At the 2009 AHYA Youth Convention, the new Youth Executive Committee was elected. AHA, Youth Programs and AHYA are excited to have the following young Arabian enthusiasts working hard all year for Youth Programs and the Arabian horse! Welcome aboard!

President: Austin Garrett, Goodyear, Ariz.
Vice President: Katie Pelphrey, Louisville, Ky.
Secretary: Nikki Burns, Silex, Mo.
Treasurer: Amanda Kelley, Alamo, Calif.

Calling all overachievers! You know who you are; the good student, the volunteer, the role model, the die-hard Arabian horse lover…all rolled into one totally fabulous package!

Apply for the honor of becoming the 2009 Youth of the Year! The winning youth will be honored at the AHYA and AHA Conventions as well as during Youth Nationals. This person may also be featured on the cover of Modern Arabian Horse magazine.

Download a nomination form today. Be sure to have your Regional Director or Director at Large sign the application before submitting it to AHA. Forms must be postmarked by September 1. Don't miss out on a great opportunity. We know you're out there!

AHYA would like to thank all of our 2009 Activity and Qualifier T-Shirt sponsors! A big round of applause goes out to:

Hesten Park & the Hoffman Family Long Meadow Arabians & Exxpectation Jim and Christy Egan & Results Bennett Fine Jewelry Charlotte’s Saddlery Region 10 Region 1 Region 10 Youth Flatiron Springs Kansas Arabian Horse Society Windabrae Farm AHA Region 14 Merial Limited Friends and Family of Flatiron Springs Region 4 Youth Region 9 Youth Equithrive Region XI Arabian Horse Assn. Region 13

Fox Hollow Farm, Inc. Stonepost Farm Mel Martin Trucking, Inc. Region 12 Price Performance Horses LLC www.TheHatLady.com Vallejo III Inc. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health Fort Dodge Animal Health Bayer Healthcare Animal Health Division Region XV Region 5 Youth Michael Terribile P.C. Caboray Farm Carolyn Hill DDS The Arabian Horse Society of SD Youth AHA Region 8 Illinois Arabian Horse Association

The Arabian Horse Judging Contest will be Friday, October 30 in Tulsa, Okla. AHA offers winners approximately $7,000 in scholarships and incredible prizes like saddles! Entries are due September 22. Find out more today!

October 30: Arabian Horse Youth Judging Contest, U.S. Nationals, Tulsa, Okla.
October 31: Arabian Horse Youth Judging Contest Awards Breakfast, Tulsa, Okla.
November 1: AHYA Board of Directors Meeting, Tulsa, Okla.
November 1: AHYA Silent Auction donated items due to AHA
November 30: Regional Youth Team Tournament results close

We are looking for personal stories from the 2009 Youth National show. What was your favorite part? Share your experiences from the AHYA Convention, Hippology Contest, Flying Pigs, Stick Horse Workshop, Novice Judging Contest, Parade of Regions, Daily Hoof Print, Dog Costume Contest, Dog Races, or Ice Cream Social.
Send your comments to youth@ArabianHorses.org.

Typically known to be found primarily in California and Texas, more and more cases of Pigeon Fever are being reported this year in Oregon and Colorado. The highly contagious disease is also called pigeon breast, breastbone fever, false strangles, dryland strangles or dryland distemper. Signs of pigeon fever can initially resemble those of other diseases such as strangles. Sometimes the only initial signs are lameness and a reluctance to move. Other signs include lameness, fever, lethargy and weight loss. There may also be very deep abscesses and multiple sores along the horses' chest, midline and groin area.

The disease, which can be fatal, is caused by bacteria called Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (that's a mouth full!). The bacteria live in the soil and can enter the animal's body through wounds, broken skin or mucous membranes. Research also indicates the disease may be spread through flies, especially cattle horn flies. These are biting flies that tend to feed under the belly of the horse.

Pigeon fever can affect a horse of any age, sex or breed, but it usually attacks young adult animals. Humans cannot catch pigeon fever, but they can spread it from horse to horse because the bacteria can be carried on shoes, clothing, hands or barn tools for up to 55 days! Horses with the disease usually recover within a few weeks with proper treatment. If caught early and treated properly, horses usually make a complete recovery, although the disease may reoccur in some horses.