The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is pleased to welcome Sundowner Trailers as its newest Corporate Partner. The three year sponsorship includes an annual trailer donation to be raffled off during the U.S. Nationals to benefit the Arabian Horse Youth Association. Sundowner Trailers, Inc. is headquartered in Coleman, Okla. and produces a variety of products to suit any horsemen's needs. "We're so pleased to be affiliated with such a high quality product," says AHA President Myron Krause. "I want to encourage our members to think about Sundowner when they're in the market to buy a horse trailer." The company has a network of dealers throughout the country. Find a dealer near you by going to www.sundownertrailer.com.

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is pleased to welcome Platinum Performance, Inc. as an Official Sponsor of the U.S. Nationals to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 20-29, 2005. Platinum Performance will again sponsor a Platinum Performer Award with the winner receiving a $5,000 cash prize and year's supply of Platinum Performance Equine. The Platinum Performer horse will be selected based on points earned at the show from champion and reserve placings. The winning owner will be presented with a $5,000 check during the final evening session. In addition, all show champions will receive a 17-pound bucket (two-months supply valued at $88) of Platinum Performance Equine.

A new flyer entitled Identify the Arabian Horse: A Guide to Colors and Markings and a new Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian brochure will soon be available from AHA for your spring promotions. These additions will be made to the online promotional literature order form as soon as the material arrives from the printer.

The printed version of the 2005 AHA Handbook is a member benefit available to Life, Affiliate, Business and Direct members only and is now available. In an effort to reduce production costs, only those 2005 members who request a handbook will receive one. Submit your request online. Log into the Members Only section here or by calling a Member Service Representative at 303-696-4500. The AHA Handbook is STILL available online to ALL Members 24-hours a day to view and download here.

The Open Event Incentive Program (OEIP) just announced its year-end winners. This program rewards both riders and horses that excel in all-breed competitions outside of the traditional all-Arabian show circuit. Participants accumulate points based on placings which are automatically calculated when results are entered online. Horses used in OEIP have their accomplishments recorded permanently on the Arabian Horse DataSource. Check out the 2004 winners here.

Now is the perfect time to enter several award programs before the new fees approved by the AHA Board of Directors go into effect on April 1. You can enroll in any of these programs online after you log in except for the Dressage Programs.

Horse Achievement Awards
Amateur Achievement Awards
Dressage programs
Distance Horse programs


Dressage Participants
Please note that USDF reports top Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian scores to AHA at the end of the year for each level of the USDF All Breed Awards. Horses must be enrolled with AHA to be eligible to receive the award and owners must be current members.

Paint Rock Designs, the maker of Turtle Neck turnout blankets and sheets has introduced a new stable sheet designed specifically for purebred Arabian horses. Not only does the sheet fit the breed's unique physical attributes, but it also has a pattern that avoids contact with the mane and tail. The number one complaint received from Arabian owners was that the blankets and sheets they used did not fit properly and rubbed the mane and tail. The sheets will be available after March 1, 2005, from State Line Tack by calling 888-839-9640.

From now through April 30, AHA members can sign up as a Choice Privileges member online at www.choiceprivileges.com and receive triple points or airline miles/credits for bookings made online or by calling 1-800-258-2847. Use your AHA special rate ID# 0082151 and receive a 20 percent discount every time you book.

Show managers, show secretaries and anyone competing in the Sport Horse Division should note the changes in the USEF Rule Book effective April 1, 2005, by clicking here. Modifications include: gait changes for the under saddle classes, the dropping of the "V" and adoption of the triangle as the only legal pattern for showing in hand classes, and the rule allowing a judge to ask for a lengthened stride at any gait.

The Board approved the use of points to determine qualifications, the biggest advantage being that points will be awarded for horses that place 1 through 6 at Class A shows where before only the first and second place counted toward a regional or national qualification. A Points Monitoring Committee will review the system and make recommendations as needed to the Board of Directors at the August meeting.

• If you qualified during the 2004 year for any 2004 national show, you are automatically qualified for this year's national shows
• If you are not completely qualified as of January 1, 2005, you must use points in order to compete at any national show in 2005 except for scored classes (dressage, reining, working cow, trail) which may use combined scores from both 2004 and 2005

To read more about qualifications, see Chapter 17 of the AHA Handbook by clicking here. or contact a member service representative at 303-696-4500 or info@ArabianHorses.org.

For a limited time, up until March 31, the AHA Registration Amnesty special gives you up to 50 percent off the registration fee of horses two years and older. Fees are:

• Arabians: $250, a 50 percent savings off the $500 regular fee
• Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians: $75, a $45 discount but only for a limited time

The grace period to re-nominate your already enrolled Halter Futurity horse ends March 31. For an additional $100 per horse per country, you can maintain your horse's eligibility to compete as a three year old in Canadian and/or U.S. Nationals Halter Futurities.