be working with 4-H to expand & enhance the Kids Corner Activity Center.
• Indoor and outdoor demonstrations.• We are excited to have Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar producing our
program this year, which has been sent out electronically to over 10,000 potential guests.
• “Horsin’ Around on Saturday Night” is Saturday night, April 28th at 6:30. Admission is separate for this popular equine variety show and tickets are limited. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Vermont Farm Bureau.
the two days of everything equine involves continued strong part-nership between many organizations—Northwestern Riding & Driving Club, Charlotte Pony Club, 4-H, University of Vermont Extension, Horse Works, WNE Pony Club 4H, Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar, Equine Journal, Poulin Grain, Guy’s Farm & Yard, Alltech, Blue Seal Feeds, and Farm Family Insurance.
Be sure to visit the very popular Breed row in expo South sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds and Farm Family Insurance, don’t miss the Equine Art Gallery and Pony Club Kids Corner in Expo North; these areas offer excel-lent horse related family activities. Attend educational sessions in the seminar rooms, sponsored by the equine Journal and watch demonstrations in the Poulin Grain indoor arena. Also get your tickets early for the very enter-taining “Horsin’ Around Show” an equine variety show on Saturday, April 28 at 6:30pm. A portion of the proceeds from Horsin’ Around helps benefit the Vermont Farm Bureau Equine Industry Committee. A special thanks to:
• Guy’s Farm and Yard for providing an excellent arena system and footing for the Poulin Grain Arena and to Sevcik’s Trucking for the work they have done on the arena.
• The exhibitors and over 30 seminar demonstration presenters who have agreed to be part of this growing event. Please stop by the ex-hibitor booths to let them know you appreciate their participation.
• Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar and Alltech for sponsoring the vendor and volunteer reception.
Have a great weekend and thank you for attending; next year’s show is April 27-28, 2013!
Sincerely,Tom Oddy
Director of Special Events, Champlain Valley Exposition
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Sue BerrillOutdoor Demonstrations:Cross Country JumpingAre you wondering how to learn about this ex-citing and challenging sport? younger riders will demonstrate learning the new skills of rid-ing over undulating terrain, riding at the gallop and how to prepare to jump from a faster pace than the canter. More advanced riders will demonstrate how to introduce and practice such common xc obstacles as corners, simu-lated ditches, coffins, angles and skinnies.
show Jumping phaseOne of two jumping phases in eventing. riders will demonstrate how to ride a show jumping course and will address the challenges of jump-ing “clean” even after the cross country phase.
Seminars:taCk, equipment and attireWhat is needed to be safe and prepared for allaspects of eventing.
Fitness For horse and riderhow do you prepare yourself and your horsefor the sport of eventing from the long winter.
Sue Berrill, an Advanced-level event rider, hasbeen riding for over 25 years. Sue has competed and placed at such prestigious competi-tions as the Area 1 Championships, the American eventing Championships (AeC), Stuart CiC**, and both radnor and Bromont CCi**. in 2006 Sue rode Denny emerson’s Jetting West to win the Area 1 Prelim Championship and in 2007 won the Bromont CiC* with Welton hvala. Sue has qualified several horses and riders for the AeCs each year at novice through intermediate including the 2009 Junior novice Champion evelyn Bulkeley.
Sue trains extensively with World- Champion/ renowned eventer Denny emerson and grand Prix dressage rider/trainer Shan Lawton. Since 2004, Sue has been co-instructing with Denny at his tamarack hill Farm Adult event Camps in vermont and north Carolina.
When Sue isn’t competing or away at clinics, she can be found at her greylock Farm in Brownsville, vt furthering the educationof a horse or a student. Sue thoroughly enjoys helping her students realize their goals wheth-er they are learning to jump, trying to under-stand dressage, or competing in theirfirst three-Day-event.
andrea waldoDemonstrations:dressage: it’s not Just about ConneCting the letters…Andrea will present riders at various levels of eventing and show the requirements for dres-sage at each level. She will demonstrate how dressage prepares horses for the jumping phases of eventing.
beginning eventing For “master” (no longer teenaged) riderseven the “not young anymore” crowd can feel the thrill of cross country and stadium jumping. Join Andrea as she works with some “young at
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Headliner Bios and PresentationsAndrea Waldo
EVERYTHING EQUINE 2012 7
heart” riders on their jumping skills.Andrea Waldo is co-owner and trainer of
Triple Combination Farm in Ferrisburgh, VT .She has evented through the one-star level
and is a USEA certifi ed instructor. In addition to her goal of riding at the advanced levels of eventing, she has a strong commitment to starting young horses correctly in eventing and dressage. Andrea is also the creator of the StressLess Riding Program, a sport psychology coaching program that helps riders develop greater confi dence and success in the saddle.
With Special GuestAppearance on Sunday by:DENNY EMERSONTRAINERS TRAINED BY THE TRAINERDenny will put Sue Berrill, Andrea Waldo and Tara Valade through the paces over fences in order to demonstrate how the trainers can constantly gain more information to improve their skills with horses, students and their own riding. After the lesson,Denny and riders will take questions from the paudience in the arena.
