NEWS

The United States Equestrian Federation has announced that it has initiated proceedings to terminate the recognized affiliate status of the American Endurance Ride Conference as soon as possible following the AERC Board of Director’s approval of a disaffiliation motion on January 14, 2019, indicating that it wishes to terminate its affiliation with USEF as of December 1, 2019. While USEF shares AERC’s concerns regarding horse welfare, the Federation considers this delayed disaffiliation to be contrary to the best interest of the future of endurance sport on a national and international level. During AERC’s p

The Minnesota Limited Breeders Stallion Service Auction allows participants the chance to breed to top American Saddlebred stallions and win prize money in the Minnesota Limited Breeders Stake. This year includes services to top stallions, including Sir William Robert, Booker Noe, Gothic Revival, Samur, Delirium, Diabolical and many more. Phone bidding has started and will continue until 7 p.m. on February 9. Contact Margaret Easton (612) 618-0285; Stephanie Beckman (952) 412-5812; or Don Tradup (507) 884-1503 to place your bids. Also, members of the Minnesota Limited Breeders committee will be on hand to answer questions and take live bids until 7 p.m. on February 9, 2

The 2019 American Morgan Horse Association Convention is going to be a new kind of Convention. Slated to take place February 7-9 in San Antonio, Texas, at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, the weekend begins Thursday with the AMHA Board of Directors meeting and Open session, followed by a two-hour discussion on the state of the Morgan industry and the USEF Safe Sport Act. A barn clinic will take place that afternoon at Diane and Murphy Lents' Twisted Rose Farm, followed by a barbeque dinner and dance on the premises. On Friday, Patrick Benson of "War Horses for Veterans" will give the keynote address followed by a private tour of Sea World. Friday evening will be "A Night Under th

The American Saddlebred Museum is holding a workshop entitled Trophy Flowers on Thursday, February 21, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Museum, located at 4083 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, Kentucky. Floral designer Elizabeth Hemphill of Rose & Thistle will demonstrate how to create the perfect floral arrangement for a trophy. Participants should bring their own vessel which will be used to create a design to take home. Workshop instructor, Elizabeth Hemphill, is a life-long Saddlebred enthusiast. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and has many fond memories of showing her American Saddlebreds across the country. Rose & Thistle specializes in weddings and high-end events, and Elizabeth draws from European tr

Reservations for the host hotel for the 2019 American Morgan Horse Association Convention, the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, are selling fast and have been extended to Thursday, January 17. The 2019 AMHA Convention dates are February 7-9. The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa is a beautiful luxury resort and AMHA is offering a special room rate -- a savings of more than $100 with the $35 resort fees included in the room rate. Reserve a room(s) now so you can stay on site! Contact the hotel at (210) 647-1234 and request that your reservation be placed under the AMHA’s Annual Convention group rate for $199 (single/double) plus taxes per night. AMHA cannot guarantee a

AMERICAN SADDLEBRED HORSE ASSOCIATION AOT Awards This award, which was launched in 2018, is designed to recognize the achievements of the AOT’s exhibiting horses registered with the American Saddlebred Registry and competing in all disciplines at all levels. SINGLE HORSE DIVISION Phyllis Brannon, Pittsburgh, PA Courtney Stefanik, Linden, MI MULTIPLE HORSE DIVISION Joan Hammond, Xenia, OH Stacey Kipper-Perrelli, Aurora, CA _____________ ASHA Breed Ambassador Awards ASHA has announced the fourth annual ASHA Breed Ambassador Award winners. The ASHA Breed Ambassador Award was designed to recognize those ac

The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Foundation has announced that it has received an endowment gift of $1 million from William Blacklaw of Oregon City, Oregon, which will be used to establish the “Barbara Blacklaw Memorial Fund”  to benefit the Kentucky State Fair World Championship Horse Show. The endowment will be invested in an interest-bearing account. Accrued interest on the endowment will be disbursed annually, commencing in August 2019, to provide additional prize money to the owners of ribbon winners of the Five-Gaited World’s Grand Championship competition held on the final night of the World’s Championship Horse Show each year. “We cannot thank Mr. Blacklaw enough

For the first time ever, the United Professional Horsemen's Association Live Auction items, as well as exclusive once-in-a-lifetime Silent Auction Ride/Drives on current World Champions are now being offered with live bidding to the public. To bid now on the items listed below, click on the following link: UPHALiveBidNow 1) Four-day/three-night stay in Carson Kressley's Park Avenue Apartment in the Big Apple: Coach airfare for two from anywhere in the Continental US. Two tickets to a Broadway show - Your choice of: Phantom of the Opera or King Kong with a private backstage tour with one of the stars, followed by dinner for two

The Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Centennial Horse Show has made the difficult decision to not host a 2019 show. The decision was made in part due to decreasing numbers in participants/horses, financial contributions and dates that would consistently compete with out-of-state shows which made it no longer sustainable to continue in a manner that provided a high-quality horse show for participants. Any questions, contact at okchorseshow@gmail.com. -- via American Morgan Horse Association

The American Saddlebred Futurity of Iowa Limited Breeders' Auction will take place February 9, 2019, at 5 p.m. at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, in Altoona, Iowa. First-time buyers credit is available prize money in excess of $30,000. Download the flyer for more information. -- via American Saddlebred Horse Association

The American Saddlebred Museum has announced that the 25th Annual Victory Pass Raffle will be held (before Kentucky State Fair room contracts are due) during the Kentucky Spring Premier Horse Show in April. The much-anticipated event is an annual favorite with an exciting chance to win a premium package to the World’s Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Kentucky. For $10 per ticket, or a pack of 12 tickets for $100, attendees can purchase the opportunity to win a prize package worth more than $3,600, including: A week’s stay at the Crown Plaza Louisville August 18-25 4 Lower Level Box Seats for every performance A VIP Parking Pass for the week Golf Cart Re

