Hoofin' It North Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007


Fair Skies
Purebred, dual-registered, Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats from top-notch milking and showing lines

All I Saw Farm
Tuscaurora (Bourbon Red) Turkeys, Muscovy Ducks, Freedom Ranger Meat Chickens, Varied Layer Chickens, and Farm Fresh Eggs - coming soon!

A few of our favorite things
Links to suggested sites and invaluable resources

Connect, make a difference
Information on joining our discussion group & networking resources, Care2, and Alaskan freebie & recycling groups

Wheel & Deal
Items for sale or trade in Alaska

Protect your kids, animals
How well do you know your 4H leader, horse trainer, instructor, mentor, child care provider, farrier, veterinarian, or other equine practitioner?

 

 

Give while you shop! Please click on the iGive icon to the right  iGive - shop online and support AER (or any other cause) at the same time!
to continue to help AER (or any other cause of your choosing)
while shopping online!

 

 
 

Get the facts

Please check back often to see what other wonderful sites we've discovered for sharing!  Refresh this page each time you visit so you are sure to see all the new updates! Use CTRL-F5 to force your computer to load the latest version.


 

How well do you know your 4H leader, horse trainer, instructor, mentor, child care provider, farrier, vet, or other equine professional?

We at Hoofin' It North believe that you should be informed and make your own decisions based on the facts. There are plenty of truly qualified professionals available that have actually put in the time and effort necessary to earn their accomplishments so you don't need to waste your time and money and risk your safety with a pretender.  It is important to point out, however, that not all great riders, instructors, and trainers must be members of a particular association or must have extensive show experience.  It is equally important to ask about their history and check out their claims as it is to evaluate their performance in person.  Look for written confirmation of some degree of formal training, a reasonable work history, verifiable honesty, safe practices, recent results, and a general comfort level between the professional, yourself, your animals, and your children.

Click here to read why this is important to check out. Also follow this link for more frightening issues.

Here are some important links to check out before you believe everything in their ad, hire them, and entrust the progress or care of yourself, your animals, or your children.

American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)
 

Check your veterinarian's professional standings. Also be sure to check their educational and performance histories, as well as their continuing education credits and complaint histories with the Alaska State Occupational Licensing and their business license status with the State of Alaska. Some Cities and Boroughs also require licenses and may track complaints. Contact your local government for more information.

Also check out http://MyHorseMatters.com for more great educational resources.

 
American Farrier's Association
  Check your farrier's professional standings. Also be sure to check their educational and performance histories, as well as their continuing education credits and complaint histories with your local licensing authority (professional licensing and training may not be required in Alaska) and their business license status with the State of Alaska. Some Cities and Boroughs also require licenses and may track complaints. Contact your local government for more information.
 
Alaska State Horseshows Association (ASH)
 

Check an Alaskan's (or former Alaskan's) show records.

Look for similar associations in other states.

 
Alaska State Quarter Horse Association (ASQHA)
 

Check an Alaskan's (or former Alaskan's) breed membership, show, and horse records.

Look for similar associations in other breeds & other states.

 
Hoofin' It North Yahoo! Discussion Group
  Hoofin' It North Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Try asking for references or personal experiences on this growing free discussion group.
 
USDF & Alaska Dressage Association, Inc.
 

United States Dressage Federation

 

If you meet an instructor or trainer that claims dressage experience, check on their history and standings with the USDF.  Are they a member of the USDF?  Are any of the horses they claim to have ridden for dressage listed with USDF?  Do they claim to be certified? Are they actually certified and in good standing?  In which region are they listed?  You can also contact USDF for further enquiries.

Also look for similar answers from the Alaska Dressage Association, Inc. or from a similar association in other disciplines and states.

 
USEF
  United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
 
USET
  United States Equestrian Team Foundation