BOOK SIGNING AT UVMEXTENSION BOOTH ON SUNDAYJoin us on Sunday for a chance to get an auto-graph in your copy of Denny’s great new book “How Good Riders Get Good.” There will be
books available for purchase at the booth.Denny Emerson, eventer, trainer, coach,
author, leader, activist, has been a signifi cant, in-fl uential force in the equestrian community for a half-century. Beginning with his fi rst competition, the Stoneleigh Prospect Hill School Gymkhana, at the age of 12, Denny has forged a career with horses which culminated in his receiving both the USEA’s Wofford Cup for lifetime service to event-ing, the American Riding Instructor Certifi cation Program (ARI CP) Lifetime Achievement Award, induction in 2006 into the USEA Hall of Fame, and included leadership in such organizations as the USEA (twice president), the USET (vice presi-dent of Eventing for seven years), the USEF (on the Executive Committee), and Chairman of the Breeder’s Committee of the AHSA.
Now in his 48th consecutive year of competing at the preliminary level or higher, Denny has achieved much success in the sport of eventing. In addition to his eventing career, Denny has been involved in numerous other horse sports during his 56 years of competing. He rode in his fi rst one hundred mile trail ride at GMHA in 1956. Forty-eight years later, in 2004, Denny won a Tevis Cup buckle in endur-ance, for completing the 50th Anniversary of the Western States Trail Ride, the most famous and arduous 100 mile endurance race in the world. Denny has competed at the National Morgan Horse Show, has shown hunters at Ox Ridge, has
shown jumpers and dressage horses at dozens of shows, and has ridden in steeplechase races. As an endurance rider, Denny has compiled 2,250 miles in American Endurance Ride Conference races, and was long listed for the 2005 USA East team for the North American Championships.
How Good Riders Get GoodDaily Choices that Lead to Success in Any Equestrian Sport By Denny Emerson
This book is exactly what you need to become a better rider. It’s a smart, honest, on-target kick-inthe- pants, guaranteed to rev your engines as you see how a few changes in your life, a few smart choices and strategic moves, can transform you from a run-of-the-mill rider into a GOOD one. How does Denny Emerson know what makes a good rider? For one thing, he IS one—he is the only rider in the world to have won both a gold medal in international eventing and a Tevis Cup buckle in endurance.
Plus, he’s been around great riders, and taught those on their way to becoming great, for over 40 years. (horseandriderbooks.com) ■
How Good Riders
everything equine 20128
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Everything Equine’s Trail ChallengeHosted by the Northwestern Riding and Driving Club
Don’t miss one of the hottest new events to hit the horse worlD…The Extreme Trail Challenge, which takes place in the Poulin Grain/ Guy’s Farm and Yard Arena on sunday, April 29 at 10:30 a.m. the Challenge welcomes up to 25 of the top horse and rider teams from new england who will vie for up to $2700.00 in prize money as well as other prizes. the horse and rider teams will show off their partnership by completing a series of judged and timed obstacles. the northwestern riding and Driving Club is pleased to bring their expertise in coordinating these events to everything equine. there will be two judges on hand, scoring for each rider. the course promises to be exciting, creative and challenging! Below are the rules and horsemanship judging for the trail Challenge.
EvErYThinG EquinE ExTrEmE TrAil ChAllEnGE 2012 rulEs:1. the everything equine extreme trail Challenge is a timed event during which the
performance of each horse and rider team will be judged for quality of horsemanship as well as the correctness and efficiency of performance. for each obstacle, the judge will award points on a scale of 0-10 based on 1) the rider’s horsemanship and 2) the team’s overall performance. Bonus points can be awarded for extreme performance adding points from 0-3, with 3 recognizing the best overall achievement of the task.
2. horse and rider will be required to complete each obstacle within 30 seconds in order to receive points for the obstacle. if an obstacle is not completed within the 30 seconds, the rider will be flagged/ whistled and must move onto the next obstacle. time allotted is subject to change based on the individual obstacles.
3. each horse and rider must complete the entire course, in order, as it is laid out. teams must at least make an attempt to complete each obstacle. riders may not choose to skip an obstacle. if a rider goes off course and skips an obstacle and continues with the course he/she will be disqualified. if a rider goes off course and misses an obstacle and realizes the mistake before moving on to the next obstacle on the course, he/she must go back and complete the obstacle. Judges will not alert the rider that he/she missed an obstacle.
4. the rider should stay mounted throughout the entire course once they have started the timer, unless specified by the course. if the horse refuses the obstacle, the rider may choose to dismount and lead their horse through the obstacle, the
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rider will not be disqualified but this will be reflected in their score.
5. Should a rider get bucked off or fall off, he/she may continue to compete provided he/she can catch their horse unassisted and remount within one minute without setting off the timer. Should the horse leave the course boundaries, the rider will be disqualified for that run.
6. Obstacles and Challenge rules will be reviewed in a mandatory rider meeting
before the Challenge begins. it is the responsibility of the rider to fully understand the rules of the competition before the Challenge begins. riders will be permitted to ask questions about the rules up until the first run begins. questions should be directed to the judges and/or the walk through leader.
7. All riders will compete in the order in which their names are drawn. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
8. if a rider’s horse is injured during the competition, the rider must withdraw from the competition.
9. Any dispute or complaint by a rider must be brought to the attention of the offi-cial judge prior to the horse/ rider team leaving the course area. All riders agree to abide by the rulings of the judges. the decision of the judges will be final and not subject to appeal.
10. the judges and the committee may disqualify a rider for abuse of any animal or violation of the Challenge rules.
11. the crowd at the event is considered to be part of the course and each rider acknowledges that the crowd may be a distraction to his/her horse.
12. riders may utilize any tack or equipment that is considered to be standard in the industry and in recognized events. For their safety, riders are encouraged to wear AtSM-Sei approved riding helmets. riders under 18 years of age are required to wear an AtSM-Sei approved riding helmet. Boots with heels are required for all riders. horses are permitted to wear protective leg wraps, boots or other leg gear.
