From the Staff:
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and the staff apologies for the delay in the Newsletter; however, we have all had some personal set-backs and no articles/reports from members. 


Hello!
Fall is here already and I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather. Unfortunately, it seems the drought will still be with us. I'm sure we are all feeling the pinch as feed and hay prices continue to rise.
On a better note, I believe that the Perry Show was successful again this year. The participant numbers may have been down a little (I'm not certain) but that has been the case in most all of the draft horse shows this season. I want to thank all the participants both in and out of the show ring for making the Perry Show the nice event that it was.
Please plan to attend the Annual Meeting this January. Remember that we will be voting on new board members. If you or someone you know would like to be on the board, please submit a nomination.
Once again, if there are any activities or events that you, as club members, would like to have or sponsor, PLEASE let the board members know! I know that not everyone is interested in showing, so let’s try to do some more varied activities. I know our members are very scattered throughout the region but we can still try to get together. So please think about it and let us know your suggestions or bring them to the meeting!
Stocker

BOARD VACANCIES:
    We’ve not received the names of Board Members going out this year, but please go ahead and send in any nominations you have. (Be sure the person you nominate is willing to serve.)   If anyone would like to volunteer to serve, please also let us know.    Send your nominations to Roxanne in order that we can prepare a ballot.

     If you have any suggestions as to a place to hold  the January General Meeting, please get in touch with the President  immediately. (229) 777-7741

This is the most  important meeting of the Association as it is the time when the year’s activities will be discussed and planned. 

Some complaints of the lack of activity of the Association has been voiced; however, there can’t be an event or activity unless members suggest them or volunteer to sponsor an activity at their farm, etc.  If the Association is to move forward this coming year with more events and activities, there must be more participation from members. 

**Some of you may remember how in times past there were picnics where members either drove or rode to a specific destination and then participated in conversation, food and fun activities.  Wouldn’t it be nice to share those simple pleasures once again?  The President can’t make anything happen alone. There must be participation from ALL. 

     It’s time to renew your membership for 2008.  An application is included and it’s very important that you please complete in its entirety. A new membership file is set up each year for all association correspondence and previous forms are filed away.  
     If you’ve joined the association since October, you are considered a member in good standing for the 2008 year and do NOT have to complete a new form. 
     If you do not have a copy of the By-Laws, and would like to have them, please let Roxanne know and she’ll be glad to mail to you.  They will also be available at the January meeting.

     It’s also time to renew our Association Ad for the Draft Horse Journal.  Over the years we’ve made this available for $50.00 per farm/individual to any member who would like to appear in the ad.   Should you have a horse related service, horses for sale or offer stallion services, it’s one of the best advertisements you could have.   If you would like to be a part of the ad, please send the information you would like to have on your ad, along with the fee ($50) made out to GA Draft Horse Assoc., referencing DHJ Ad and how you would like your ad to read.  If you’re renewing an ad, make any changes and send all information to Roxanne or you can give to her at the January meeting.

I would like to thank all those who made the show a success this year.  The results have been mailed to the various draft breeds as required for the All American Nomination and a copy is included in this Newsletter. 
 
A special thanks to every member/exhibitor who made this show possible by taking time out of their  busy schedules to bring horses, carts and wagons to participate. 

Thanks and appreciation to:  Jack & Carla Beckom, Rodney & Barbara Branch, Randy & Becky Price, and, Johnny & Rebecca Cannon for their generous donations to help defray the expenses of the show.

It’s always very hard to name each and every person in fear of leaving someone out, so thanks very much to everyone, but I would like to point out a few who worked at the ring and actually kept the show running smooth:  Julie Lanning for greeting everyone to the show and then with the help of Leslie Whitehead, organized ribbons and trophies and passed them out when Karissa (Carpenter), our lovely Show Queen, was showing; Harry Carpenter and Paul Watson who kept those gates opening and closing; also Johnny  Cannon who set-up the obstacle courses; and a much appreciated thank you to  Jack and Carla Beckom for keeping the crowd at ring side on the edge of their seats with their impressive demonstration.  

For years our show secretary has had to hand write all the entries; however, this year Barbara (Hawkins) tried a new computer program she had set-up just for the show.  I must admit, it was a little scary, but it worked and saved her a lot of handwriting.  She’s still working out some of the glitches for next year.

Classes were added for spotted drafts and draft crosses which seemed to work very well.   Also, a few classes were moved to Friday in order that spectators could see multiple hitches both Friday and Saturday nights.  We feel this was the reason the ring side stayed full both nights.

It takes everyone working together to make a show of this magnitude possible and I appreciate all of you who did just that. 

Lawana (Smith)

Additional Information: 
If you are trying to increase the amount of fat in your horses diet, black oil sunflower seed (BOSS) may be something you want to consider. They are 50% fat so 1 lb equals 1/2 lb of fat. It does not need the hulls removed before feeding. Be certain that you use BOSS and NOT striped hull sunflower seeds. The striped hulls will splinter and can cause injury.

A friend of mine has the following draft horse items for sale.  (She lost her big American Cream)  If you are interested in any of these items, please give me a call (770-422-5142) or contact Trixie direct at 770-795-1434.

Meadowbrook cart (Draft size & Natural wood) with blue crushed velvet seat, harness included $1,700.00;
New Rod Kibler custom made draft horse western saddle with blanket & Circle Y bridle, $1,700 or best offer; and
New draft horse black English Saddle with stirrups & leathers and saddle pad made by Ascot International Saddlery, includes black bridle, $600.00.

For those who haven’t heard, Ken Janes had a heart attack after returning home from the Perry Show.  He underwent a new type heart surgery which was very successful and is recovering at home.  The doctors have given him an okay to return to work the first of December; however,  I’m sure Ken and Roxanne would  still appreciate your thoughts and prayers.