ASHA Annual Meeting and Youth Convention

Click here to submit comments about the 2008 Convention. 
 
 
 
 2008 Annual Meeting and Youth Conference
Thursday, February 14 Saturday, February 16
Lexington, Kentucky | Embassy Suites Hotel
 
 

An Invitation

TO ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND ALL SUPPORTERS OF THE AMERICAN SADDLEBRED:
 
Please join all those who love the American Saddlebred in celebrating their passion for the breed at the 2008 Saddlebred Summit, formal Annual Meeting of Members, Youth Conference, and the annual Saddlebred Ball!
This is the one time each year when Association members join together to meet with Association leaders, as well as many leading breeders, owners, professionals, and adherents of the breed across a wide variety of disciplines. Share your opinions, attend committee meetings, shop, socialize, and just have fun in Lexington!
 
Among many activities and highlights will be:
 
American Saddlebred Ball at the Keeneland Entertainment Center
Dance the night away to live music, enjoy fine dining, exceptional video presentations, and most of all join together to honor those who lives have demonstrated a passion for the American Saddlebred!
 
Annual Members Forum and Luncheon
Meet with volunteer and staff leadership of the Association to review the organization’s progress in the last year, the state of the breed, official financial reports, plans for the future, and governance.
 
Committee Meetings and Forums
All committee meetings will be open to members who register for the convention and, where time permits, member forums will be held as the committees meet. Larger meeting rooms have been arranged to permit easier exchanges of views between committee leaders and the membership.
 
Annual Awards Luncheon
Year-end awards will be presented on Friday for all Association programs, including Charter Clubs, Breeders Award, FEI Discipline Awards, and National Pleasure Horse Champions, among others.
 
Open Forum: Challenges and Opportunities for the American Saddlebred - Brainstorming the Future
 
Charter Club Council Meeting and Workshop
The Association’s regional outreach through its Charter Club structure and their members will be spotlighted. The new Regional Championship program will be explained and brainstormed for improvement and elaboration, among other items.
 
Saddlebred Breeders and Owners Educational Forum
Leading breeders, as well as pedigree and veterinary experts, lead an open discussion on how the breed has evolved, the difference between genotype and phenotype, the ideal conformation of the Saddlebred, how to breed for your goal, what crosses work and why, the strengths and weaknesses of various lines, and answer your specific questions on pedigrees.
 
Amateur/Owner-Trainer Open Forum
 
 
2008 American Saddlebred Youth Conference
Youth Conference attendance and registration is open to all
ASHA members under the age of 21! Please join your friends to express your
Passion for the Saddlebred on Friday and Saturday, February 15 and 16, 2008,
at the Embassy Suites of Lexington.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE EXCITING ACTIVITIES PLANNED:
 
SATURDAY’S FIELD TRIP: SHELBY COUNTY, KENTUCKY, "THE SADDLE HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!"
Destinations this year include the renowned Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville, Kentucky, for the Youth Awards Luncheon, to include recognition of Outstanding Achievement Awards for Youth Clubs, Juvenile Choice Award winners, and Photo Contest winners, too. Visits are also scheduled to some notable Saddlebred farms in Shelby County.
 
FRIDAY NIGHT FESTIVITIES: YOUTH DANCE PARTY!
Pizza and plenty of refreshments help everyone get to know one another. Then, the DJ takes over; dance the night away!

YOUTH CLOTHING CONSIGNMENT SALE
You can look for additions to your riding wardrobe, or consign your own “gently-used” riding clothes. A portion of
the sales will benefit the Association, and the rest goes to the sellers. Martha Pope, from the Good Habit in Louisville, will
lend her expertise to the shop.
 
SATURDAY BREAKFAST AND YOUTH AWARDS
Just what you want for a Saturday morning with an exciting day ahead – and to top off breakfast, Academy Awards are
presented to those earning gold, silver, or bronze medallions for their participation during the 2007 season.

2008 AMERICAN SADDLEBRED BALL, SATURDAY EVENING
The elegant Keeneland Entertainment Center is your destination for the culmination of the Conference, honoring
of the Frank Ogletree Youth Award designee, as well as the Association’s overall top winners for 2007, including the
Horse of the Year and the winner of the Saddlebred Ring for the 2007 World’s Grand Champion Five-Gaited Saddlebred. Spectacular videos, great music, and the best dance floor of the year await you.
 
Schedule of Events
2008 ASHA Annual Meeting & Youth Conference Schedule

All meetings are open unless otherwise designated.

 

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Time                      Event                                       

8am–4:30pm            Annual Meeting Registration           

8am–4pm                Saddlebred Ball Tickets & Seating Registration     

8am–4:30pm            Saddlebred Service Center  

8am–9am                Finance Committee  

8am–8:45am            Sweepstakes Committee     

9am-9:45am            Breeders Committee

9am-9:30am            Hunter Discipline Committee

10am-8pm               Vendor Area Open   

10am-12pm             Charter Club Workshop       

10am-11am              KY & National Futurity Committee   

11:15am-12pm         Grand National Committee  

12pm-12:30pm         State Futurities Committee  

1pm-2pm                 Standards and Rules Committee                                 

2pm–2:45pm            Charter Club Council 

3pm–4pm                Ad Hoc Committee: Riding Schools & Instructor Certification

3pm–3:45pm            Registry Committee (closed)

4pm–4:45pm            Pleasure Disciplines Committee      

4pm–5:30pm            Advancement Committee              

5pm–9pm                Welcome Reception Sponsored by the FEI Disciplines Committee

