The slide show features scenes from this summer's internship preparing horses for catalog photos for the 2006 Razorback Roundup.  The online catalog is now under construction but will be available SOON with full details!

SNEAK PREVIEW
The 2006 Razorback Roundup will be held on November 18.  This year's sale includes 21 beautiful horses listed below:

A:  Unless your child has had riding lessons, or you are an experienced instructor, I don’t recommend buying a pony. Most professionals agree that at least a year of riding lessons that include lessons on care, grooming, and basic management is the best way to go. Ask your local tack shop or feed store if they know of any lesson barns in the area. As a public service, the D. E. King Equine Program offers a free list of information about 31 barns on the Equine Newsline’s Stables and Farms link. It is always a good idea to check references with several local professionals to be sure of the quality of instruction and the level of safety practiced.

Now, to answer your original question, in Arkansas the rule of thumb is one horse needs 1.5 – 2 well managed acres of pasture. This year, with the draught, that might need to be doubled or horses supplemented with hay.  Facilities needed include a shade shelter or a grove of trees for protection from the summer heat.  Be sure to protect tree trunks from chewing or you may quickly find yourself with a grove of dead trees.

   When I read your thing on NAIS  on the news line, I see nothing of the plans to have NAIS mandatory by 2009.  I think the USDA is the one who is being dishonest and deceiving; every time you go on their web site, they have changed it. Phil Wyric won't even mail the requirements for premise id because he said they haven't even been written yet. There is a lot more to it than just disease control.
   NAIS is unconstitutional in several aspects, if you really read the documents. It will affect almost every single farmer, hobbiest, trainer etc. Maybe if you own a Shetland pony (that was born on the place) your kid rides and it never sets foot off the property in its entire life you won't have to register your premise (then you will be breaking the law because it doesn't have a coggins test).  If you go to the vet, you have to register.
   I think if you only read what the USDA has to say about NAIS, YOU WILL BE MISLED. There are several other information centers to learn from. After all the USDA is funding all of the free premise ID registration.
There is no way the NAIS can be enforced. No one enforces the coggins laws.

The financial burden that NAIS will put on Americans far out weighs it's goals.

NAIS will not help Americans, but it will:
-Drive small producers and their suppliers out of business
-Make people stop raising animals for their own food and as pets
-Invade Americans’ personal privacy to a degree never before tolerated
-Deprive Americans of their property rights
-Violate the religious freedom of Americans whose beliefs make it impossible for them to comply
-Cost the American economy far more than it will deliver.
-Make agri-biz and micro-chip companies prosper.

Supposedly the program is voluntary now but will be mandated by 2009.

THANK YOU, RACHEL SARGENT
A concerned horse owner

Nice website (click) that explains NAIS and how to oppose it. Forward to anyone who is overwhelmed by NAIS. It gives sample letters to government officials and how to find your representatives. An updated article in Countryside Magazine in an aritcle by Mary Zanoni states that, "congress is threatening to de-fund NAIS and the USDA is desperately wants to stop citizens from contacting Congress." Lets keep it up!

NAIS- The Real Effects
By President Michael Steenbergen
Arkansas Animal Producers Association

Picture a society where you can no longer walk your dog or take your horse across the state line without having to call first and let the government know where you are going and what you are doing.  If you own a pet or a few cattle, you are required to implant a chip in them so that the government can track every step that animal takes.  Sounds too much like Revelations and too unreal and that this couldn’t possibly happen (Right?), but the microchip has already been invented and the USDA is already trying to implement the mandatory installment of microchips in our animals.  They say it’s voluntary now, but by year 2008 or 2009 it will be mandatory.  If passed, small farmers could go out of business.  With the added cost of thirty-seven dollars per chip and a five-dollar re-registration fee for each animal, small farmers wouldn’t be able make ends meat.  Large corporations would only have to buy one chip for each lot that they own making it less of a financial burden for them.  People say they want less government, but how is tracking our animals less government?  If anything, the government would have more power to control our lives, thus destroying the American way of life.

We the People, have a Right to Bear "FARMS."

NAIS is exactly the wrong answer.

Dean A. Ayers
Glenwood, Iowa
DeanOSI@wmconnect.com
Click here to read it...

Effects on America:

• Bankruptcy of Small Farms- USDA’s plan will push many small farms already under financial burden to cease to be in business.

