Celebration of Arabian Sport Horse

A presentation that's sure to wow the crowd at Sport Horse Nationals this year will occur on Saturday, September 24, called the Celebration of the Arabian Sport Horse. The Saturday lineup includes afternoon clinics presented by dressage pioneer Hilda Gurney and Olympic eventing gold medalist David O'Connor, followed by the evening entertainment which features the Horse Illustrated Sport Horse Spectacular & Jumper Mini Prix showcasing dynamic renditions of extraordinary Arabian & Half-Arabian sport horses. Click here for more info.

New Classes

New this year is a Pleasure Carriage Driving Division sponsored by the Illini Arabian Horse Club which includes pleasure driving working, pleasure driving reinsmanship and "pick your route" obstacles. Also making its debut are three 2-year-old-sport-horse-in-hand jackpot classes for Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian geldings, colts and fillies.

Musical Freestyle Reminder

Individuals who want to participate in Musical Dressage Freestyle need to submit their applications by August 10.

Great Patron Deal

For only $750, patrons receive: two passes to the Patron's lounge for continental breakfast, light lunch and evening hors d'oeuvres, cocktail lounge during evening classes, reserve prime seating; preferred stalling, champion class sponsor privilege, center ring and official show program announcements, plus more! Deadline is August 4, 2005. Or become a Class Sponsor for just $200. Refer to the SHN Prize List for more details.

AHA held its 50 and 100 mile 2005 National Championship Endurance Rides in conjunction with the Biltmore Challenge on May 7 at the historic Biltmore Estate Equestrian Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Arabian division winners were Champion Syrocco Rime ridden by Margaret Sleeper who finished in 10.22 hours and Reserve and Best Conditioned Electric Smoke ridden by Connie Walker and owned by Dennis and Jonie Brucker. They won $5,000 and $2,500 in Sweepstakes prize money respectively.

Winners of the Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian 100 mile ride were champion Tonka Toi ridden by Connie Caudill and owned by Lois McAfee. Reserve and Best Conditioned was Duke ridden by Hernan Barbosa and owned by Steve Rojek. In the 50 mile division Arabian champion and reserve respectively were BA Suddid ridden by Bob Steller and Emphatic ridden by Danielle Kanavy and owned by her mother Valerie Kanavy. Read more here. Kudos to ride manager, Anne Ayala, who was instrumental in bringing the AHA ride to the Biltmore.

The Nominating Committee would like all potential officer candidates for 2005, excluding the present slate, to submit the application form to the committee chair, Mickey Aboussie, by August 18, 2005. The Committee will review the forms and the appropriate action will be taken that is consistent with an equitable presentation of eligible candidates. A decision on whether to have a candidates' forum will be predicated on the number of new candidates submitting applications.

Friday June 10 is the deadline for Youth Nationals entries. Try entering online.

Earn a cool $2,500 college scholarship if you've competed on a Sweepstakes horse during your youth career. Download an application here.

If you're in the Albuquerque vicinity during Youth Nationals, check out the free clinics sponsored by the APAHA (Arabian Professional & Amateur Horseman's Association). Clinics are open to all exhibitors and guests on Friday July 22 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. in the Dairy Barn Arena. Carole Stohlmann and Gary Dearth will present an English/Country English Pleasure clinic followed by a Western Pleasure clinic given by Michele Blackwell Betten and Gordon Potts. Immediately following the working cow classes on Friday afternoon, July 29, in the Rodeo Arena, the Arabian Cutting Horse Association will present a youth cutting demonstration.

The wildly successful Arabian Horsepower program will launch its second year at the Youth Nationals on Saturday morning, July 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This interactive program is designed to get local kids out and about meeting Arabian horses and their people. Last year, the Arabian horse community provided tremendous support and energy to make it work, and we hope to have the same response in '05. Here's how you can help.

• Escort newbies on tours
• Volunteer your barn to be a "fun fact learning stop"
• Provide attention-craving horses for kids to pet

Find out more in your Youth Nationals acknowledgement packet, or contact Susan Bavaria at susan.bavaria@ArabianHorses.org to volunteer.

The Aug/Sept, Oct/Nov and Dec/Jan issues of Arabian Horse Magazine are the year's biggest issues with photos and news from the national shows, plus great articles on longeing, sharp marketing ideas for small breeders, vet and trainer advice and more. Ad reservation deadlines are June 10, Aug. 10 and Oct 10. Call Christy Christiansen, 303-696-4584; advertising@ArabianHorses.org

If you'd like to order a printed version of the 2005 AHA Handbook, simply log in to the Members Only section here to submit your request, or call a Member Service Representative to order at 303-696-4500. The AHA Handbook is also available online 24-hours a day for all members to view and download here.

Did you know Equisure offers a very good mortality/major medical insurance rate for Arabian horses? Premiums start as low as $175 a year, and multi-horse discounts are available. Call today for a free, no-obligation quote for AHA members only. 1-800-752-2472 or visit Equisure.

Think of Choice Hotels when you're on the road for business or pleasure. Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn) offer a 20 percent discount to AHA members if you book your reservation ahead of time using the special AHA ID# 0082151. They also offer the Choice Privileges program that entitles you to more discounts. Make your reservation today online at choiceprivileges.com or by calling 1-800-258-2847

AHA welcomes Equine Pro Auctions as the newest sponsor of the AHYA Convention at the Youth Nationals July 22-23 in Albuquerque. They will help host the keynote speaker, David O'Connor, who currently serves as the USEF President and is an Olympic Eventer Gold medalist. Additional AHYA Convention sponsors are Hesten Park and the Hoffman Family, Strawberry Banks Farm and Equine Sports Medicine. All interested youth are encouraged to participate. Click here for info on events at Youth Nationals.

AHA will welcome back Platinum Performance, Inc. as an Official Sponsor of the U.S. Nationals to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, October 20-29, 2005. The company 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 from champion and reserve wins at the show. 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 (valued at $88) of Platinum Performance Equine. Check out their website for product information or call 800-553-2400.

Zia Graphics features Gladys Brown Edwards designs on mugs, luggage tags and mousepads this summer. Plus, new for the ladies are a fitted scoop-neck ladies T-shirt and a collared three quarter length sleeve shirt with lycra for an excellent fit. You can look good and feel comfortable all day in this specially designed clothing that's functional and stylish. Check out Zia Graphics online here. Better still, put your car in gear and hightail it down to Albuquerque for Youth Nationals where you can browse the items up close.

Regions and affiliate clubs can purchase customized products at bulk rates. Whatever you can think up, they can probably produce it just for your event. Go online or call Karin at 888-994-7274!