May 28, 2008

Good day everyone.

A great deal is happening now that we are in the middle of show season.

Foaling and breeding are in high gear. The Region 5 Championship show is just around the corner. Northwest horse shows are up in entries. Fuel prices have everyone’s attention. Changes are on the horizon for the Arabian Horse Association. All this and we hope that Mother Nature is done surprising us with her wild mood swings.

Congratulations to the volunteers who put on the Youth Benefit shows this year. The Region 5 All Breed Clinic and Schooling Show in Walla Walla on April 19 and 20 was once again a success with more entries than last year and dedicated volunteers who braved the inclement weather.

Thank you to Bobbi Prescott and her crew John Givens, Mary Wilbright, Terri Olson, Angelia Smith, Ted Wenham and others for putting on the clinic and show. Thank you to Deb Witty, Jackie Davenport, and Ron Palelek, for volunteering their time in supporting the weekend as clinicians. The Cascade Youth Benefit Show over mother’s Day weekend was also a success. Entries were up from last year and the show added a day to the schedule. Debbie Hinds spearheaded the enhanced show and I overheard her making plans for even more for next year. There is a list of Thank Yous later in this newsletter for the volunteers and those that donated time or prizes.

Region 5 affiliated clubs have had a great start to the show season. I know that entries were up at the Northwest Heritage and Daffodil Spring Shows. I already mentioned that numbers were up at the Cascade Show. I just finished judging the North Cascade Arabian Clubs ACS show in Lyden and their participation was up from previous years. The Region 5 Sport Horse Show was held while this newsletter was being printed. Entries are way up and they have hired extra judges for the Dressage and In Hand classes. I must applaud our Region 5 Arabian and Half Arabian enthusiasts. The Northwest does not seem to be reacting in the same way as the rest of the nation. Shows on the East coast are down by 50% in some areas. At the AHA Board of Directors meeting the National Show commissions have adjusted their budgets in expectation of lower entries due to increased fuel prices and fewer qualified entries.

The Region 5 Championship Show will be here soon. July 15-19 in Monroe, Washington. *Don’t forget the entries close June 11.* Due to possible conflicts in the schedule Class 286, Arabian Hunter Pleasure AOTR, will now be the last class of the afternoon on Friday. So it will follow class 297. I hope that show will follow in the footsteps of the qualifying shows and that we will have increased entries this year. If you have not looked at the schedule or need an entry form go to www.regionv.com and print out a copy for yourself. Feel free to contact a show commissioner if you have any ideas or will be at the show and would like to volunteer for a session. Don’t forget to join us on Friday evening for the exhibitor’s dinner and stallion auction followed by free fun classes with $100 prize money egg and spoon and key hole races.

I have included an announcement from AHA introducing the new Executive Vice President, Glenn Petty. There was a unanimous vote at the May board meeting to invite Mr. Petty to join the AHA staff. The entire Arabian and Half Arabian community will benefit from his involvement with our association. Other AHA news includes new national recognition for the Modern Arabian Horse magazine. Delegates need to look for resolutions at convention for possible increases to fees and dues. And AHA is looking forward to the first US National Championship in Tulsa Oklahoma in October. Check out the AHA website, www.arabianhorses.org for more information.

My best wishes to everyone as you head out to the barn, down the trail or off to a show.

Tague A. Johnson