The American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association Logo
Shop ASHBA
Login

You are now entering the old ASHBA website which will allow you to access your data using your original username and password.

We are transitioning to the new website, so be aware that some functions may not work on the old site and will redirect you to the new site. It is important you setup your new username and password on our new site HERE.

Otherwise click here to continue to the old ASHBA website

American Saddlebred Horse Association Welcomes New Directors for 2019

The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) is pleased to announce the election of six (6) new members to its Board of Directors, who will join the Board at the UPHA & ASHA Conference in January, 2019.

“We are pleased to announce such a dynamic group of business leaders & American Saddlebred professionals that will help us continue our momentum in accomplishing our mission statement”, says David Mount, ASHA Board President.

The following are the newly elected members for a term of three years.

Nancy-Leigh Fisher, Helena Moreno, and James Nichols were elected to the ASHA Board of Directors for a term of three years, starting in 2019. Also re-elected were current ASHA board members Candida Covino Aversenti, Kristen Cater and Martin Schaffel.

Nancy-Leigh Fisher Oconomowoc, WI

Nancy-Leigh has been involved with Saddlebreds for more than 60 years in numerous capacities. She has been an exhibitor, sponsored classes, worked as a volunteer, spent time on countless committees and supported special events. She has competed in horse shows since childhood and now enjoys watching her daughter and granddaughter do the same.

In addition to showing, Nancy-Leigh has bred American Saddlebreds for many years, is still raising foals and she stands a stallion as well.

Her specific areas of interest if elected to the Board of Directors would be extending the marketing programs to ensure breeding for the future supply of quality horses. Because the future of our breed is most important, Nancy-Leigh would also work diligently to grow the breed by encouraging maximum youth participation in diverse programs and projects.

Helena Moreno New Orleans, LA

Helena Moreno is an elected city leader in New Orleans and a former award winning journalist.

Helena began her career in New Orleans as an investigative reporter for NBC affiliate, WDSU-TV. She was part of a team awarded an Emmy for outstanding coverage during Hurricane Katrina. Too often, however, her reports turned up problems in the political system. In 2008, she decided to not just report, but do something about it. Setting aside her promising broadcast career, she entered public service.

In May of 2010, she was elected to the Louisiana House of Representatives. Her work to fight domestic violence in Louisiana is featured in the award winning documentary film called Five Awake. Helena has also been recognized for her work on corrections reform, public safety, drug policy, health care, early childhood education and care for the elderly. In 2017, she overwhelmingly won the vote for a seat on the New Orleans City Council and is currently serving as an at-large member.

Helena was introduced to the American Saddlebred as a child in Houston at Roby Stables where she learned to ride and showed under the direction of trainer Sue Roby. Currently, she is an active owner, breeder, exhibitor and vocal advocate for the breed.

If elected to the ASHA Board, Helena will use her experience in media, communications and messaging to help further promote the American Saddlebred. She also hopes to use her policy and governmental relations knowledge to bring together key stakeholders to support ASHA. Fundraising and effective budgeting will also be a priority for Helena. She has served on both State and City committees overseeing large budgets and has vast experience fundraising for various causes, non-profits and campaigns.

James L. Nichols Metairie, LA

James Nichols has been involved with American Saddlebreds for over 40 years as a trainer, owner, breeder and exhibitor. He started working in the business in the early 1970’s with several trainers and learning the horse industry. Shortly after, he started his own training facility and continued training horses for numerous clients over the years.

James became a licensed judge in the early 1980’s. He actively judges around the country at many of the major recognized horse shows. James has been a lifetime member of the ASHA for over 35 years. He served on the UPHA Executive Board for 14 years, as well as served as President. He is currently President of the American Road Horse and Pony Association, on the USEF National Breeds and Disciplines Council, ASHA Rules Committee and USEF Roadster Committee. James has been recognized with many awards over his lifetime, including being inducted into the UPHA Hall of Fame and in 2018 was awarded the ASHA C.J. Cronan Sportsmanship Award.

If elected to the Board, James would utilize his expertise and experience in the industry and on boards to promote our breed. James’s vision for the ASHA is to increase membership, registrations, breeding and awareness to secure longevity of the American Saddlebred.

