Planning for the Annual AHA Convention is already underway. Visit the AHA Annual Convention web page and access reservation services at both the Renaissance Tulsa and the Tulsa Homewood Suites by clicking here. There are many options for rooms and suites at each hotel, and availability is on a first come, first served basis. Even if you are not expected to participate as a delegate, all members are welcome to attend. This year's Convention is expected to be the biggest yet. Don't miss the opportunity to hear keynote speakers, participate in AHA business, see the future site for U.S. Nationals and kick off the celebration of 100 years of service. Start booking now!

On a scale of 1-10 AHA's corporate sales event surrounding the FBR Open PGA Golf Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz., was a solid 10, both in terms of meaningful corporate contacts made and general awareness for AHA and breed promotion. TV networks delivered their morning, mid-day and evening broadcasts directly next to the AHA tent and actually broadcasted a live cut-in, mentioning that they were "reporting live from the Arabian Horse Association's corporate tent on the 18th green." Proxy Partners, a company whose business it is to valuate corporate properties, set the AHA presence at the FBR conservatively at $150,000 in terms of brand awareness exposure. More than 350 new folks previously unknown to AHA attended evening Scottsdale Soiree parties at Brookville Arabians, Los Cedros and North Arabians. Potential corporate partners received a classy first-hand look at the magnificent Arabian horse. As a direct result of AHA's presence at FBR, 25 new corporate contacts (25 new companies) were made.

The program launch of Arabian Community Shows proved most successful. Click here to view the 2006 ACS High Point Winners. Each category winner, both adult and youth, will receive his or her award in the mail within the next two weeks. To check out the 2007 ACS calendar for an Arabian Community Show near you, and discover the fun of showing, click here.

All members can receive a printed version of the 2007 AHA Handbook. Just click here to order a handbook or call a Customer Service Representative at 303-696-4500 and press 4. Anyone can review or download a copy of the AHA Handbook by clicking here.

Get set for three AHA Trail Rides this year. Two have been confirmed, and one planned for the East Coast is in the preliminary stages. First up is the ride at Fort Robinson State Ranch in Crawford, Neb., from Sept. 12-16, 2007. The second ride is at the V-6 Ranch in Parkfield, Calif., from Sept. 26-30. Both offer quite a bit of scenery, good times and activities. Check out the details. Click here.

The AHA Frequent Rider Program (FRP) rewards riders for every hour spent riding or driving an Arabian or Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian horse in non-competitive activities. The best part of FRP is that the type of riding doesn't matter as long as it's non-competitive! Whether trail riding, schooling, taking riding lessons or parading down Main Street on the 4th of July, you can now receive recognition and rewards for doing what you love. Click here to signup now!

The Sport Horse Nationals is offering a special on becoming a Patron if you purchase it before Scottsdale. Increased pricing of $900 goes into effect March 1st, 2007. If you purchase a Patron package now, it will cost only $750. Be sure to book your Patron package before March 1st, 2007. The Sport Horse Nationals will be held at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Va., a beautiful pastoral setting that attracted 100 more horses than originally forecasted the last time the show was held in Lexington in '05. Contact Eri Hook at eri.hook@arabianhorses.org or call 303-696-4553.

The U.S. Nationals has announced they will accept only 120 Patrons this year, so be sure to book before they sell out. Remember, this is the last time the U.S. Nationals will be held in Albuquerque, so don't miss out on great seating and all the privileges that go along with becoming a U.S. Nationals Patron. Contact Eri Hook at eri.hook@arabianhorses.org or call 303-696-4553.

The 2007 National Omnibus Prize List will hit the mailbox of those who have competed at national events during the last four years in April.

