November 12th, 2023

Breeding Season is Coming

Breeding season is right around the corner and with that comes a lot of decisions to make in order to keep everything running smoothly. One choice mare owners consider carefully is stallion selection. Over the next couple months, The Vanner Banner will be sharing tips on stallion selection to help breeders with stallion choices to create their dream foal!

We encourage our GVHS breeders to advertise their stallions and their breeding programs in The Vanner Banner. This advertising is open to all GVHS breeders, small and large and is designed to give your programs the attention they deserve. It's an attractive, affordable option for everyone!

Stallion, Breeder, and Breeding Product Spotlight ads are featured in Week Two of the Vanner Banner each month!

Also, be sure to start thinking about the breeding and foaling topics you would like to write about for the 2024 edition of The Vanner magazine. Don't be afraid to delve into the science with informative articles! Article submissions are being accepted now. Now is a great time to sit and write before breeding season begins, and we can get a great head start to making the 2024 edition absolutely epic!

Stallion Spotlight

Westmoreland Copper Coin

2009 GVHS Bay Tobiano Stallion: GV01659F1

Sire: Westmoreland The Lottery Horse

Dam: Westmoreland Fancy

Frozen evaluated semen of Westmoreland Copper Coin is available with guarantee of foal based on proper insemination and healthy female to qualified registered mares. Contact Ellen Elizabeth Myers for more information!

Ellen Elizabeth Myers - (631) 553-2530

ejmyers@me.com

Stallion Spotlight

CKB Highfield Grand as OWT

14.2H, Black Sabino Pssm & FIS Neg

GVHS 5 Star Stallion

Legion Hall of Fame

2021 & 2022 GVHS Horse of the Year

More Information Here

Stallion Spotlight

Starfire's The Five Card Stud

15.3 Chestnut with Agouti Pssm & FIS Neg

GVHS Hall of Fame 5 Star Stallion

Sire of TWO Legion Hall of Fame inductees and Numerous National Champions

More Information Here

Have Issues Getting FedEx to Reimburse Your Claim for Lost or Delayed Semen Shipments?

FedEx... every stallion owners bain of existence.

FedEx can be difficult to manage when shipping semen. Lost or delayed shipments can cause issues very quickly and result in angry mare owners, missed ovulations, and disapointment. Here's a few tips to file a successful claim with Fed Ex to get reimbursed.

Insure Your Shipment. Fed Ex will reimburse shipments up to $1500 in value. Keep your insured value at $1500 or less for easy reimbursement.

Upload an Invoice Showing Shipping and Collection Paid

When you go to file your claim, you need to upload an invoice that shows the shipping and collection fee fee as paid by the mare owner. This step helps to ensure you will get reimbursed. Many stallion stations fail to do this and the claim gets rejected by FedEx.

If the Shipment was Delayed, Be Sure to Notate That the Product is Live Animal Semen That is Perishable in 24 Hours When You File Your Claim

This is the secret to getting reimbursed for those pesky delayed shipments that still get delivered late. FedEx likes to argue that the product was still delivered. However, if it's late, the semen quality drops exponentially, and depending on how late, is usually dead or close to it, or just no longer viable due to the capacitation process of semen. You must state on the claim that the shipment contained live animal semen that is perishable within 24 hours.

Keep in mind that there ARE things FedEx flat refuses to reimburse, such as weather delays. These are considered an act of God and Fed Ex will not approve a claim if a shipment is lost or delayed due to weather.

In the past three breeding seasons, I have personally filed more than 43 FedEx claims. I have been reimbursed for all but one, which was weather related. This process works, and allows stallion owners to offer a secondary shipment to accommodate the mare owner without asking the mare owner to come out of pocket, or coming out of pocket yourself. It's just Good Business Practice! While we cannot control all the variables, we can make it a little less frustrating for the mare owners by doing our due dilgence when FedEx lets us down.

5 Questions to Ask Stallion Owners Before Booking A Breeding

1. Request a copy of any genetic testing that has been performed as well as any

semen evaluation reports if available. Stallion owners should also provide you

with verification of the stallion’s registration with GVHS in addition to their GVHS

evaluation information if they have been evaluated.

2. Ask for a fee schedule for collection and shipping as well as their collection day

schedule, cut off times for ordering, how their LFG (Live Foal Guarantee) works if

one is offered, etc.

3. Ask for pictures and/or video of past foals the stallion has sired along with any

show/performance records if available.

4. Ask the stallion owner what they feel their stallion’s strengths are as well as what

they would change about him if they could. No stallion is perfect just as no mare

is perfect. The goal with breeding is to improve upon the sire and the dam and

this can only happen when strengths and weaknesses are considered and

properly complimented.

5. Ask the stallion owner when their breeding season opens and closes each year,

can a breeding be rolled over to the following season if needed, what is their

policy on transferring the breeding to another mare if something happens to the

mare listed on the contract, etc.

