RIDER’s DIGEST

January 2005

2004 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:

Wednesday February 23^rd, 7:30pm at the Alexandria Twsp Park. ***************************************

TEAM PENNING SATURDAY, Jan 29^th!

_____________________________________________

2004 Year in Review

We paused for a moment while putting together this issue and asked a simple question:

What did the AEA get done in 2004? Wow!! After making this list of our accomplishments it became apparent that we kicked butt!

1) AEA sponsored 14 Events

6 Team Penning

5 Clinics

1 Community Day

-Parade of Breeds

-Food booth – (most profitable event of the year)

1 Picnic

1 Pure Fund Raiser (least profitable event of the year)

for a total profit of $3808.21.

2) AEA members participated in the Ad Hoc Barn Advisory Committee establishing direction for use of the Barn for horse activity

3) Increased membership by 30%

4) AEA was pivotal in these accomplishments:

In the barn……….

1. Public Address System

2. Time Clock

3. New Windows

4. Spectator Area and announcer’s booth

5. Painting of indoor arena

6. Installation of water spigots in indoor

7. Aisle between indoor and foaling stall area

8. New roof over spectator area

9. Improvements in lighting

5) AEA established contact with the Hunterdon County Park System and began planning a trail on the Schick Preserve.

6) Published 5 newsletters

Here’s the clincher though, we had fun doing it!

INDOOR POLO PRACTICE

The Alexandria Township Park Committee has made an arrangement with the Tinicum Park Polo Club. Members of the club are using our indoor arena each Sunday from noon to 2pm through March for practice. It’s a kick to watch so here’s your invitation to stop by some Sunday for a chukker or two. These folks can really ride!

Needless to say, this polo practice renders the indoor unavailable for riding on Sundays for the time just specified. By April the polo folks can be outside again. It should be noted that the township is receiving some good money for this use of the indoor; money that’s being used in a variety of ways toward improvements at the park. Every little bit helps!

PLAUDITS FOR PENNING

AEA’s team penning event on January 8^th was a particularly good show. Everything seemed to come together. A number of members were there doing their usual good work, but I’d like to recognize a few specifically.

Before that though, a congratulatory word to AEA in general. The weather that day was abysmal; pouring rain, cold, wet and miserable. Given those circumstances alone, it was great to hear the positive comments of riders from near and far. Most importantly they said they’d be back.

Mention was heard from folks that the atmosphere at our penning events made the whole experience a very enjoyable one. Spectators and riders alike, when arriving in the meeting room were greeted by smiling faces, a roaring fire and a choice of refreshments (thanks Aversa ladies!). Even the cows that day were most uncooperative, which is just the way they should be!

A special recognition is due to AEA member Phil Rochelle. He is largely the energy behind our successful team penning events. Phil is the cow coordinator and our event promoter among penning enthusiasts. He has donated untold hours to the improvement of our barn and was recently behind the acquisition of the time clock and public address system for the arena. To boot, Phil sees to a host of other details pertinent to these events. On top of all this he is finally learning how to ride almost as well as his daughter. Keep up the good work, Phil!

Also deserving of honorable mention is AEA member, Bill Daniels. Bill owns the now familiar voice coming from the “broadcast booth” at penning events. His work is a valuable addition. Bill injects humor into the happenings of the moment and that adds, in no small measure, to the entertainment value of the whole enchilada. Bill’s job has evolved. He now has the added responsibility of overseeing clock keeper, member Bob Moore. Bob tends to become very excited by the , “play by play.” This is occasionally a complication when exacting attention to the clock is required. Bob has other cognitive issues we won’t get into here.

So which cowboys won the competition? The team of Joel S., Don B. and Phil Rochelle. You’ve heard of home court advantage, right? And how about those ladies from Long Island. Wow, can they ride! The jackpot was won by Denise from Rhodes Farm in Long Island.

It should be noted that these team penning events have become very viable fund raisers for AEA! It’s great to look out into the parking lot on a penning day and see it loaded with horse trailers; to see the indoor bustling with horses. We’ve got a good thing going so let’s work on making penning even better. Elsewhere in this issue is the penning schedule for the balance of the season.

