COMING SOON: Toys Are Given Away At Chiefland's Distribution of Toys For Tots

Two Volunteers

USMC (Ret.) Sgt. Bill Cummings and his wife Maxine Cummings were some of the volunteers whose family members also helped Tuesday (Dec. 17) in Trenton. The Cummings couple were jined by many other volunteers who delivered gifts to more than 400 children in Gilchrist County. For more photos and the whole story, please visit the COMMUNITY PAGE.
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison

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Highly Decorated Moon

Hours after the unmanned Chang'e 3 space probe touched down on the moon, China's 'Jade Rabbit' moon rover began to explore the lunar soil this past weekend. While this picture is not enlarged enough to see the Chinese robot, it does show a view of the moon through an ornament on Hathaway Avenue (U.S. Alt. 17) in Bronson near the Dogan Cobb Municipal Building on Monday night (Dec. 16) just before the start of the Bronson Town Council, which began at 7 p.m. Colorful lighted ornaments decorate Hathaway Avenue, which is one of the main roads through the seat of government for Levy County. As for the moon, China's space program heralds it as becoming the third country to complete a lunar soft landing - which does not damage the craft and the equipment it carries - after the United States and the former Soviet Union. The first human-made object to reach the surface of the Moon was the Soviet Union's Luna 2 mission, on Sept. 13, 1959. The United States' Apollo 11 mission marked the first manned mission to land on the moon on July 20, 1969. There have been six manned U.S. landings (between 1969 and 1972) and numerous unmanned landings on the moon. There were no soft landings happening from 1976 until Dec. 14, when China touched down with its vessel named for the mythical god of the moon, and its rover. The actual full moon of December is tonight (Dec. 17). It will rise at 4:35 p.m., reaches fullness at 4:28 a.m. and sets at 7:16 a.m. EST, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory. The full moon of December is also named the Cold Moon, the Long Night Moon and the Moon Before Yule. In this photograph on the night before it becomes full, the moon over Bronson on Monday night is tagged 'Highly Decorated Moon.'
Photo by Jeff M Hardison

Roofers Volunteer

Roofers are seen working on a house in Chiefland on Monday (Dec. 16). These men and many other volunteered to help two families by repairing roofs without cost.
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison
For the Story and More Photos
Please visit the COMMUNITY PAGE

N. American Endurance Ride
heralds a first for
Black Prong Equestrian Center

The splendor of the opening ceremonies is breathtaking.
Photo by Bill Kilborn

By Jeff M. Hardison © Dec. 13, 2013
     LEVY COUNTY -- For the first time in recorded history, the countries of Canada, Mexico and the United States of America have teams competing in a particular four-star FEI event at Black Prong Equestrian Center, which is bordered by Goethe State Forest.
      The North American Endurance Team Challenge included about 80 registrations from an international field of riders.
     Riders are participating individually and are on teams from the United States (five teams), Canada (two teams), Mexico, Colombia, Chili, Great Britain, Italy, Qatar and Romania. The opening ceremony was at 4 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 11).

Among the most famous Canadian Endurance riders -- Nancy Beacon (left) -- goes on a mission Friday afternoon (Dec. 13) as Alycin Hayes, a musician and horse enthusiast from Gainesville, assists the organizer from Canada. Beacon said the Canadians have been preparing for this ride since April.
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison

     The ride started Friday Dec. 13, and the last rider must be back by Saturday morning at 1 a.m.

All of the horses are thoroughly checked by veterinarians in addition to being given water and a little rest during mandatory holds between loops. The welfare of the horses is a primary consideration in the sport of endurance riding.
Photo by Bill Kilborn

      Helen Koehler, the ride organizer and the essential founder of endurance rides in Goethe Forest, said the FEI event is part of the U.S. Equestrian Federation's preparation for the World Equestrian Games, which are slated to be in Normandy, France in 2014.

Kimberly Woolley riding Schakka Khan and Wendy Benns riding Flirt With Fyre, both from Canada East Team.

     Fédération Équestre Internationale (commonly known as the FEI) or in English, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports, is the organization that oversees international events like this. FEI headquarters are in Switzerland.
     The opening ceremony was led by Spanish Conquistador re-enactors, a group of Florida cowboys and mounted Goethe State Forest rangers, all on Florida Cracker Horses. This opening ceremony reflects part of the Viva Florida 500 celebration in recognition of 500 years since Ponce de Leon discovered Florida.
     Koehler said she was glad to see the Cracker Horses getting along with the horses used for the endurance ride.
 
Eric Rueter of Lenoir City, Tenn., accepts results from Jill Heppleston of Jupiter, Fla., to post on the Leader Board.
Photo by Jeff M. Hardison

    This endurance ride consists of a 100-mile journey through 15- and 20-mile loops in the Goethe State Forest with stops for refreshments and health exams every loop. As one endurance enthusiast said, the welfare of the horse is paramount.
     The riders average a speed of about 14 m.p.h. during the ride that started at 7 a.m. on Friday, and they must finish by 1 a.m. on Saturday, 18 hours.
     Some horses were taken out of the competition, because after veterinarians tested them, the vets decided to take them out.
      Many of the horses were not transported to the Black Prong Equestrian Center from other countries. They were leased to be ridden from United States interests by people representing those other countries in the competition.
      In addition to the United States, Canada and Mexico as the North American competitors, riders who represented Great Britain, Qatar, Romania, Italy, Colombia and Chile participated as individuals in the FEI-sanctioned event.
     Competitors and interested onlookers enjoyed a new dimension. A giant leader board showed placement during the ride. Eric Rueter of Lenoir, Tenn., designed the program to show how teams and individual riders were performing in the ride.
     Helping bring veteran riders and novices together from the 15 Canadians, with 11 on Canada East and four on Canada West, was Nancy Beacon – the first recipient ever of Endurance Canada’s All of Fame Award.
     Yvette Minton and Wendy MacCoubrey of Levy County are also of Canada and they were among the riders. Bob Gielen of Levy County is a rider representative of Levy County who was riding for Canada.

The big screen leader board

     The top person who has been at the forefront of bringing endurance riding into Mexico is Mary Jane Gagnier, said Robin Schadt of Chicago, a member of the support team for Mexico’s riders. Not only is Gagnier the organizer for this team, but she is a rider as well. She and her son Gabriel Gagnier and Mariana Guzman are the riders for Mexico in this North American race.
     “Some people forget that Mexico is part of North America,” Mary Jane Gagnier said.
     Schadt said Gagnier has been tireless in her efforts to have more Mexican riders participate in the sport of endurance rides.
     All of the North Americans – from the United States, Mexico and Canada appeared to be having fun while focusing like laser beams on what needed to be done for the horses and riders.
     Participants who arrived early before the Wednesday opening ceremonies were treated to a trip to Cedar Key by the Levy County Visitors Bureau.
     Levy County Tourist Development Director Carol McQueen said Koehler has brought this sport to Levy County.
     “One of the most exciting things for me during the opening ceremonies on Wednesday, “McQueen said, “was the number of international visitors who are here for this event.”
     This event is good for tourism, she added.
     “I believe a lot of these people will be returning here, not just for horses,” McQueen said. “This is their first experience of North Florida. It gives them a different perspective of Florida. When people from other countries think of Florida, they often picture only South Florida with large attractions.
     “For them to see the Goethe State Forest,” she added, “with the hardwood trees, they are seeing nature at its best. Many of them might be amazed that Florida is so diverse.”

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