RIDER’s DIGEST

December 2005

 

2005 Officers:

 

President:                                Lou Corbo      

Vice-President:                       Tom Aversa   

Treasurer:                               Judy Tucker

Secretary:                                Scott Whitaker

Membership/newsletter:         Sherri Dolan

Trustee                                                Pete Tucker

Trustee                                                Bill Daniels

 

 

***************************************

THE NEXT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF THE AEA WILL BE:

January 24th,  7:30pm at the Alexandria Twsp Park.  ***************************************

 

TEAM PENNING SATURDAY, December 10th!

 

 

In Memoriiam

 

William Patterson

March 13, 1944 - Sept. 24, 2005

 

God saw you were getting tired,

And a cure was not to be,

So he put his arms around you

And whispered “Come to me”.

 

With tearful eyes we watched you,

And saw you pass away.

Although we loved you dearly,

We could not make you stay.

 

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands at rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

 

 Bill Patterson was AEA’s first Vice President. When a few Alexandria folks first got together to talk about forming our organization, Bill was there. Having already had experience in such matters, we were all lucky to have Bill’s knowledge and advice to help guide the process.

This writer will always remember horseback visits from Bill and Barbara. It was always obvious that  they were on the way, even from a distance. That unmistakable cadence of Paso Fino hoofbeats was Bill’s signature sound as he rode down the trail. And when Bill arrived, his visit was always a pleasure…..a gentle way about the man, a pleasing smile, an affable presence.

We miss you, Bill Patterson. May God rest the soul of a man loved by many.

 

l l l

                

Here we are at the tail end of 2005, with our AEA newsletter quite overdue and plenty of material to cover! Community Day in September was a financial success for the AEA (more on that later in  the newsletter) and all of the riders who gave their time to perfecting a drill team to music, as well as participating in several demonstrations, are to be thanked and commended! Again, visibility was a bit of a problem this year, but those who were spectators had many positive comments. Next year, let’s see if we can get the word out about our equestrian display earlier, and more aggressively. Also, use of the indoor for the games demonstration proved not to be  conducive to drawing or keeping an audience. The outdoor demonstrations were better attended.

Another annual highlight, the AEA picnic held at the beautiful Rochelle spread Oct. 23, was also a success —  and a lot of fun! Many new faces were seen this year. Thanks again, Phil and Susan, for generously providing us with this perfect setting!

AEA Team Penning has begun, with the first competition taking place Nov. 26. Upcoming dates are: Dec. 10, Jan. 7 and 28. Volunteers are always appreciated.

 

 

THANK YOU!!

 

By now, everyone knows the AEA has a new, “regulation” dressage arena, measuring 80 meters by 40 meters (262.5 ft. by 131.5 ft). The do’s and don’ts of its use are discussed later in this newsletter.

Those who have seen it know that, though attractive, it is made of rudimentary material. However, through the generosity of Mr. John Lionetti, a new neighbor and AEA member, the dressage arena will become an examplary part of the facility. Mr. Lionetti has generously donated enough white PVC posts and white PVC chain to make our arena a showplace. All materials are in our possession, and come spring, will be installed. Thanks again to Mr. Lionetti!

                          Lou Corbo

                          President 

 

 

What’s New at the Township Park:

 

   Anyone who has been to the Alexandria Township Park recently has probably noticed an exciting new addition to the riding facilities: the new, grass dressage arena! The arena is located between the road and the main building (indoor arena), giving our horses and riders visibility, as well as a nice flat place to work outdoors. It is very important to keep this a positive addition for all involved, so PLEASE STAY OFF the arena when the footing is wet, and DO NOT leave manure in or near the arena!! Speaking of which…the eloquent Mr. Tucker has a few words to say on that topic in general:

 

 

DON’T GIVE ME ANY SH--.....MANURE!!

 

It’s very simple, dear members, if you ride in our  arenas. When you leave, PLEASE fork any manure into YOUR muck bucket and take it with you on your trailer....yes, even if it was left there by someone else! This isn’t too much to ask. If we ALL do this, then the manure left in the arena or the stall that you were using won’t stay there very long!

This writer left my own muck bucket at the indoor about a year ago, marked AEA on it and have, at length, removed it. Why? Because it’s always being filled up and left there. THERE IS NO STABLE HAND AT THE PARK !

When everyone pitches in, we’ll run a real clean barn! Please do your part.  Thanks.

 

Of Interest to  all NJ Horse Owners:

 

   A new draft of the Equine Rule Proposals is out for review and comment. This document addresses how much land you need to keep a horse, as well as other details. It will affect how you may keep a horse in New Jersey, so it is important that you take time to get a copy, read the rules, and COMMENT. Contact Sue Craft or David Kimmel at NJ Dept. Agriculture, (609) 984-2504 and ask for Equine AMP and Equine Right to Farm documents.

 TRAIL BITS

by Pete Tucker

Six riders hoofed up the lane one evening early in the fall and pulled up alongside our veranda. My wife and I were well into cocktail hour so it was sobering a bit to see that among them were a few from that notorious Aversa Gang. But, we composed ourselves as best we could and engaged in the banter of the day.

