Downeast Medal Finals - Newsletter CORRECTION - All classes may be run twice through 8/15!

Downeast Medal Finals

August 2023

Downeast Medal Finals

September 14-17, 2023

Visit our website for more information about Downeast. We welcome all feedback and suggestions: please email Ginger at ginger@downeastmedalfinals.com

Message from the President

Wow, it is August already! We are only 45 days away from seeing everyone in Skowhegan to celebrate 15 years of DMF! We are looking forward to this year’s show.

Sponsors, we need your ads please, if you have any questions just contact ginger@downeastmedalfinals.com.

A great way to support the show is by placing an ad in the program. Congratulate your rider, promote your business, or just wish everyone a great show. Any ads are greatly appreciated. All information can be found under the Ad tab on the website. We are headed to print soon so please be sure to get us the ads soon.

The prizelist has been posted on the homepage. You will find the entry blank, stall form, camper form and all class descriptions there. The entries close 8/15 (must be post marked 8/15). Please be sure to completely fill out all forms or we won’t be able to accept them. Checks must accompany all stall reservations please, as well as your entries (a blank check can be attached to your entry blank). Please remember to contact McCarthy Enterprises for all of your shavings, stall mats, and hay, well in advance of your arrival, so that they can have everything at your stalls. Payment must be arranged through them as there is no way to pay on grounds.

We want everyone to know that even if you are not qualified for Sunday, you can still show on Friday and Saturday and enjoy the fun of DMF!

PLEASE NOTE: DMF qualifying classes may be run twice at all shows until 8/15.

All qualified riders: If your name appears in RED on our points page, that means that we need your mailing address in order to get your qualification letter and medal to you. Please send your information to katie@downeastmedalfinals.com.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have. Happy Riding!!

-Ginger

Downeast Farrier - Jorgensen's Farriery

Downeast would like to welcome our new horse show farrier, Dashiell Jorgensen, owner of Jorgensen's Farriery! Let's learn about Dashiell:

"I started trimming horses at Sterling College in Craftsbury, VT, while I went to school for Draft Animal Management. I started my career trimming draft horses at our school and working under my teacher, who had been a farrier for 15 years. I decided to expand my skills as a farrier after I graduated by going to Cornells farrier school, which is in conjunction with their veterinarian school. I decided to move back to Maine, where I was able to work with multiple farriers while I built my business.

I enjoy my daily work and the challenge of working on new and complicated cases. I go to as many clinics as I can indoors to build up more skills to bring back to my clients and better help their horses. I'm currently studying for the American Farrier Association exam and the International Association of Professional Farriers exam. My goal is to become a journeyman one day."

Four Myths About Strangles Debunked

By ELIZA R.L. MCGRAW

Myth #1: S. equi is Invincible

Not true, says longtime strangles researcher John Timoney, PhD, FRCVS, University of Kentucky Keeneland Professor of Infectious Diseases. “That the organism survives and that pastures and farms that have strangles are at risk of recurrences are myths,” he says. “It survives for days or for weeks if frozen. It’s a very poor survivor in the environment. It competes poorly with other bacteria and lives for hours or days, not weeks or months.” Thus, a farm that has gone through a strangles outbreak is not forever sullied. Months later, when all infected horses have recovered and nasal swabs are negative for S. equi, the soil and surroundings are no longer contaminated from that original outbreak.

If strangles does visit your farm, you still want to exercise vigilance about decontamination practices and isolating sick animals because the bacterium is readily carried from horse to horse. Tom Kranz, owner of Longacres Farm in East Aurora, N.Y., took extreme care to contain the disease when a 21-year-old camp pony named Brownie returned from his winter hiatus in Ohio carrying a brewing infection. Brownie was stabled in the isolation barn and cared for by a single staff member, who removed her shoes and donned designated rubber boots before entering the stable. Avoiding all direct contact with Brownie, she fed him, then removed the boots as she exited the stable and put on her shoes. The precaution reduced the likelihood of her tracking the bacteria to other areas of the farm. Finally, Brownie’s caretaker disinfected herself, showered and changed clothes before going back to work at the main barn.

Find the other myths and read the rest of the article here.

If you are a Downeast Medal Finals winner or rode at DMF 2022, we would like to feature you! Send your bio and picture to ginger@downeastmedalfinals.com

StoneyBrook Landscaping & Masonry

Thank you to StoneyBrook Landscaping for sponsoring the Downeast Medal Finals!

A family-owned business, StoneyBrook Landscaping and Masonry provides a full range of custom landscape and hardscape services. We focus on landscape design, construction and gardening, and offer a wide variety of specialty services including installation of stone walls, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, walkways, patios, gardens, trees and lawns. Our work perfectly blends and integrates existing natural landscape elements into new and innovative designs. Stoney Brook’s emphasis is on quality of work and commitment to customer service and detail. We are proud of our great list of references and our work can be seen throughout the seacoast community. Contact us today to see how we can turn your landscape and hardscape dreams into reality.