Congratulations goes out to Miss Kirsten Kimbler from Aberdeen, SD. Kirsten was among 12 applicants this year for AHA's Youth of the Year recognition. Kirsten is a freshman at South Dakota State University where she is a pre-professional (biology) major with hopes of going on to dental school and then specializing in Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery like her Dad. She also plans to minor in Equine Science. Kirsten couples an outstanding equine background, exceptional scholastic endeavors, volunteerism and involvement in youth leadership to make her really shine as this years Youth of the Year. Kirsten will be presented this week at the AHA Convention in Tulsa, OK.

2007-08 AHYA President is headed to the AHA Convention in Tulsa, OK. She will be addressing hundreds of delegates on AHYA and other youth related issues and updates during the General Session on Saturday, November 17th. Look for Kim's update after the AHA Convention on the AHYA website.

The 2007-08 AHYA Board met Sunday, October 28th at the close of US Nationals in Albuquerque, NM. Board members talked about their goals and plans for the next year including possible AHYA Convention Themes, new fundraising ideas for youth programs at Youth Nationals in 2008, and they nominated committee members for the upcoming year. AHYA welcomed a few new comers to the Board this year as well.They have big plans for 2008! Keep an eye on the AHYA website for updates and ways to get more involved with your youth association!

Congratulations goes out to Dick VanAllen of Farmington, UT for winning the 2007 Sundowner Trailer Raffle. Mr. VanAllen bought his ticket in Albuquerque, NM at the 2007 Youth Nationals. Mr. VanAllen will meet with Sundowner Reps and decide on which 2008 two-horse trailer model he would like. Congratulations again to Dick VanAllen and a special thank you to Sundowner Trailers for their generous donation this year and to all of you that bought tickets in support of Youth Programs.

The 37th Annual Arabian Horse Youth Judging Contest was a huge success at US Nationals! The contest boasted 36 teams from all over the US and Canada comprised of some of the most talented equine enthusiasts around. Teams were organized in three different divisions: 4-H/FFA, Junior AHA and Senior. These outstanding kids rose to the challenge of their rigorous day by judging four halter classes, six performance classes and then gave oral evaluations of four of the 10 classes they had viewed that day. When the dust settled, the overall contest results were as follows:

• Senior Team Overall- Texas Tech University Team A
• Senior Individual Overall- Jennifer Richards, Texas Tech University Team A
• Junior AHA Team Overall- Junior Colorado AHC
• Junior AHA Individual Overall- Olivia Fetter, Junior Colorado AHC
• 4-H/FFA Team Overall- El Paso County, Colorado 4-H
• 4-H/FFA Individual Overall- Lisa Wermuth, El Paso County, Colorado 4-H

And special recognition goes out to Jennifer Richards from Texas Tech University Team A who was the Overall High Individual of the entire contest! Jennifer scored 667 out of a possible 700 points!
Congratulations to all competitors at this year's contest! We will see you in Tulsa, OK in 2008!

Remember that the Regional Youth Team Tournament Results will be closing at the end of the month! Make sure your Team Tournament Secretaries are getting all of your results so that they can submit them by December 15th!

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
December 15th Regional Youth Team Tournament results due to AHA from the Team Tournament Secretary in your region.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has provided funding to the San Diego Humane Society for hay and other equine supplies needed following the outbreak of devastating wildfires in California. Some of those affected by the fires include AHA members and their Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. If you would like to contribute anything to the animals affected by the California Fires please log on to the San Diego Humane Society's website at sdhumane.org and give to the cause! Everyone here at AHA wishes those members affected by the fires all the best!

Ever wished you had one convenient place to store all the critical health records for your foals and other horses? Keeping track of vaccinations and deworming is easier than ever thanks to the Intervet Foal Care Program record-keeping system. There is a new website out there called FoalCare.com. FoalCare.com is designed to be a one-stop resource and management tool for your breeding farm. Here you can store health records, create breeding and healthcare schedules and track your foal's growth. But they also have free downloads of immunization and Deworming charts to help you manage your herd health programs of all of your horses. Take a look it's a great sight!

English Thoroughbred champion Playful Act shattered the world record for a broodmare or broodmare prospect sold at public auction when her price soared to $10.5 million Nov. 5th on the opening day of the Keeneland breeding stock sale in Lexington, KY. The former North American record was the $9 million paid by Sheikh Mohammed for champion Ashado during the 2005 Keeneland November sale.

Horse owners often worry about safety of their animals during hunting seasons, especially if the horse's color might be mistaken for a deer or other large game animal. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to help distinguish your horse as a domesticated animal, rather than a potential target. In the Pasture-

• Make sure your fences have "No Hunting" signs on them. Fenced pastures are generally off limits to hunters but it's a good idea to post those signs.
• If there is poor visibility that day, keep your horses up closer to the house or barn.
• Braid brightly colored cloth or ribbon into your horses main and tail so that a hunter can identify your horse as a domestic animal.
• Hunter safe clothing is also available for your horse. You can buy bright orange shoulder guards and collars for your horses.

While Riding

• Try to avoid riding in thickly wooded public areas during hunting season.
• The more bright colors on your horse, the better.
• Always wear brightly colored clothing like bright Blue or Orange. A cheap orange vest can be purchased at most sporting goods stores. Avoid tans, browns, whites and light colors.

• Blowing Paper:
  "At any moment it could whip up into our faces, covering our noses. We could suffocate. And don't try to tell us you'd do CPR."
• Barking Dogs:
  "What? You've never read Steven King's CUJO?"
• Puddles of Water:
  "Quicksand."
• Trash Cans:
  "They've been known to swallow horses and transport them into another dimension."
• Veterinarians:
  Vampires in white capes.
• Plaid Horse Blankets:
  "Hey, when was the last time you wore plaid? It adds 100 lbs."
• Ropes and Hoses on the Ground:
  "Dreaded North American Trail Snakes."
• Ponies:
  "Cute, cleaver, hardy. They want to take over the world."
• Windy Days:
  "Two Words: impending tornado."
• Carts and Wagons:
  "Look. You put a human on our backs, we can always buck them off. But hitching a horse to a wheeled object? It's just not right."