The Pony Express July 2003 You may also download this newsletter as a PDF document (166KB) for printing   Send Information, Dates, or Classified Ads to the Editor at: Szelmer@sympatico.ca Sandy Zelmer 5818 – 4th Line, RR # 2 Tottenham, Ontario, L0G 1W0 905-936-2658 Regional News: Events and dates and the information on those events can now be found at the following locations to avoid repetition. Check for dates you don't want to miss. For all Pony Club dates and results – Be sure to check the WOR and the CPC websites and calendar there to be up to date! For all eventing and eventing clinic dates – http://www.eventingincanada.com HELMETS – have you checked every members helmet? Please be sure they are ASTM approved before they attend any Pony Club function. PPG Report- Forms for pony lending and billeting during the international exchange are with your PPG Rep. Please fill in a form if you can loan your pony for “A” Nationals on Aug. 15 and/or International competition on Aug. 17. If you are interested in billeting people for the international exchange from the night of Aug. 4 till Aug. 8, please fill in a form, too. We are also planning a fun day of games to give the international group a chance to keep up their skills. If you are interested in sharing your pony and playing along with these young people, please let your PPG rep know or call Alison Rainford at 519-843-3841 or rrainford@sympatico.ca Thank-you in advance for your support. Information about the international tour is available on the pony club web site under "events". Request to Parents of all clubs - Please supervise your children – I know this can be extremely difficult when you are kindly volunteering to help make our events a success but I am receiving several requests to make this request. Two of this years events have been marred by young boys who are not under supervision. In the first case 2, possibly 3 young boys decided to boost the prices at the silent auction at quiz using other peoples numbers resulting in several no sales, and several confused buyers. It is also the very first year things have gone missing although these two statements are most likely totally unrelated. At Dressage and show jumping, 2 young boys flooded the bathrooms and threw a hornet's nest at a young girl who was a competitor. Neither the competitor nor the lady who cleaned up the bathroom was impressed. Please keep kids either supervised or busy, maybe we can harness this energy to run scores or put up jumps or something, and talk to kids about being thoughtful of the others at these events. I believe Pony Club produces some of the best kids in the world and certainly some of the most mature kids I have seen. On a totally different note, thank-you from all at Region to all those who make such a difference in our children's lives by volunteering to organize and help at all our events. I can only guess the number of hours spent after PPG taking down the fences by a few, and taking down after show jumping. I don't know how late you show jumping people got home but we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making the day so wonderful for our kids. How about the rest of us parents? Can we lend a hand? Often as we are heading home, others are just beginning their work. Become involved, you don't need horse knowledge, just a pair of hands – it is actually quite rewarding! Thanks again to all the volunteers at all the events this year – you make it happen! West Nile and Mosquitoes Most Vets seem to think you should vaccinate for this and the sooner the better! Talk to your Vet for the information on your area. Here is a useful hint to keep the mosquitoes from biting! It was written by Rhonda Rathbun and sent to us by Barb Burechails. It is a Skin So Soft Bug Spray Recipe. It's in bulk so if you don't have a large enough container to make this much, just cut it down accordingly. On exceedingly hot/humid days you will need to spray at least 4 times during the day because the horses sweat and urinate more - attracting the bugs. You can even add bonnets - even consider fly sheets. Another tip is for humans to take Apple Cider Vinegar pills daily throughout the Mosquitoe season. I use to give my horses a cup of ACV liquid in their feed throughout the summer. It seem to work, but my memory isn't all that good. Horses like it at any rate so it is easy to administer. Add in incrementally over a week till up to a cup per day. Skin–So–Soft Insecticide 4 Cups of Skin-So-Soft 8 Cups of White Vinegar 4 Cups of Water 250 ML Citronella Another friend sends the following advice: Fight Mosquitos Put some water in a white dinner plate and add a couple of drops of Lemon Fresh Joy dish detergent. Set the dish on your porch, patio, or other outdoor area. I'm not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white plate color, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead shortly after drinking the Lemon Fresh Joy/water mixture, and usually within about 10 feet of the plate. Check this out---it works just superso thought I'd send out this reminder!!!! Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets...Best thing ever used in Louisiana..just wipe on & go...Great for Babies Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October . He said it works. He was right. Hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it. Every one he has talked into trying it works on them. Vitamin B-1( Thiamin Hydrochloride 100 mg.) If you eat bananas, the mosquitos like you, - something about the banana oil as your body processes it. Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitos will be much less interested. One of the best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every day), is Vick's Vaporub. Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides. "Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol. One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered is made from the clear real vanilla. This is the pure vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for mosquitoes and ticks, don't know about other insects. When all else fails--get a frog Classified: Free to all pony clubbers, and for things I think would interest pony clubbers. I have taken the liberty to put my long sale list in as I would have put it in for any one else with good pony club prospects. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOUR ITEMS SELL SO I CAN DELETE YOUR AD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS Horses and Ponies Mr. Fancy Pants (RJ's Little Lad) 8 yr old fancy registered Welsh pony. Brave, strong and 100% sound- never sick a day, great feet, professionally trained, jumps small course, lots of show experience, used for lessons at lesson barn, roads, ditches, trailers, easy loader, ponies, solid and very fit. 12.2 HH. Currently used as Pony club Mount for my D level green junior, also has been used for short stirrup and lunge lessons. Sadly outgrown. To great home only. $3500.00 Call Ann-Marie 519-753-8038 or e-mail at amc2sitel@aol.com 1996 Registered Quarter Horse Gelding, 15.2 hands, dark Chocolate Bay with white blaze. Great hack horse, green jumper, appropriate for a keen intermediate rider. $3500 obo. For more info. call Simone 905-627-6797 or e mail sandylane@golden.net "What A Sassy Boy" - 13 yr old bay registered QH gelding. 15.2 hh, solid build, Trailers, ties, lunges, and clips. Hacks alone or in a group. Has been used in summer camps, vaulting lessons,and beginner to advanced lessons. Has done Hunter/ Jumper schooling shows, D-rally, and some training level events, but very comfortable at entry and pretraining levels. Would make good first event or show horse. $12,000 contact Liz Deland - (H) 905 936 2729, (w) 905 939 8548, (eMAIL)eventer@popstar.com Horses for sale: Aggy - 10year old, 16h TB Gelding, 1st place Training Caledon Horse Trials, easy ride, great manners, no vices. $12000, Titan Clyde/TB cross 17hands, black with white socks, honest over fences, 7yrs, $8000, good mover. Nimbus, 12yr old, papered TB Gelding, grey, 16.1hands, a real gentleman, novices, suitable for lower-level rider, easy to ride, started over fences $3500, email equus3d@ican.net Nikita - Children's hunter prospect, 3-yr-old registered T.B, 14.2 hands Bay filly with three white socks and an interrupted stripe on her face. Exceptionally well mannered, loves people. Beautiful walk, trot, canter, flying lead changes and started over fences. Excellent mover, very quiet, ties, trailers and would be suited to any discipline. Asking $6,000 CDN Call Alissa in Brampton 905-791-9785, lisa@stardust-shoes.com 13.1 hh, bay, 9 yr old Pony For Sale, used in PPG, Rally & Dressage. $3000.00, LeeAnne Bell, 519-359-6894, thebells@bmts.com 12 year old, 15h.h. reg. quarterhorse mare. Loves to jump, forward mover but in control. Asking $5,000. Call Lori at Jewel's Riding Academy 519-787-8725 Cricket.... 