New Mentoring Program Pairs Recent Farrier School Graduates With Professional Farriers

New Mentoring Program Pairs Recent Farrier School Graduates With Professional Farriers:
Pairing recent farrier school graduates (mentees) with more knowledgeable and experienced farriers (mentors) has been named a priority program by the American Association of Professional Farriers (AAPF).
In naming the program, it was determined that “mentoring” would refer to a personal and professional developmental relationship that would build between the two parties; with the understanding that true mentoring be more than just answering occasional questions or providing ad hoc assistance. The AAPF plans to have this program focus on developing ongoing lifetime relationships of learning, dialog and challenges.
The AAPF Mentoring Program has two distinct goals:

• To encourage AAPF members to volunteer to accept mentees in relationships for periods of time ranging from one week to one year, and
• To encourage AAPF-member farrier schools to recommend that their graduating students apply for a mentoring relationship through the AAPF.

The first step in making the program a reality will be the solicitation of AAPF members as mentors. A “fill-in-the-blank” application has been posted on the AAPF website (www.ProfessionalFarriers.com). Once an adequate pool of mentors is obtained, we will notify AAPF-member farrier schools of the opportunity for their graduating students. Mentors must have been a professional farrier for a minimum of five years and be a member of the AAPF. Association membership of mentees will not be required.
“Factors that will be considered in the development of a mentoring relationship include specific details about the mentor’s farrier practice,” said Mentoring Committee Chairman John Crothers APF CF, of Clarington, Ohio. “These include breeds/disciplines served, geographical areas, compensation (including wages, room, board and travel arrangements) and the mentor’s overall commitment to farrier education.” (John is also the farrier department instructor at Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre in Waverly, West Virginia)
Other members of the AAPF Mentoring Committee include Gregory Gray APF CJF of Wolverine Farrier School in Clare, Michigan and Lane McNew APF of Lookout Mountain School of Horseshoeing in Gadsden, Alabama.
The American Association of Professional Farriers is a non-profit trade organization created in 2012 to represent the interests of professional farriers and others involved in the farrier industry. The primary objectives of the new association are: continuing education, member support and serving as a hoof-care reference for horse owners. The AAPF is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.



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1. Group of Farriers Join Together to Launch Association of Professional Farriers, to Assist With Professional Development
2. USEF to Award More Than $20,000 in Grants Through High School Equestrian Athlete Program
3. USEF Debuts Varsity Lettering Program for High School Equestrians

Equine Accounting: Potential Sales Tax Liabilities For Your Horse Business

Equine Accounting: Potential Sales Tax Liabilities For Your Horse Business:
A potential client contacted me to ask if I would be willing to prepare her sales tax return for her. I’ve prepared sales tax returns for over 20 years, so this should be no problem.
“What have kind of product have you been collecting sales tax on?” I asked.
“Horse board.”
“Are you sure about this?”
She sounded pretty sure. So I decided to investigate myself.
She lives in New York State, so I contacted the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Yes, I was told, horse boarding in New York State is subject to sales tax. The customer service rep there referred me to their tax regulations and several tax memos and advisories. Further digging uncovered the NY State Horse Council, which has website including an index of legal issues affecting horsemen, including a list of what is and is not subject to sales tax for commercial horse boarding operations.
Sales tax is regulated by individual states, or in some cases, individual counties or cities. But, there are some general concepts. Generally, all tangible personal property is taxable, except with exemptions. So if you are a farrier and also sell hoof supplements to your customers, in most states you would be required to collect and remit sales tax on the supplements you sell. In many states, sales tax should be collected and remitted for sales of horses – a subject to be discussed in a future newsletter.
The difficulty sometimes becomes defining what tangible personal property is. In NY state, horse boarding is compared to leasing storage space. It’s the stall itself that is considered to be the primary item in a boarding transaction, so sales tax is assessed on that tangible personal property. If in a sales tax audit, you feel that sales tax should not be assessed on a certain type of personal tangible property, the burden of proof is on you -the taxpayer- to prove this is the case. Conversely, generally only certain services are taxable. In a sales tax audit, the burden of proof is on the auditor to make the case that the services at issue are subject to sales tax.
Sales tax audits are much more common than IRS audits of income tax returns. Some states have no statute of limitations for examination of prior years’ sales tax returns, and penalty and interest can amount to up to 60% of the tax.
What can you do to find out more about the possibility of sales tax liability for your horse business?
1. Contact your state Department of Revenue. Ask for information regarding what goods and services are taxable in your state.
2. Contact your state Farm Bureau, Horse Council, etc. for more information. If you feel that you may have potential sales tax liability, ask them to recommend an attorney with expertise in this area.
3. Contact a CPA firm or attorney that deals only with matters of sales tax. Sometimes, this is less expensive than people fear and gets them a definitive and relatively quick answer. If you do need to collect sales tax, you will need to register with your state, but speak with the attorney or CPA first. There could be serious tax consequences if you register and owe back taxes. Your attorney may be able to negotiate a settlement before you register. If you register first, the chances of negotiating a settlement is very small.
4. If you don’t use one already, consider putting your financial data into an accounting software program like QuickBooks. You can create invoices with sales tax included and track and remit sales tax liabilities relatively easily using QuickBooks.
Remember that each state is different. Find someone that is familiar with the sales tax regulations that affect you. A little attention now may save you time and money in the future.
Carol is a CPA specializing in equine based businesses and serves clients nationwide. She serves as a frequent contributor to several equine periodicals and websites. The link to her website is www.blueribbonaccounting.com



