AHAA Amateur Committee

March for Babies April 17, 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 02:41:00 +0000

We had four riders again this year. Thanks again to Betty and Callie, Donna and Smokie, Lois and Rosie, and first time parade rider Peggy and Gracie. Thanks to Tam and Amy for being ground crew, scooping poop and helping keep everyone safe. It's a long 4 miles.
Mary Lou present the charity check for $24,000 to March for Babies. She also thanked them for all their help with volunteers for the Scottsdale show.
Time for a summer break after our Fun Show on May 15th. Busy year.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 02:01:00 +0000

It was a great day and a great turn out for our April Trail Ride, over 30 riders. Check out the slide show.

Betty Rimsza says. . .

Hi All!

Just wanted to thank ya'all for coming to the 2010 AHAA Amateur Committee Trail Ride!

Special thanks to Mary Lou Houge who came early and set up the nice breakfast goodies, made sure we got the release signed and hung out for lunch to arrive.

Thanks to Russ for hanging out too!

Hip...Hip...HoooRay!!! To Frank at Creations in Cuisine for driving all the way to McDowell Mountain Regional Park with our lunch! He was "Johnny on the spot" right there at 12:00 noon.

Thanks to our riders who lead each group out on the trail.

And thanks to Pat Diaz who took this fabulous photo of Callie and I in the field of flowers.

Hope to see all of you at our next ride!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:14:00 +0000

Fun Show
Everyone is welcome to come and play in the Equidome.
Show and warm up arenas are shaded.
Where: WestWorld – Equidome (16601 N Pima Road)
When: May 15th - 5:00 PM (sign-up starts at 4:00pm)
Why: Cause we want to have FUN!
Who: Anyone and Everyone. All Breeds
Contact: AHAA at 480-515-1500 or AHAA-AC@cox.net
Presented by AHAA Amateur Committee

Photo Contest Winners 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:03:00 +0000

Thanks for everyone's participation this year.

Judged – Champion, Reserve and Top Ten
                 Name                  Caption                        Category
Champion Patti Morabito, Best Friends Forever, Horse and Buddy
RC           CD Harbridge, ?como se llama?, What a Clown
TT-3       Karen L Heeb, A mother's love . . Welcome to this world., Beautiful Arabians
TT-4      CD Harbridge, Got Elk?, Foaling Around
TT-5     Donna Shelatree, There's a whole new world!, Foaling Around
TT-6     Nancy Stanga, Horse Whispering, Horse and Buddy
TT-7     Maia Chaney, Santa's Helper, Horse and Buddy
TT-9    Pam Silvis, No Caption, Beautiful Arabians
TT-10    Amanda Eisenfeld, No Caption, Horse and Buddy

People's Choice -- Champion, Reserve and Top Ten
Name Caption Category
Champion  Amanda Eisenfeld, No Caption, Horse and Buddy
RC           Patti Morabito, Nature's Beauty, Beautiful Arabians
TT-3      Maggie Paul, Listen Shorty, do you REALLY want to mess with me?, What a Clown
TT-4 Troy Murrel, Not Again Mom!, What a Clown
TT-5 Karen L Heeb, A mother's love . . Welcome to this , Beautiful Arabians
T-6 CD Harbridge, ?como se llama?, What a Clown
TT-7 Merrick Miller, No Caption, Beautiful Arabians
TT-8 Barbara Himes, Hey! Where's Mom?, Foaling Around
TT-9 Troy Murrel, Free at Heart, Foaling Around
TT-10 Patti Morabito, Best Friends Forever, Horse and Buddy

Beautiful Arabian
Plc Name                Caption
1 Karen L Heeb, A mother's love . . Welcome to this world.
2 Pam Silvis , No Caption
3 Carol Spangler, Beautiful Reflection
4 Troy Murrel, No Caption
5 CD Harbridge, Behold!
6 Donna Shelatree ' Almost a Fantasy

Foaling Around – Everyone Loves a Baby
PLC Name              Caption
1 Donna Shelatree, There's a whole new world!
2 CD Harbridge, Got Elk?
3 Robin Cheeks, Curiosity
4 Kelly Bowman, Eight hours old!
5 Karen L Heeb, OK, What have I gotten myself into?
6 Troy Murrel, Free at Heart

Horse and Buddy
PLC Name           Caption
1 Patti Morabito, Best Friends Forever
2 Gene Clark, I love you man!
3 Nancy Stanga, Horse Whispering
4 Amanda Eisenfeld, No Caption
5 CD Harbridge, Gossip
6 Maia Chaney, Santa's Helper

What a Clown!!
PLC Name Caption
1 CD Harbridge, ?como se llama?
2 Maia Chaney, Snow Angel
3 Karen L Heeb, I can make that face, too!
4 Donna Shelatree , Dodge Ball or Dodge Horse?
5 Troy Murrel, Not Again Mom!
6 Jarien Pretorius Hey, that's my banana!