20 year old, 15.2HH, sweet, chestnut QH gelding, been a hack horse all his life, quiet and lovable, suitable light hacking and companion..... well cared for but now sadly must look for loving home, family and friend. $1000 OBO to loving appreciative home -e-mail Gayle Dennison at don.mitchell@sympatico.ca or call (905) 880-0305. Spritz - 13.1hh 9-year-old mare. Competed last year in SJ/Dressage and Rally. Previous PPG experience, Buddy - 15 hh 9 year old gelding. Saddlebred/Arab cross. Suitable for pleasure/school horse. Flirt - 15 hh 11 year old mare. Standardbred. Previous experience in Fall Fairs/Schooling Shows. All three, up to date on everything, including West Nile, sound and sane. $2500.00 each. 519-369-6894 http://ca.geocities.com/belgrove_farm - thebells@bmts.com Cameo - 2 yr old bay filly by TB/CSH “Yellow Creek” out of registered Clydesdale mare. She will be a big girl, well over 16 hands, Eventer? Field hunter? Pony Club?, can be registered half Sporthorse $4,000, Clay or Carolyn at 905-936-5136 For lease with option to buy: 16.1 hand, 7 yr old gelding, super disposition, lovely to ride, great to hack, went double clear Pre-training at Checkmate, Call the Rainfords at (519)843-3841 People are already asking me about older horses that they want to retire into companion and light riding homes in the fall. Most of the ones I know of are not suitable for steady riding or lessons but may suit a small child or backyard pet home. I am keeping a list of horses and ponies for retirement, and people who want one, to put in the Sept. issue. Send your information and email address to szelmer@sympatico.ca Tack and Equipment New all purpose 16 inch, fits a bit larger, saddle never been used, price tag sill on it $1100, wrong size will sacrifice for $900. Also size 80, 76 and 74 New Zealand blankets, brand new in bags, paid $125 ea., sacrifice $90 ea., Sandy at 905-936-2658, szelmer@sympatico.ca Safety vest. Tipperary. Brand new. Still has tags. Size 34YL. Was $265.00. Asking $225.00. Phone 519-658-2998. Women's size 26 Pikeur navy blue breeches- $60, Miriam at 905-508-9419 Quality jumps for sale. Brand new. Painted or unpainted. Great prices. Variety of jumps available as well as custom design. idealjumps@sympatico.ca Tipperary Vests, Tall-Medium, white, cover comes off for easy washing, brand new, $100. equus3d@ican.net Services: Yellow Creek at stud. 16.3 hand, homozygous black thoroughbred, approved AQHA, Bronze Premium Sport Horse in Eventing, tremendous jump, athletic movement, kind disposition, see him at www.parklaneranch.ca and bid on the stud service donated to the Interpacific Team until March 30th. RICO, 17.3 hand Registered Oldenburg stallion (son of Rio Grande) 519-787-8725, j_r_a@operamail.com Equus 3D has Rider camps (Level 1 and 2) July 28th. And August 18th. Their Horse Trials are on Aug. 10 and Sept. 14. They are running Pre-Entry as well as Entry. equus3d@ican.net Jewel's Riding Academy Summer Combined training Series Schooling Level - July 20, August 31, and Sept 14. Dressage levels: Walk, Walk,Trot, Walk,Trot,Canter, Level 1 , Level 2. Jumping: 18", 2'3", 2'6", 2'9. Lots of Prizes, High point champions, Year end awards. For more info Call Lori @ 519-787-8725 or email @ lajones@golden.net Wanted 13.2 to 16.2 hand, 4 to 16 yr old mare or gelding, sound, for D1 going to D2 rider, also going to event Entry level (2'9”), maximum $1500 to spend. Please call my coach, Sue Boyle at 905-936-2658 Summer Sale - Park Lane Ranch 905-936-2658 Medical condition forcing a drastic cut-back before fall Bargain prices on all young stock (and some older ones too) Try your offer! Our loss is your gain Most of these are on our web site at reduced prices but we have reduced them more on this flyer www.parklaneranch.ca (YES WE ARE KEEPING YELLOW CREEK AND YES HE IS STILL AT STUD!) 2003 COLTS – PRICED TO SELL, OFFERS ACCEPTED. All quiet, friendly and vaccinated including west nile. All by Yellow Creek, 16.3 hand black TB stallion, approved Bronze Premium Sport Horse in eventing. These babies are bred to jump and show. See his pictures at www.parklaneranch.ca . Eventer, jumper, hunter, dresage, these will suit you well! All are eligible for registration and their paperwork is in order. RASCAL - bright bay or blood bay thoroughbred colt, Dam is Applollinaire, 16.1 hand gray TB by Charlie Barley (turf and distance runner), out of a Great Gladiator (soundness) mare. Rascal is very correct, very flashy, an excellent mover and very athletic. He will finish over 16 hands. Should win hunter or eventer. $2,000 