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1. Equine Accounting and Taxes: And With Sales Tax Your Total Comes to…
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Compounded Prescription Recall of Veterinary and Human Prescriptions Distributed by Franck’s Pharmacy

Compounded Prescription Recall of Veterinary and Human Prescriptions Distributed by Franck’s Pharmacy:
Recall: All Sterile Human and Veterinary Prescriptions Distributed by Franck’s Pharmacy From November 21, 2011 to May 21, 2012.
This recall is being initiated after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) notified us that environmental sampling of our clean room revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth. In light of the FDA’s findings and the resulting possible risk of infection, we have decided that it is imperative that we recall all human and veterinary sterile preparations that have left our control. Accordingly, we are extending the recall to all sterile preparations we have provided to you since November 21, 2011.
If any of these sterile preparations remains under your control, it is essential that you do not use them and that employing appropriate practices, you destroy all such sterile preparations and all remaining portions of such sterile preparations.
This recall should be carried out to the User/Physician level. Your assistance is appreciated and necessary to prevent patient illness. Physicians should be advised to review and evaluate their patient records to determine if any adverse events may have resulted from use of the recalled products. Please report any adverse events to Franck’s Compounding Pharmacy and FDA’s MedWatch program.
FDA will expect us to be able to account for all of the sterile preparations subject to this recall. As a result, it is critically important that you read, complete, and return the enclosed response form as soon as possible.
We will update you with any relevant details as they become available to us. If you have any questions please call us at 352-690-6773, Monday through Friday from 9AM to 5 PM, EST.
This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.



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Changes to AQHA Amateur Rules Effective Immediately

Changes to AQHA Amateur Rules Effective Immediately:
Changes approved by the American Quarter Horse Association Amateur and Executive committees to AQHA Rule Nos. 101 (g)(4), 403 and 405 are effective immediately. The updated rules, which affect AQHA amateur membership, can be found in the online version of the AQHA Official Handbook of Rules and Regulations; the online version of the handbook is the default version.
The following changes have been made to Rule No. 403:

• An individual must wait three years to be eligible to compete as an amateur after participating in an activity that made them ineligible to compete.
• For three calendar years previous to application for amateur membership, an amateur may not have held membership accreditation with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Women’s Professional Rodeo Association (barrel racing only) or International Professional Rodeo Association for those events or classes which are the same events or classes in which the individual competes, or desires to compete, in AQHA amateur competition. For example, an individual who competes in a PRCA roping event may not compete in amateur calf roping or dally team roping (heading or heeling), but may show in other amateur classes. A permit holder is not considered as one who has membership accreditation in a professional organization; because of this, the individual may compete in any AQHA amateur class.
• An individual who is 65 years or older and is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association of Professional Horsemen is eligible to immediately apply for amateur membership so long as they meet all other amateur eligibility requirements and relinquish their Association of Professional Horsemen membership.

Additionally, changes were made to Rule No. 405 A(c). The changes clarify rules as they relate to Novice exhibitors in the Novice youth and Novice amateur divisions. The following changes have been made to Rule No. 405 A(c):

• Once an individual has earned 25 AQHA Novice amateur, amateur, Novice youth, youth or open points, or any combination thereof, in a class; earned 50 points or an AQHA Superior award in a given class with an equine organization or association with a membership of 7,500 or more members; won a world, reserve world, national championship, reserve national championship or international title in a class with any equine organization or association with a membership of 7,500 or more members; or won a total of $5,000 in cash and prizes with any equine breed organization or association, then he/she will no longer be eligible to participate in the Novice skill set containing that class in subsequent years but may continue to compete in the Novice skill set until the end of the calendar year in which the aforementioned instances occurred. Any individual who has been an accredited horse show judge will not be eligible to participate in Novice skill sets.

AQHA members are encouraged to review the full changes to Rule Nos. 403 and 405 in the online version of the AQHA Handbook, which is the default version of the rulebook. Changes were also made to Rule No. 101 (g)(4), which also concerns AQHA amateur membership; members are encouraged to review the changes online.



Related posts:

1. AQHA Show Rule Change Effectively Immediately Regarding Number of Horses an Exhibitor May Show
2. AQHA Announces Additional Working Cow Horse Boxing Class Rules
3. AQHA Offers Three Types of Memberships: General, Amateur and Youth

Proposal calls for changes in Antimicrobial Use

Proposal calls for changes in Antimicrobial Use:
FDA calls for voluntary label changes, increased veterinarian oversight

By Greg Cima

Source:

June 1, 2012

If drug companies agree to federal regulators’ proposals, antimicrobials important for human medicine will no longer be used to aid livestock growth.
On April 13, the Food and Drug Administration published two guidance documents— one draft and one final—that outline plans to ensure that medicated feeds and water that contain antimicrobials deemed important for human medicine will be available only for uses necessary for animal health. In addition, such feeds would be available only through a prescription or veterinary feed directive, the latter of which have to be issued by a veterinarian in a manner similar to how prescriptions are issued.
Medicated water containing such antimicrobials would be available only through prescriptions.
Read more ...

TAHC: The Governor appointed Gary P. Aber, DVM to the TX Racing Comm. We look forward to working with Dr. Aber and the rest of the Racing Comm.

TAHC: The Governor appointed Gary P. Aber, DVM to the TX Racing Comm. We look forward to working with Dr. Aber and the rest of the Racing Comm.

Selenium and Vitamin E to Alleviate Signs of Tying Up

Selenium and Vitamin E to Alleviate Signs of Tying Up: Selenium and vitamin E work together to prevent tissue damage from free radicals produced during exercise. These nutrients also are thought to play a role in alleviating signs of tying up....