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The 2014 ASHA Annual Convention and Youth Conference was held February 13- 15, 2014 at the Hilton Lexington/Downtown, a new location for the convention. This year’s convention featured exciting educational programs on breeding, marketing, and versatility, featuring some of the industry’s most respected individuals, as well as field trips to American Saddlebred stables and the Kentucky RoundUp Horse Fair. The Convention unveiled ASHA’s new marketing plan, spearheaded by Allen Bosworth. The convention culminated on Saturday evening with the annual adult and youth galas awarding special honors to exceptional American Saddlebred enthusiasts of all ages. ASHA COMMITTEE AND BOARD MEETINGS CHARTER CLUB COUNCIL ASHA website that will address “what to do” if abuse is suspected. The Charter Club Council meeting was AMERICAN led by committee chair, Susan Vine with SADDLEBRED FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE an attendance of 10 members and 12 HORSE SHOW The Fundraising Committee discussed guests. The first item on the agenda MANUAL efforts thus far to raise funds to cover was the High Point Awards Program. the $265,625 cost of the ongoing Betsy Boone and Susan Harris gave Technology Upgrade Project. Thanks a brief history of the awards program. to a recently announced affiliate grant Stacey Kipper-Perrelli presented from USEF in the amount of $6961, recommendations for the 2014 program and a recent major gift, the amount year from the High Point Award Ad Hoc remaining to raise is down to $51,708. Committee. All recommendations were approved by the members unanimously. ASHA recently received a challenge There was discussion on how to better from the Miller Foundation to raise promote this program, as there are $25,000 which the Miller Foundation still many who do not even realize it will match. The committee discussed exists. Joan Booth, Carol Reedy and strategies for completing this challenge Susan Vine have drafted a brochure to through dedicating proceeds of the live make available to the Charter Clubs, auction at the ASHA convention to this all registered shows, and general project. membership to promote the program. HORSE SHOW COMMITTEE The brochure will go to the ASHA for further editing and addition of new logo The Horse Show Committee, led by ASHA Board members Randy Cates, to become consistent with other ASHA Horse Show Manual materials before distribution. Bob Funkhouser, and Jackie Hale, is members are members of ASHA. The tackling dual issues: Don Schilling reported on the new clubs that have the greatest increase charter club, VERSA, which covers in 2014 in ASHA members will receive 1) Shows that have big audiences but all disciplines and has membership one free registration to next year’s have trouble attracting American throughout the United States. VERSA convention. Joan Booth suggested that Saddlebred exhibitors has 40 members from 16 states and each club’s website should include the 2) Shows that have plenty of American Canada. All were invited to their ASHA membership form. Brenda Newell Saddlebreds, but few outside meeting later in the day. will send the 2013 statistics to each of spectators. the clubs. Stacey Kipper-Perrelli, Shelagh Roell, Among potential solutions is bringing and Joan Booth have worked on Ideas for increasing membership in the back outside entertainment. As Cates updating the Horse Show Manual this clubs included sponsoring a delegate quoted his father, “They will come for past year, and a copy was passed for to go to the ASHA Convention, those the entertainment, but stay for the approval. It will be available on our that have riding lesson programs to horses.” Another trend is the diminishing website for printing or we will mail encourage the parents to ride, and number of multi-breed shows which copies from the office and charge for designating a membership outreach expose the American Saddlebred to shipping. There was also a suggestion person to make phone calls. other breed supporters. The committee to see if USEF would want to include on Suggestions for the promotion of the also addressed the probability that their website. breed included finding out where the shorter evening sessions would be The last topic was how to stimulate crowds are in your community and go more spectator-friendly, especially participation in Charter Clubs. Ricky there, having more education about the for exhibitors’ friends and family Drew had sent a survey to all the breed at shows, and working with 4-H, members who may not be “horse Charter Clubs and copies were Girl Scouts, and other local community people.” Additionally, if information were provided. It was agreed to try to get clubs. provided to the audience about the horses and riders being watched, more more surveys in then compile a list of EQUINE WELFARE COMMITTEE suggestions. information about what’s happening in An important initiative and the main the show ring, horse shows would be CHARTER CLUB WORKSHOP focus of the meeting was the Welfare much more interesting to the casual The Charter Club Workshop this Response System that the committee spectator. year