13. the ride time calculated by the official timer for the competition will be deemed the official time for each team’s ride and may not be challenged by any partici-pant. if the primary timer should fail, there will be a backup stop watch. if both timers fail, the horse and rider team will have the option to receive a re-ride at the end of the Challenge.
14. Overall ride times will be translated into points by arranging all ride times from fastest to slowest and then awarding points per obstacle. For example:
each obstacle will be scored 0-10 with 10 being the perfect score. Judges are allowed to use half point increments to score. A score of 6 is considered average for any obstacle. refusal of an obstacle results in a score of 0-2 points depending upon the rider’s effort, at the judge’s discretion.
15. in the event of a tie, the scores from three preselected obstacles will be combined to establish a winner. Participants will be ranked based on the combined scores.
5 points awarded to the horse/rider team in the fastest 20%
4 points awarded to the team in the next fastest 20%
3 points awarded to the team in the next fastest 20%
2 points awarded to the team in the next fastest 20%
1 point awarded to the team in the next fastest 20%
1-5 (fastest)=5 pts
6-10=4 pts
11-15=3 pts
16-20=2 pts
21-25= 1 pt
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UVM Extension Efforts to Help Vermont Farmers Affected by Tropical Storm IreneDr. Betsy Greene
Most people are familiar with uvM extension through the many educa-tional programs, projects, workshops, and other activities conducted throughout the state on a year round basis. When tropical Storm irene devastated roads, bridges, houses, businesses and farms (August 2011), uvM extension faculty and staff (field and campus) jumped into action at multiple places in many ways. Many farmers had no physical, elec-tronic, or phone access to their farms for hours, days, or weeks after the storm. extension personnel from throughout the state worked to document affected farms, provide consultations, to conduct assessments of needs and to facilitate assistance efforts. this information was shared via conference calls (initially daily, then weekly) and documented on a shared internal website.
extension, State, and volunteer efforts/resources were pooled to facilitate assistance with Farm Services Agency, FeMA, and insurance paperwork, to address animal/crop safety, as well as to participate in cleanup efforts on affected farms. it was critical and necessary to utilize all avenues to disseminate information about potential health risks for animals, farmers, and even risks for the volunteers who were helping with recovery efforts. the issues ranged from assessing damage on farms, identifying needs and creating/organizing opportunities to get those needs met, potential mycotoxins in corn crops, dangers of toxins in silt on pastures or hay fields, and even disseminating information to volunteers about need for and access to n95 respirators and gloves because of potential toxins in silt during clean up.
uvM extension and the vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets made a concerted effort to join forces, share information, and work together to most effectively and efficiently meet the needs of vermont farmers affected by tropical Storm irene. By partnering with many local and state agencies to coordinate/collaborate on both “message” and “efforts”; accurate information and assistance were provided to farmers (and the public) regarding potential risks and requirements with flood-affected land, crops, and animals. Communication mecha-nisms included on-site consultations, phone, email, print, television
continued on page 13
Betsy Greene Cleaning up Rock Washout Debris at Cobble Hill Stable in Rochester, VT
everything equine 201212
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shows, video clips, Facebook, and twitter for broadest distribution of information.
ChuCk Ross, VeRmont seCRetaRy of agRiCultuRe, food and maRkets“Dr. greene [and her uvM extension colleagues] worked to reach and assist some of the most damaged and isolated farmers in vt. her efforts included clearing fields of flood debris to organizing the donation, delivery and unloading of feed for farms. her famil-iarity with horses proved to be particularly important to the equine community as there were a number of equine facilities in dire need. Dr. greene continued to speak out and work to support the equine industry in vermont during the ongoing recovery. her voice has been constant and clear about the importance of this part of the agricultural community and its need for assistance.”
the equine extension program conducted and participated in many irene recovery activities including adapting and/or creating three Across the Fence (AtF) episodes to provide important flood-related information and resources to affected farmers, as well as the public. the annual fall pasture/steward-ship seminar was adapted to “After irene: questions, Answers and Strategies for Flooded Pastures, hay Fields, and Crops,” and held at Cottonwood Stables, a farm that had corn, soybeans, and pasture flooded by irene. At that workshop, we arranged to have Keith Silva and Becky golin from AtF do some video interviews to allow us to pass crop and pasture safety tips on to viewers in the third AtF episode. We also filmed two video shorts, one on evaluating/handling/storing flooded corn crops and one dealing with flooded pastures and hayfields and horses. these links were sent out through Facebook and twitter, as well as posted on the irene resource page on the uvM extension site. Because this was a “disaster response” type extension program, traditional extension evaluation methodology was not incorporated, however, one participant arranged to purchase additional feed at a value of $65,000 because of contaminated crop information gleaned from the field-side workshop. he hadn’t even considered this option prior to attending.
ClaRk hinsdale, PResident of VeRmont faRm BuReau“the [field-side] extension seminar high-lighted for me the subtle and insidious damage to forage crops and the fact that most farmers did not understand the extent of their losses. this information assisted me in designing and implementing the vermont Farm Disaster relief Program of which i was a member. Several attendees of the seminar later applied
for and received grants as a result.”
Some written comments shared by After Irene Workshop attendees:• “It was so informative and eye opening
and i couldn’t be more grateful for what i learned there.”
• “The information about mycotoxins was really helpful and applicable to my experiences in farming…i felt that the workshop was a great learning experience and very well run.”
• “The importance of separating flooded and non-flooded feeds is very important and…assessing the amount of feed which will need to be purchased now and not later in the year.”
