USERL featured in Horse Illustrated March 2009

See a summary write up of USERL in the March 2009 issue of Horse Illustrated! Each month in 2009, Horse Illustrated will have a column titled “Rescue Reality” in which the dilemma of neglected horses is addressed. In addition, each month will feature a reputable rescue. USERL is the feature rescue for this column in the March 2009 issue (see page 66 “Rescue Reality”).

Meeting Reminder - This Saturday - February 28th.

Eric Shupe from Purina will give a presentation on feeding and rehabilitating a rescue horse with a low body score. He will also do a presentation and several demos on how to do body condition scoring using some of our USERL rescue horses as examples.

This presentation is free of charge and open to the public.

Following the presentation, we will have a brief USERL Central Piedmont business meeting.

For anyone that is interested, we will order in pizza and - weather permitting working making some Rein-oir paintings with our USERL rescue horses (if you plan to help, wear old clothes you don't mind getting paint on).

It should be a very informative presentation, followed by some painting fun!
Please RSVP to kxl@perigee.net if you are planning to be there so we will know how many copies of the hand out to prepare.
Photos are before and after of Emma (she will be at the meeting on Saturday - along with 6 other USERL horses!)

Ride for the Green

Reminder about the upcoming Poker Run Trail Ride Walk

You do not need to ride to come out and enjoy the day! You can come walk the trails or just have lunch (BBQ plates for a $5 donation) and check out the tack. We had a lot of tack left over from the recent tack sale - and even more tack was donated... so we are going to have another Tack Sale during the Ride for the Green event!

Ride for the Green - Poker Run/Walk
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Poker Run Rules for March 15, 2009 "Ride for the Green"
Cost to participate is $15 to ride the poker ride or walk the trails. Additional hands may be purchased at $5 per hand.

Lunch will be available at $5 per plate and will include BBQ, Slaw, Potato Salad, Bread and Dessert.

All monies raised go to benefit the U.S. Equine Rescue League horses of the Central Piedmont Region.

Participants may be at Diamond R Ranch and ready to ride by 1:00 PM and no later than 3:00 PM.

Prizes will be awarded to the two best hands. The winner has their choice of either a new English or Western Saddle (see attached photos)
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Tack Sale Follow Up and Lots more Tack for Sale!!!!

Just wanted to share this update from Hope about the USERL booth at the REINS event last Saturday the 21st. We have a lot of tack left over - the tack will be at the meeting on this coming Saturday the 28th and also at the upcoming Poker Run Trail Ride on March 15th. LOTS of good deals and remember 100% of the proceeds go directly to helping our USERL horses!

Thanks so much, ladies and gentleman, for coming out to Monroe on Saturday to help with the REINS tack sale. That was the first time REINS has had that event so we had no idea how busy we were going to be so I appreciate everyone who drove out such long distances and supported us. We are also extremely appreciative of those of you who shopped because we ended up raising a total of $377.00.

I, personally, had a blast meeting you guys and having the opportunity to get to know you all. I know we are all kind of spread out across North and South Carolina, but I hope you had a good experience and want to stay involved with the USERL.

Our next big event is the Poker Run, on Sunday, March 15, 2009 in Marshville, NC. This is going to be a blast, and I highly recommend coming out even if you don't ride. You should have been receiving the emails with the details of the ride from Deb Carl, but if you aren't on her list, just let me know and I'll get you the information.

Again, thank you, and I look forward to seeing you again in the near future.

Sincerely,

Hope Lee

USERL Volunteer

Hudson Gets a Valentine

Jana McManus, daughter of Christa and John McManus of Monroe, personally delivered a valentine that she made for Hudson. Jana also brought Hudson a donation from her piggy bank and some apples. Hudson looks really happy!

Poker Run Rules for March 15, 2009 "Ride for the Green"

Poker Run Rules

1. Cost to participate is $15 to ride the poker ride or walk the trails. Additional hands may be purchased at $5 per hand.
2. Lunch will be available at $5 per plate and will include BBQ, Slaw, Potato Salad, Bread and Dessert.
3. All monies raised go to benefit the U.S. Equine Rescue League horses of the Central Piedmont Region.
4. Participants may be at Diamond R Ranch and ready to ride by 1:00 PM and no later than 3:00 PM.
5. There will be 5 check points. At each check point, one chip will be collected by each registered rider.
6. At the final stop (Registration table/Final stop) all chips will be counted, you must have 5, and you will then draw 5 cards one at a time from a bag containing one full playing card deck (52 cards) without jokers. The playing cards will be returned to the bag.
7. The poker run route must be completed by 4:00 pm including stops.
8. Neither Diamond R Ranch, USERL, nor any organization or individual associated in any way with the "poker run"; assume any liability for any claims which may arise as a result of your participation in this event. Each participant assumes all liability as to the welfare of them selves and their animals.
9. The rule in case of a tie will result in a High Card Draw at the registration booth between the participants involved in the tie.
10. Other rules may be put in place the day of the run at the judges discretion.
11. Announcements will be made prior to the start if anything changes.
12. The following rules will be used to rank the completed score cards. Prizes will be awarded to the two best hands.

