March 18, 2011

Correction to E-Broadcast of 2/23/11


Please accept my apologizes for an error in the last email that I sent to all of you.  In the announcement regarding the classes that will receive the new added paybacks in our Region 8 main ring show, I mistakenly listed English Pleasure  and omitted Reining in that list.  The correct list for both Purebreds and Half/Anglo Arabians for Amateurs is: Halter, Western Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, Country English Pleasure and Reining.  Please check the prize list for the exact class numbers for the added payback.   Again, sorry if this has caused any confusion.   Look forward to seeing you in June.


 


Attention Club Presidents - We would like to make this the Year of the Youth in Region 8.  In order to do that, we need your help.  Can you please provide to our Region 8 Youth Director, Barbie Wittenberg, LuckyLouie2200@aol.com (303) 661-9910, the name and contact information of your Youth President for your club?  If you don't have a youth division of your club, can you please give Barbie someone she can contact to share information with your youth.  Thanks in advance for your help.


In an effort to bring our Region 8 youth together and to make the Regionals an enjoyable experience for all, Barbie is organizing special activities and fund raisers during the Region 8 show this year.  I hope you will support her efforts to make it a good time for all.


Regards,


Cynthia M Richardson

Region 8 Director





Feb. 23, 2011

Dear Region 8 Members: 

Hope all of you are well and looking forward to spring.  It has been quite a winter for some of our members.  I know many of you headed off to Scottsdale for a break.  Hope your horses did well and you had a great time. 

Just wanted to report to you the highlights of the Feb. AHA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting: 

  1. 1. This is the meeting where the BOD must approve a budget for the next fiscal year (FY12) starting on April 1, 2011.  As I’m sure all of you know, AHA has been in a rebuild process for several years regarding their financial situation.  The budget for FY12 is very tight with an emphasis on recovery.  AHA, like all equine institutions, has been affected by the economy and will continue to be for at least the immediate future.  So, there has been a severe tightening of the expenses that AHA can control.  The Budget and Finance Committee worked very hard with staff and commissions to present a much more realistic budget to the BOD.  Thanks to Brad Short, AHA Controller, and Dave Corning, AHA Treasurer, the financials are presented to the BOD in a much more timely fashion and in a format that can be understood and analyzed.  This should allow the BOD the information it needs to help oversee the budget/financials throughout the year. 
  2. 2. Jim Hitt presented on behalf of the Sweepstakes Commission a new program beginning immediately.  No program will satisfy everyone’s desires, but the changes were passed to help to stimulate breeding and therefore entries into Sweepstakes with additional guaranteed payback to our exhibitors.  Please check out all of the changes on the AHA website as there may well be something you will like.  Briefly, here are some points of interest: 
  1. A. If you have not already, you have the opportunity to nominate mares bred in 2010 until March 31st without a penalty.  These would be breeding entries for the $400 fee. 
  2. B. The cost to nominate your stallions has decreased.  Discounted Nominated Sire (those that were breeding entries) went from $1500 to $1000.  If your stallion was not a breeding entry, those fees went from $3500 to $2000.  Non-Arabian Sires went from $4000 to $2500. 
  3. C. Original Entries (those horses not nominated in utero) are reduced until June 1, 2011.  The Original Entry fee for horses 5 Yrs & under is $10,000 and 6 Yrs & over is $5000. Previously, it was $15,000 for all age groups.   Please note that after June 1st, this category will be discontinued completely so it is now or never.  
  4. D. The points program is still in effect and it is guaranteed at $10 a point.   Remember to participate, you must enroll the sweepstakes horse each year for $100 before the show starts or the points won’t count. 
  5. E. There is a complete list of the rules and the payout classes on the AHA website.  Please check it out. 

Thanks to Jim for all his hard work to bring this new program forward for AHA members and their horses. 

  1. 3. During the President’s speech at convention last year, Lance Walters mentioned that AHA was working on new divisions for halter classes at the National Level.  Those will be held at the 2011 US Nationals and Canadian Nationals.  Essentially, there will be Championships for Yearlings,  one for 2 year olds and one for 3 year olds with a Juvenile Champion names from the Champion and Reserve from each of the 3 classes.  Then there will Championship classes for 4 & 5 year olds, one for 6 & 7 year olds, and one for 8 & over with a Senior Champion named from the Champion and Reserve from each senior class.   This will allow many more of our halter horses to have a fair place to compete with those of their own age group and allow for the excitement of Juvenile and Senior overall Champions. 
  2. 4. Several new classes have been added to the class list both for main ring and sport horse classes.  Again these classes are available on the AHA website and may be just what your show/horse needs. 

Regional News 

  1. 1. The show commission under the direction of Jim Porcher have spent the last 2 months working on new schedules for both the main ring show (June  7-11) and sport horse (June 17-19).  Both schedules will be posted as soon as changes are made to reflect the new National and Sweepstakes  classes.  Thanks to the show commission, Pat Thompson, JoAnne Read and Jim Hitt for their hard work! 
  2. 2. It is official.  There will be an additional $10,000 added to the main ring show this year!  Classes to include Purebred and HA/AA  in Amateur for Western Pleasure, Hunter Pleasure, English Pleasure, Country English Pleasure and Halter.  Check out the actual classes in the new premium book as soon as it is posted.  Please tell your friends wherever they live to come and play with us in Denver.  It promises to be a great show. 
  3. 3. New classes have been added to the Region 8 sport horse.  We are excited to have a new facility.  Colorado Springs offers lots of hotels, restaurants and fun activities for the whole family.  The new schedule offers more opportunities of everyone.  Hope to see you there.
  4. 4. You should have received an email blast from Barbie Wittenberg, the 2011 Youth Director.  She has a ton of enthusiasm so I hope that our youth will be motivated to participate.  Don’t forget to be gathering your data to apply for the Youth Scholarships for Region 8.  Also check out the USEF High School Letter program – allows our youth to earn a sport’s letter for their efforts in the equine world. 
  5. 5. Attention 2011 Delegates.  Don’t forget that you need a passport to travel to/from Canada.  Apply early so you don’t have to pay a rush fee. FYI, part of the FY12 budget was to raise the delegate fee $25 starting with this year’s convention.
  6. 6. The Nominating Committee for this year is Liz Wheeler – CO, Rusty Cook – NM and Misty McGinnis – KS.  Elections will be held for the Show Commission at our June meeting.  Please contact one of these ladies if you are interested in one of those positions.  Also, since we elect our Officers a year out, elections will be held at 2011 convention for the terms 2013 & 2014.  If you would like to run for Director, Vice Director, Secretary or Treasurer again please contact one of the above.  

Regards, 


Cynthia M Richardson

Region 8 Director  














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