• “I think that it was a good time for this [meeting] because even though the hurri-cane was a few weeks ago, we now know how much the farmers are still dealing with this disaster.”
• “I had no idea that floodwater and silt was such a significant source of bacteria and pathogens that negatively affect silage quality and are unhealthy for both humans and animals. good silage fermentation can inhibit the growth of pathogens, so it is important for farmers to harvest crops at the right moisture content, high filling rate, and pack a tight seal to reduce oxygen.”
• “What not to do - pretend everything will be fine. Don’t mix good crop with flooded crop.”
We also partnered with the vt Agency of Agriculture and were awarded $1,000 from the uS equine Disaster relief grant for purchasing feed for irene-affected equine in vt. We used the grant to get vt companies to match feed (Poulin grain), and donate hauling (guy’s Farm and yard). We leveraged donations to acquire an additional $1,000 for more feed-all unloaded by volunteers. A total of almost 7 tons of hay replacer and grain were delivered to rochester, granville, and hancock, vt. (See grants, generosity and volunteers help irene-Affected horse Owners).
leslie CaRlson, owneR/oPeR-atoR, CoBBle hill welsh CoBs, RoChesteR, Vt“i would like to express extreme gratitude for the wonderful work of uvM extension, and in particular Betsy greene for her hard work in the aftermath of hurricane irene helping the farmers in rochester.
Betsy greene from uvM was instrumental in procuring grants and grain donations totalling 7 tons of feed to help the horse owners in our valley which includes the towns of rochester,
hancock and granville, vermont. All three towns were hit hard by the storm flooding and the second cut hay crop was damaged creating a feed shortage. uvM’s response to the situa-tion was immediate and i was truly amazed at how quickly they hit the ground running immediately after the storm providing infor-mation, donated shavings, grants and grain to our area farms. the grain grants provided supplementary feed to 59 area horses.
Betsy greene and heather Darby, from uvM extension, also organized several weekend volunteer work crews that helped the farmers clean debris off their fields and out of the woods. it was a huge effort that was uplifting for the farmers at a time when we were all feeling totally overwhelmed and a true example of how many hands can make light work.”
Overall, tropical Storm irene wreaked havoc on our little state, but she also brought out the best of many people and organizations in the state in efforts to help vermont farmers and others in need. n
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Links to AvAiLAbLe MAteriALs:
aCRoss the fenCe ePisodes 9/16/11—The Green Mountain Horse Association of South Woodstock VermontEpisode: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/atfblog/?m=20110916Episode Transcript: http://www.uvm.edu/~atfence/transcripts/atf_txt_091611.pdf
9/29/11 — Post-Irene: Essential Information for the Farming CommunityEpisode: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/atfblog/?m=20110929Episode Transcript: http://www.uvm.edu/~atfence/transcripts/atf_txt_092911.pdf
10/12/11 — Vermont crops, soils and pastures in the wake of IreneEpisode: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/atfblog/?m=20111012Episode Transcript: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/atfblog/?m=20111012
Video shoRts:
Flooded Pasture Information for Horse Owners Video Cliphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr0WZ7jvafQ
Feeding Cattle Flooded Crops- Is it safe? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dnw0SBK0BxU
Overall UVM Extension Website ResourceUVM Extension Hurricane Irene Recovery Information and Resources Websitehttp://www.uvm.edu/extension/ ?Page=emergency.html
everything equine 201214
2012 Everything Equine Exhibitors(Exhibitors as of March 30, 2012)
4-h Club Kids CornerAdirondack tackArt - equestriaArt From Ashes, LLCBCi ConstructionBlittersdorf enduranceBlue Seal FeedsBraideez - Braiding Wire & naia hanna Cedar Ledge Fence Co.Center for America’s First horseChamplain Valley ExpositionCharlotte Pony ClubConklinCounty Folks—Mane StreamCowboy Dressage at new horizonsCrazy Legsease of Floweast Shore vineyardequinature, LLCequine Art exhibitEquine Journalever After Mustang rescueFarm Family InsuranceFinest imagegallagher Power Fencegreen Mountain Draft horse Associationgreen Mountain horse Associationgreen Mountain Pet & tack SupplyGuys Farm & Yardhawk Creek Fencehealing touch for Animalshealth in Focus Chiropractic Centerhearts, hands & horses LLChemlock hill Farmhomestead Fence Co.Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlarhorsetenders, LLChorseWorks insurance SpecialistsJohn thompson’s golf Cartskeeping tabz coKey r-D trailer SalesKimberly FarmsKingdom trailersKomen ride for the Cure (vt-nh)
L.D. Oliver Seed Co. / Depot home and
garden
Life Data LabsLucky’s trailer SalesMaple ridge StableMill Brook ShavingsMilton rental & SalesMiner instituteMorgan horse heritage FoundationMountain top trailersnetwork Chiropractic of vermontnorth Atlantic Buckskin AssociationNorthwestern Riding & Driving Clubnutrena Feed (Cargill)Peg’s equine Service LLC / County SaddleryPercy rentals, Sales & Service, inc.Poulin GrainPurina Millsrhythm of the reinSaddle Fitting ServiceSaddleMattress, inc.Shady Pines FarmSilver horse StudiosSJ riding CampSpread to thin FarmSpring hill horse rescueStandardbred Pleasure horse
Organization of MaineSteed readSutherland Falls Stoneworkstack restorationsthe Charlotte Pony ClubThe Horse Worksthe Mayer Familythe Sign Carvertonys tack Shoptowne-Ayr FarmuS Animal nutritionalsuSDA, nASS, nhFOUVM Extension vermont Creationsvermont Farm Bureauvermont Firefly Farm & Figure 8 ridingvermont horse Councilvermont horse Show Associationvermont humane Foundationvermont hunter Jumper Associationvermont Morgan horse Associationvermont technical CollegeWalker’s Farm, home & tackWest river StablesWind river FenceWNE Pony Club
Wood-tex Products
(L-R): Dr. Betsy Greene, Ashlie Hirtle, Govenor Peter Shumlin, Heather Spain, Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Ross, Louise Waterman.
