FEBRUARY NEWS 
It's that time of year, folks! Mother Nature has been teasing us with warmer days and shorter nights and so the snow is finally getting mushy. That means... SPRING is just around the corner! Think "dirt"! We'll be riding on it soon. Remember to schedule your spring shots, teeth floats, and EIAs with your local vet so you'll be ready to participate in all our exciting events starting in May. And speaking of May, I'd like to introduce some NEW and WONDERFUL programs and events this summer.
The first new program is our VIRTUAL PATCH PROGRAM. It's our way to entice you to become a more active member. The bottom line is this... the winner gets a plane ticket and some spending money toward a trip anywhere that American Quarter Horses are showcased. You could go to the World Show, the Youth World, Sun Circuit, Congress, the NFR, the Gold or Gulf Coast, the Snaffle Bit Futurity, the Region1 Experience, or any QH race. If there are Quarter Horses there, we'll pay for your ticket and some cash for lodging, a car, or a closet full of t-shirts ($750-$1,000 depending on our AIM grant)! The possibilities are almost endless. Even the Olympics showcase Quarter Horses now that reining is an USEF event! So, how do you win? There are 13 patches each member can earn. Whoever has the most (minimum of 7), wins! If there's a tie, we'll draw a name out of a hat at the banquet. What's not to love! There are four patches for participating in each of our circuits (3 class/day min.), one for showing in any "fun" event like a schooling or fun show or Extreme Trail, one for attending an ASQHA-sponsored clinic, one for getting a sponsor or Showbook ad (deadline is 3/1 for those), one for attending a Ride, one for coming to an ASQHA meeting, one for bringing in a new member (anyone who didn't join last year will count), participating in our Horseback Riding Program (who can't log in one hour this summer?!), volunteering to help ASQHA at ANY event or working on a committee (must be pre-approved), and the final patch #13 is for coming to our annual awards banquet. More details will be available on the website, but we want you to get excited and start earning patches for 2010!
ASQHA and AQHA are bringing DRESSAGE to the Quarter Horse world! If AQHA has a program, we figured we should, too! We've added ALL-BREED DRESSAGE PERFORMANCE HORSE as a new class for 2010. The idea is that a rider would participate in their local dressage association, competing in Training Level or above and then also showing in the Dressage Performance Horse class at our shows. The percentages from your top four scores will be converted to points based on the AQHA rules, added to your class points, and the high point winner is awarded a pair of STERLING TROPHY IRONS at the banquet! There is no recording fee. You simply need to participate in a minimum of 4 dressage tests at the same level under at least 2 judges, and then show in at least 5 ASQHA Dressage Performance classes to be eligible. Copies of the 4 scores you want calculated need to be mailed or hand-delivered to any ASQHA Board Member by mid-September. Call Laura for more details.
We're also adding more "fun" to ASQHA! We're offering three FUN SHOWS this year! One will be in mid-May in Fairbanks for Riders with Disabilities. The Fairbanks youth will be putting that show on as a special treat for our handicapped riders to wrap up their winter season. Also, the popular Tough Enough to Wear Pink show in Southcentral is back and moving to the Chamberlin Center Memorial Day weekend. Jeff Shelton, natural horseman extraordinaire, is our judge and will also be clinicing. We'll have a BBQ and "Braid your own halter" session as well. Look to sign up for that soon! Then we're adding a new 4H 4FUN SHOW in the Valley at Bluegrass Stables August 14. Look for EXTREME TRAIL August 21. That should be a hoot! Location TBA. Class lists and more information on these four fun events coming soon along with AQHA RIDES in both locations.
And to get the fun started, please join us in March for "Movie Night." ASQHA has purchased the new AQHA video, "Showing to Win: Trail." You may have seen it advertised in the Journal. In Southcentral we'll meet on March 20th at 1:00 at the McIlvains off upper Birch Road. We'll provide the pizza and the video, you bring a friend and let's re-connect after a long winter. (Call Kimball for directions at 230-6222). The Fairbanks crew will be getting together on March 21st at 2:00 at Gaby's. Call the Alaska Fun Center or Gaby Larry at 460-6875 for more information and directions.
Laura Fitzgerald
ASQHA President
|