Communication is the key to any successful transaction and knowing the questions to

ask will help to set you up for success!

Breeding Product Spotlight

Used by top stallion owners to support healthy motility and concentration of stallion semen.

Purchase Equinety for Your Stallion

New Adjusted GVHS Regions

Due to growth of the organization, the GVHS regions have been adjusted, and some added, to better serve the GVHS members, Gypsy Vanner owners and the organization.

A representative from each region will be needed to serve on an Advisory Council to the Board of Directors. These representatives are important to make sure all are represented and can bring in ideas to grow membership, create programs and keep the organization growing for the future.

Regional Championship Shows are being planned to add to the show opportunities. Any comments or suggestions in planning and development please contact gvhs@vanners.org

Upcoming Shows

January 11th - 12th - Florida Feathered Horse Classic 1 - Jacksonville, FL

GVHS Points Qualified Show Judges: Colleen Martin, Susan Bragg

January 13th - 14th - Florida Feathered Horse Classic 2 - Jacksonville, FL

GVHS Points Qualified Show Judges: Karen Iversen, Nancy Swarm

Don't forget GVHS Evaluations on January 10th! Make sure you are registered!

GVHS Evaluations - SIGN UP TODAY!!!

January 10, 2024 – Jacksonville, FL -prior to the FHC show

Fill Out an Evaluation Form

Show managers be sure to get your show applications submitted to GVHS for the 2024 schedule. Click on the photo below to view the current list of 2024 GVHS Points Approved Shows.

Annual Meeting

It's time to start planning now for the GVHS Annual Meeting!

Location:

Doubletree by Hilton Tampa Rocky Point Waterfront

3050 N. Rocky Point Drive West, Tampa, FL 3360

Event Dates:

February 23-25, 2024

Deadline to book your room at the hotel at the discount is January 1st

BOOK YOUR ROOM AT THE HOTEL

Schedule of Events:

Friday February 23rd -

8 AM – Board Meeting and Committee Meetings

1 PM - Business Seminar (Legal/CPA/Insurance)

Breed Partners

6 PM – 10 PM Reception

Saturday February 24th -

8 AM – 11 AM – Membership Meeting

1 AM - Clinics (Driving, Showing in Hand, Ranch, Western, English, Dressage)

6 PM – 10 PM - Dinner and Awards Presentation

Sunday February 25th –

8 AM – 9:30 Youth Contests Click HERE for information to enter

9:30 - Breeders Clinic

Health Clinic

Deadline to register with the GVHS to attend is February 1st. Click the button below to register to attend now.

REMINDERS

2023 Important Election Dates:

December 13, 2023 – final date to vote

December 15, 2023 – Directors will vote for 2024 Officers

The Voting process is now in full swing to fill 2 Director positions for the terms January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2026.

The electronic voting system sends out the information weekly to those who are qualified voters and have not yet voted.

If you are a qualified voter and have not received your email link to vote, check your spam folder first, then contact the GVHS at gvhs@vanners.org

GVHS Customer Portal

You can create and access your account through the new GVHS portal. Be sure to use the link on the website or the one below.

If it is your first time to access the new system you need to choose the New Customer option. Your old login and password from the old system will not work.

Be sure to use the email address on file with the GVHS.

Access the New Customer Portal

Happening This Coming Saturday, November 18th

PSSM/EPSM CLINIC WITH DR. BETH VALENTINE

November 18, 2023 at 1PM EST

During this online clinic, Dr. Beth Valentine will discuss PSSM/EPSM, its symptoms, and best-known treatment practices, chat about conflicting PSSM/EPSM opinions, share her research findings, and answer all our questions throughout the program.

Mark your calendar to attend!

A link for the event will be provided to GVHS members.

Spotlight Your Stallion, Breeding Program, Horses For Sale or Services in The Vanner Banner for $25

You asked and we listened! The new Vanner Banner advertising is designed to spotlight and enhance the programs and services of all GVHS members, small and large at an affordable price point and a targeted audience! Each month follows the same schedule.

· Week 1: Training and other GVHS related services, such as PEMF Therapy, Chiropractic Care, and more!

Week 2: Stallion, Breeders, and Breeding Product Spotlights

Week 3: GVHS Horses For Sale

Upcoming Submission Deadlines for The Vanner Banner Advertising

Advertising in The Vanner Banner will be available upon a weekly basis, for weeks 1-3. Advertising spots will not be available during week 4 due to the content-heavy nature of that week’s newletter.

November 16th, 2023 - Material for week three advertising due by 5pm EST (GVHS Horses For Sale Advertisements).

November 30th, 2023 - Material for week one advertising due by 5PM EST (Training & Other GVHS Related Services Advertisements).

Photos, Video Links, URL links, and information should be submitted by 5 PM Eastern Standard Time on the Thursday of the week prior to that you wish to advertise to stallionflyers@gmail.com

Purchase Vanner Banner Advertising