It's all over. .

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:48:00 +0000

     The 55th Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show is over. I finally got the last things unload from the truck into the garage. I just have to finish putting everything away. It is amazing how much stuff, not forgetting the people, it takes to do everything the Amateur Committee does during the show. A huge thanks and pat on the back to everyone who pitched in day after day to make our activities a success!!! THANK YOU!!
     Meet a Horse was a huge success this year. A young woman who had her picture taken with Clancy 5 years ago came back to see him again. Meet a Horse is a fixture now at the show. I hope Clancy and Rosie can keep up the good work. We averaged 80 pictures a day. We some how manage do it in one hour. Thanks to Joe and Tempe Camera for providing us the means to give free photos.
     Barn Tours were huge. A low of forty people on Wednesday to over 200 on the final Saturday. The education area with posters and breed information we arranged in the stalls was a big hit. Having one location took much of the work and angst in getting barns to tour away, a huge relief for Bobbi and me.
     Unfortunately, I understand that several board members were less than happy with the arrangement even though we started talking about it with them in August. Several members felt it gave Bill Flood some kind of marketing advantage. What a mess!
     It is really regrettable when the focus is lost on what we can do to promote the horse we love to what the show can do to promote your business. Bill, Darcy and Brandon got nothing from the tours except the inconvenience of trying to show and move horses through 100 people or more on a daily basis as they leave to show horses, or work them. I know they train my horses and I show with them.    I was one of them moving through the crowd, with Bolero, going off to show.
     The crowds loved seeing a "real" barn in action. So, thanks Bill, Darcy and Brandon. I am so sorry it has cause so much controversy. Good show despite the turmoil.
       It will be interesting to see how the Barn Tours evolve in the future.

     Onward. . . .

Let the games begin. . . . Scottsdale 2010 #55

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:36:00 +0000

I am leaving shortly to go to WestWorld to start setting up the Education area of the Amateur Committee Behind the Scenes Tour Barn. This is a first for the Amateur Committee. Wish us luck. Please, come by the back of Barn J -Bill Flood's barn- and check us out.

SCOTTSDALE PHOTO CONTEST 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:02:00 +0000

The deadline is fast approaching. Get your photos in by February 5th. Follow the link for rules and entry forms. Photo Contest Rules and Entry Forms

I have posted some hints below. Take a look at the slide show from past years. I have to say that not all the judged winners were the People Choice winners. It is a side of the contest we added last year.

HINTS for success from past photo contests

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 23:54:00 +0000

Hints from watching the judging and talking to the judges.
1. Captions DO matter. It helps "get the point" across of the picture. Emphasis.
2. Correct presentation, i.e. mounting is an asset. Poorly mounted, not mounted and the wrong size get shuffled to the bottom of the pile.3. In focus pictures (yes, it's true) always receive the judges attention.
4. If submitting a picture printed on an inkjet make sure that it isn’t streaked, or grainy.
5. Is okay to "photoshop" your entry, but know what you are doing. The pros can tell when a picture has been tweaked and done badly. So, even if the composition is good, and the the other elements mentioned above; zap, to the bottom of the pile.
Categories:
“Foaling Around –Everybody Loves a Baby!,” --Looking for adorable baby pictures.
“What a Clown!, Funny horse moments."-- No tongues, please! You would be surprised how many of those pictures we have received.
“Beautiful Arabians” --A photo image that captures the grace and beauty of the Arabian. It can be a horse in motion, or standing.
“Horse and Buddy.” --That magic moment either between horse and other animal, horse and human.

55th Annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:32:00 +0000

35 five days and counting until the show starts. Keep checking the blog, or subscribe. I am going to try and keep this really updated with news.

Friday at Fall Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Friday night at Fall Festival was fabulous. . . and it was halter. There was an showmanship class that put some of the pizzaz back into watching handlers show. All very proper. Exhibitor party was fun, and very casual. It was held next to where Sweet Things is located. There were lots of youth activities, and the fun classes. Very nice.

