January, 1996 Issue of the Forum

*** Welcome to the Forum! ***

We hope you had a great holiday season! Winter Wonderland is a little late, but it is here in Charlotte as I type this.

We have a lot to cover in this, our second issue. So I won't waste space with a lot of editorial rambling here. -DAVE

***CCBWFA News & Info***

Carolinas Pet Expo 1995 - On October 13-15, 1995. The CCBWFA was at the Carolina Pet Expo at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart. We were with Bryan and Bill McColl of Mobile Milling, the manufacturers of the hoof supplement BIO-ZIN. Everyday was packed with demonstrations and vendors. People were there from all over and with all types of animals which ranged from fish to horses.

Jeff Crane, President of the CCBWFA did demonstrations on making shoes and hoofpicks all weekend. Jeff also talked to people all weekend about the lower limb of the horse and showed them where the different parts were with his model of the hoof. On Friday Jeff and Mike Stine handmade shoes and hoofpicks for the public. On Saturday Jeff and Scott Childres did two live-shoeing demonstrations with a horse provided by Linda and Jerry Connell of WOOF-N-HOOF, and graciously held by Janet Childres.

I really enjoyed walking around and talking to everyone there. The vendors were great to talk to and receptive about the CCBWFA and the EARS Program. Jeff and I and everyone else who came from the CCBWFA to help us, talked to a lot of people about our upcoming clinic, the EARS Program and the product BIO-ZIN.

Over all the Expo was great! I think the CCBWFA, EARS Program and Mobile Milling got great response and benefited from the weekend. I want to thank you, Mobile Milling, again for making it possible for the CCBWFA to go to the Carolina Pet Expo 1995. I would also like to thank the following CCBWFA Members for coming and helping out at the Expo: Mike Stine, Betty Orr, Scott and Janice Childres and Marcus Pierce. Thank you everyone you helped to make the Expo fun and successful.

NC & SC Fair - On October 20, 1995: Mike Stine, one of our Board of Directors, went to the NC & SC Fair at the Union County Fair Grounds. Mike went to do demonstrations for the Saddlemasters 4-H Club. The Saddlemasters had a "working booth" there at the fair. They were there all week and sold raffle tickets to raise money for their upcoming trips and workshops. Saturday Jeff and I were at the fair. Jeff did a live shoeing demonstration and talked to people who came by. At 1:00 PM the Saddlemasters had their raffle. I must say I was pretty impressed with these 4-Her's. They had collected more than 60 items and raised a lot of money for their upcoming events. Respectfully, Debi Crane CCBWFA Secretary

The CCBWFA wishes to thank the following for donating items for our raffle and auction: Bethel Mill, McCoy Feed and Seed, Rita McGarry, New Salem Feeds, Woof-N-Hoof, Rusty Spur Saddlery, Mike Stine, The Horsemans Newsletter, Lisa Leggett, DA McCray Saddlery, Southern States, American Pioneer, Horseplay, BIO-ZIN, Pierce Farrier Supply, and Lester Hires.

***On Conventions***

Dear Forum,

I would just like to get some feed back on the B.W.F.A. Convention. In 1992 the North Carolina Farriers hosted the first ever B.W.F.A. Convention in Asheville, NC. We did not charge the Farrier or Horse owner anything to get in, it was free. The Vendors in the Marketplace payed a small fee to set up. It ran $100 for early birds and $150 after October first. [The Convention was in November.] We had 49 Vendors and lots of people. As many as we had in 1993 Texarkana and more than 1994 Texarkana. We paid all the bills and awards and had a small sum left over. We had spent very little or nothing for advertising. No full-page ads in the ANVIL or AFJ. No full-page handout. The ads for the 1993 and 1994 Conventions were everywhere.

