GEORGIA DRAFT HORSE ASSOCIATION
NEWSLETTER
____________________________________________________________________________
No.
6
November, 2008
GDHA CHRISTMAS PARTY!
Everyone come for a
fun time of good food and drafty conversations which I’m sure will
include some excellent tall tales too! Jill & Robert Malone
have graciously offered their home for a club Christmas Dinner and get
together! It will be on Saturday, December 13th @ 5:00 p.m. in
Jasper. (771 Mitchell Rd, Jasper, GA 30143). Bring a covered side
dish or desert and a drink. The meat will be supplied by the
Association.
Also, if you wish, each person can bring a $15.00
wrapped horse related gift for a gift exchange. It’s lots of fun
seeing what everybody gets!
Feel welcome to bring family and friends.
RSVP
to Jill Malone @ 770-735-1549 or e-mail
jillglasspool@hotmail.com for directions & to let her know how
many are coming and what side dish you will be bringing.
Hope to see everyone there!
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PERRY SHOW INFORMATION!
The Results are IN! See attached! Everyone had a great time! More information on the show coming soon!
************************************CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE BOARD FOR 2009!
There’s
still time to send in nominations for Board Member elections! We
will have three vacancies for 2009. Send your nominations to
Roxanne Janes, our club Secretary, by November 15. Please make
sure you have discussed this with the person you write in & that
he/she will accept the position if elected. Said nominations will
be mailed to the general membership along with ballots on or before
December 1st. Votes are to be mailed to the Secretary
postmarked on or before January 1st. Please note: votes
will be accepted by paid members only, and the member’s signatures are
required on mail in ballots.
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FOR SALE!
Are you looking for a beautiful pleasure driving carriage for a single draft or team? We saw one
showing at the NC State Fair that was for sale.
It’s
a well made natural oak wagonette with a pole and shafts.
Beautiful condition. Perfect for pleasure driving classes as well
as cones & obstacle courses. Built by Mill Run
Carriage. $4200. Call Faith Bradshaw located in Salisbury,
NC. 704-213-7076
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DRAFT HORSE WANTED!
Draft
horse & driver wanted for the Children’s Healthcare Christmas
Parade in Atlanta. December 6 @ 9:30 – noon! If interested,
call Hobie Pileski @ 770-805-8015.
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UPCOMING DRAFT SHOWS/EVENTS:
Nov. 14-15 North American Livestock Expo
Draft Horse Show (NAILE) Louisville, KY
(502-367-5300)
Jan. 23-25, 2009 National Western Stock
Show, Denver CO
(www.nationalwestern.com/nwss/home/
index.asp?rpg=/nwss/home/home.asp)
(note:
Call Rebecca Cannon to add other shows/events. I would like to
get others listed that you think our members might be interested in,
or, may possibly be
attending.)
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WHAT’S THE NORTH AMERICAN CLASSIC SERIES ALL ABOUT?
The
North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series has become the most
prestigious draft horse event on the Continent. Thousands of spectators
have cheered on the tremendous Draft Horse Hitches at venues such as
Toronto's Royal Winter Fair, the Washington International Horse Show,
Kansas City's American Royal, and the Eastern States Exposition in
Massachusetts. Six gleaming one-ton horses create a spectacle as they
stomp into the arena as one, outfitted in patent leather and chrome
harness pulling the historically restored freight wagons. Crowds can
literally feel the earth tremble as the massive hitches pass by!
Each
year, Six Horse hitches across the United States and Canada compete at
state and county fairs and agricultural exhibitions to accumulate
points for the Classic Series. More than one hundred seventy-five
hitches travel within their region and beyond, competing at fifty
qualifying shows throughout North America. The competition builds to a
climax at the end of the series, when the four highest point hitches in
each of three breed classifications are invited to compete for
$30,000.00 in premiums the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic
Series Final Championship.
And, just how did all this get started???
On
1987, Dr. John Weber of Live Oak Plantation, Ocala, Florida presented
the Classic Series idea to a number of dedicated draft breed
representatives, as a way of promoting and marketing the draft horse,
as well as to increase the premiums currently being paid to
participants competing in six horse hitch classes. From that initial
meeting, the Classic Series mushroomed into fifty shows that are
qualifiers for points accumulation, with over one hundred and seventy
five six-horse hitch owners earning points towards becoming one of
twelve finalists. The 2004 Classic Series Championship Finals purse
amounted to over $30,000.00. The goal of the North American
Classic Series to promote the draft horse breeds is being realized
within all levels of competition. After becoming Classic Series
six-horse hitch qualifying events, small local and county fairs have
blossomed into tremendous draft horse hitch shows, bringing spectators
back year after year to root their favorites on to a win. Enthusiasm
builds as the season begins to come to a close, with exhibitors and
spectators alike anticipating which of the six-horse hitches will be
named as part of the final twelve. Each Classic Series qualifying
show must also pay out a minimum of $2,500.00 in premiums. This has
helped to pave the way for a new standard in the draft horse industry.
Many top venues now pay premiums in excess of $5,000.00 per six-horse
hitch class, with several averaging well over the minimum premium of
$2,500.00.
The qualifying shows are scheduled to run from early
September through Labor Day weekend annually. Once the final numbers
are reported, the top four hitches in each of three breed
classifications; Belgian, Percheron, and Clydesdale/Shire are invited
to attend and participate in the Classic Series Finals Championship
Show. All twelve hitches are guaranteed premiums and travel
money. For many years the Classic Series was supported by a
handful of dedicated draft horse promoters. Through the efforts of that
small group of individuals, the North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic
Series and its "Final" has grown to be the "Triple-Crown" of draft
horse competitions, stimulating growth and interest in all of the draft
horse breeds. You can become part of the excitement by joining as a
member in support of the Classic Series, or as a qualifying six-horse
hitch event.
As printed from the NACS website. For more information go to: www.naclassicseries.com
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THE HALF-WIT
A
man owned a small farm in Virginia. The Virginia State Wage & Hour
Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent
an agent out to interview him. ‘I need a list of your employees and how
much you pay them,’ demanded the agent.
‘Well,’ replied the
farmer, ‘there's my farm hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him
$200 a week plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18
months, and I pay her $150 per week plus free room and board.
Then,
there's the half-wit who works about 18 hours every day and does about
90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his
own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday
night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally.’
‘That's the guy I want to talk to -— the half-wit,’ says the agent.
‘That would be me,’ replied the farmer.
************************************VOLUNTEER’S NEEDED!
If
you have any suggestions, ideas, or would like to volunteer to host a
meeting, please get in touch with an officer or Board Member.
2008 Officers:
President: John Ayers (678) 753-0737
Vice President: Julie Lanning (770) 513-4760
Sec./Treasurer: Roxanne Janes (770) 479-7110
Board Members:
S.R.Stocker: (229) 777-7741
Rodney Branch: (706) 677-2712
Debbie Wiedemann: (678-925-9330)
Jeannie Bradshaw: (478) 783-2443
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THE NEWSLETTER STAFF:
Roxanne Janes (770) 479-7110 (rjanes@alltel.net)
Lawana Smith (770) 422-5142 (DoubleSFarm@aol.com)
Rebecca Cannon (423) 339-0694 (fairwindsclydes@gmail.com)
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