Second Company Seeking New Members

The Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard is accepting applications for new riding and non-riding members interested in joining one of the oldest, continuously serving cavalry units in the country.

New recruit classes begin in April and October and riding or military experience is not required.

Prospective members interested in joining the spring or fall sessions must be at least 18 and in good physical condition. Spring and fall sessions last 24 weeks (April 16 through September 29 or October 8 through April 4, 2006). Recruit training consists of military drill and ceremony, cavalry horsemanship, and horse care.

Downloadable applications are available at www.thehorseguard.com or can be acquired during drills on Sunday’s between 10 am and 2 pm at the horse guard headquarters located across from the Old Fairfield Hospital on 4 Wildlife Drive in Newtown.

“We have active members in the guard who travel from across all parts of Connecticut so we invite anyone interested to join us,” said CPL Christine Johnson, spokesperson. Those interested are encouraged to act quickly, as space is limited in both sessions.

Applications for the spring session must be completed and returned no later than February 27.   Prospects interested in joining are welcome to visit the Second Company Governor’s Horse Guard Recruit Open House on February 12, beginning at 10 am.

Chartered in 1808, the Second Company is one of four state active, militia units in Connecticut with 32 horses and 40 active members. Troopers participate in parades, events, are provided with professional riding instructions and enjoy the freedom to ride on their own time.

For more information contact SSG Paul Mazzara, 203.410.7334.

Dog Obedience Short Course

DANBURY – The Fairfield County 4-H program will conduct a five-week Dog Obedience Short Course starting Saturday, February 5, at Wags Doggie Day Camp & Boarding, LLC, in Danbury.

Abby Hill of Exceptional Pet, LLC, will conduct the program and classes will include basic obedience; proper interactions with humans and strange dogs; coping with behavior problems; teaching your dog tricks; and basic dog care.

Any youth ages 9 to 15 is eligible to participate. Enrollment is limited and registration is required. Call 203-207-8440 for further information and registration materials.

Animal Center Joins Petfinder

TUCSON, Arizona – The Animal Center, Inc., of Newtown recently joined Petfinder.com, the oldest and largest online database of homeless pets. The site currently has more than 160,000 homeless pets listed … and is updated daily.

Betsy Saul, president and co-founder of Petfinder.com said people often drive long distances to get the pet they want. “But it also makes finding a nearby pet easier, too,” she added. “All the information is right there on the computer and potential adopters can search their local shelter from the comfort of their home.”

Petfinder.com was created in 1996 as a grassroots project by Jared and Betsy Saul to end the euthanasia of adoptable pets. Last year, the site helped 1.5 million pets find new families.

Check out www.petfinder.com/shelters/CT249.html to view pets at the Animal Center, Inc.

Course In Equine Husbandry

WATERBURY – For credit courses in Equine Husbandry are being offered at Post University in Waterbury.

The courses can be taken in any order and are open to anyone interested – no pre-requisites are required. They will run for eight weeks (three hours a night, one night per week in the evening) and can earn CEU credits or be for personal enrichment.

The third unit in the program – Equine Anatomy – wil  start on Tuesday, February 15 for eight weeks until April 19. The classes run from 6:30 - 9:20 pm on the Waterbury Campus in the Drubner Center.

It can be fairly easy to find someone to teach you riding, but much harder to acquire the knowledge to keep a horse in top condition. This series of courses will address this need as they cover the necessary information horse owners require to take care of horses efficiently.

Equine Anatomy will cover the basic structure and function of the horse from the skeleton to the skin, the major organs including the heart and lungs, the digestive and muscular systems and other important functions that keep the horse healthy.

Other courses will be offered in Stable Management II, Equine Health, and Horse Ownership during 2005.

To earn CEU credits the cost is $500. To audit the course, the cost is $350. To register, or for more information, call the Equine Department at Post University at (203) 596-4631 or e-mail CBaker@post.edu.

‘For The Horse’ Two-Day Workshop

OLD LYME – High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, Inc., will present a two-day workshop entitled “For The Horse” on Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24, at High Hopes in Old Lyme.

Topics will be presented by veterinarians, farriers, and other specialists and will include Natural Horsemanship-Monty Roberts Method; Horse Behavior-Parelli Method; driving; vaulting; chiropractic and acupuncture; reproduction; hoof care; saddle fitting; animal communication; massage and trigger point myotherapy; and desensitizing the horse.

Call Kristin Pernal at High Hopes at 1-860-434-1974, ext. 18 for further information.