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Holiday Issue
Stewardship
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2002
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This issue of the LGPC newsletter is dedicated to sharing information about related organizations whose mission and activities are important to Pony Club goals and activities. The Equestrian Land Conservation Resource (ELCR) and the Long Green Valley Conservancy (LGVC).
The ELCR is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting access to and conservation of land for equestrian use. Recognizing that loss of open land is a great and urgent threat to equestrian sport, recreation and industry, the ELCR was founded in 1997 by Pony Club leaders with specific intent of helping Pony Clubs and other groups and individuals to address successfully their need for permanent access to open land. The organization's message has reached more than 13 million readers in the equestrian press, and at least 13,000 benefited from the ELCR's direct assistance in 2001.
The LGVC is dedicated to preserving farm and open lands, improving habitat quality, and instilling a love of nature in the residents of Long Green, Maryland. LGVC is a non-profit organization formed to promote the voluntary, permanent preservation of farmland, open space, woodlands, and historic sites in the Long Green Valley. The focus of all these efforts is within the 6000 acre Long Green Valley Historic District which was settled in 1721. The organization has protected over 2000 acres of farmland, forest and fields from future development. The LGVC works with property owners to increase resource understanding and to implement low impact land use, farming plans and maintenance plans on protected properties.
You are encouraged to visit these organizations' websites: www.elcr.org, and www.lgvc.org or go to their links on the Long Green Pony Club website Links Page. Information in this article was taken from printed materials of the ELCR and LGVC.
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| Fitness For Every Discipline
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Practicing the horse management skills acquired in the USPC Curriculum is another way to exhibit stewardship. Maintaining fitness for your chosen sport is important for the health of your pony. Even show hunters, pleasure horses and equitation horses can benefit from advanced conditioning. Many people are horrified at the suggestion that these horses - especially show hunters - should be "fit", fearing a fit horse will become too high spirited, but they forget that the horses do need to be fit enough to meet the demands of competition.
Actually, 20 minutes of ring work a few times a
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week is not enough to prepare the horse for several full days of showing. Many riders have lost their chances of getting pinned when they find themselves in a monster flat class with 30 or more entries and have to trot and canter for prolonged periods only to have their horses tire and fall apart toward the end.
These horses should all have the benefits of basic conditioning and be capable of cantering both directions of the ring at least 10 times without aerobic-range heart rated. Let's all make our goal this year to ride well conditioned ponies.
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LGPC Featured Pony... "Hank"
by Caitlin B.
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Registered Name: Olney His Majesty
Barn Name: Hank
Breed: Classic "A" Shetland Pony
Color: Chestnut
Markings: Blaze, right front sock, both rear socks, flaxen mane and tail
Age: 8 y.o., birthday - May 11,1994
Height: 11.0 HH
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"Hank likes to play tag with the Oldenburg friends that he lives with. He also loves to jump. He especially likes to play with the foals when they get weaned because he gets to teach them about good manners"
Caitlin and Hank were involved in the D Dressage and Show Jumping rallies and hope to get into more jumping and eventing next year.
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| SILENT AUCTION November 9
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 On order from the Equestrian Land Conservation Resource is a video called "In Their Shoes". We plan to show it at a club meeting this winter. "In Their Shoes" presents enjoying a trail from the viewpoint of a horseback rider, hiker and biker - all with their roles scrambled. The three trail users switch modes and obtain a much different perspective and appreciation for the other trail users. Originally produced by the Arizona State Committee on Trails, this 11 minute video provides a good discussion for meetings on shared or multi-use trails. Two wonderful multi-use trails in our area include the North Central Railroad Trail and the Gettysburg Trail. Can you name any more? Also in the LGPC library is the guide from your local land trusts, Conserving Land in Baltimore County.
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Our biennial fund raiser and sponsor party was held on Saturday, November 9 at 7 PM at Thornridge Manor Farm. We thank all who participated - donors, bidders, and all who gave so generously of their time and work to organize and hold this auction.