In 1993 we charged the Farrier $75 to get in and about $300 for the Vendors. We had less than 40 vendors for the Marketplace... down from 1992. In 1994 we charged the Farrier $100 to get in and the Vendors payed more again. That year the number of Vendors dropped to around 34. Prices for the 1995 Wichita Convention went up again, and the number of Vendors dropped to around 23. Now I always thought you could price yourself right out of business if you got out of line. If you pay $150 to get in, three nights for a room, travel expenses, the banquet, plus the loss of work down-time, it can really cost you. And I always have to buy something in the marketplace too.

I think we should hold the price way down on the Farrier... say $25... and keep the Vendor down to $150 maximum. Then [those attending] will have more money to spend on the auction and raffle. Remember, five fast pennies is better than one slow nickel. Thanks, Marcus Pierce

I think another, possibly more important, reason the conventions have been lackluster may be the choice of sites... No offense intended to the residents, but Texarkana and Wichita (or Portland and Kansas City for that matter) are not real high on most people's list for a vacation destination... And the conventions are about as close to a vacation as a lot of shoers get. The biggest farrier convention ever was at the Kentucky Horse Park, which most of us would've wanted to visit convention or no. Then there was the convention in Daytona... I mean, who wouldn't want to go to a Florida beach after shoeing horses in snow, ice, and mud for months?

I know the educational aspects of the conventions could be realized just as well in an old Red Army base in Siberia, but many look on the conventions as great social events and would like to go someplace nice for them. What do you guys say? -DAVE.

** Participating in the Forum **

The Forum will be distributed the 15th of every other month. All materials for an issue must be received by the first day of the month of publication. The Forum cannot take responsibility for materials sent in. If you would like something returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. You can send your print or 3.5 diskette submissions to the Forum through the mail to: Millwater Publishing P.O. Box 461, Locust, North Carolina, 28097, USA. Or you can send E-mail to: 71214.2340@compuserve.com. This paper exists as an avenue for communication for your benefit. We hope you will use it often and well!

** Upcoming CCBWFA Events **

February 8, 1996: The 1996 CCBWFA Awards Banquet will be held at the Meadowview Steak House. For more information call: Jeff Crane, CCBWFA President at (704) 843-1466

** Forum Advertising **

The following rates apply to all Forum ads with the exception of the CCBWFA membership application:

Full Page = $40.00
Half Page = $20.00
Quarter Page = $10.00
Eighth Page = $5.00

To purchase ad space, contact the CCBWFA Secretary at: 7101 New Town Road Waxhaw, North Carolina, 28173, or phone (704) 843-1466.

If your ad contains a picture, reproduction will be best if the image is black & white (not grayscale or color) on paper, or a Macintosh or PC graphic file on a 3.5 diskette. E-mailed graphic files or FAXed-in ads can also be arranged.

***Carolinas Chapter Membership Application Information***

Farriers - $20
Suppliers - $20
Veterinarians - $20
Associations - $20
Horse owners - $17
Trainers - $17
Youth Membership - $10

Please provide your: Name, Phone number, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Date of Birth, and Organizations of which you are a member.

Please make checks payable to: CCBWFA --send to-- Debi Crane, Secretary 7101 New Town Road Waxhaw, North Carolina, 28173, USA (704) 843-1466

1995 Fall Horse owner and Farrier Clinic, by Debbie Crane, CCBWFA Secretary.

On October 28, 1995, The Carolinas Chapter of the BWFA had their annual fall Free Horse owner and Farrier Clinic at New Salem Stables in New Salem, NC. We had a wonderful day and the clinic was GREAT! Dave Seay was featured at different times all day. Dave did demonstrations and worked a green horse for everyone to see. Everyone learned a lot and we wish to thank Dave for coming to our clinic. We had a lot of other great things that went on at the clinic. Dr. Smokey Puckett from Greenock Large Animal Hospital came and did a talk on poisonous plants. Jan Emore from Sport Horse Saddlery came and talked about saddle fitting a horse. Shirley Campbell of Equine Endeavors brought her Drill Team and they were all dressed up and ready for Halloween. Reannon Mullis of the Saddlemasters 4-H Club talked on the Lippizzaner Stallions. We also auctioned off a horseshoe lamp that was hand made for them to raise money to go to the EARS Workshop and to see the Lippizzaner Stallions in Raleigh.

