The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) is making the first step to endurance riding a little easier this year with their 2016 Fall Special promotion. Beginning now, new members can join for the remainder of the 2016 ride season and all of the 2017 ride season, which runs through November 30, 2017, for the discounted price of $88.75. Additional adult family members are $57.50; those 17 or younger are $27.

More than 3,000 riders have requested AERC’s free “Discover Endurance Riding” booklet, which shares the adventure and camaraderie experienced by members of the nonprofit organization.

“Fall is a great time to get started in endurance riding, with cooler weather and spectacular autumn foliage,” said AERC Executive Director Kathleen Henkel. “If you’ve been riding regularly, your trail horse may already be ready for one of AERC’s limited distance rides of 25 or 30 miles.” Many endurance rides also offer 10 to 15 mile “intro” rides, just for equine and rider teams to get acquainted with ride procedures and etiquette. Each equine, even at fun rides, will be checked by a veterinarian before and after the ride, with a check that includes heart rate, limb soundness, hydration and gut sounds, to ensure the horse is deemed “fit to continue.”

Members receive a monthly magazine, Endurance News, as well as an endurance riding handbook, rule book and educational materials that come along with their membership card. Fall Special members will receive both 2016 and 2017 AERC ID cards. Call 866-271-2372 for more info on the AERC, and see the ad on page 27.

MORE ONLINE: Fall sign-ups
http://bit.ly/608A_AERC

The American Farrier’s Association and Life Data Labs, Inc. have entered into an educational communications partnership which will bring Life Data’s considerable expertise in the area of equine nutrition to the Association’s membership through various communications channels managed by the AFA. This includes the bi-monthly newsletter No Foot, No Horse and the recently redesigned AFA website, among others.

“We are very excited to welcome Life Data Labs as a partner in this new AFA initiative, said Beth Daniels,

AFA Executive Director. Life Data is globally recognized as a leader in the area of equine nutrition and its impact on the hoof, and AFA communications have expanded to levels that can now provide equine focused businesses an excellent opportunity to reach and educate a significant audience. As a leader in the field of equine nutrition it is only fitting that Life Data will be the leader in establishing what we envision will become a library of resources from a diverse range of equine experts.”

“Farriers play a key role in providing nutrition information to their clients”, said Dr. Frank Gravlee, founder of Life Data Labs, Inc. Life Data is excited to partner with AFA to provide equine nutrition to its members. Life Data has enjoyed a long (member for approximately 30 years) and successful relationship with AFA. Life Data appreciates its relationship with farriers and that Farrier’s Formula® is the #1 recommended hoof supplement by farriers in the US (*Source: “2014 AFJ Farrier Business Practices Survey”. American Farriers Journal. Jan/Feb 2015. Page 87.).

The American Farrier’s Association was founded in 1971 and is the largest U.S. based organization serving farriers worldwide and the only U.S. farrier membership association to have an internationally recognized certification program.

Life Data Labs, Inc. (www.lifedatalabs.com) is an animal nutrition and health products manufacturer dedicated to premium quality through continuous product improvement and new product development. Their signature commitment to stringently controlled in-house product production assures consumers of consistent high quality and product performance. See ad on page 49.