COUGAR – dark bay thoroughbred colt out of 17 hand solid built TB mare Indecent Thoughts. This is a tall, powerfully built baby. Good bone, big shoulders and hindquarters, he should reach 17 hands or awfully close to it. $2,000 LICORICE – jet-black thoroughbred colt out of 16 hand TB Sweet Candy Turn, an ex-eventer. Very attractive, black with one white coronet, good mover, will be over 16 hands. $1500 ORION - brown Canadian Sport Horse colt out of 16.1 hand CSH Tahiti Beach, (by TB Tejabo by Deputy Minister, and out of China Beach, a grand daughter of the great puissance Hannoverian, Buntschpect). This colt is a real powerfully built, athletic, good moving individual, will be over 16 hands. $2,000 RAVEN – jet black Canadian Sport Horse colt out of 15.3 hand appaloosa CSH . ex-eventer In the Spotlight. Attractive, agile, he will be over 16 hands. $1500 SHADOW – black half-bred Canadian Sport Horse colt out of 14 hand Pony of the America's (appaloosa pony) Touch of Frost. His Mom has done everything - hunter, eventing, PPG, Tetrathalon, Rally, vaulting and he looks just as versatile. Very agile, very solid, I am guessing he will be 15 something hands. $1500 2002 GELDINGS BY YELLOW CREEK all vaccinated including west nile, all gelded, all registered, all registrations paid for. RICOCHET – tall good-looking dark bay thoroughbred yearling out of 17 hand solid built TB Indecent Thoughts. A classy boy, will be close to 17 hands. $3,500 MYSTRO – very correct dark bay/brown thoroughbred yearling out of 16.2 hand TB Musical Chorus who is by Dauphin Fabuleux the sire of Penny Rowland's eventer Abadare. This is probably the cutest mover of the lot, a late maturing line and smaller than the others now, he should be over 16 hands.$2,000 NAVAJO – Canadian Sport Horse, was jet black with white spots on rump, now the black is roaning. He is out of CSH appaloosa mare In the Spotlight, and he will also be registered with the Appaloosa Club of America so he will be double registered. We are getting out of colored horses so he is priced to sell, offers accepted $1500 2002 FILLIES BY YELLOW CREEK Both vaccinated including west nile, registered and registrations paid for. FIESTA – 2002 black thoroughbred yearling filly out of 15.3 hand TB Power Steering (Jenny Day bred mare, producer of hunters and eventers). She is very attractive, correct, and a cute mover. Will be over 16 hands. $3500 ELFIN – 2002 bay Canadian Sport Horse yearling filly out of CSH (TB/Clyde) 16.2 hand mare Spring, who is by the good field hunter and eventer producing sire Maggoo. This filly should be at least 17 hands, she has tons of bone, attractive white markings, is a super mover, easily passes for a warmblood. $5,000 EVENTER/JUMPER/HUNTER & PROSPECTS CAUSE FOR APPLAUSE - Currently eventing Training (almost ready for Prelim) with 15-year-old girl, usually in the ribbons. (5th at Dreamcrest in Training July 20/2003). He is usually double clear over fences, horse and rider still working on dressage. Also winning jumper up to 3"6" and hunter and Eq 3'. He is a real gentleman, superb stable manners, no vices, sound, we have some x-rays. He is a 13-year-old chestnut gelding, 15.3 hands, cute mover, good jump, all vaccinations and coggins. $12,000. Current rider is entered for Training Championships, so available after that. KIESHA - 2001 brown roan 2 yr old registered half-bred Sport Horse filly, by Yellow Creek, cute mover, out of a 15.3 hand Appy/QH mare Mischief. She is started under saddle, walks, trots, canters on 2 leads, trots over poles, but still very green. A friendly filly, progressing well and will be nice and quiet, but still advise an experienced rider. She will reach 16 hands. $2500 (or best offer) (we have no-one to ride her regularly) JADE COVE – 2001 bay Sport Horse filly by Yellow Creek out of CSHA (clyde/TB) mare Spring (by the field hunter and eventer sire Maggoo). She is already over 16 hands on her way to 17 hands. Very solid, good mover, good disposition, passes for a warmblood, has a great future hunting, eventing, jumping, dressage, or whatever with any size of rider. She was 5th on the line at the Royal and will be entered again this year if we still own her. $10,000. Has been tacked, not backed, and very quiet. BROODMARE PACKAGES IN THE SPOTLIGHT – Approved Canadian Sport Horse mare, appaloosa color, 15.3 hands, 11 years old, great mover and talented jumper, showed hunter, jumper, evented. She is no longer sound (bone chip in ankle) except for breeding and pleasure riding. Sells in any of 4 ways: 1. Mare alone $1500. 