*sponsors in bold
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everything equine 201216
Grants, Generosity and Volunteers Help Irene-Affected Horse Owners the u.S. equine Disaster relief Fund, managed by the Kentucky horse Council provides feed and temporary fencing to equine victims of natural disasters. Dr. Betsy greene, as the state equine extension Specialist was approached by the organization to consider submitting a grant application. She initiated collaboration with the vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to apply for an initial grant worth $1,000 to assist vermont horse owners who had been affected by flooding due to hurricane irene.
Dr. greene worked closely with Leslie Carlson (Flood-affected horse farm owner in rochester, vt) to identify and organize feed needs of area horse owners. Because of the hurricane, floods, texas fires, and more, the hay situ-ation was very challenging. to deal with this, Forage extender was purchased in lieu of hay, as well as three types of grain. Poulin grain was asked to create an article on “guidelines and Strategies for feeding/changing rations in times of scarcity” to help horse owners understand best options for maintaining the health of their horses as they adapted to the different feed products.
By leveraging the grant funds, and through the generosity of two vermont based companies, they were able to obtain free trucking (3-4 hours round trip) from guy’s Farm and yard, and a donation of feed from Poulin grain that more than matched the initial purchase of grain and forage extender. After determining that there was additional “room in the truck”, Dr. greene applied for and was granted a second $1,000 from the uS equine Disaster relief Fund to purchase additional feed/forage products which were able to be delivered along with the first order. this allowed us to “fill the truck” with additional products for the horse owners in need.
On October 9, 2011, guy’s Farm and yard delivered almost 7 tons of Poulin Forage extender, Senior, Complete, and e-tech grain rations. horse owners received feed based on their needs and horse numbers, and there were no farms getting more than approximately 20 bags of forage extender and grain. At this time, route 73 in rochester, vt was still only accessible by footbridge, and approximately ¼ of the horses that were helped lived on the other side (fondly referred to as “rochester island”). Dr. greene and Leslie Carlson organized volunteers to unload and walk the grain across the foot bridge and then help deliver to the farms. the remaining feed was sorted and off loaded at Leslie Carlson’s place (to send the delivery truck on its way). that remaining feed was either picked up or delivered to the horses on the “route 100” side of rochester later in the day.
Finally, additional bags of grain and forage extender that were picked up and distributed to horse owners in the Stockbridge area by Leslie Chadwell. All in all, it was a great collaboration and partnership with many folks contributing to help horse owners who were negatively impacted by tropical Storm irene. n
Volunteers deliver donated equine feed via temporary foot bridge to
“Rochester Island” horse owners after Tropical Storm Irene.
everything equine 2012 17
everything equine 201218
Tack and Accesories:Local and national products like New Hampshire’s own Emerald Valley Equine,to USA produced Weaver Leather line (including halters). We have the big gunsinternationally like Horseware of Ireland , we have brands endorsed by the competitiveworld like Professional’s Choice, and we offer chemical free alternatives like Equilite.
Brands we carry:
Your Pet, Farm and Yard Supplier 3 convenient locations:
“Horsin’ Around” Moves Back to Saturday NightWhat could be more fun than “horsin’ Around on Saturday night?” this annual equine variety show has been a popular addition to the everything equine event, showcasing many different breeds, disciplines, and styles of riding for new and long-time horse lovers.
this musical show highlights the relation-ship between rider and horse. equine experts of many ages, disciplines and interests will showcase their (and their animals’) talents in an entertaining “edu-tainment” revue that will have audiences cheering. Admission is separate for the variety show and tickets are limited. the musical variety revue gives a wide array of local horse enthusiasts, including many vermont equestrians, a chance to show their creativity and appreciation for equine culture. the two-hour, family-oriented show on Saturday night promises a high-energy demonstration of breeds, disciplines and specialty acts showcasing many top vermont horse people.
this year’s show is again sponsored by the vermont Farm Bureau, uvM equine Program and Champlain valley exposition. Proceeds earned by vermont Farm Bureau were used to underwrite the “Chittenden County horse Farm of Distinction” program, and two Chittenden County Farms were recognized with this first time program. Stop by the uvM extension Booth to learn more about this program and this year’s winners. For more information, go to www.vtfb.org.
the vermont Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization with policies and priorities set at the County level by individual farmer members in a democratic process that dates back to its beginning in 1915. its equine industry Committee is working with State legislators to give horse business owners full and equal status within agriculture. One project concerns agricultural buildings and Current use. n
The Vermont Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization with policies and priorities set at the County level by individual farmer members in a democratic process that dates back to its begin-ning in 1915. Its Equine Industry Committee is working with State legislators to give horse busi-ness owners full and equal status within agriculture. One project concerns agricultural buildings and Current Use.
Mindy Hinsdale owner of Steeple Ridge Farm, winner of Horse Farm of Distinction.