was an exchange of ideas on will be proposing to be used when The need for community involvement is growing membership in the charter identifying the level of action required critically important to the future success clubs and promotion of the breed. when horses are in a possible distress of horse shows. The Shelbyville Horse ASHA Executive Director Karen Winn situation. The committee is still tweaking Show was cited as an example of a reiterated the challenge to the clubs to this proposal that will be presented to show that has tremendous community increase the number of club members the ASHA Board in the near future. A participation. who are members of the ASHA. At subcommittee was appointed to work present, about 17% of charter club on policies and procedures for the The effort doesn’t have to be huge; 2014 | ASHA Annual Convention | 1 ASHA COMMITTEE AND BOARD MEETINGS improvements can be made by taking The American Saddlebred print small steps such as taking one night magazine will return to those who of a horse show and putting a few new have subscribed, and it will serve as a ideas into action. member benefit and promotional tool for As more ideas are put forward, it various American Saddlebred events. was suggested to have an online The three issues of the 2014 magazine guideline on the ASHA web site where will be timeless special editions, with ideas could be posted for horse show the first issue highlighting the American committees. Saddlebred’s presence at BreyerFest. MEDIA/PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE RIDING INSTRUCTOR COMMITTEE The Media/Publications Committee The Riding Instructor Committee discussed the success of the 2013 explained the roles of the three publications, including a $50,000 appointed subcommittees: Riding Lesson Program instructors forum every year increase in advertising revenue over the 1) Subcommittee 1: Promotion of previous year. new saddle seat lesson programs, • Form riding instructors groups The committee plans for a sponsored particularity in ‘underserved areas’ affiliated with Charter Clubs and/or UPHA Chapters golf cart to deliver the American 2) Development of “best practices” for Saddlebred Daily publication along with saddle seat lesson programs • Form accreditation with ASHA coffee and donuts to the barns during • Increase ASHA membership and the World’s Championship Horse Show 3) Develop “Riding Program Council” participation in the ASHA Academy to increase distribution of the “Dailies,” Network Awards as well as to serve as hospitality on the The first subcommittee has been behalf of ASHA for the Show. working toward developing guidelines • Collect teaching tips and lesson plans that can be added to the The ASHA Membership Directory will be for the Marple Grant, which will give Riding Instructor Manual mailed in April to every ASHA Member. new riding lesson programs a headstart, This is the first ASHA Membership as well as identifying underserved • Promote ASHA Programs. lesson program areas of the United Directory created since 2006. During the meeting, thoughtful States, and increasing the number of discussion about the success of each The committee discussed the success American Saddlebreds using in 4-H, instructors’ program was shared, of the 2014 Journal of the American Pony Club, and riding programs in and the council is looking forward to Saddlebred, and ways to improve upon existing college equestrian programs. next year by hiring a proofreader and by analyzing the results of the Riding continuing to expand the amount and The second subcommittee is gathering Lesson Instructor survey and adding type of advertisers. results from the riding program survey input to the Riding Instructor Manual. that was sent to existing programs, developing the “How to Start A Riding SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR THE Program” manual, and establishing an ELECTION OF THE ASHA BOARD OF idea swap area on the ASHA website. DIRECTORS The goals of the Special Task force The third subcommittee created a for the Election of the ASHA Board of Riding Program Council made of Directors are: successful riding instructors in every region of the United States to serve as 1) Review of current ASHA Bylaws mentors for new riding instructors, as provisions regarding election of well as brainstormers for ASHA. Directors (i.e., should the stated criteria be revised, and should the RIDING PROGRAM COUNCIL criteria be mandatory or merely The inaugural meeting of the ASHA be among various factors to be Riding Program Council was held with considered? Also need to clarify strong attendance from the council both the process, and to clarify that the in person and via teleconference. ASHA Executive Committee has The tasks for the Riding Program final approval rights regarding the Council are multifaceted: proposed slate of candidates that is presented by the Nominating 2014-2015 • Advertise the Marple Grant Committee; Executive Committee MEMBERSHIP • Study survey results to see what can either accept the slate, or DIRECTORY the trends and problems are in the suggest changes to the slate).

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