In which there are LOTS of reasons to come to our Convention this year
What does $40 get you these days?
Well, on January 24-26, $40 gets you into the PNER Convention,
held this year at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel.
But what does that mean? Why would you want to go to a convention instead of saving that money for ride fees?
Lemme tell ya: convention will set you (and your pony) up for success this season.
Here's how:
EDUCATION
There is a full roster of speakers scheduled for the weekend, with topics ranging from Endurance 101
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| TWO Endurance 101 clinics are scheduled: Friday afternoon and Saturday morning! |
to GPS teaching sessions, feed management for competition horses, yoga for riders, a lameness diagnosis clinic, and a question/answer panel with expert endurance riders.
I don't know about you, but there's PLENTY of room in my brain for more information about being a better endurance rider, and these programs can put that information in there!
SHOPPING
The convention vendor area can help you equip your horse (and yourself) from ears to tail.
In addition to the not-to-be-missed used tack sale, you'll see a wide variety of new biothane, nylon and rope tack,
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| You won't want to miss out on browsing the American Trail Gear booth |
hoofboots, horse feed, and saddles,
plus portable corrals, breeches and raingear for riders, and even some pretty bling just for fun!
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| "Ooooh, look at the shiny stuff! Hang it in your truck and give yourself a smile." |
If you haven't gotten a copy of Endurance 101 yet (or you need another copy to give to a friend or a new recruit), we'll have copies for sale--and no extra charge to get it autographed!
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| Endurance 101 will be sold in the vendor area, with NO shipping and NO tax! |
If you want to know more about the recent AERC/FEI kerfuffle (which Funder explained pretty well in a post HERE), and want to know how the proposed motion would affect local riders, you'll want to attend the General Meeting on Saturday.
If you want to get involved in endurance leadership locally, or just see how business gets done,
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| Board meetings are rarely exciting...but one never knows.... |
there's a meeting of the 2013 Board on Friday evening, and a meeting of the 2014 Board on Sunday morning. All PNER members are welcome to attend the meetings.
FUN WITH FRIENDS
Or, if you'd rather just meet up with friends, that's good too.
There's plenty of time to say "hi" to people at convention--and it's so much easier to talk when neither of you is hauling on a horse's leadrope or trying to get buckets filled, like always seems to happen in camp!
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| Hanging out with friends. It's what we love to do. |
There are several meetups for the PNER Green Beans planned, so if you're afraid you don't know anybody, come to those--they are sure to be fun!
FANCY BANQUET and DANCE
Finally, if you don't mind spending another $15, there's the Saturday evening banquet, where 2013 awards are given, and fun is had by all.
We traditionally dress up in thrift shop finery,
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| The Usual Suspects are especially beautiful |
and there is plenty of silliness and fun for everyone.
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| Banquet foolishness--looks like fun! |
Invest in yourself and your pony and your next ride season!
Go to the PNER website and sign yourself up for a weekend of fun and education.
I'll see y'all in Portland!
Great that you are such a staunch supporter of PNER! Just wish convention would go back to somewhere scenic with more outdoor appeal. I have a hard time with interior rooms, windows that don't open, etc.
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