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HorsemensYankeePedlar: quarter vert 3.84x4.72
Also by the author:
Believe: A Horseman’s Journey
�e Faraway Horses—�e Life Story �at Inspired Buck, Winner of �is Year’s Audience Award at Sundance
The Lyons Press
Lyons Press is an imprint of
Globe Pequot Press
As a horse trainer, Buck Brannaman’s skills are legendary—so much so that �e Horse Whisperer, both the novel and Robert Redford’s film, is based largely on him.
Now his life has been portrayed in Buck, a moving documentary that won �e Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Globe Pequot Press is proud to reprint Brannaman’s moving autobiograph, �e Faraway Horses, in which he shares his life struggles, his methods for training, and a prescription for living a harmonious existence—whether it involves horses or not.
Lyonspress.com
Available wherever books are sold.
HorsemensYankeePedlar: quarter vert 3.84x4.72
Also by the author:
Believe: A Horseman’s Journey
�e Faraway Horses—�e Life Story �at Inspired Buck, Winner of �is Year’s Audience Award at Sundance
The Lyons Press
Lyons Press is an imprint of
Globe Pequot Press
As a horse trainer, Buck Brannaman’s skills are legendary—so much so that �e Horse Whisperer, both the novel and Robert Redford’s film, is based largely on him.
Now his life has been portrayed in Buck, a moving documentary that won �e Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Globe Pequot Press is proud to reprint Brannaman’s moving autobiograph, �e Faraway Horses, in which he shares his life struggles, his methods for training, and a prescription for living a harmonious existence—whether it involves horses or not.
Lyonspress.com
Available wherever books are sold.
HorsemensYankeePedlar: quarter vert 3.84x4.72
Also by the author:
Believe: A Horseman’s Journey
�e Faraway Horses—�e Life Story �at Inspired Buck, Winner of �is Year’s Audience Award at Sundance
The Lyons Press
Lyons Press is an imprint of
Globe Pequot Press
As a horse trainer, Buck Brannaman’s skills are legendary—so much so that �e Horse Whisperer, both the novel and Robert Redford’s film, is based largely on him.
Now his life has been portrayed in Buck, a moving documentary that won �e Audience Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Globe Pequot Press is proud to reprint Brannaman’s moving autobiograph, �e Faraway Horses, in which he shares his life struggles, his methods for training, and a prescription for living a harmonious existence—whether it involves horses or not.
Lyonspress.com
Available wherever books are sold.
everything equine 201220
Let your stabled horse graze like a pastured horse. The best thing for the natural horse since hoof boots. A 1/2 inch drain plug makes it easy to soak
your feed if you have the need. Fill with up to 25lbs. of hay or 50lbs. of feed for easy traveling. The lid works as a water trough for 7.5 gallons of water.
www.porta-grazer.com
...slow feeding...for at home and on the go!
your feed if you have the need. Fill with up to 25lbs. of hay or 50lbs. of feed
Come see
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Yankee Pedlar
booth
Stop by the Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar booth and enter to win
a Porta-Grazer! One lucky winner will take one home.
before
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everything equine 2012 21
Fell Ponythe Fell Pony is an ancient breed originating in the “fells” or hills of north-west england, whose progenitor was probably a prehistoric “Forest” or galloway pony, of which fossil-ized remains have been discovered dating as far back as 60,000 B.C. the breed is closely related to its geographic neighbor, the Dales Pony, but is a little smaller and more pony-like in build. the Fell pony is noted for its hardiness, agility, strength and surefootedness, reaching an average height of 13.2 hands, although speci-mens up to 14.2 hands are acceptable. the most common color in the Fell pony is black, but other colors including brown, bay, and grey are found. in addition to its stocky build, the Fell pony is noted for its feathering on the fetlocks and ample amounts of hair, including long mane and tail. Fell ponies are expected to exhibit the intelligence and self-preservation considered common to British mountain and moorland pony breeds, and at the same time have a lively and alert attitude as well as a steady temperament. in the past, the Fell pony was used as a packhorse, carrying lead, slate, copper and iron ore down from the mines and traveling up to 240 miles a week. these days, they are used mainly in a recreational capacity, particularly for pleasure riding and driving; we have found them particu-larly useful for adult beginners learning to ride or drive for the first time, as they are less intimidating than larger breeds. At one time, the Fell pony was considered an endangered breed: there are about 400 Fell Ponies in north America. they are a favorite breed of the royal family of england: queen elizabeth ii is the current patron of the Fell Pony Society.
For information contact vermont Firefly Farm & Figure 8 riding, 2074 West hill road, roxbury, vt 05669, www.fireflyfell ponies.com.
For riding, driving, or vaulting lessons at 802-485-8876 or e-mail: [email protected].
The ArAbiAn horsethe Arabian horse is an ancient breed that originated in the middle east. they are renowned for their unparalleled beauty, rich history and stamina. the Arabian horse of today excels in all sport horse disciplines. they are best known for dominance in the sport of endurance at the Local, national and World level. their
effortless way of going, toughness and incredible soundness enable them to excel in this demanding sport. the Arabian horse is not only Beautiful but…tough, athletic and intelligent!
For more information contact Melody Blittersdorf, Jeffersonville, vermont., [email protected], www.blittersdorfen-durance.com. training, competing and sales of world class Arabian sport (endurance) horses.
GyPsythe gypsy horse was bred and used by the romany people (Also known as gypsy People) to pull their beautifully decorated living wagons. they were bred to have the endurance and strength to pull these wagons all day and be able to live off of whatever grazing it could find on the side of the road at day’s end. even with it’s strength, the gypsy horse was bred to have an extremely calm temperament and is known for its gentle nature.