7pm–9pm                ASHA Board of Directors Meeting (closed) 

 

Friday, February 15, 2008

8am–8pm                Annual Meeting Registration

8am–4pm                Saddlebred Ball Tickets & Seating Registration

8am–4:30pm            Saddlebred Service Center

8am–9:30pm            Vendor Area Open

9:30am–10:30am     Youth Committee

9:30am–11:30am     Amateur/Owner-Trainer Open Forum

10:30am–11:30am    Auction Committee

11:30am–1pm          ASHA Awards Luncheon

1pm–2pm                Scholarship Committee

1:30pm–5pm           Open Forum: Challenges and Opportunities for the American Saddlebred –                            Brainstorming the Future

2pm–4pm                Youth Planning Committee

2:30pm–3pm            Equine Welfare Committee

4pm–5pm                FEI Disciplines Committee

4:30pm–8pm           Book signing by Sarah Hinds

5pm–9pm                Youth Conference Registration

5pm–9pm                Youth Clothing Consignment Sale

6pm–7:30pm            Youth Pizza Party

6pm–7:30pm            Youth Activities

6:30pm–9pm           American Saddlebred Museum Reception and Exhibit Opening – For the Love of a Horse: Children and Saddlebreds - and unveiling of plans for expanded Showplace for Saddlebreds at the American Saddlebred Museum, Kentucky Horse Park

7:30pm–9pm            Youth Dance Party

 

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Time                      Event 

7:30am–2pm            Annual Meeting Registration

6:45am–7:45am       Youth Awards Breakfast

8am–3pm                Saddlebred Ball Tickets & Seating Registration

8am–9am                Registry Board of Directors Meeting (closed)

8am–12pm              Youth Clothing Consignment Sale

8am–11pm              Vendor Area Open

8:30am–4:30pm       Youth Field Trip to Saddlebred Farms in Shelbyville, KY

9:30am–11am          Saddlebred Breeders & Owners Educational Forum

11am–12pm             ASHA Open Members Forum

12pm–1pm              ASHA Annual Members Luncheon/Keynote Speakers

12pm-4pm              Jane Simmons Book Signing

12:15pm–1:30pm     Youth Awards Luncheon at Claudia Sanders Restaurant in Shelbyville, KY

1:15pm–1:45pm       ASHA Annual Meeting

2pm–2:30pm            American Saddlebred Museum – Annual Membership Meeting

2:30pm–4:30pm       American Saddlebred Museum – Board of Trustees Meeting (closed)    

3:30pm–5:30pm       ASHA Board of Directors Meeting (closed)

7pm–8pm                Saddlebred Cocktail Reception at Keeneland Entertainment Center

8pm–11pm              Saddlebred Ball at Keeneland Entertainment Center

 
 
 
Directions:
From I-75/64: Take Exit 115 to Newtown Pike South toward Lexington. At the UK Coldstream Research Campus, turn right on Aristides Boulevard. Embassy Suites is on the right.

From Bluegrass Airport: Turn left onto Man O’War Boulevard. Turn right onto Versailles Road. Take Route 4/New Circle Road North. Take Newtown Pike Exit 9B North. At the UK Coldstream Research Campus, turn left on Aristides Boulevard. Embassy Suites is on the right.
 
To Make Hotel Reservations:
Be sure to identify that you are part of the ASHA Annual Meeting and Youth Conference for a special discount rate; use the group code ASH. Call (859) 455-5000 or 1-800- EMBASSY, or make your reservations online by clicking here. Receive the discounted group rate of $118 through January 26, 2007.
 
 
2008 ASHA Convention, Youth Conference, Saddlebred Ball set for February 14-16

Lexington, Kentucky The American Saddlebred Horse Association's Annual Meeting and Youth Conference will be held Thursday – Friday, February 14-16 at the Embassy Suites in Lexington. The weekend ends with the annual Saddlebred Ball at Keeneland Race Course.

Open meetings and forums with committees begin Thursday, as is customary, and the Charter Club Council will also conduct a workshop. Thursday evening is highlighted by a Welcome Reception sponsored by the FEI Disciplines Committee.

 

Friday features a pair of forums as well as the ASHA Awards Luncheon. Later in the evening, the youth arrive in droves for their conference, greeted with a pizza party, arts and crafts, a book signing by author and ASHA Youth member Sarah Hinds, and dancing – a DJ and a dance floor are set for Friday night.

 

Saturday offers the ASHA Open Members Forum and the Annual Members Luncheon. Also, the American Saddlebred Museum will host a book signing by the daughter of Saddlebred legend Art Simmons; Jane Simmons will autograph her new book chronicling the Simmons family. The Youth, following their Awards Breakfast, will head to Shelby County, Kentucky, also known as the “Saddle Horse Capital of the World,” for field trips to some Saddlebred farms. That will be followed by the Youth Awards Luncheon at the famous Claudia Sanders Dinner House.

 

The weekend’s grand finale is the Saddlebred Ball and Annual Prize Giving at Keeneland. This awards gala has grown over the years to become a quite a production. The awards ceremony is projected onto several jumbo screens, as are the video montages of award winners. An 18-piece band provides the ceremony’s soundtrack, then plays late into the evening once the ballroom floor opens up for dancing. This is the one night of the year when the Association honors the breed’s most important contributors and its brightest stars.

 

Official meeting materials will be mailed to all members the week of Monday, January 7, 2008. 
 


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