Fall Festival - Set Up

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Have the "Hut" up. Many thanks to Carol, Bobbie and Mary Lou for getting it done.

Looks like there are about 150 horses at the show. Not bad for the weekend after Nationals. It will be interesting to see how the judging works with two judges/two show concept. I am trying to imagine how they award two sets of ribbons. I'll keep you posted, and hopefully have some pictures for you tonight.

Fall Festival Update

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:20:00 +0000

We have been successful in selling the class sponsorships. Thanks to everyone who pitched in and sold. Thanks to those of you who bought them! Only two of the Reining classes and two of the dressage sponsorships were sold. Not sure why, but it happens every year. Too bad.

Friday night of Fall Festival is the Exhibitor Party and AHAA member party. Come on down.

Saturday is Meet a Horse, Barn Tours, and the Liberty Charity Challenge. Fun busy day. Brings the kids down to meet Rosie and Clancy and have a picture taken with them.

FALL FESTIVAL SPONSORSHIPS

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Selling the sponsorships is a major fund raiser for the Amateur Committee. It is one of the reasons we are able to sponsor the charity challenge and provide the prize money to the charities. Sponsorship sales are slow this year. Our usual leader for this was unable to coordinate it for us so we aren't getting the job done. Please take time to 1) sell a sponsorship to someone, or 2) sponsor a class or classes yourself. Follow the link to the form and send it in with a check, or call 480-515-1500 and do a sponsorship over the phone and request to be billed, or use a credit card. Please help us out! Thanks.

AC Poker Ride at Rio Estancia

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 01:35:00 +0000

OK!! Our first ever Halloween Poker Ride held at Rio Estancia October 24th was a BIG success. It contained the elements of a regular poker ride with having to complete an obstacle to earn your card. There were nine obstacle so if you completed them all you had a better chance for a winning hand. There was a prize for the high hand as well as the best costume. The costume prize was decided by high card draw. It was just a great day. Low key and well organized thanks to mary Lou.

We had twelve riders. There was plenty of help on the ground. The weather was perfect, and the food and beverages afterwards were very tasty.

I'll let the pictures tell the story. Thanks to EVERYONE who came and participated. I am looking forward to riding next time.

HO HO HO Trail Ride December 12

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:19:00 +0000

The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona’s Amateur Committee is hosting it’s Annual Ho Ho Ho Trail Ride. It is Saturday, December 12, 2009 at McDowell Mountain Regional Park. Be saddled and ready to ride out at 10:00 AM. The ride is approximately two hours.

McDowell Mountain Regional Park is located in the northeast valley on the eastern side of the McDowell Mountain range. For a map of how to get there follow the link. We have reserved Ramadas 1 and 2 at the main trailhead. As you enter the park there is a volunteer at the gate. The volunteer will give you a map of the park and directions. There is a park entry fee of $6.00.

Plan on arriving by at least 9:30 AM to give yourself time to saddle up. If you are a little hungry there will be coffee, orange juice and breakfast snacks available.

We like to split into groups of riders with similar riding styles. So if you like to mosey down the trail at a walk or trot and canter up the wash there is the right pace for everyone. We ride out promptly at 10:00 AM.

After the ride the AHAA Amateur Committee hosts a great B.B.Q. lunch. Yep!!! It is a FREE LUNCH!!! Please RSVP so we have plenty of grub. Send us an email at ahaa-ac@cox.net , or contact the AHAA office at 480-515-1500

You don't have to ride an Arabian horse to come. Just come on out for a good day of horses and fun. Hope to see you there

Passing of a friend

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:54:00 +0000

We would like to offer our thoughts and prayers to Bob Battaglia and Battagla Farms riders and friends, for the loss of an Ambassador of the Arabian Horse, judge and great horseman, Russ Vento. Rest in Peace.

Wanted: Volunteers for Fall Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:21:00 +0000

Fall Festival is November 6-8th. The Club is looking for volunteers to help with the show. I don't know specifically what "jobs" volunteers are needed to staff. I am sure some of them are opening and closing gates, or ribbon presenter. If you are interested contact Jody Dukerick at 480-515-1500, or arabian@scottsdaleshow.com.

This weekend. . Equestrian Expo in Queen Creek

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Remember the Expo at Horshoe Park and Equestrian Centre in Queen Creek this weekend.