New this year was the "LIVE" auction where several larger items were bid on while the silent auction items were awarded. There was great food and company and the proceeds for LGPC were more than double the previous auction experience. Auction proceeds are the primary source of funding for LGPC activities.
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| DC's Corner:
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| Beautiful landscapes have a presence of their own, and PC members respect and appreciate their access to the land.
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We are truly blessed in Baltimore and Harford Counties by beautiful countryside coupled with an historic equestrian culture and important horse industry. Landowners, local and state governments, and others recognize the many values of our land resources. Balancing rights of private property owners, pressures of development, natural resource management and other interest groups is the backdrop to the environment in which pony club members ride and learn. A desire to protect and practice stewardship of these resources is often a natural outgrowth of a young rider's experience.
The opportunity to ride a horse through open fields, woods, and watershed areas is a very special gift. Beautiful landscapes have a presence of their own and teaching pony club members to appreciate their access to the land and respect it is important. Also important is teaching respect for other users of the land including farmers, bikers, hikers and other recreational users.
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1. Stewardship can be:a) financial support
b) land conservation
c) good horse management practices
d) all of the above
2. A conservation easement is:a) a rodeo chute used for calves
b) a railroad right of way
c) an agreement to restrict the use of land to only those activities that sustain its natural resource assets
d) a slippery slope
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3. When riding cross country, what should you NOT do?a) ask permission
b) ride through planted fields
c) close all the gates
d) stay off lawns
4. Which is NOT a local land trust?a) Long Green Valley Conservancy
b) Strawberry Jam Conserve
c) Gunpowder Valley Conservancy
d) Manor Conservancy
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LGPC 2002
Gloria Cameron, District Commissioner
Eileen Pritchard-Bryan, Joint D.C.
Phoebe DeVoe, Treasurer
Joanne Salerno, Secretary/Newsletter
Long Green Pony Club Website:
http://longgreenponyclub.tripod.com
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:Katie D. (11 y.o.) and her parents John and Barbara
Sabrina S. (13 y.o.) and her parents Tom and Diana
CONGRATULATIONS: to our D Dressage teams... there were 28 teams at the rally held at Menfelt on a beautiful day in August. Our D-3 team, Ashley A. (captain), Rebecca H., Rachel S.,and Lindsey Z. won 8th place in their division. Long Green entered two D-1/D-2 teams: Jena C. (captain), Jessica R. and Aynsley D. won 4th place overall and 1st in Horse Management! (yeah!) and Wheatley D. (captain), Caitlin B., Taylor Z. and scramble member from Glen Hollow, Rita A., won second place overall! A good time was had by all.
CONGRATULATIONS: to the LGPC/Churchville D Show Jumping team. Caitlin B. and her scramble team placed 8th overall and FIRST in Horse Management.
Alison H. has now earned her "A" rating!!! LGPC is very proud of this achievement. We are fortunate that Alison is available to instruct and coach our members. Alison received awards and appreciation at the Holiday Party for both her H-A and A ratings.
THANKS to the Haase-Salerno household for hosting our 2002 Holiday Party on December 6. A great time was had by all!
CONGRATULATIONS to all members who earned ratings in 2002: Jena C., Rachael H., Rebecca H., Kellie H., Jessica R., and Alison H.
CALENDAR PREVIEW: check the website regularly for calendar updates of club activities. Mark your calendars for these important regional dates: Feb 2 - Ratings and Standards Clinic in Upper Marlboro
Feb. 16 - Horse Management Seminar at Imperial Egyptian Stud
March 23 - Quiz Rally at Garrison Forest School
JANUARY DATES - Soon to be posted - Quiz meetings will include barn meetings, a visit to Manor Equine Hospital, and unmounted "game show" quiz parties, movie night and puppet shows.
SPONSORS' MEETING for January will be the annual pot luck supper, this year at the Cameron's Monkton View Farm... tentatively set for Saturday evening, January 18.. details will be mailed or e-mailed.
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