The American Saddlebred Horse Association has announced that there has been more than $10,700 raised for the John Biggins ASHA Youth Scholarship. The final Biggins Fall Trail Ride raised a record-breaking $4,805 in donations from trail ride participants alone last Saturday. This successful fundraising effort will allow for ASHA to have both a 2019 and 2020 John Biggins ASHA Youth Scholarship recipient.
The final Biggins Fall Trail Ride was an event enjoyed by all. The Saddlebred community came together to honor a great horseman and his family. More than 20 riders gathered to participate in the ride. Biggins Stables generously provided mounts for all riders that did not have their own. It was a beautiful sunny fall day where two different groups took two hours to walk the pristine rolling bluegrass of Simpsonville, Kentucky. After each ride, a bonfire and s’mores celebration was enjoyed by all. This final Biggins Stables event was a time for people to meet and reminisce on the great memories of John Biggins and the love of the American Saddlebred horse.
The comradery of Saddlebred enthusiasts was not the only amazing aspect of the industry highlighted Saturday but also the diversity of the breed. Twelve American Saddlebreds participated among the two trail groups, each represented every level of the industry, from World Champion to pleasure horse. Five former and current show horses shined on the trail: CH Royal Messenger (108509) (WC, RWGC, RWC), Nightly In New York (143317) (RWCC), One Class Act (120489)1 (RWC), Daddy-O (109183) and Maccager (115037). Each of these horses, having won on the industry’s grandest stages in every division, won the hearts of all the participants with how well they led the trail ride. Also, a part of the trail group were three equine members of Renee Biggins Lesson Horse Training Program. These horses are individuals that may not be destined for greatness in the show ring, but their breeders know they have a purpose. Renee takes these horses as 3- and 4-year-olds and trains them through her lesson program. After they have completed the program, they are placed in jobs as lesson horses, pleasure mounts or at home practice horses. The conduct of all the horses on the trail is a testament to how adaptable and pleasing the great American Saddlebred is.
Thank you to Renee Biggins, Ashley Biggins and everyone from Biggins Stables who has supported ASHA Youth Scholarships for the past 25 years. To date, Biggins Bridle Bunch will now have contributed an astounding $40,000 towards ASHA Youth Scholarships from their Fall Trail Ride fundraisers. ASHA was represented this year at the ride by Executive Director Terri Dolan and Marketing Manager Jessica Cushing.
For anyone who would still like to donate to towards the John Biggins ASHA Youth Scholarship for 2021, please do so by visiting the donation page.
-- via ASHA