Sept. 26, 2000

REINS tour in Franklin
County draws 100 participants

Nearly 100 people from 10 counties turned out in August for the sixth annual Franklin County horse farm tour, sponsored by REINS (Regional Equine Information Network System) Region 8 and the Franklin County center of N.C. Cooperative Extension.

The tour included visits to four farms, each of which offered a variety of equine information for those in attendance. The first stop was a Quarter Horse farm, where new fly traps were demonstrated. Discussion included comparisons of various selections of hay, including oat, orchard grass, bermuda grass and alfalfa.

At the second stop, a racing Quarter Horse farm, participants learned about the history of horse racing in North Carolina and about preparation procedures for the track. At the third farm, which included a recently constructed saddleseat barn, ideas for various types of barns were discussed. Participants also witnessed a riding demonstration of the saddleseat equitation, and a representative of the N.C. Horse Council addressed the group.

The final stop on the tour included information on the Welsh pony breed and how to market an equine business on the World Wide Web. Dinner was provided by Southern States Cooperative. After dinner, participants were updated on the Tar-Pamlico River Basin Rules.

REINS was formed in 1995 to assist Extension personnel in the delivery of research-based education to horse owners. It is a voluntary program that has provided an estimated 9,240 hours of service each year since 1996, valued at $141,300 per year. More than 5,600 horse owners have been contacted through REINS' producers meetings, clinics, tours and farm visits.

--Lucee Flint, student intern
Animal Science