October 28th in Albuquerque, NM, your AHYA Executive Offers and Regional Youth Directors will be meeting to discuss a lot of important topics. The meeting will be held in the Youth Hall at 8 a.m. Sunday morning at Expo New Mexico. If you are attending US Nationals and would like to see how the meetings are run come on by. This is a great opportunity for you if you have ever thought about being a part of the AHYA Board and representing your region!

Unable to make the meeting? Have a lot of ideas for AHYA? The AHYA Executive Officers would love to hear from you! You can click here to read all about your 2007-2008 AHYA Board Members. Email your Regional Youth Director or one of the Executive Officers and let your voice be heard!

Don't forget the AHYA Silent Auction is approaching fast! The Silent Auction is held at the AHA Convention in November. It's the number one fundraiser for all youth programs! We need your donations for the auction in my November 1st! Have a neighbor or friend that is creative? Think your boss might donate an item? Never hurts to ask! We need all kinds of items for the auction; they can even be non-horsy ones! Remember that Christmas is just around the corner, and this is a great opportunity for those delegates at AHA Convention to pick up some gift ideas. Send your donations to AHA Youth Department, 10805 E Bethany Drive, Aurora, CO 80014.

Congratulations to Kylie Kirschner and her gelding MCA Striking Star for winning September's Horse of the Month! Check out Kylie's essay that won her the honor on the AHYA website. Click here. It's quite a story and a great read!! Kylie not only got her story and photo on the website, but she also was a recipient of a Breyer model horse sponsored by Breyer Animal Creations. Nominate your horse for Horse of the Month today by sending us a short essay about why your horse rocks- and give us a photo too. Please mail the following to "AHA Horse of the Month", AHA Youth Department, 10805 E. Bethany Drive, Aurora, CO 80014.

Sundowner Trailers, Inc. is donating a two-horse bumper-pull horse trailer to benefit AHYA. The winner can choose between a straight or slant-load model. Winning tickets will be drawn October 27th at the 2007 US Nationals in Albuquerque, NM. Need not be present to win. Tickets available from the AHA booth throughout US Nationals. Donate $5 per ticket or three tickets for $10. All proceeds benefit the Arabian Horse Youth Association.
AHA Corporate Partner Sundowner Trailers, Inc. is a proud supporter of Arabian horse youth programs.

It's not too late to get in on the 2007 Arabian Horse Youth Judging contest! The contest will be held October 26th during the 2007 US National Show in Albuquerque, NM. You can put together a 4-H, FFA, Junior AHA, Senior AHA, or Collegiate judging team. Once you have your team together go to the website at here and fill out an entry form! Questions? Contact Angela at 303-696-4505. We hope to see you there!

October 26th Arabian Horse Youth Judging Contest, US Nationals, Albuquerque, NM
October 27th Arabian Horse Youth Judging Contest Awards Breakfast, Albuquerque, NM
October 28th AHYA Board of Directors Meeting, Albuquerque, NM
November 1st AHYA Silent Auction donated items due to AHA
November 17th AHYA Silent Auction, AHA Convention, Tulsa, OK
November 30th Regional Youth Team Tournament results close

Do you know a groom who deserves special recognition for outstanding work? If so, nominate him or her for the 2007 Modern Arabian Horse Groomer of the Year Award. All you have to do is write a letter between 250-300 words explaining why the groom is deserving of this honor. Include your and the groom's name, address and contact information. All grooms nominated will receive a certificate of excellence, and all finalists will also receive an embroidered Modern Arabian Horse jacket. You can e-mail your nomination letter to magazine@arabianhorses.org, fax it to (303) 696-4599 or mail it to the Arabian Horse Association, c/o Groomer of the Year. Deadline for all nominations is December 31, 2007.

Attention all college or high school students living within 200 miles of Kissimmee, Fla. If you have significant horse experience, and a strong interest in equine medicine, you can win free admission to the Healthy Horses Workshop. This exceptional horse health care educational seminar is designed specifically for horse owners and taught by nationally known AAEP-member veterinarians! You must be a high school student, age 16 to18 or a college student, age 18 to 24, have experience with horses and demonstrate a strong interest in equine medicine. Applications must be received in the AAEP office by November 7, 2007 to be considered. Click here for complete rules and information.

• When: Saturday, December 1, 2007
• 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Where: Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show Pavilion
• Kissimmee, Florida

The tradition of mounting from the left dates back to the time when warriors carried swords on horseback. Since most people were and are right-handed, the sword was carried on the left hip to enable them to draw it quickly.

Horses were mounted from the left so that the right leg could swing up over their back without the sword getting in the way. Mounting from the right would be difficult, as the sword would get in the way of swinging the leg up, and might poke the horse.

And now you know!!!

One morning the farmer went out at sunrise to feed the horses, he fed all of his horses but one. As he was walking to his mare's stall to feed her, he discovered she wasn't there. So he told his wife and they looked for her all day. Finally at sunset the farmer opens the door to the barn and discovers his mare with her head in a half empty bag of sweet feed, and the farmer yells to his wife: "FOUND'ER!"