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What Matters? Thank You Matters.

It is often said, “you have to give to get.” It was this mode of thinking that afforded us to have a record-setting attendance for the 2020 ASHA Youth Conference “Saddlebreds in the Spotlight.” Nearly 300 attendees got to experience the weekend of a lifetime. Throughout the organization and the Saddlebred industry, people gave of their resources, knowledge, and time to ensure we could create a valuable and fun experience for ASHA Youth, the future of the breed. Each year the ASHA Youth Conference strives to provide once in a lifetime memories for attendees. Still, none of that is possible or matters without the help, support, and volunteerism of the Saddlebred community. We couldn’t give ASHA Youth these opportunities without getting the support of so many. For that support of our youth and the future, we say thank you, because that is what matters.

Thank you to the Planning Committee that begins coming to the table six months out every year to dedicate themselves to put all the pieces together that make this event great. They volunteer their time, hold fundraisers, donate their facilities, and more to ensure the activities keep getting better every year. Thank you to our 2020 planning committee of Julie Kaufman, Christy Parker, Elisabeth Goth, Andrea Steponatis, Sondra Warren, Betsy Webb, Deveau Zubrod, Brooke Applegate, Jodi Bertagnolli, and Kaelyn Donnelly-Browning we greatly appreciate all you do!

Thank you to our sponsors and vendors that support the Youth Conference year after year. Their contributions provide the foundation for making this event possible.  Thank you for investing in the future of the American Saddlebred and supporting the ASHA in creating memories that last a lifetime for ASHA Youth.

Sponsors: Golden Creek Farms, Riverdreams LLC, Candi & Ed Aversenti, David Rudder Family, Gahreeb Equine Investments, Cross Creek Veterinary, Howard Schatzberg Photography, Midway University, Stephens College, Kentucky Horse Council, The Honey Baked Ham Company, Victoria Walz, Erin Obenauf, Terri Dolan, Independent Equine Agents, University of Louisville Equine Industry Program and Zubrod Stables and our other generous supporters. Vendors: The Show Shop, Equestrian’s Touch, Showring Sidelines and University of Kentucky.

Thank you to our host sites that opened their doors and go above and beyond to make attendees feel welcome and celebrated. Every year they go beyond just letting our groups use their beautiful facilities; they are welcoming every youth, instructor, and parent into a barn family for the day. This year we had two great host sites in Julie Kaufman’s Blue Willow Farm and Melissa Moore’s Sunrise Stables. Each of these generous women gave of their barns, staff, time, energy, and horses to give back to our industry and provide an enriching experience to ASHA Youth. Thank you to Julie for hosting our Friday night 14 & Over educational activity and Melissa for our Saturday morning horse presentations.

Thank you to our special guests who brought their expertise for the many different sessions this weekend that make the ASHA Youth conference a one of a kind event.We were humbled to have experts such as Ellen Baird, Renee Biggins, Fran Crumpler, Betty Kregor, and Betsy Webb on hand to lead educational activities for our older age groups, parents, and instructors. Thank you to Ellen for presenting her tips and tools from Success In Saddles and Betty for giving great insight into how to win on the mental side of riding from her Straight Shot Inc. programs to help you succeed in the ring. Thank you to Fran and Renee, who met with parents to go over the approaches to pairing horses and riders, the different Saddlebred divisions, and a “cliff notes” guide to judging standards. Thank you to Betsy Webb for leading an instructor’s activity and workshop to help them strengthen their programs and businesses.It was the experience of a lifetime to have the great horses and extraordinary guests from Double D Ranch and Kalarama Farm at Sunrise Stables to add to the fantastic group we had to #SharetheSaddlebred at Melissa's Saturday morning. Thank you to Misdee Miller, Larry Hodge, Danny & Kelly Lockhart and Jose “Maestro” Meija for bringing the living legend WGC CH The Daily Lottery to start the morning off with a chance for every youth to meet the champion gelding and have their own #asbdreams moment with this American Saddlebred ambassador. Thank you to Dena Tanner Lopez for bringing over her beautiful example of the western country pleasure American Saddlebred, Rose Parade famous and member of the Double D Ranch Family, Dr. Dolittle. It was a treat to have ASHA Youth learning about the western division and all the possibilities for them and the American Saddlebred.For the last two years, we have had special guest presenters for the ASHA Youth Awards Gala. These seasoned performance division champions generously give of their time and excel as role models to ASHA Youth. Thank you to Devin Sell for being our keynote speaker and sharing her Saddlebred Story to inspire the next generation of ASHA Youth leaders. Thank you to Alayna Applegate, Griffin Day, Chelsea Dragan, Makayla James, Caroline Katko, Maggie Keith, Hailley Stanz, and Ryan Visser for being on hand to help present our awards and be an example of what lies ahead for these young ASHA Youth with big #asbdreams!

Thank you to our youth clubs from across the country that takes time away from their lesson programs and barns to bring their ASHA Youth to our conference. The conference would not be possible without their support of the ASHA Youth programs and the efforts they make to introduce children to the American Saddlebred horse. 

Thank you to our staff that makes great efforts to lead and support the planning and execution of this event. This year Alexandra Harper, Special Programs Manager, led us to a whole new level of excellence for the ASHA Youth Conference. Her organization, planning, and dedication to details had the weekend running like a well-oiled machine. Jessica Cushing, Marketing and Communications Manager, once again committed herself to make fantastic promotional videos, media support, award presentations, and more.

Thank you to the horses. It is the love of horses that brings young girls and boys into our industry. The opportunity provided at the ASHA Youth Conference to meet the horses they see in the magazines, online and in the ring from afar ignites a spark in all of their eyes. The group from this weekend helped us educate our youth and demonstrate nearly ever Saddlebred showring discipline. Thank you to the lesson horses of Blue Willow, WGC CH The Daily Lottery, Nuttin To Justify, Dr. Dolittle, Palisades Center Ring, Coachella, Indian Outlaw, Melissa’s mare and foal and the other Sunrise Stables horses that gave nothing but their best for the horse-loving kids. We thank American Saddlebred ambassadors and other breeds that take the attention, love, and treats from 300 kids and do nothing but look back at them with a mutual spark in their eye. They are why we are here, they are the magic, and they are what matters.It takes a village, and we are beyond grateful to every supporter, attendee, and guest that gave to the ASHA Youth Conference so our youth and the future of the breed could get an experience of a lifetime!Photos and videos from the weekend are available at Kaelyn Donnelly Marketing and ASHA Youth Facebook.