Contact teri young at Shady Pines Farm at [email protected] for more information.
belGiAnthe Belgian is native to the country of Belgium and is a direct descendant of the “great horse” of Medieval times that carried the knights in armor to battle. Since their arrival in the u.S. in the early 1800’s, they have been used for everything from farming to wagon horses to hitch competitions, as well as pulling compe-titions and logging. More recently, the Belgian has shown just how versatile it can be by becoming more popular as a riding horse. the Belgian’s genetics are the basis for many modern day draft breeds. they are known for being willing and hard workers.
Contact teri young at Shady Pines Farm at [email protected] for more information.
ColoniAl sPAnish MusTAnGthe Colonial Spanish horse, also known as the Spanish Mustang is the most significant horse in American history. they are not to be confused with the wild BLM horses of the west. Brought with the Spaniards in the 1500’s these small, resil-ient horses were courageous war horses, the mounts of the native Americans and the Pony express riders. they numbered in the millions until the mass killing of sacred
herds in the 1800’s by the uS government. Large european breeds were introduced into the remaining herds, diluting their Spanish blood. today, there are less than 3,000 true Spanish Mustangs in existence living in private breeding programs.
Stephanie Lockhart from the Center for America’s First horse in Johnson, vt and her 9 year old registered Colonial Spanish gelding, Morado are ambassadors for the breed, promoting their versatility in today’s horse world. Morado has won a year end dressage award, placed in his first 30 mile competitive ride the same season, a great representative of his breed. the Center for America’s First horse is home to the largest and most diverse group of Colonial Spanish horses in the eastern united States.
For more information contact Stephanie at: [email protected] or www.centerforamericasfirsthorse.org.
MorGAn horsethe Morgan horse is proud to be the vermont State Animal. According to the American Morgan horse Association, the Morgan is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the united States. tracing back to the stallion Figure, later named Justin Morgan after his best-known owner, the breed excels in many disciplines and is known for versatility. the Morgan horse is compact and refined in build, with strong limbs, an expressive face, large eyes, well-defined withers, laid back shoulders and a clean cut head. there is offi-cially one breed standard for Morgan type regardless of the discipline or bloodline of the individual horse.
For more information contact Ann Brown at 802-878-4128, www.vtmorganhorse.org or www.morganhorse.com.
MiniATure horseMiniature horses are strong, smart, friendly and easy to train. they are useful for showing, (halter conformation, jumping, driving, trail and obstacle courses,) farm work, pleasure driving, and as econom-ical companions for large horses. they are also used as therapy animals, much like dogs. they enjoy the company of people and they like to work. they were intro-duced into the united States in the 19th century, became popular in the 1960s, and have gained in popularity over the years,
Equine Studies includes: Stable Management, Nutrition, Genetics & Reproduction, Equine Studies includes: Stable Management, Nutrition, Genetics & Reproduction, Training and Riding Instruction Techniques, Therapeutic Programs and Equitation Training and Riding Instruction Techniques, Therapeutic Programs and Equitation such as Farrier Care, Dressage, Driving, Western, Huntseat and Hunter Jumper.such as Farrier Care, Dressage, Driving, Western, Huntseat and Hunter Jumper.such as Farrier Care, Dressage, Driving, Western, Huntseat and Hunter Jumper.such as Farrier Care, Dressage, Driving, Western, Huntseat and Hunter Jumper.
With more than 25 Bachelor’s & Associate’s Degree Programs, Vermont Tech offers study in today’s most sought-after career �elds, including Diversi�ed Agriculture, Nursing & Allied Health, Sustainable Practices and Technologies, & Engineering and Business Technologies.
Equine StudiesEquine StudiesCome visitus at
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everything equine 201224
especially with older horse lovers who find them easy to handle. Owning a mini is simple. their barn can be smaller than for large horses. they eat a lot less, need a smaller pasture and their tack is less expensive. they don’t need shoes. they do love to escape and explore, so their fencing needs to be good and tight. electric fencing may not be enough, especially in the winter when they are fuzzy.
For more information on miniature horse, contact green Mountain Miniature horse & Donkey Association at [email protected] or http://www.gmmhda.com/.
Rocky Mountain HoRsethe basic breed characteristics are a medium-sized horse of gentle temperament with an easy four beat gait. this combination of gait and temperament made it the mountain horse of choice on the farms and the rugged foothills of the Appalachians. it was a horse for all seasons. it could pull the plows in the small fields, work cattle, be ridden bareback by children to the fishing hole, or to town comfortably on Saturday as a trail horse. they even performed well when hitched to the buggy on Sunday morning to go to church. Fancy barns and stalls were not necessary. Because of its cold blooded nature, it tolerated the winters in Kentucky with a minimum of shelter. For these reasons, in small groups, the breed was preserved, sustained and gradually increased in this area. naturally, out crossing with the local horses did occur but the basic characteristics of a strong genetic line have continued.
West river Stables can find you the right horse, or train your horse under saddle or driving. For more information contact West river Stables, 102 hill rd, Brookline, vermont 05345, Phone 802-365-7668, [email protected].