Presently we did what we always do when horseback visitors arrive, which was to offer everyone something cold to drink. It’s interesting to observe how the Aversa boys handle this situation. It’s the same each time. First it’s a simple “no, thanks”. Then, when one of their gauchos says they’ll have some water, they change their mind. They’ll have a Sprite or some such.

Then, in a nanosecond, one of their inner voices says something about a Rolling Rock, and all are agreed: each will have a beer! What is most impressive, however, on all of these occasions, is how quickly these beverages are gone. Talk about a nanosecond! Must be that baking New Jersey sun…..or something.

As these riders faded into the woods, Tom Aversa turned in his saddle and offered what I thought was an inspired piece of thinking. “You should set up a concession stand here,” he mused. Just then, the aroma of profit wafted through the air. Six dollar Rolling Rocks, hot dogs for $8.50…endless pricing possibilities!

Yet another revenue stream for AEA!! The treasurer will love it… and I sleep with her!

 

 

 

 

 

Why should I want to go to Heaven                                                                             when I can be in Bermuda ?                                                                                                                         - Mark Twain

 

We had never done this before, never even entertained the idea. A trail ride out of some commercial stable, strange horses, strange people, strange surroundings. But wait a minute. This was Bermuda! How bad could it be?! I could sit on an old hack for a while if it meant riding in what is arguably the most beautiful place in the world. Let’s have at it!

Jude and I rode at the tail end of about nine riders. And what of the steeds that it was our chance to ride? Jude’s was pretty decent. Of what equine lineage I’m not sure, but the critter got one hoof in front of the other. I was on some sort of Belgian cross. Crossed with what I’m not sure, but it was no firecracker!

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against draft horses. In fact, I quite fancy them. But, as we all know, every horse has its own way of behaving. I probably could have hitched this horse and plowed the nearby field and it wouldn’t have noticed the difference between that and the ride we were on!!

It didn’t matter, though. To see this place and the ocean that surrounds it from horseback was an absolute thrill. How about it, Mark Twain? Bet you never did that!

Be forewarned, though, if you fancy the idea of opening a competing stable in Bermuda. I had a good chat with the owner after the ride. They don’t make hay in Bermuda. She buys it all from Pennsylvania! It gets shipped in by the container load…..at $24 a bale!! It’s a pretty easy bet that you wouldn’t keep too many hayburners in your barn at those prices!!

 

THE QUESTION ALWAYS ASKED…

 

It is a question for the ages….a mystery that has perplexed even the most soaring intellects for time immemorial. Perhaps at some time you have asked the question yourself….. JUST WHAT IS PULLED PORK ?????

One thing is for sure. The AEA concession tent sold a heap of it at Alexandria’s Community Day on Saturday, Sept. 24. Further, a visit inside the depths of the tent shed untold light on the pork pulling process. There the curious, the huddled masses yearning for knowledge could observe AEA’s Chief of Pullet and Pork Pulling Procedures, John Alexis, hard at work.

 

Donning his rubber gloves, there was John doing what he does best. With both hands in a vat of cooked meat, John was fastidiously manipulating the pork off the bone. The term  is really quite literal. Even the casual observer might off-handedly remark, “Why that man is pulling pork!”

All kidding aside, John Alexis gets major kudos for a job very well done in the pork pulling tent. He worked at it for better than 12 hours that day and was ably assisted by numerous volunteers. Thanks be to them too.

As if pulling all that pork wasn’t enough, John rendered to the AEA treasurer a detailed written report the next day as to how the whole event fared. Some of the details in the report are downright funny. One goes like this: “We tried something a little different this year. We added BBQ chicken thighs to the menu. Well the thighs didn’t do so well. The heat of the grills proved too much. In a valiant effort, Bill Daniels came to the rescue but the meat just fell off the bones. Bob Moore stepped up to the challenge and took to pulling chicken! His inventiveness brought a new culinary delight to our patrons….Pulled Chicken Pate. People loved it!”                                 

One of the sweetest lines in John’s report was the first line : “This year’s Community Day was a financial success.” Then John sweetened things with a statistical oddity. This year’s gross sales exceeded last year’s…..by $10. Wow. What are the chances? Some sort of pulled pork wizardry, I suppose.! Only John Alexis knows.

At any rate, thanks to every volunteer who came together under the AEA tent on Community Day. Damn, if a good time wasn’t had by all!

 

 

THE COVERED BRIDGE TRAIL PACE…

 

Delaware Township is nearly as pretty as Alexandria. Residents down there may even have a different version of that sentence. One way or another, the nine miles of the  Covered Bridge Trail Pace are just spectacular!

The event took place on September 18. Several AEA members rode. One was Phil Rochelle. He took 5th place, and a pink ribbon. Isn’t it appropriate that Cowboy Phil should have a pink ribbon?

 

 

 

 

Free:          

 

two  55 gal.steel barrels

two 10 ft. galvanized gates (flat not tubular)

approx 100  12 foot & 14 foot I joists (must take all)

                                             

 Call Micki Ellis        (908) 238-9758

 

 

 

 

 

BRAG COLUMN

 

Any  AEA member who would like to boast about a new equine purchase, accomplishment in competition, or any other horsey news is welcome to share it with us through the newsletter. E-mail info to Julie Farneski at jjf432@earthlink.net or Pete Tucker at tuckaway-farm@earthlink.net.