What Matters? Helpfulness Matters.

There’s a show on television now called New Amsterdam. If you haven’t seen it, it’s about a large public hospital in New York. Over and over again, the main character, Dr. Max Goodwin, asks the same question when confronted with almost any kind of situation, “How can I help?”Helpfulness. During these challenging times, being selfless and helpful really, really matter.So, how have we seen helpfulness and how could you be helpful in these difficult times?Just this past week, the ASHA and the American Saddlebred Registry launched the Home for Life network. The program, formerly known as the My Meadows program, encourages members to volunteer to provide a “safety net” for horses they bred or owned.  This free program allows anyone who is either the breeder or a previous owner of registered American Saddlebreds to record their name and contact information with the American Saddlebred Registry. If a horse ever becomes unwanted, the individual with custody of the horse may visit the horse’s page on the ASHA website, by searching registered American Saddlebreds, to see if Home for Life Network enrollment has been indicated. With the cancellation of many state fairs through the Midwest, a group of volunteers stepped up to launch the Un-Fair Horse Show to be held August 14-16 in Waterloo, Iowa at the National Cattle Congress Hippodrome. The theme is “Horse Show on a Stick,” and while it isn’t a State Fair, show management plans to have fun like it is. The idea for the show is brought to you by incredibly helpful volunteers, Jerald Sulky Company, Cedar Valley Veterinary Clinic, The Scoop Feed & Supply, and all the appreciated sponsors. This is a way to be creative and helpful.The ASHA started a Horse Show Grant program this year to assist financially struggling horse shows. Grants in the amounts of $500 and $1,000 are available to shows on an annual basis. Even in these incredibly difficult time, the ASHA has managed to fund grants to eight different shows: ASHAO Annual Show (Ohio), Capitol Classic Horse Show (Minnesota), California Springfest Horse Show (CA),Children’s Benefit Horse Show (NJ),IASPHA Summer Horse Show (Illinois), Jersey Classic Horse Show (New Jersey), Minnesota Saddlebred State Championship Horse Show (Minnesota), Silicon Valley Horse Show (California).ASHA has invested in efforts to help create a stronger future for our members and the industry. The ASHA Professional Development Grants, Marketing and Business Development educational sessions at the 2020 Convention, and the virtual forums we are hosting on Zoom are impacting groups large and small to help address the needs of our members and the Saddlebred community.This was another way to be helpful. And, horse shows weren’t the only situations being helped. The Joint Leadership Council (JLC) took an active role in assisting the trotting breed community by launching a Horsemen’s Relief Fund through the UPHA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. The JLC also launched a website to help horsemen find federal assistance as well. It takes a community to help each other out. And the American Saddlebred community has stepped up over and over again to make that point tangible.Whether it’s an hour of your time, a financial contribution, or the commitment to sharing your passion for the American Saddlebreds with others we all can be helpful to the American Saddlebred. If you are looking for ways to be helpful in these times of continued change, please consider supporting our #ASBDreams Fund, volunteering with your ASHA Charter Club or becoming a more active ASHA member in your community.What Matters. Being Helpful Matters.