• Loss of Secure Organic, Local Food- The USDA thinks that controlling the food supply will control diseases and terrorist acts, but we all know that the food that we can really count on is the food born and raised locally, not mass produced by large corporations.

• Invasion of Personal Property and Our Rights- The National Animal Identification System’s plan refers to a “national herd.” Basically that it doesn’t view private ownership as important and that it is unnecessary.  We can go hunting and fishing, but we can’t take our horses on a ride without making a call to the government for a fee.

• Burden on Religious Freedom- Many religions require home grown food and self raised meat not to mention that the animals are their mode of transportation.  What will happen to them if the USDA enforces this bill?  How will these religions survive?

• Extreme Costs with No Return Value- We will be spending millions of dollars to microchip our animals, but what will we get from it? Nothing!  The government says NAIS is to help us, but how can it help us if we get nothing except having to needlessly shell out money and call to report each and every single move we make?

• Technological Nightmare- Companies claim that they can mass-produce the chip easily.  What if the chip was programmed wrong or terrorists get a hold of them. The RFID chips can be reprogrammed or even infected with viruses.  Instead of our government tracking, us the very people the NAIS was made to protect, terrorists could be the ones in control of the information.

Don’t take others word for it, call us or visit their website for their Draft Strategic plan, Draft Program Standards, and the Technical Supplement!  You can find them at NoNais.org under technical documents.

Arkansasanimalproducers.8k.com/whats_new.html | www.libertyark.net | www.NoNais.org | www.farmandranchfreedom.org | http://eco.freedom.org/el/ 

Faithfully in your service!
President Michael Steenbergen
Arkansas Animal Producers Association
msteenbergen@msn.com

September 16, 2006

The 17th annual Polo in the Ozarks will be held Saturday, September 16 at the farm of Dr. Brian and Donna Buell benefiting Life Styles, Inc.

Join the Polo Match at 4:30PM where families are encouraged to attend. A Children's Activities Area with lots of interactive games will provide hours of fun while the adults watch a spectacular polo game between our local heroes, White River Polo Team, and an out-of-state team. During the match, enjoy tailgate parties providing drinks and festive hors d'oeuvres while browsing our Silent Auction Tent where you can bid on hundreds of gift items.

After the match, you'll be treated to a gala event that features dinner provided by Spring Street Grill. Musical entertainment will be provided by Foxy, and you'll enjoy a spirited Live Auction. 
 

October 13 -15
Horsemanship Clinic in Wynne
 

The Arkansas State Parks are sponsoring Fred Woehl, nationally known clinician, and his "Building Trust and Forming Partnerships" clinic to Village Creek State Park near Wynne, AR. Click here for the FLYER (large file, please be patient)

The park in northeastern Arkansas offers a beautiful horse camp complete with trails that wind through some of the most scenic areas that Arkansas has to offer. 

This new horse camp features 20 spacious and wooded campsites, a modern bathhouse, horse wash bays, and 66 stalls that are located right inside the camping area.  Each campsite offers water and electric hookups, an asphalt parking pad, a picnic table and grill.  These new equestrian facilities are the culmination of Arkansas State Park system's goal of offering quality and diverse recreational activities to its citizens and visitors from all over the country.  This is the first of, hopefully, many similar events Village Creek will be hosting, according to Ms. Vicki Trimble of the Arkansas State Parks.  "We are extremely proud that Fred has agreed to help us kick off these events and invite everyone to come and have a good time."

Cost for this fun filled weekend is $100.00 for horse and rider, limited to 12 participants and $10.00 for auditors.  Everyone is invited and there is no charge for the trail ride on Sunday.  Stall charges, camping fees, and lodging are separate.

To reserve your spot or for more information, please call: Vicki Trimble Village Creek State Park
870-238-9406
 

Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinic

October 20 - 22
Level II Parelli Clinic in Winslow

 

The Parelli Natural Horsemanship Clinic will be held at the Double Diamond T Ranch in Winslow, AR.   The Three-star Parelli endorse instructor Dan Knapp will be teaching the level II clinic.

Bring Your Horse - And Learn the Communication System that is Transforming the Horse World...

Email Marsha Thornbrugh at mgwl@earthlink.net or call her ranch at 479-634-3433 or her cell at 479-263-8027