Countless members have contacted AHA about helping individuals, horses and other animals faced with the horrific conditions brought on by Hurricane Katrina. AHA supports the efforts of many organizations and applauds our members for their concern. The AHA staff has raised almost $1,000 for the American Red Cross and the association is sending a donation to the Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams, an offshoot of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation, who are doing direct hands-on care with horses and animals in Louisiana and Mississippi. Both immediate and long-term relief efforts are needed from providing "foster barns" and transportation services to donations. Click here to find reputable organizations that are in need of your help.

Surpassing everyone's expectations, the Sport Horse Nationals, to be held from September 21-25 in Lexington, Va., will have 550 plus horses and more than 1900 entries. There are 90 horses in Training Level Dressage alone! In addition to the super competition, there will be the exciting Celebration of Arabian Sport Horse on Saturday, September 24. Don't miss this exciting event. Bring all your friends! Click here for details.

Check out the results and view a photo gallery from the AHA National Competitive Trail Ride held on August 27 and 28, 2005, in Oakwood, Ill.

The AHA Convention is in Fort Worth, Texas, at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, November 16-20, 2005. The Early-Bird Convention Registration Deadline ends on Friday, September 16, 2005. To take advantage of the early-bird discount rate, click here to complete the form online or print out the registration form and fax it to (303) 696-4599. Make hotel reservations at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, 1-800-468-3571/817-870-1000 or online at Marriott.com. Mention AHA Convention for discounted rates or use the group code "ahrahra." Single/Quad rooms are $109 (plus applicable taxes). October 19th is the special rate cut-off.

Check out ArabianRacingCup.com , a brand new website just launched to let people know all about the Arabian Cup Championships. Next race is October 15 at Delaware Park, only a few miles down the road from the North American Endurance Championships. Double your pleasure and attend both!

Anyone wishing to be on an AHA Committee in 2006 and have their name printed in the 2006 AHA Handbook needs to sign up by October 1, 2005. Committee sign up is available online in the Members Only area of the AHA website. To access the Committee sign-up section, just click on the members info tab on the left of the screen after inputting your Membership # and PIN #. (While you're in the Members Only section, make sure to update any contact information by selecting "update personal information" on the left side of the screen.). If you do not have Internet access or encounter any problems with online sign-up, please call (303) 696-4500 and a Member Service Rep will be happy to assist you.

Expo Square Tulsa and the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau have teamed up to help sponsor the 2005 Arabian Horse Judging Contest Scholarships. The contest will be held at the U.S. Nationals in Albuquerque on October 28.

Tulsa will be the site of the 2008 U.S. Nationals. The city is working on improvements in preparation for hosting the show. Among the upgrades are: a new 125' by 225' arena with climate-control added to the North Arena building; the construction of a new barn north of the Pavilion that can house 300 stalls; improved restroom facilities, concessions, and expanded seating capacity to almost 2,700 in the Livestock Arena; and the construction of VIP boxes in the Pavilion building.

Bennett Fine Jewelry has designed several new dressage stock pins to provide a finishing touch for the show ring or wearing about town. The traditional stock pin available with or without diamonds features designs similar to those found on the Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian saddle pad patches. View or purchase one of these unique pieces by clicking here.

Be the first to get your new 2005 U.S. Nationals jacket. The new warm burgundy and teal color scheme has a rich, warm feel perfect for winter months. Click here to view the new design and buy yours today.

People selling horses online may be receiving buyer inquiries from a third party regarding the purchase of a horse from a potential buyer in another country. This inquiry commonly attempts to arrange the purchase of the horse with a counterfeit cashier's check covering the price of the horse and shipping. After the horse has been shipped, they ask you to refund the overpayment as part of a finders' fee, etc. This fact is not uncovered until the horse and the finder's fee have been forwarded to the scam artists.

To protect you and your horses, it is important to try and obtain as much information about the buyer as possible. If you suspect a buyer may be involved in this or similar scams, you can file a complaint with the United States Federal Trade Commission Consumer Complaint center here. In Canada, find scam information through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police site here.

If you're at the U.S. Nationals this year, don't miss the debut of the new Judges Hall of Fame to be presented as part of the Trade Fair exhibits. Also, sign up for the Judges School to be held in Denver on December 8-10, 2005. Click here for more information. The Standards of Excellence Video series is now complete and available in VHS or DVD format. In addition to In-Hand, English Pleasure and Hunter Pleasure, you can now order Showmanship and Western Pleasure. Call to order at 303-696-4539.

If your stallion isn't a Nominated Sire and you always wanted to enroll him, now is the time to get him into the Sweepstakes Program at a great discount. Discounted rates for Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. If the stallion was a Breeding Entry, it's even lower! Check out the discounts. Click here.

When you stay just two separate times at any Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion or MainStay Suites hotel in the U.S., you'll earn enough points for a free night on a future stay at most of Choice Hotels almost 3,000 locations nationwide. The more you stay between September 1 and November 30, the more free nights you can earn. The Choice Privileges rewards program is easy, fast and free to join, so click here and join today. For reservations or more information, click here or call 800.4-CHOICE. Use your AHA #00802151 for a 20 percent discount.

If you coach or are a member of a 4-H, FFA, AHA, or collegiate equine judging team, you can enter the Arabian Youth Judging Contest held at the U.S. Nationals. All contestants judge a rigorous schedule of four halter and six performance classes that must be evaluated, compared, and placed objectively. Great prizes and a breakfast awards banquet! Postmark deadline is September 22. Download an entry form here.

AHA members can attend Horseman's Day sponsored by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers on Sunday, December 4. This all-day event is packed full of educational seminars geared to the horse owner. Learn how healthy teeth will make your horse happy, how to bandage and manage wounds and get the facts about laminitis. Lunch is included in the cost. AHA members can receive $5 off the price of every registration by entering the promotional code AHA51 in the designated area online. Deadline for early registration ends November 4th.Click here for information.