December 13, 2025 - ASHBA is excited to announce Shelah Wetter of Blue Haven Stable in Deer Park, Washington as the 2025 ASHBA Sport Horse Owner and/or Breeder of the Year Award Winner. Shelah is the third winner of this relatively new award that is helping incentivize and recognize American Saddlebred sport horse owners and breeders. 

Wetter grew up showing Saddlebreds along the west coast and has been doing so since the age of 5. “I've had the privilege of working horses from my mother’s breeding program for the majority of my life,” Shelah shared. 

 

“Though I have helped with the breeding program for as long as I can remember, it has not been my passion. Pamela Heiman my mother, has been breeding American Saddlebreds for more than 40 years. She is really the one I have to thank for breeding the amazing horses I've ridden throughout my life both in and out of the show ring. She has poured her heart and soul into the American Saddlebred horse. Her passion has always been breeding for the show ring.”

Around 2011, Shelah started trail riding their Saddlebreds and eventually found her way into the world of Endurance riding. 

“Endurance has lead me to ride American Saddlebred horses in some of the most amazingly beautiful places, and I've ridden them in the majority of the western states to the tune of over 20,000 miles in the past decade. This season one of my horses CH-SH Red Hot Inferno earned his championship as an endurance horse. Cheers to the Versatile American Saddlebred we all love!” 

 

Learn more about the Sport Horse of the Year awards: click here: