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~ Press Release ~
Arabian Press Releases include: Arabian Wins Four Mounted Shooting World Championships AHA Becomes AERC Platinum Sponsor Discounted Registration Fee Offered for Older Arabian Horses Alaina Blake to Represent U.S. at Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup 2004 Canadian Arabian Nationals Just Around the Corner AHOF Initiates
New Distance Award Arabian Wins Four Mounted Shooting World Championships Small isn’t just beautiful. It’s also fast. A Splash of Flash (Crescendo Al Badi x Regal Blood), a 7/8th Half-Arabian pinto registered with the Arabian Horse Association (AHA), and his owner Kimberly Harmon of Hesperia, California, have combined the two in a dazzling display of quick maneuvering and marksmanship. In the past five years, the pair has clinched four national mounted shooting world championships, two Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) championships in ’99 (women’s and high-point) and the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) cowgirl championship in 2000 and 2004. Their sport--mounted shooting--combines Wild West show exhibition shooting and historical reenactment with cavalry drills, reining and barrel racing skills. Contestants use two .45-caliber, single-action revolvers, each loaded with five rounds of special blank ammunition designed to break 10 targets (balloons) Shooters fire rounds at five targets while negotiating barrels that require quick stops, turns and lead changes. In the rundown, they gallop full speed, firing the second pistol at the remaining five balloons. Scoring is based on elapsed time, plus a five-second penalty for each target missed or barrel knocked over. An average course takes 18 to 25 seconds to complete. Flash routinely turns in 15-20 second runs. Harmon attributes Flash’s quick times to his Arabian heritage that blessed him with a smooth stride, lightning-fast responses and speed. “You have to cock your gun five times in a row so every second stride is a shot. His fluidity allows me to concentrate on aiming,” says Harmon. “He turns and collects up on a dime, and immediately moves over to a target with a shift of my shoulder or hip Even though he’s just 14.1 hands, he can reach out like a Thoroughbred in the rundown.” A natural athlete, he demonstrated his prowess by doing rollbacks in his stall and effortless flying lead changes as a hunter/jumper in open and Arabian shows. When friends in mounted shooting suggested Harmon try the sport because she was adept at handling guns and horses and routinely participated in old west reenactments with her family, she decided to start training Flash on barrels. “I began learning our pocket going around barrels and how to rate and collect him, and he caught on fast” says Harmon. “To get Flash used to gunfire, I fired cap guns, moved to a .22 and then a .45 caliber.” Today Flash is one of the most mellow horses in the arena, walking quietly through the gate and dropping down to a gentlemanly walk after crossing the timer. He’s won more than 20 silver belt buckles, saddles, bridles, trophies, ribbons and conchos in national, regional and state competition. Fame has turned Flash into an old west model. He’s performed at numerous Wild West shows, including the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles. Flash has been featured in both a pinto horse and cowgirl calendar, appeared on an eight-page spread in David Stoecklein’s Cowgirls in Heaven and graced the cover of a European magazine on mounted shooting This year the pair embarked on a stint as stunt doubles for several old west movies and an opera. “In one galloping scene, I had to hang on Flash’s offside and shoot underneath his neck,” says Harmon. Her favorite assignment? Performing as a stunt double for the lead singer, Katherine Malfitano, LA Opera’s, The Girls of the Golden West. “The lead male singer, Placido Domingo, is one of the world’s foremost opera singers, so it was quite an honor to be selected to work on that production.” Flash is sure
to reap more honors as he and Harmon pursue their movie career.
AHA is a 46,000 member equine association that registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes almost 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.
AHA Becomes AERC Platinum Sponsor The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) recently signed an agreement with the American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) to become a Platinum Sponsor. This is a major effort to support many who actively ride and compete with Arabian horses in the endurance sport. “It’s a natural fit for AHA to be supporting AERC because the Arabian makes such an outstanding endurance horse. I welcome the opportunity to get involved with their organization through sponsorship,” says AHA President Bill Hughes. AERC reported in the February 2004 issue of AERC News that Arabians are the breed of choice for endurance riders. Arabian, Half-Arabian, Anglo-Arabian and related crosses comprised 82 percent of total entries for the 2003 ride season and dominated rankings, capturing 91 percent of first places. Purebred Arabians also earned 76 percent of best condition awards. Since 1984, when AERC started keeping computerized records, the use of Arabian horses has risen by 20 percent. To reward distance riders for competing in AHA sanctioned endurance rides and/or competitive trail rides, AHA has several distance riding programs. Competitive
Distance Program - rewards riders with lapel pins at 250 miles and
pins and prizes ranging from AHA T-shirts to fleece jackets from
250 to 5,000 miles Although different breeds participate in distance riding sports, Arabians excel because they have shorter, stronger backs that allow them to carry substantial weight in comfort and large nostrils and windpipe for greater lung capacity. Arabians also tend to exhibit greater bone density and hoof quality with better shock absorption. Their hooves are more dense and larger than other breeds, helping them to stay sound longer. In addition, the lighter muscling of an Arabian horse dissipates heat and lactic acid more readily than other breeds. AHA is a 46,000 member equine association that registers and maintains a database of more then one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes almost 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.