2. Mare bred to Yellow Creek for either 2004 or 2005 foal (current foal is 2 weeks old so not yet bred back) live foal guaranteed for$2,000. 3. Mare not bred with black Sport Horse colt at side $2500. 4. All 3 for $2800. Make an offer, we are getting out of colored horses. REBOS QUEEN – registered AQHA 15 hand mare, 18 year old, old style Oklahoma bred QH. She is sound but her back doesn't carry heavy weights, suitable for kids or small lady, pleasure horse. Had a beautiful appendix baby (Tigger) to Yellow Creek in 2001. A cute mare who consistently wins at local hunter schooling shows. Sells $2,000 for mare, $2500 bred for 2004 or 2005, LFG, she has not been exposed yet this year. She is working in a camp and is available for pick-up (bred or open) September 30th. EASY GIRL AT THE BAR – registered AQHA mare bred in Texas. Brown, 14.1 hands, 15 years old, has had several foals. Currently in foal to a 14 hand pinto champion hunter pony. Shown as Small Town Girl, she has numerous hunter, jumper, games, PPG, and Tetrathalon Championships. She schooled Prelim cross-country with ease. She is no longer sound except for pleasure and breeding (another ankle chip). I see many Champion hunter and jumper ponies ahead in her breeding career. $3500 to a good home only, she was (and still is) my daughter's baby but she can't keep them all. Sandy Zelmer - 905-936-2658, Parklaneranch@darwood.ca www.parklaneranch.ca - prices here on this flyer are the right ones, they have been reduced from the ones on the site. In answer to questions: We are selling all our weanlings except 1 my son wants, all our yearlings, all our 2 yr olds except 1 my daughter wants (They each got to pick 1) We have leased out all our 3 yr olds, and several of the school horses to students. We are keeping the stallion, several of the bigger broodmares (some missing a year being bred), and several school horses for Sue to use as she is still teaching. Jen's horse Piece of the Puzzle is leased to the girl who had Cause for Applause, and so the latter is listed above. I am not quitting, just majorly pausing for health reasons, down to a 1-employee operation that I don't need to be involved with this winter. Thanks for any help you can give me spreading the word, Sandy Zelmer EDUCATION SECTION Education page 1 – barn fire safety article written for a magazine that might be useful to our members. Education page 2 – lesson safety for the summer BARN FIRE SAFETY - by Sandra Zelmer, (Stable owner, and Public Educator employed by the Toronto Fire Services) FIRE is every stable owner's worst nightmare. Barns can go from ignition to collapse in less than five minutes, and the loss can be devastating. Avoiding fire loss can be seen as a three-pronged fork. You need each prong to work together as a whole for success. The prongs in this case are Fire Safety and Prevention, Early Detection A Fire Escape Plan. Fire Prevention is really the key as most fires can be prevented. A few of the key tips are: Smoking in a highly combustible building such as a barn is asking for trouble eventually. Barns contain wood stalls and/or construction, bedding\feed and the dust that comes from handling them, manure, and other items such as twine, sacks, cobwebs, lounge furniture, and others too numerous to mention. Cigarettes can smoulder in bedding, hay, manure piles, couches and chairs in viewing rooms or in attached residences for up to three hours before igniting, and by then, no one may be there to see it, or worse still, may be asleep and in danger. Alcohol and cigarettes are a deadly combination, check lounges and residences carefully after social events, before leaving the area, and before going to bed. Candles in a barn or attached residence would be just plain crazy! The number of candle fires is growing rapidly across North America. Extension cords are not meant to replace wiring. Outlets are not meant to handle more than two appliances unless you are using a power bar equipped with a fuse switch. If you are continually using extension cords, or plugging in more than two appliances to one outlet, it's time to call the electrician. At approximately $100 per outlet, it's cheap fire insurance. Also, never run an extension cord under anything flammable such as carpets, bedding, feed, or upholstered furniture. You never know when a cord will become damaged and begin to spark.. Never crimp the cord in a closed