El Escondite Paso Fino Horses came and did a demonstration on Paso Fino horses. These horses are incredible. It's amazing how they move but the rider just sits there. If you are interested in the Paso Fino Horse you should give them a call. Bobby Greene of Greene Meadow Trailers and Greene Meadow Farms came and talked about buying a safe trailer. Then she showed her Rocky Mountain Horses. Rocky Mountain Horses are new to the area and I think that everyone enjoyed seeing them and learning more about them.

We also had Steve Watkins a horse trainer and farrier from Missouri come to do a demonstration. Rita Miele-McGarry an Equine Dentist that is coming to the area talked about "Comparing Corrective Dentistry To A Normal Float Job".

Our breakfast and lunch was served by the Young Riders 4-H Club, with the proceeds going to their club. The clinic was a great success from the demonstrations to the raffle to the 4-H participation. And the CCBWFA wishes to thank everyone who helped to make the clinic a great success. Thank you!!!!

Pierce Farrier Supply: 1-800-452-2593. A family owned & operated farrier supply center. VISA & MC accepted. Address: 9705 Pierce Road Indian Trail, North Carolina 28079. Brands carried by Pierce Farrier Supply: Champion Titanium, St. Croix Forge, Kerckhaert, Iron Works, Dutchtown, JB Aluminum Horseshoes, Emerson, Anvil Brand, Victory, Cooper, Capewell, Mustad, Delta, Equilox, Level-It, DS Tools, GE Tools, W-Brand, Save-Edge, Simonds, Bellota, Castle Plastics, Inc., Thera-Flex, Sorbathane, and ShockTamer.

Why should you get involved with Emergency Animal Rescue Service? by: Debi Crane, EARS Coordinator, with contributions by Terri Crisp, EARS Director.

I would like to tell you about the Emergency Rescue Service (EARS) which is a Program of the United Animal Nations (UAN). First, though I want to ask you a question: Are you prepared to take care of your animals during a disaster? People have "safe havens" and our government to help them in a disaster, but who do the animals have? No one, until the EARS Program came along.

The EARS Program believes people have an obligation to animals during a disaster. We have domesticated these animals taking away their natural instincts to take care of themselves in a crisis. Here's where the EARS Program can help. The Program provides abandoned, injured, lost and confused animals medical attention, food/water, and comfort. Unclaimed animals are made available for adoption. For the animals whose owners are found but are unable to temporally care for them, foster care is provided at no cost to the owner. This program allows owners to get back on their feet and still keep the animals that they love.

On occasion, owners are able to take care of their animals during a disaster but they still may need some kind of assistance. For instance: the animals need some minor medical care, food or fresh water. The EARS Program provides these necessities. In order for the EARS Program to continue to provide these services they need your help. They have a supply list which people can contribute to or you can send money to purchase supplies. The most important thing that EARS Program needs is more volunteers. They are the program's greatest asset. The volunteers are what keeps things going.

So, if you want to help make a difference for animals during a disaster, get involved with EARS Program. The first step is to attend an EARS workshop. There is a registration fee for a full-day workshop. At the workshop you will learn all about what happens to animals during a disaster. You will also learn how to set up and maintain a Animal Disaster Relief Center. You will get volunteer information as what gear and clothing you'll need, insurance information and most important, what emotions you might experience during and after a disaster. You will come away from the workshop with the knowledge that will make a difference for animals, an often over looked victim of disasters. At the end of the workshop you will complete a volunteer application and receive your photo ID, the next time a disaster strikes near you, you will be called. It would be great if counties included animals in their disaster plans. The EARS Program is starting Town by town, county by county to get people to realize we have an obligation to take care of the animals. Hopefully we have this country prepared and then we can expand to other parts of the world.

Thank you for your time and please feel free to call me at (704)-843-1466 or leave a message on my voice mail at (704)-849-4815. You can also call Terri Crisp at (916)-429-2457.

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