Environmental Award Being Offered

HARTFORD – The Horse Environmental Awareness Program (HEAP) is now accepting applications for its 2005 Horse Farms of Environmental Distinction award program.

This program honors those horse owners who own one or more horses and who take pride in being good stewards of the land and good neighbors to those who share our common water resources. Horse owners that qualify for the award are those who implement good manure, pasture and facility management practices. Practices such as covering manure piles, diverting rain water away from barnyards, installing fencing to keep horses out of ponds and streams, utilizing a sacrifice area, installing gutters on barns, and testing pasture soils.

Judges will review the practices being implemented on the farm and provide a score based on how these practices decrease or eliminate impacts to the environment. If a qualifying score is achieved, the horse owner will receive an attractive, aluminum Horse Farm of Environmental Distinction sign to proudly display at their farm.

Those that do not receive a qualifying score will receive recommendations on how to improve their horse keeping operation to help protect the environment with encouragement to re-apply the following year.

The HEAP program is a coalition of agencies, organizations and individuals focused on environmental education. It has no regulatory authority and its only interest is to protect the environment by educating horse owners on how to improve their horse management practices.

Deadline for applications is April 2. To learn more about the program contact carol.donzella@ct.usda.gov or call Mark Cummings at 203-284-3663.

Senior Horse Care Lecture

WATERBURY – The Equine Resources Committee at Post University in Waterbury will host the second in the Spring series of Quiz The Experts lecture series on Friday, March 4, at 7:15 pm.

Margaret Brosnahan, DVM, will speak on Senior Horse Care – a very important subject to many horse owners. Horses live longer because of advances in feeding and veterinary care throughout their lives, so it is very important to fully understand their specialized requirements as they get older.

Some of the areas that will be covered include housing, dietary needs, exercise, health issues and how to deal with all of these considerations. Much of the information is important for horses of any age, but being informed on the best preventative care and what to expect will help owners plan how to keep their horses healthy, happy and productive now and as he grows older.

The lecture will be on the ‘lower’ campus in the Drubner Center, Room 201 on the second floor at the top of the stairs. The building is on Route 63, just south of exit 17 off I-84, and will be clearly signed. Tickets are available for the price of $6 in advance or $10 at the door (Post students free).

There will also be lectures on April 1 (Matthew Eliott, DVM, on Digestive Disorders) and April 22 (Mike Scott on Correct Saddle Fitting). To reserve seats, make checks payable to Post U-ERC and send to Carole Baker at Post University, P.O. Box 2540, Waterbury, CT 06723-2540.

Proceeds benefit equine scholarships and the equine program at Post. For further information, call 203-596-4631 or email CBaker@post.edu.

Greyhound Meet And Greet

BROOKFIELD – Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation will hold a Meet And Greet on Saturday, March 12, from 10 am to 3 pm, at PETCO in Brookfield (169 Federal Road).

Potential adopters can get acquainted with rescued racers and learn more about adopting a greyhound. For further information, call 1-914-763-2221.

To learn more about Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation, visit www.greyhoundrescuerehab.org or wwww.petfinder.com/ shelters/NY136.html on the internet. All dogs adopted from Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation are eligible for one month of free pet insurance, courtesy of Petfinder.com.

Second Company Seeking New Members

NEWTOWN – 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.

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.

‘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.