AEA WEBSITE

Hats off to new AEA member Liz Lynch. Liz has jumped into the volunteer fray in a big way by creating the AEA website. At the time of this writing the site is not yet finished but details as to its completion will be forthcoming. We can at this point say it is looking sharp. It will start out small and evolve into a quite useful tool.

Features of the website will include an AEA calendar, membership info, the AEA newsletter (yes, it will still be available on paper) trail info, penning info and the like. Importantly, there will be a link to Alexandria Township’s official website as well as other links appropriate to the horse world.

The development and growth of this site will be aided by feedback and suggestions from members at large. So don’t think that your input won’t be of use. When you’ve had opportunity to visit the site, do make note of your thoughts and share them with us.

SCHICK PRESERVE UPDATE

Eight AEA riders recently converged upon the Schick Preserve for a two or so hour jaunt around that beautiful Alexandria Township property. With no crops in the ground there now, riding is possible without worry of trampling any soybeans or the like.

As a reminder, AEA is working with the property’s owner, Hunterdon County Park System, to map and clear a perimeter trail. The preserve is just under 300 acres. Representatives from the county and AEA have met at the property and agreed on the basic course of the trail. The county is working to secure permission at one spot to cross some wetlands.

_____________________________________________

UPCOMING EVENTS:

SHOWMANSHIP CLINIC WITH KEITH MILLER

This clinic will discuss proper turnout for your horse, the maneuver s needed to perform a showmanship pattern, practice patterns, and the clothing trends seen today in the AQHA show ring.

Where: At the Alexandria township Park

When: Saturday, Feb 5, 2005

Time: 10:00-2:00 pm

Cost: $50.00

FMI contact Becky Nicoletti 908-996-3252

TEAM PENNING!

Due to the blizzard of 05, the January 22^nd Team Penning event was rescheduled for Saturday, January 29^th.

Feb 12^th, Mar 5^th, Mar 26^th, April 16^th, May 7^th.

Starts: 1:00 p.m.

Where: The Alexandria Township Park

Cost: $35/rider

FMI contact Phil Rochelle @ 908 391-1633

TINICUM POLO CLUB PRACTICE

At the Park indoor, every Sunday, 12:00-2:00 pm

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

EQUINE MANAGEMENT SHORT COURSE

Sponsored by Rutgers Coop Extension.

February 10 & 11 at the Clarion Hotel in Phillipsburg. Cost $110 for two days, $75 for one day.

FMI contact Sarah Ralston @ 732-932-9404

New Year's Resolutions for horse folk:

1 The barn will be cleaned before noon every day. I plan to resolve to do that...maybe even accomplish it.

2. I will clean my tack faithfully after every ride, even if it's just with the quickie leather cleaner. Okay, once a week at least.

3. I will buy three Lotto tickets each week: One to pay for more horses; one to cover veterinary expenses; and one to cover farrier expenses.

4. I will make appointments for a haircut at least as often as my horse needs new shoes. In fact, that's a good way to remember.

5. In the coming year, I will check my clothes for hay before going out in public.

6. When I reach into my coat pocket for change, I will try not to pay with pieces of carrot or horse treats.

7. Horse clothing will not be cleaned in the family washing machine any more. At least, not while The Husband is home.

8. I will not soak bits in the kitchen sink. I will put them in the dishwasher instead.

9. I will remember to write social obligations on the calendar as religiously as I write clinic and competition dates. That way, maybe I can keep them. If they don't conflict, of course.

10. I will (occasionally) feed the family before the animals at least on weekends.

11.. I will endeavor not to scream NO! every time a family member attempts to take a carrot from the 50-lb. bag earmarked for the horses.

12. I promise to stop critiquing every movie I see in which there are horses and the riding, grooming, or tack is incorrect.

13. I will stop saying "over" to my spouse when he's in my way in the kitchen and "whoa" to my children.

14. On the first rainy or snowy day of the New Year, I will muck out the house.

15. In the future, the living room will not be decorated with bridles and bailing twine.   I'll save that for the family room.

16. I will wash my truck as often as I wash the horses.

17. I will not use the exercise bike as a saddle rack.

18. When I uncover the exercise bike and find new homes for the blankets and saddles it is holding, I will ride it.

19. I resolve to completely ignore all of the above resolutions this year to take enough time to actually RIDE my horse and stop grousing about not doing it enough.