door or window, and never nail or staple it to anything. If a cord or plug is frayed or loose, replace it immediately. Damp hay, straw, shavings, soiled bedding, and oily rags, can spontaneously combust. These items should be stored away from buildings that house animals or stored in as safe a manner as possible. Stored hay and straw should be stored dry and well ventilated, and all oily or paint rags stored in a metal container with a lid. All flammable liquids such as gas, oil, turpentine, paint and alcohol should also be stored away from livestock buildings and away from any heat source. (This includes vehicles and equipment containing the above.) A clean barn is a safe barn not only for fewer accidents, but also it is less of a fire hazard. Cobwebs spread fires very quickly along the ceilings and most garbage and junk is combustible. Early detection is essential. Smoke detectors save lives. Their loud beeping could awake those who are sleeping in\above\adjacent to the stable, giving them life saving escape time. They can be monitored in another building via an open two way intercom, or a one way intercom such as the type used in babies rooms, or even better, install interconnected detectors in the house and barns so if one detector sounds, they all will sound. Select an alarm that is least likely to false alarm due to dust and that has a pause feature. Place several of these inexpensive lifesavers centrally on the ceilings. Remember to vacuum the detector and to check the batteries at least once a month. Dust makes the alarms more sensitive so false alarm problems often can be solved with the vacuum cleaner. Change your batteries when you change your clocks. If you have heat detectors and sprinklers, remember these are designed to save property, and are not an early warning to save lives, you still need those smoke detectors as they go off much earlier in the fire. Sprinklers will however give you much more time before collapse, or prevent collapse totally, and if you can afford them they will make a huge differences to your losses in a fire. An escape plan needs to be: developed, posted and Practised. But first: Are any of your barn exits blocked with snow, vehicles, lumber, machinery, jumps, feed, bedding or (horrors) latched only from one side making either escape or rescue impossible? How do you expect to use them when seconds count? And the alleyways, can an exited horse and person safely negotiate them in the dark? Or are they littered with trunks, bales, buckets and forks. (Smoke is thick and black and hydro is one of the first things to go.). Once again a clean barn is a safer barn. Are your lanes, yards and access to all buildings clear of snow piles and of any stored items so the emergency vehicles can get to your buildings? Is there a source of water when the hydro goes off? Wells, ponds, streams, and cisterns may all be utilised depending on weather, but can you get to them? Municipal hydrants, if there, must also be kept clear. Now the plan: A good plan is no secret, share it with everyone, you don't know who may need it. You need at least two useable exits from all areas, as one may be blocked with smoke or flames. Windows that open and are not too high to easily access can be used as an emergency exit for people. You need to post a map showing these exits as visitors or emergency crews don't know your buildings. You need to stress the speed which fire spreads, (barns can collapse in less than 5 minutes), and that not all animals can always be rescued. Stress that smoke and gases, not flames, kill the animals, people, and rescuers, who die in a burning building. Closed doors between areas may buy a bit of time, but be aware what is going on in the open space above you to avoid being trapped in a collapse. Fire extinguishers. Use them only if personal safety is not compromised. They should be placed at every exit and should only be used with an escape route right behind you. They are only useful in the first few seconds of a fire as they have a very short discharge time, and should only be used by persons who know how. They should be an ABC type to cover most barn fires.. Remember, when the cigarette drops in the straw, it's too late to read the directions, be sure staff know how to use them. Extinguishers must be checked yearly and when discharged. Halters are a source of much debate, on or off, but you can't save what you can't catch and a horse in a dark, smoky barn is too panicked to be easily