Kudos to J. Michael Plumb, the 3-day rider who has represented the US in more Olympics than any other rider is being
inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame (the first equestrian so-honored) Watch the induction ceremnonies (of Mike
and others) on July 5, 2-3:30pm on NBC. They will include film clip highlights of the inductees' careers.
HOUSTON FARM HORSE TRIALS (July 27) regrets to announce that they must cancel their event this year.
Many things have conspired to make it just not possible. They hope to be back on the calendar for 2009!
SNOWFIELDS WORK DAYS - Wendy & Al will be working at Snowfields on Sundays starting July 13 and could really use help with painting this year... Can you wield a paint brush? Please contact them FMI wbellows@bigelow.org or 633-3809
WE NEED head-counts for the Caroline Atherholt Dowd and Cathy Weischoff clinics!
FMI see the CLINICS page...
There are still a few more openings for the MeCTA Young Rider Clinic! Go to Clinics FMI (closing date is extended)
Snowfields Horse Trials is coming up (Aug 9-10) your help is needed! Please click read more: SFVol
Sad news from the USEA: Theodore O'Connor, the "bionic pony" ridden by Karen O'Connor had to be humanely euthanized May 28 as a result of an injury sustained in an accident at Karen and David O'Connor's barn in The Plains, VA.
NEW RULES for USEA events, effective immediately. read more here> USEARules
Read Jim Wofford's thoughts on why there are more falls on XC (and what makes eventing so special): JW0508
click here for a sample to whet your appetite: JWquote
Print your own copy of the MeCTA Event or Clinics Posters!
NEW: Cathy Weischoff Clinic added to MeCTA clinic calendar, Aug 16-17! See CLINICS page FMI
Cross-Country obstacle builder Todd Richardson is coming to Maine! Read more here: ToddR08
Darren Chiacchia was badly injured in fall on XC at Red Hills Horse Trials, March 2008. Details and updates at the USEA site and Darren's site Wristbands to aid Darren's recovery are now available for $5.
The 2008 MeCTA HoofPix calendar is ready! FMI and ordering details click here> HPcal
Are you planning your horse's spring shots? Some information has just surfaced that will make you want to be sure to vaccinate for EEE and WNV. Read more here > vaccinations08
Virtual Course Walks are up for Foxcroft and Snowfields Horse Trials! Check them out from the Omnibus page.
Organizers, you can have this for your event, too. Contact the webmaster FMI.
Philip Dutton Eventing Camps in West Grove, PA! June & Sept 2008. FMI> PDCamp
Look for show photos on some of the results pages! (have some you'd like to share? Contact the webmaster)
We love our TAs!! Want to know more about the Technical Advisor program? Check out the TA section on the Rules+Info page. Want to help? Contact TA co-ordinator Caroline Ring (farmgirl@gwi.net)
To submit your own question(s) to the TAs, go to RULES+INFO, TA Info, TA Q&A, and click on "Real Questions"
Help for Organizers, Secretaries and Scorers: now available on the RULES+INFO page.
These documents are designed to help you get your event off to a great start and finish. Check them out!
YEAR END POINTS - we keep running totals of Year End points on the web now.
To make this work, you MUST be sure to use the same name for you and your horse(s) when you enter each event! To check your scores, click on the link at the top of this page and view a page that will be updated as scores come in. Remember, you can only earn points if you are a MeCTA member at the time you competed!
Please direct all questions to the webmaster.
A MUST READ for all eventers: Denny Emerson's "Guide to some Unwritten Rules for Eventing" click here: Denny
EEE, EWE & West Nile viruses are still out there, a danger to your horses and to YOU!
Mosquitoes are the carriers. Be sure your horses are vaccinated.
Want to find out more about the human infections? Read here: MaineCDC-ha
Please remember that ALL that MeCTA does is done by volunteers. These people all have jobs, horses, families, lives of their own, yet somehow manage to find time to keep a full suite of activities and information before our members.
Have YOU offered to help? It would be appreciated!!
Did You Know...
- The USEA (US Eventing Association) - www.useventing.com and the USEF (US Equestrian Federation) www.USEF.org . are the governing bodies for Eventing in the USA.
- The USEA requires that all Novice Competitors be members of USEA. Only Beginner Novice competitors may pay non-member fees. (this applies only to USEA events, of course)
- While USEA stadium rounds are timed, many MeCTA events do not time stadium. The penalty points for an untimed MeCTA stadium round are: Refusals: 14 points, Fall of Rider: 38 points, Rail down: 4 points.
- At USEA events now a rider is eliminated after their first fall in Stadium (used to be after 2 falls). Competitors at Training and below will be eliminated after 3 refusals, while Prelim and above get only 2 refusals.
In Cross-Country, the total number of refusals allowed on course is now 4 (used to be 5). FMI: USEAnews
- Medical Armband Forms are required at all USEA events. Look for the forms (free from USEA) at www.useventing.com look under Resource: Forms) and available at many USEA events. You can purchase the armband itself ($10 from USEA and select tack stores). Be sure you have your own. You will be fined $100 if you are caught wearing someone else's medical card!!
- Protective body vests are required during the cross country phase of all sanctioned USEA events. Protective headgear, meeting or exceeding ASTM/SEI standards with harness securely fastened is required when jumping ANY obstacle at ANY level of eventing.
- You may carry a whip in your dressage test, even at most USEA Championship competitions. See the USEA Rules for specifics.
- Because MeCTA is an Affiliate CTA, you can become a Subscribing Member for just $22 (a 15% discount). You get a membership card, decal, and, best of all, a subscription to Eventing USA magazine where there’s always lots of interesting articles, and up-to-date information. Contact the USEA!
- That there is Disaster Planning for Horses and Livestock in the state of Maine?
SMART, the State of Maine Animal Response Team is there to help! If you need help planning for your animals
Want to know what's going on at the MeCTA Meetings? See Meeting Highlights (also via the MISC page)
Next meeting July 8, 7pm at UMA Student Tech Center, Augusta. June meeting highlights now posted
Room 218 - see meeting highlights for details.
Please check back here often for the latest news...