Discounted Registration Fee Offered for Older Arabian Horses Do you have an unregistered Arabian, Half-Arabian or Anglo-Arabian that is 2 years old or older in your barn? The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) “Amnesty Program” for older horses offers reduced registration fees for domestic horses. Purebred Arabian horses age 2 and older are eligible if their parentage can be qualified through blood typing or DNA and they meet all registration requirements. Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses must also meet registration requirements. The Amnesty Program starts on Sept.1, 2004, and runs through March 31, 2005. At $250, owners save 50 percent off purebred Arabian registration. Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian owners pay $75 which is a 35 percent savings. A $15 fee is assessed if ownership needs to be transferred. Owners greatly expand their options to participate in programs and competitions when they register horses. Shows, distance rides, races, prize money, awards, recognition and the camaraderie of sharing many activities with other Arabian horse enthusiasts are some of the benefits enjoyed by owners with registered horses. To qualify, purebred Arabians must have both sire and dam blood type or DNA profile on record with AHA. If one parent is blood typed, the other parent must also be blood typed. If one parent has DNA on file, the other parent must have DNA on file. If either parent’s blood type or DNA is not on file, that horse must be available for testing and the fee is $65 per horse. For foals born between 1991 and 2001, parentage can be verified through either blood or DNA testing. Foals born in 2002 and later must have their parentage verified with DNA testing. You can find out if a horse’s parents have blood type or DNA on file by contacting AHA or going to ArabianHorses.org and signing up for DataSource Online. To obtain a registration application, call AHA or download it from ArabianHorses.org/Registration.
AHA is a 46,000 member equine association that registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes almost 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.
Alaina Blake to Represent U.S. at Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup This Oct. 6-9, Alaina Blake of Fenton, Michigan, will represent the U.S. three-gaited team in the Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup in Lexington, Kentucky. Blake, the first Arabian or Half-Arabian rider to make the United States team, qualified for the tryouts by winning the UPHA (United Professional Horsemen’s Association) Challenge Cup at National Show Horse Finals with her Half-Arabian, Marys Gift (Justafire DGL x La Mirabella), last September. The Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup, started 15 years ago and formalized in 1992, is held every two years and features the best saddle seat equitation riders from Canada, the United States, Namibia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Each team has a three-gaited and five-gaited division with five riders and one alternate in each division. Team members are required to bring two horses (Blake is taking two Half-Arabians and/or Arabians), but riders will draw straws for horses. At stake is a large gold and diamond encrusted perpetual trophy. Blake first started riding as a 3-year-old and has shown saddle seat equitation since she was a walk/trot rider. She also competes in country English, park and English pleasure at Youth Nationals, but lists equitation as her favorite discipline. Blake says, “I love the competition in equitation. All the girls are very competitive—we are all friends but when but when we put our tuxedos on we are all about the competition.” Blake first heard about the Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup as a 13 and under equitation rider. “My parents and I were watching the 14-17 UPHA Challenge Cup at Youth Nationals and they said that the winner was eligible to tryout for the World Cup team,” says Blake. Several years later Blake was nervously waiting her turn at the March 11-12 U.S World Cup Trials as 30 riders from the Arabian, Morgan, National Show Horse and Saddlebred circuits competed for the five coveted spots in each division at Williams Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. In addition to UPHA champions and association nominees, who receive an automatic bid for the selection trials, the year’s other successful riders could apply for one of the remaining nine three-gaited spots at the trials or one of the 9 other five-gaited slots. Eligible riders were not allowed to bring a horse with them, but rode four equitation horses belonging to the university. Riders were selected for the team based on their performance in equitation, both rail and pattern work, and a series of interviews with three of the Williams Woods University professors.
“I didn’t expect to make the team because an Arabian rider had never made the team and the Saddlebred riders are so good,” says Blake. “The pattern work was extremely difficult; it took each rider four minutes--patterns at Nationals do not take more than two minutes. The horses we rode were difficult as well. I started to think, ‘I can do this,’ so I stepped it up and did my best and made the three-gaited team.” Blake, who will head to Tennessee to train with team coaches Bill and Lisa Waller in late September, is looking forward to the challenge. “I am very excited and honored to compete for the United States,” she says. Another Arabian rider, Leanne Tomanek, of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, joins Blake at the Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup to represent Canada. This is Tomanek’s second journey to the World Cup Championships after winning a bronze medal for Team Canada in 2000 at the age of 18. Tomanek was the first AHA member to be named to any country's team.
AHA is a major breed association serving 46,000 members across North America that registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces championship events, recognizes almost 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.