Candida Covino Aversenti Hellertown, PA

Candida Covino Aversenti began showing American Saddlebreds in 1963 in equitation, then later in the three- and five-gaited divisions. Ms. Aversenti’s involvement with the breed has been a family endeavor with her parents, husband and children, and now as a grandmother to her granddaughter. She is a member of USEF, UPHA, AHHS, ARHPA, KASPHA, and worked on the National Horse Show Committee and is the trustee of the American Saddlebred Museum. Candida has been serving on the following committees, Convention Planning, Development, Marketing Committee, Strategic Plan, Nominating Committee for Officers, Finance, and Human Resources and Compensation.

She attended Endicott College, Boston College, and the Paralegal Institute of New York City. Candida is the CEO and Chairman of the Board for General Magnaplate Corporation. Before this position, she was the assistant to director of Labor Relations at Standard Brands and the Director of Marketing For General Mangaplate Corporation. She has an extensive background in the corporate world.

Her vision for the ASHA is getting more and more people interested in the American Saddlebred, specifically by reducing the costs of entry. She would like to find ways to get the public to watch American Saddlebred shows, therefore opening our pool and exposure to bring more people into the American Saddlebred business. She also hopes to promote the Select Series shows around the country, as well as novice horse shows, such as the Rock Creek Novice Horse Show.

Kristen Cater Dunbarton, NH

Kristen, and her husband David, have developed Cater Stables into one of the largest training and lesson facilities in the Northeast. She has served as Chairman of UPHA Chapter 14, was on the Executive Committee of the 2011 UPHA National Convention in Boston and was on the Executive Committee of the Super Convention held in 2016. Kristen has been a part of every major project done at UPHA Chapter 14 since she has been a member, including the Symphony of Champions productions. She has also served on various other committees and projects, including the US Saddle Seat World Cup.

Most recently, Kristen has served one (4 year) term on the ASHA Board of Directors and has sat in one of two “seat at large” chairs on the ASHA Executive Committee. If re-elected to the ASHA Board of Directors, Kristen hopes to continue to work on breed promotion to the outside world in all disciplines, and to help the inner workings of our industry become more cohesive.

Kristen currently serves on the following committees: Standard/Rules, Code of Ethics and Conduct Task Force, Convention Planning, Licensed Officials and Organization Task Forces, UPHA Equitation Committee, USEF Equitation Committee, USEF World Cup Committee, and UPHA Governance Committee.

Martin Schaffel Tampa, FL

Martin Schaffel, President and CEO of Audio Visual Innovations, Inc., founded the company in 1979. He began his career in management with a national retailer and later joined a large office products distributor. He has since built a successful business in the sale of audiovisual products to the corporate, education, military and government markets nationwide. Martin has served on the Board of Directors for Berkley Prep, Performing Arts Center of Tampa, Northstar Bank, Prepared Insurance, AVISPL, University of Florida Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and VOALTE, among others.

Martin has been involved in the American Saddlebred Industry as owner, breeder, and exhibitor since 2002 and has been providing business mentorship in the Saddlebred industry for the past ten years. Martin would contribute his wealth of experience in marketing, development, and management to the ASHA Board, and hopes to broaden the Saddlebred Market and maximize the quality of the experience for everyone involved in ASHA.

Martin currently serves on the following committees, Office Space Task Force, Code of Ethics and Conduct Task Force, Strategic Plan, Human Resources and Compensation, and Registry.

ASHA offered its members the opportunity to vote for new Directors either electronically or by the traditional paper ballot during the month of November 2018. The ballot count was certified by Strothman + Co, and members of the ASHA Board for accuracy. “It is our objective to create an election process that is fair & the nominating committee led by the chair Joan Lurie, did an outstanding job providing candidates with a strong background that will enhance our efforts”, remarked by Terri Dolan, Executive Director of ASHA.

Returning members of the 2019 ASHA Board include Allen Bosworth, Sandra Currier, Elisabeth Goth, Emily Lee, Joan Lurie, David Mount, Joe O’Brien, Evan Orr, Tandy Patrick, Donna Pettry-Smith, Jenny Taylor and Dr. Owen Weaver.

New officers for 2019 will be elected by the Board at its January 2019 meeting in Palms Springs, CA.

The ASHA Board bids a fond farewell to Board Members, Leslie Rainbolt-Forbes, Holly Nichols, and Cheryl Innis. The Board sincerely appreciates their services to the breed.