AHYA Enews

Hey all, don't forget to get your final results into your Regional Youth Coordinators. The Regional Youth Team Tournament came to a close on November 30. All final results must be submitted to the AHA office from your Regional Youth Coordinator with a post mark on or before December 15! Good luck to everyone that competed this year. Stay tuned for results from the 2008 tournament by logging onto the youth website!

Have you ever had an idea for a new class at Youth Nationals? Do you know of a great fundraising idea? Have you ever wanted to be involved with decorating for the AHYA Convention? Ever wished there was a way to give your feedback on rules in the Handbook? Well the AHYA Board participates on several committees throughout the year, but these committees are not just available to your Regional Youth Directors and members of the Board. You too can get involved! If any of the following youth committees sound like something you would want to get involved with, email your AHYA President today!

Convention/Credentials Committee
Youth Nationals Committee
Youth Activities Committee
Membership/Fundraising & Promotions Committee
Regional/National Classes Committee
Equitation/Showmanship Committee
Nominating Committee
Public Relations Committee
Working Western Committee
Sport Horse Committee

That's right, the USEF is holding their second annual youth convention in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 17. The convention is jammed packed with great activities. Registration includes admittance to the seminars featuring notable speakers and top equestrians who will be sharing their individual experiences in the equine industry. It's not too late to sign up for the event. Your 2008 Youth of the Year, Kim Luebcke, will be there along with several other members of AHYA. We would love to have as many kids there as possible to represent AHA and the Arabian horse! Go to the USEF website for more details by clicking here.

A big thanks goes out to all of the sponsors for their graciously donated items to the Youth Silent Auction held in Denver, Colo. in November! Your generous support helps to promote and continue many great Youth Programs at AHA! We had a little more than 182 participants this year bidding on 166 items. Thanks to everyone who made this year's auction such a big success!

What if every time you rode through the gate you were helping someone in need?
This UPHA program is designed to encourage, challenge, and reward saddleseat equitation riders who participate in horse show competitions, commit to helping others through community service, and help to fundraise for wonderful charities like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Not only are you helping to raise money for a great charity like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, but those outstanding individuals who participate in this program could be awarded for their efforts with scholarship money!

To learn more about how you can ride for this cause and possibly win scholarship money got to UPHA's website by clicking here!

While we enjoy winter weather and the recreational opportunities the season provides, there are some important horse health issues to remember as well.

Of all the issues impacting horse health in the winter, water is at the top of the list. Make sure plenty of fresh water is available. Having a water heater in your tank not only keeps the water from freezing, but horses tend to drink more water when it is above 65º F.
High quality hay should be the cornerstone of your winter nutrition program. Hay provides a lower per unit cost. Hay provides additional benefits of maintaining gastrointestinal function and generates body heat during digestion.
With colder weather and increased stabling time, poor ventilation and dusty forage can predispose horses to respiratory problems in the winter. Don't be afraid to wet down your horse's dusty hay in the winter.
Shelter from wind and particularly rain/snow should be provided.
Blankets come in wind and water proof designs that can enable horses to stay outside and be protected from the rain and wind chill. If you decide to blanket, it is important you do so for the entire winter to avoid shocking horses' systems.


December 2008
Regional Youth Team Tournament What's a Committee? USEF Youth Convention Kudos to all our Sponsors! United Professional Horseman's Association's Ribbons of Service Program Winter Weather Worries


	Regional Youth Team Tournament Hey all, don't forget to get your final results into your Regional Youth Coordinators. The Regional Youth Team Tournament came to a close on November 30. All final results must be submitted to the AHA office from your Regional Youth Coordinator with a post mark on or before December 15! Good luck to everyone that competed this year. Stay tuned for results from the 2008 tournament by logging onto the youth website!


	What's a Committee? Have you ever had an idea for a new class at Youth Nationals? Do you know of a great fundraising idea? Have you ever wanted to be involved with decorating for the AHYA Convention? Ever wished there was a way to give your feedback on rules in the Handbook? Well the AHYA Board participates on several committees throughout the year, but these committees are not just available to your Regional Youth Directors and members of the Board. You too can get involved! If any of the following youth committees sound like something you would want to get involved with, email your AHYA President today! Convention/Credentials Committee Youth Nationals Committee Youth Activities Committee Membership/Fundraising & Promotions Committee Regional/National Classes Committee Equitation/Showmanship Committee Nominating Committee Public Relations Committee Working Western Committee Sport Horse Committee


	USEF Youth Convention That's right, the USEF is holding their second annual youth convention in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 17. The convention is jammed packed with great activities. Registration includes admittance to the seminars featuring notable speakers and top equestrians who will be sharing their individual experiences in the equine industry. It's not too late to sign up for the event. Your 2008 Youth of the Year, Kim Luebcke, will be there along with several other members of AHYA. We would love to have as many kids there as possible to represent AHA and the Arabian horse! Go to the USEF website for more details by clicking here.


	Kudos to all our Sponsors! A big thanks goes out to all of the sponsors for their graciously donated items to the Youth Silent Auction held in Denver, Colo. in November! Your generous support helps to promote and continue many great Youth Programs at AHA! We had a little more than 182 participants this year bidding on 166 items. Thanks to everyone who made this year's auction such a big success!


	United Professional Horseman's Association's Ribbons of Service Program What if every time you rode through the gate you were helping someone in need? This UPHA program is designed to encourage, challenge, and reward saddleseat equitation riders who participate in horse show competitions, commit to helping others through community service, and help to fundraise for wonderful charities like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Not only are you helping to raise money for a great charity like St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, but those outstanding individuals who participate in this program could be awarded for their efforts with scholarship money! To learn more about how you can ride for this cause and possibly win scholarship money got to UPHA's website by clicking here!


	Winter Weather Worries While we enjoy winter weather and the recreational opportunities the season provides, there are some important horse health issues to remember as well. Of all the issues impacting horse health in the winter, water is at the top of the list. Make sure plenty of fresh water is available. Having a water heater in your tank not only keeps the water from freezing, but horses tend to drink more water when it is above 65º F. High quality hay should be the cornerstone of your winter nutrition program. Hay provides a lower per unit cost. Hay provides additional benefits of maintaining gastrointestinal function and generates body heat during digestion. With colder weather and increased stabling time, poor ventilation and dusty forage can predispose horses to respiratory problems in the winter. Don't be afraid to wet down your horse's dusty hay in the winter. Shelter from wind and particularly rain/snow should be provided. Blankets come in wind and water proof designs that can enable horses to stay outside and be protected from the rain and wind chill. If you decide to blanket, it is important you do so for the entire winter to avoid shocking horses' systems.