US Equestrian has announced the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Coaching Team. Coach Christy Parker (Brunswick, Ga.) and Assistant Coach Mary Mag Wilson (Cave Creek, Ariz.) will work together in coaching the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Stars and Stripes Teams. The Stripes Team will compete at the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational Test Event on May 2-3 in New Orleans, Louisiana, against teams from South Africa. The Stars Team will compete at the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational Test Event on October 31 - November 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada, against Canada. Parker has more than 25 years of experience teaching, training, and coaching. She is the instructor of multiple saddle seat Equitation champions and U.S. Sadd

US Equestrian has announced the selection of the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Stripes and Stars Teams. The Stripes Team will compete at the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational Test Event from May 2-3, in New Orleans, Louisiana, against teams from South Africa. The Stars Team will compete at the 2019 U.S. Saddle Seat Invitational Test Event from October 31 - November 2, in Las Vegas, Nevada, against Canada. Following an incredible number of applications received from saddle seat breed members around the country, the following athletes have been selected to the U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Stripes and Stars Teams. U.S. Saddle Seat Young Riders Stripes Team Three-Gaited Kerrianne Adamek (Murrysvi

The American Saddlebred Horse Association will join the United Professional Horsemen's Association Conference for 2019 in beautiful Southern California at the Riviera Resort and Spa in Palm Springs, California. Members are invited to join ASHA and attend the ASHA Annual Membership meeting on January 17. ASHA EVENTS AND MEETINGS Wednesday, January 16, 2019 ASHA Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, January 17, 2019 ASHA Luncheon and Awards Presentation ASHA Annual Membership Meeting ASHA Riding Program Council Friday January 18, 2019 ASHA Charter Club Council Saturday January 19, 2019 ASHA Strateg

Voting is open for the 2019 Election of American Morgan Horse Association Board of Directors. Electronic (email) ballots and instructions were emailed to all eligible voters on December 21, 2018. In addition, hard copy ballots were mailed to all eligible voters on December 14, 2018. All 2018 AMHA members 18 years of age and older and in good standing are eligible to cast a vote. Paper ballots were mailed to the addresses on file with the AMHA office. Electronic ballots (in addition to the paper ballots) were emailed if the eligible voter had an email on file with AMHA. Members may vote either by using the paper ballot or voting via the online voting portal. If you did not receive an electronic ballot (in your inbox or junk m

The 34th annual Wisconsin Limited Breeders Stallion Service Auction will be held Sunday, January 13, 2019, at the Thunder Bay Restaurant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event begins at 11 a.m. with a buffet brunch followed by the annual meeting at 12:30 p.m. The live stallion service auction will begin at 1 p.m., featuring the nation's top producing stallions. Weanlings declared from the sold stallions will compete for top prize money in 2020 at the Wisconsin Futurity Horse Festival. Prize money is paid to 10 places.  The Dr. Rick Luft Limited Breeders Weanling Stake of Wisconsin was the first American Saddlebred prize program of its kind in the nation. It is the second largest program in

The American Saddlebred Registry will be offering amnesty on penalty fees for complete Transfers of Ownership postmarked in February 2019. This means that penalty fees will not be assessed regardless of the date of sale. The $65 transfer fee will apply. This is a great opportunity to update recorded ownership on registered horses where the chain of ownership is not current. Note, that in order to be eligible for the amnesty rate, all necessary signatures, documents and fees must be included with the original submission. In addition, if you are not in possession of the registration certificate with the gold seal, a notarized affidavit will have to be submitted along with four current color photos and a $50 fee.

Runway and Rescue will take place on Friday, February 15, at 7 p.m. at Churchill Down’s Starting Gate Suite. American Saddlebred Museum board member Carson Kressley will emcee the evening’s festivities, which include a fashion show, entertainment, cocktails, and heavy hors d’oeuvres. This fundraiser event will benefit the American Saddlebred Museum and select, non-profit, American Saddlebred rescues. Rodeo Drive will provide fashions modeled by professionals as well as members of the Saddlebred community. Sponsorship opportunities for Runway and Rescue are available at the $5,000, $2,500, $500 levels and individual tickets are $75 per person ($100 for non-members). Tickets can be purchased on

The American Saddlebred Horse Association has announced that it is in need of understanding the business and corporate affiliations of its membership base. In an effort to gain a more informed look at who its members are, the association is promoting a survey of the membership. Survey responses are greatly appreciated and will be the start of a major opportunity to further the development and promotion of the American Saddlebred. ASHA Sponsorship Survey -- via ASHA

The American Morgan Horse Association has announced the horses that have earned Open Competition Medallions following the 2018 competition year. AMHA will present the awards at the new “Night Under the STARS” event in San Antonio, Texas, at the 2019 Annual Meeting and Convention on Friday, February 8. (Medallions not picked up at this event will be mailed to the owners at the address on file with AMHA the following week.)   OPEN SHOWS Bronze CAL Shining Star Fox Brush Custom Design Leambro Somelikeithot She’s Isadora Silver Glass Rail’s Ebony Tigre Gold Springlake Not

Following the Thursday morning American Morgan Horse Association Board of Directors meeting (which is open to all) on February 7, there will be an entire seminar session covering all things regarding Safe Sport. Moderators will include US Equestrian’s CEO Bill Moroney, and legal counsel, Sonja Keating. Following the Safe Sport Seminar, AMHA will move into an open forum session in a town hall type setting. Attendees with questions and concerns should be sure to attend the seminar so they can receive the latest information and express their thoughts. The Convention will be held February 6-9 in San Antonio, Texas. Visit https://www.morganhorse.com/media-events/convention/ for more information. -- via AMHA