managed let alone haltered. Also if you have only a minute or two, you don't want to waste it. To quote Rene Brenner after their devastating barn fire – “we knew which horses had halters on their stalls, they were ones outside alive, the others didn't make it.” Be sure someone calls the fire department from outside the burning building immediately! Before or while beginning rescue attempts! If something goes very wrong, you want the professional rescuers already on route. Are the emergency phone numbers posted by every phone? What about the address and directions? Could any one off the street see it, read it, and understand it? (This is also important if you need ambulance or police). Are they in every building? You don't want to read from inside the fire! Even if you think you have the fire out, always have professional fire fighters check for hot spots, fires can rekindle. Practice your plan, first in the daylight, and then, with safety as a main concern, is it possible to practice in the dark? If so, keep the darkened practice small and be safe, and time it. It will be a real eye opener. Remember, seconds count, you have two or three minutes maximum from the start of the fire, so don't have too complicated a plan, in a real fire you won't finish it, as your practice will clearly demonstrate Most importantly, as much as we hate to lose an animal, be sure to stress the importance of a human life by comparison, and that dead heroes haven't accomplished a thing. Never put your life in danger to save possessions, even live ones. Twenty years from now you will still remember the lost horse, but twenty years from now you will still be devastated by the loss of a family member, be it child or parent! Yours are the most important life to save! Regional Education Page 2 Spring is here! (We think) and our thoughts turn away from the indoor education sessions to the mounted education sessions preparing for Rally, PPG, Tetrathalon, Dressage and Show Jumping in the summer months. Is your club ready for your mounted education? Here is a check list.   YES/NO Facilities: They don't have to be fancy but be sure they are safe!   Is there a fence to enclose those riders who need to be enclosed?   Do you always shut the gate while the lesson is in session?   Are the “props” such as jumps, caveletti, dressage rings, and teaching aids safe?   Is the footing safe?   Are there unseen dangers to be aware of and have you planned for them? (A visit from kids, dogs, bikes, hounds, donkeys/cows/goats/pigs, tractors, galloping horses in paddocks, approaching lightning storms, wind blowing things around, and the resident bogeyman that resides in at least one corner of most rings and arenas to mention a few.   Instructor Is the ratio 1 instructor for no more than 5 riders?   Are all instructors for mounted activities at least 16 years of age?   Are any underage helpers really helping? (or hindering)   Is there an adult physically present at all times to supervise the session?   Has the instructor had the training and experience to handle the situation they are in, or is there support present to provide this training? (We all start somewhere)   First Aid Is there a club first aid kit present at all mounted meetings?   Does anyone know how to use it?   Is there always a first aider present at mounted meetings? (Remember, your senior members all have to have their first aid to test up)   Is there a phone and/or a vehicle if help is needed?   Is there shade and water for horses and riders on hot days?   Procedures Does a competent person check every girth, helmet and tack every time?   If you don't know the child or the horse/pony do you ask them what they have done or are capable of doing before asking them to try something?   Not everyone progresses at the same rate. Do you accommodate both the timid and the bold safely?   Preparation Does the instructor always have a written lesson plan? (They need it for testing and they need to have a plan to follow)   Does this plan contain the elements of safety, of learning, of fun and of a goal to accomplish?   Does it contain exercises for the students that will accomplish these goals (A sample plan will be the topic of the next newsletter)   Learning doesn't just happen – it is planned for.   Hopefully you can answer Yes to all these questions, and are set for a safe, fun filled, educational summer. If not, take another look, are you tempting fate? Shortchanging your members? Start the year right, fix it now!