New classes for '07 include:

• Youth: A/HA/AA Walk/Jog Trail 10 & Under EXHIBITION.
• Canada: Split out A/HA/AA Western Horsemanship JTR class into 13 & Under & 14-17 and added Arabian and Half-Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack classes
• Sport Horse: A/HA/AA Carriage Pleasure Driving Turnout and Drive and Ride Championships
• U.S.: Arabian Reined Cow Horse Open and ATR Championships and Half-Arabian Open and ATR Reined Cow Horse Championships

Audition tapes are requested from youth who will be attending the Youth Nationals this year who could sing the Canadian and U.S. National anthems during the final nights of the show. Please send your tapes to AHA and put "Attn: Youth Nationals Anthem" on the envelope.

The newly revised AHA Equitation Manual features 90 patterns! This expanded resource is a must-have for anyone interested in Equitation, Horsemanship and Showmanship. Written by equitation experts, the manual has diagrams, score cards, rules, detailed descriptions and a library of patterns for each discipline. The same great price of $15 includes shipping & handling, so order one today. Just click here.

Medal qualifications now apply to Western Horsemanship. Regional qualifications for this class remain unchanged. Exhibitors who earned three points or a Regional Top Five (or better) in 2006 are nationally qualified for 2007. All exhibitors not fully qualified by December 31, 2006, must qualify with a Regional Top Five (or better); or, win an AHA Horsemanship Medal; or have a total of 10 Medal points in AHA Horsemanship Medal Classes. Medal point calculations may be found on page 31 of Chapter 17 of the AHA Handbook. Click here.

The Education and Evaluation Commission (EEC) announces that the new halter scoring system is still in the development stage and will be presented for the first time at the Judges Seminar in March, 2007, in Denver, Colorado. Resolution 11-06 which was passed at the '06 convention will not take effect until April 1, 2008. Click here to view the finalized resolution. The creation of this system is a work in progress, and the EEC will provide a full explanation as soon as it is available.

A new book entitled Flight Without Wings: The Arabian Horse and the Show World, written by Patti Schofler has been published by The Lyons Press. It can be ordered by clicking here .

More members received Sweepstakes earnings in 2006 than ever before. More than $2.7 million in Sweepstakes prize money, Breeders Incentive and Nominated Sire payback went to owners and breeders out of a $3.1 million pot of available prize money. The 2006 earnings involved 5,922 horses and 4,416 owners, a 46 percent increase over the number of people receiving Sweepstakes checks in 2005. The biggest surprise was the hefty $37.86 per point paid which provided a bonus to those early adapters who signed up for the Points program before knowing exactly how much would be paid.

New for '07

• Allocated prize money for 2nd and 3rd level ATR dressage at regional shows
• Allocated prize money for Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Geldings In Hand at regional, Canadian and U.S. Nationals shows
• Discounted Nominated Sire only $1.500 (colts enrolled as Breeding Entries)
• Extended Breeding Entry deadline until March 31, 2007

Click here to read more about Sweepstakes or download a form.

Note: Sweepstakes Class Titles will no longer require "IABS" or "ABS," however, “ABS” may be used to denote the Sweepstakes Classes in a prize list(s) or you can use one of the following examples, *, $, etc. Event Management can review new Sweepstakes Class Codes on-line by clicking here.

The Arabian Cutting Horse Association is holding a membership meeting in conjunction with their 2007 membership drive on February 22 at 9:00 a.m. at the Monterra Restaurant in Scottsdale, Ariz. Anyone interested in learning more about the sport of Arabian Cutting is encouraged to attend. More information can be found by clicking here.

The April/May issue will be the inaugural issue of Modern Arabian Horse. It's your perfect opportunity to promote your Scottsdale winners. With extensive coverage of the 2007 racing season and Darley Awards, this issue provides the best and most cost-effective way to market your racing stallions and contenders. Remember that mares still need to be booked for the 2007 breeding season, so let your stallion be showcased in the magazine that everyone is waiting for, Modern Arabian Horse.

Don't miss out on this exciting issue. Breeders and trainers, call now to take advantage of special advertising rates just for you. Contact Jim Sullivan at (303) 696-4584 or at advertising@arabianhorses.org. The advertising reservation deadline for the April/May issue of Modern Arabian Horse is Friday, March 16, 2007.