Please fill out the registration form below and return it via:
e-mail to Tracy at KXL@PERIGEE.NET or
mail to:USERL, P.O. Box 157, Wingate, NC 28174 or
fax to: 704-624-3564

You do not need to prepay, payment can be made the day of the ride at the registration table.
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USERL St. Patrick’s Day Poker Run & Trail Ride
March 15, 2009
Name_______________________________
Address_____________________________
City, State, Zip________________________
Phone_______________________________
Email________________________________
How did you hear about the Poker Run?______________________________

Valenintes for Hudson

Hudson is a pretty black and white paint mare.  She came into the League back in early January.

Hudson has a club foot that was left untreated for many years.  This caused rotation in her coffin bone.  She does not appear to have pain from this and we decided to help her out.  She will require special shoeing to make her more comfortable and increase her mobility.

Hudson came in the day that Flight 1549 went down in the Hudson River.  That was a day for miracles and we are hoping that our Hudson will experience a miracle as well.

We are asking a special favor for Hudson, if you have a few moments would you like to send her a valentine with get well wishes?  If everyone on this list sent her a valentine with $1.00 in it, this would be a huge help in paying for Hudson's rehab.

We will put all of Hudson's Valentines on display during our March 15th Fundraiser (the St. Patrick's Day Poker Run Trail Ride) and she will be there to greet her well wishers (in her new shoes).

So if you have a few moments, and can send Hudson a Valentine with $1.00 to:

USERL
PO box 157
Wingate, NC 28174

all of her Valentine money will go directly to her hoof care!

Foster homes neeeded for 2 horses

Some of you may remember Bailey and Cabot, who came into the league back in October.  These two senior citizens have  been rehabbed and are in need of new foster homes immediately.  If you would be interested in fostering one (or both!), please let us know.

Bailey (the cream colored mare) is in her 20's and has no health problems.  Bailey is an energetic mare and doesn't seem to realize she is "getting up there in years".  We think she may be a saddlebred cross, due to her long, elegant ears and face.  We have not evaluated Bailey for riding ability. 

Cabot, the Paint mare, is also in her 20's.  Cabot does not have any top teeth, probably from a lifetime of cribbing.  She needs to have her food wet to help her eat it.  Both mares eat senior feed.  Cabot was ridden by her previous owner and may be suitable for light riding, with a hackamore or rope halter.  Cabot comes with a cribbing collar, if needed, but she has not been cribbing at her rehab home.

Please contact Paula at sixhorseranch@yahoo.com, if you are interested in fostering Bailey or Cabot.

Natalia Available For Adoption

LOOKING FOR THE PERFECT VALENTINE GIFT

Natalia is a wonderful young pony standing only 12.3 hands high, but what she doesn't have in height, she more than makes up in a wonderful personality. Nattie is the first to greet you for cookies or pets and does great in all of her training. She stands wonderfully for the farrier and doesn't even mind having her mane pulled! We've been doing ground training with her and she's been wearing her dressage bridle and snaffle bit like a champ (and looks very cute in it). We have just started long lining and ground driving and she seems very eager to learn. We've been putting the saddle on her as well and she just takes it all in stride. Nattie has a wonderful floating trot that any pony dressage mount would dream of. Nattie is starting to get the basics and with her natural gaits and some additional training she'll make an exceptional dressage pony or combined driving pony.

Find out more information about Nattie call 980-722-3435

Caring for Horses During Tough Times

The USERL was featured in a Pet O' Mine article in their January issue. Check it out on-line at http://petomine.com/pdf/pom-0901_unifour.pdf#page=6

Looking for the perfect Valentine?

St. Patrick's Day Poker Run Trail Ride/Walk

Come out and ride or walk to help the horses. Diamond R Ranch is hosting a Poker Run Trail Ride/Walk with a St. Patrick's Day Theme on Sunday - March 15th from 1-4 p.m. If you don't want to walk or ride, you can still stop out for lunch. Doug will be serving up his famous BBQ for $5 a plate! Come out to enjoy the day and we will have lots of USERL horses that are available for adoption there that day! To register call 980-722-3435 or e-mail kxl@perigee.net. See you there! Be sure to wear your green and ride for the green!

ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE ESTABLISHES ABANDONED HORSE REWARD FUND

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) announced today the establishment of the “Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund.” Under the program, individuals providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who abandons a horse in violation of state law will be rewarded with up to $1,000 by AWI.

Under the program, individuals with evidence should first contact their local police department, provide as many details as possible about the horse abandonment situation and let the department know about the Animal Welfare Institute Abandoned Horse Reward Fund. In such cases, eligibility for rewards and specific reward amounts will be determined by AWI. For complete terms and conditions of this reward fund, please go to www.awionline.org.

“If horses are being neglected or abandoned and the law is being violated, individuals need to be held accountable. Caring for a horse or any animal is a lifelong responsibility and not something you toss aside when inconvenient. We hope our reward fund will assist in bringing criminals to justice,” said Chris Heyde.

For further information contact:

Chris Heyde, 202-446-2142