Poker Ride?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:20:00 +0000

We are thinking about doing a Poker Ride as a fund raiser for a horse rescue group. What do you all think?

A new adventure. . . FaceBook

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:41:00 +0000

OK. We made a FaceBook page. If you are a member of FaceBook search for Arabian Horse Association of Arizona. You can add the words Amateur Committee. Please become a fan, and pass it on along to others. Doing this came from a PR meeting, and so, we just had to do it. Thanks, Jennifer.

Equine E-News

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 14:39:00 +0000

I found this link today as I was working on the PR for Fall Festival. It has comprehensive information about events and resources around the state. I like it. Equine e-News

Equine Youth and Career Day

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:10:00 +0000

Arizona Horse Council aka Arizona State Horseman's Association, is sponsoring an Equine Youth and Career Day October 3 and 4th. The AC will be very busy. Go to this link for more information. Equine Youth and Career Day

Fall Festival 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Family Fun at Fall Festival Arabian Horse Show

Spend the day with the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona kicks off its 2009-2010 show season. The Arabian Horse Association has been part of Arizona excitement since 1955 with an origin of 12 members. This amazing club has grown to over 750 members, setting the pace in the Arabian horse world.

The Fall Festival Arabian Horse Show will be held November 6-8 at Westworld, located at 16601 N. Pima Road. Arabian & Half Arabian / Anglo Arabian horses will be competing in a wide variety of classes throughout the three days.

Admission is free, providing everyone the opportunity to come out and share in the beauty and grace of the Arabian horse.

While onsite, visit the “Amateur Hut” located at the SE corner of the Equidome.. The Amateur Committee is hosting afternoon and evening activities on Saturday, geared towards an up close and personal experience with the trainers, riders, and horses.

The “Meet A Horse” program provides the opportunity for people of all ages to mount a horse dressed in an Arabian Costume, and have a free picture taken! Not interested in getting up on a horse? You can just stand beside our horse for a photo.

“Meet A Horse” will be held near the “Amateur Hut” on Saturday at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30.

Following the “Meet A Horse”, the Amateur Committee is hosting guided tours of the show grounds, including “Behind The Scenes Barn Tour The Barn Tour provides a great opportunity to have all your questions answered about what’s happening in the show rings, warm up rings, and how the horse and rider prepare for showing. You will meet horses up close, and see a fully functioning barn from the exhibitor’s viewpoint. Barn Tours will start at the “Amateur Hut” and are held on Saturday at ”. The tours are at 12:00 and 2:00.

The focus of Saturday night is the three charities the Arabian Horse Association donates to on an annual basis: March of Dimes, Cox charities, and Phoenix Crisis Nursery. The Liberty horse class starts the evening session with each charity cheering on their selected horse. Charities win a portion of $5,000 based on their attendance and participation. The liberty horses are turned loose in the arena one at a time, running freely to selected music for a period of two minutes. It’s an exciting class showcasing the ultimate beauty of an Arabian horse fluidly covering ground without a handler’s guidance.

Joins us for the day. Food and beverages are available on the grounds, as well as shopping at various vendor. Come by the Amateur Hut during the show. for more information about becoming part of the excitement. Visit the following Arabian Horse of AZ website to see upcoming events; http://www.scottsdaleshow.com/ , or visit our blog at; http://arabians-az.blogspot.com.

Office Changes Location

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:35:00 +0000

The AHAA office is moving. It will be in it's new location on Monday, August 31st. The only thing that has changed is the address. Phone and fax remain the same. I haven't seen it yet, but will try to get some photos and post them. It is, and I haven't been there yet, much bigger.

New location A Google maps link.

AHAA
15455 N Greenway-Hayden Loop #C-18
Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Fall Festival Dates

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 01:39:00 +0000

Fall Festival November 6th through 8th

It is no longer two separate shows running on different days. One show was a Region 1 qualifier, and one show was a Region 7 qualifier. The two qualifying shows have been combined into ONE show. There will be two separate judges, one for R1 and one for R7. There will be one class, two judges and two separate results.

The show is only 3 days. It occurs very soon after Nationals this year. I always liked the two shows so that when I screwed up in one I had a chance to redeem myself. LOL

It is my understanding that Halter Championships have been included this year.

Fall Festival This is the link to the AHAA site with FF info. The show schedule that is posted is from last year. I am not sure if we pay double entry fees, and can't tell from the website. I am hopeful that when the new schedule is posted all will become clear.