Mustangthe term “Mustang” refers to the wild horses that roam the ranges of the western united States. the Mustang is not a breed but rather a mixture of many breeds that have co-mingled over many years. Swift, sure-footed, tough, and intelligent, Mustangs weigh from 600 to 1000 pounds and are well suited for the rugged conditions of life on the western ranges. these wild horses are descendants of animals that escaped from or were released by Spanish explorers, ranchers, miners, soldiers, and native Americans. in the mid-seventeenth century they numbered between two and four million. today, only about 50,000 survive. this drastic reduction in their numbers was due in part to the “mustangers” who rounded up wild horses and sent them to slaughter. (http://www.nmautah.org/wildhorse.htm)
horsetenders LLC is a family run horse training, trim-ming, equine dentistry services business founded by Kris and nik Kokal. they created “Developing Mettle without Metal” methodologies, using no bits, shoes, or spurs in their totally non-punitive training approaches. Kris & nik are featured in the documentary “Wild horse, Wild ride” and they formed horsetenders Mustang Foundation (hMF), a non-profit dedicated to promoting the welfare of mustangs and improving the human condition by enjoining both on powerful paths of discovery.
For more information please contact 243 Cornwell road, greenfield, nh 03047, 603-547-5293, http://www. horsetenders.com/. n
continued from page 21
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Equine Industry Issues Class Puts Knowledge to PracticeTo EquinE BusinEss ownErs and HorsE EnTHusiasTs in THE sTaTE of VErmonT:As students at the university of vermont enrolled in an equine industry issues class, we recently surveyed several equine businesses throughout vermont to learn about and better understand the problems that equine business owners are facing today. We took this information to the vermont Statehouse where we presented the issues to senators, representatives, and other government members at a legislative reception. After talking to them, we would like to share the information we gathered in order to help equine businesses in vermont understand how to handle the problems they are currently facing. the following information provides some of the issues we discovered, as well as our suggestions as to what you can do to help the equine industry’s voice be heard.
EquinE industry issuEs Found:From our survey, we found three recurring issues. these included insurance and liability, inflation of everyday costs, and Current use enrollment for equine farms. We learned that insurance costs do not reflect the size of the operation or the services provided, and more specifically, business owners found it challenging to afford Workers’ Compensation insurance. Part of this issue centered around the factthat the premiums for a low risk “stall mucker” were the same as those for higher risk equine jobs, such as jockeys. Similarly, the increase in fuel prices has caused inflation in all aspects of daily agricultural operations. From bedding to grain to travel, the necessary daily care for an equine operation has become increasingly expensive in the past few years.
Lack of Current use enrollment also adds unnecessary expense because many equine agribusinesses that qualify are not enrolled. the program was developed to encourage and maintain agricultural use of land in vermont, but it seems there are very few educational resources to help farmers become enrolled. the program provides substantial taxbenefits to farmers that have more than 25 acres, and derive 51% or more income from farm activities. We were presented with active
He hasthe mind
Thecourage
Theheart
If onlyhe hadthe feet.
Poor hooves prevent him from reaching his full potential. Help him prove his ability with Farrier’s Formula®. Within weeks of feeding Farrier’s Formula® he will have an emerging new band of hoof growth and a glossy, more deeply colored coat. Inter-nal benefits are harder to see, but just as dramatic.
University of Vermont Equine Industry Issues class members and their professor (standing) in the Senate Chambers at the Vermont Statehouse.
everything equine 201226
vermont farms that qualify, but personal biases by individual decision makers seem to be reflected as different rules apply to different people. Several horse barns have fallen victim to this in spite of meeting the requirements of a farm on both federal and state levels.
Why take action:equine businesses in vermont need to stick together. Large or small, you are all facing the same stereotypes and economic woes. Make your issues heard and stand up for yourselves and one another. it takes so little to make a difference especially when you have a government with an open door policy and is willing to listen.
the biggest issue we found was lack of knowledge about challenges faced by the equine industry, however, from our experience the vermont legislators were extremely accessible and many were genuinely inter-ested in helping to resolve these issues. it’s up to you to educate them.
What to do:in order to be highly effective, organization is key. it is crucial to have data, statistics, and monetary values associated with both your agribusi-ness and the equine industry in vermont as a whole prior to taking action. Also, educate yourself on the issues affecting equine business today including Current use and Act 250, as well as specific problems that you are dealing with at your farm.
Chances are, you are not the only one facing these challenges. the legislators were very interested in the issues we presented, but they wanted more data and information. the more documentation andrepresentation that you as an industry can provide, the better response you will receive.
hoW to act:When you’re ready to take action, make sure you have all of your research done. Do some research to find which senators and represen-tatives serve on which committees, and who will be most receptive to your specific issues, so you know who to approach withyour message. All of the legislator information can be found on theState of vermont’s website (http://www.leg.state.vt.us/legdir/legdirmain.cfm). Make sure you practice and know what you want to say. tell your personal story, and speak about the industry as a whole. network and join forces with other barns in order to make a stronger impact,
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been addressed on a state�level.�Recognizing�these issues, as well as doing the research and legwork, are the first steps to fixing these problems. though recognition and research is crucial, it is most� important� for� the� equine� industry� to�have a voice at the state level. Accessing the legislature is easier than most people think, and getting heard is the first step. Without discussing these issues, they will never be fixed.
ASCI 208: Equine Industry Issues StudentAuthors:M.�Beckett,�M.�Cunningham,�M.� Dieffenbach,�T.�Faccio,�R.�Garbolino,�A.�Hayes,�M.�Hebert,�D.�Lane,�R.�Ledebuhr,� J. Mangual, g. Mooney, S. Moylan, e. Redmond,�L.�Rossi,�S.�Simpson,K. vogel, K. White, and e. Zurlo.Professor:�Dr.�Betsy�Greene�n
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Serving VT, NH, MA
Chuck Ross (Vermont Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets) shared the following insight with equine students: “We need to prove the value of the VT equine industry…we see the value of the dairy industry in our refrigerators…you and I know the equine value exists. But that’s not enough…go prove it!”
