Pennsylvania Equine Council Youth

The PEC has been invited to participate in the 50th Annual Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Show, October 23-25, 2009. The show will be held at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. PEC had a booth at this event last year and sponsored an ad in the show catalog.

The Equine Education Station is set to go to Ag Progress Days and the York and the Mini Booth will be in McKean County on the 30th of May, at the Delaware Valley Expo on November 1st and at the Lehigh Valley Expo on November 21st.

Thanks to Brynn Kepler for her assistance as the PEC PDA Representative. The health regulations for horses at shows and events now only apply to shows that are held in conjunction with state sponsored fairs.

Thanks to Laura the PEC Website forYouth is up! Natalie is coordinating an email contact list and there is an article coming out in the next newsletter to get the word out about what the youth committee is doing and how youth can be involved. A Youth facebook group and/or Twitter account are planned. A fact sheet or page called ?So, what does this mean?? was discussed. This will help provide information for youth in a user friendly format.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Pennsylvania-Equine-Council-Youth/81360765753?ref=ts

Equine Liability Signs are still available through PEC from Sandie Forster. Ordering information is on the PEC website.

The meeting of the State Horse Council Advisory Committee will take place in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Equine Council Annual Meeting in November. Excellent information, fun and great company! Teens are welcome!

In his report of the Equine Welfare Committee (formerly the unwanted Horse Committee), Skip Seifert spoke with Rep. Gillespie to consider initiating an Equine Caucus in PA. A caucus is, by definition, “a group of people, often within a larger group such as a legislative assembly, who unite to promote a particular policy of particular interest.” Junior Senator Lloyd Smucker is interested as he is a polo player. Skip will approach Senator Waugh to establish an Equine Caucus in the legislature and they could initiate an “Equine Development Initiative” to help fund equine related activities and education through PEC. Ben volunteered to speak with Kerry Golden.

The American Horse Council’s Unwanted Horse Coalition will be meeting in June to address educational efforts for addressing the problem with unwanted horses in the US. The PVMA group has been meeting to attempt to unify and establish self regulation of some of the horse rescues and the US Senate Bill S 311 is now S 727. Montana has passed a law that protects any individual or corporation who wants to start a horse processing plant there. Wyoming and Tennessee are also reputed to support processing. Valley protein has terminated equine processing in PA.

The current newsletter will be coming out shortly and an e- directory will be launched by Ag Progress Days, (August).

There is no new information on the Equine Development Initiative at this time but Brandon Lebo will accompany anyone going to visit legislators. Skip will see Senator Waugh in early June, Kerry Golden should also be approached and Sen. Brubaker needs to be contacted by someone in his area. The goal of the Equine Development Initiative will help provide funding for equine educational projects and promotion and protection of the Pennsylvania equine industry.

Bud Wills, Jeanne Askey and Ann Swinker have been appointed to the Equine Commodities Board of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA). Bud and Gwen Wills also sit on the governors PA Outdoor Recreation Plan 2009- 2013.

Youth and youth groups who want to learn about horse trails and trail stewardship in Pennsylvania are needed. Do you want to know more about proper use and care of horse trails or help with trails projects in your area? If so, please contact Bud or Gwen Wills for information about proper procedures and contacts for public land managers in your area. Information about trails and contact information for Bud and Gwen is on the PEC website.

Hello!  This is Laura Killian, the Youth Representative.  Since the Pennsylvania Equine Council Youth program is reorganizing and taking on a new format we need ideas so that this program will meet all of our youth members needs.

Please feel free to post any ideas about what you would like PEC youth to do for you or how you would like to help give back to the equine community.

- Laura