2004 Canadian
Arabian Nationals Just Around the Corner The 47th annual Canadian National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show (Canadian Nationals), affectionately known as “The Royal Red,” kicks off Aug. 23 at the Regina Exhibition Park. The weeklong event features top-level horse show competition and a commercial trade fair. The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) of Aurora, Colo., produces the event, which is held Monday, Aug. 23 through Saturday, Aug. 28, and open to the public. Admission (Canadian dollars) is $7.50 for adults and $4 for seniors and children under 12, per session. Commercial trade fair admission is free. Events will run from 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. most days in three sessions at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. daily. Canadian Nationals stands alone as the only AHA championship show offering a full range of competition with Canadian flair. Spectators can enjoy 145 different classes in youth, western, dressage, hunter and English disciplines. Last year’s largest class was Arabian Hunter Pleasure with 43 entries. New additions for the 2004 show include sport horse under saddle classes and more options for amateur reiners. More than $400,000 in Breeders Sweepstakes and Halter Futurity prize money is available for class winners. Last year’s event drew more than 25,000 spectators and brought in approximately 1,000 horses from Canada and the United States. The Economic impact to Regina is estimated at $5.5 million (U.S. dollars). In addition to horse show competition, held in amateur and open divisions, the event features a shopping expo and several special events. The shopping expo is free to the public, offering more than 30 booths with items such as tack, equestrian gifts, clothing and jewelry and is open from 9 a.m. through 8 p.m. daily (9 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 28). On Monday, the public can visit the Fred Mill Mall in downtown Regina for Royal Red Day; anyone wearing red will receive two free tickets to a show session. Other special events include a BBQ lunch for Canadian Nationals exhibitors on Tuesday, August 24, sponsored by the Royal Red Host Committee and Regina businessmen. AHA’s corporate partners include: Arabian Saddle Company, Inc., Equisure, Inc., MBNA, MD Barns Inc., Pegasus Vans and Trailers, Pfizer Inc., and Turtle Neck by Paint Rock Designs. Event sponsors include Pellar Estates, Regina Exhibition Park, Regina Hotels Association, Royal Red Host Committee, Sask Power, The City of Regina, The Leader Post, The Province of Saskatchewan and Wolf Springs Ranch. The AHA press office is located in the Canadian Nationals show office at Regina Exhibition Park. Press passes, show programs and current class schedules are available here, as are tentative class and special events schedules. Show results can be found at ArabianHorses.org/CNL.
AHA is a major breed association serving 46,000 members across North America that registers and maintains a database of more than one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces championship events, recognizes almost 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.
AHOF Initiates New Distance Award The Arabian Horse Owners Foundation (AHOF), in cooperation with the Arabian Horse Association (AHA), has initiated a new Distance Horse of the Year Award for 2004. The award is a walnut plaque with a facsimile of a bronze sculpture by Joe Staheli that immortalizes the distance horse. The award will be presented for a significant accomplishment in the distance sports as determined by the Distance Horse of the Year Committee. The original sculpture is a perpetual trophy that will remain on display at the AHA office with yearly winners engraved on its base. The nomination process is as follows: 1) All nominated horses must be Arabians, Half-Arabians or Anglo-Arabians registered with AHA, CAHR or CPAR, and the owner of the nominated horse must be a current AHA member in the nomination year. 2) Any AHA member can nominate a horse. 3) Official nomination forms will be available on ArabianHorses.org or directly from the AHA office. 4) A member's horse may be nominated more than once, but may be selected for the award only once. 5) Nominations will be submitted to the Distance Horse of the Year Award committee. This committee comprises the Chairs of the Awards, Competitive Trail Ride and Endurance Committees and one member at large from both the Competitive Trail Ride and Endurance Committees. 6) Nomination deadline is Sept. 1st of each calendar year 7) Nominations will be reviewed and a horse selected by the Distance Horse of the Year Award Committee at the AHA Annual Convention. If nominated horses do not meet the criteria established, the Committee reserves the right to postpone the presenting of an award until a horse is nominated that meets the requirements. You can download the Distance Horse of the Year Award from ArabianHorses.org/activities/forms and fees. Distance riders are encouraged to nominate their horses by the September 1 deadline to be considered for the award. The Arabian Horse Association is a 46,000 member equine association that registers and maintains a database of more then one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It publishes the bimonthly Arabian Horse Magazine, administers $4 million in annual prize money, produces national events, recognizes almost 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership For information, log on to ArabianHorses.org or call 303-696-4500.
The AHP Newsgroup is a benefit of membership and provides members with timely information about AHP activities and newsworthy items to the list of AHP member email addresses. On approval, messages are sent from the AHP administrative office. Submissions must contain information about an AHP member. A non-member may submit the message on behalf of an AHP member. These messages and/or press releases should include information that would be of interest to the general membership. Solicitations are not allowed except for charitable organizations. Messages should not include statements that may harm the reputation or relationship with a fellow AHP member. Messages should be sent as unformatted text in an email message to ahorsepubs@aol.com. Do not send attached files. Members are limited to two press releases per month. These news items are also listed online under Communiques for easy reference.
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