GAHA delegates at the 2009 AHA convention in Reno, Nevada in November. From left to right Denni Mack, Connie Green, Tracy Lord.
2009 GAHA Summer Classic
June 5 - 7, 2009
Georgia International Horse Park, Conyers, GA
Region 12 and Region 15 Qualifiers Run Concurrently for
Main Ring, Hunter/Jumper and Sport Horse
Region 12 Dressage, June 6~~~Region 15 Dressage, June 7
Region 12 Working Hunter Championships, June 7
GAHA Futurities, June 5
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Hello Everyone!
As many of you have noticed, we are a bit behind schedule with show information. That is all about to change. This email will serve as the BIG dose of info and we will send out a weekly email each Monday until the show in June. If you know someone we need to add to our email blast list, please send that email info to me and I will add them to our list.
We know that 2008, and 2009 so far, have been tough times for a lot of people. Showing horses is not an inexpensive venture and we understand that. Keeping our costs down so that we can help keep YOUR costs down are a big goal of ours. Our hopes are that by having a concurrent show with two regional qualifiers, we will be able to offer you the biggest bang for the buck and enable you all to reach your goals AND have fun doing it!
We want thank Pam Harris, President, and all the members of the Southern Arabian Breeders and Riding Enthusiasts, S.A.B.R.E. fro their sponsorship of the Region 15 qualifier. We could not have done this without your support.
So let's get started!
The Show!
This year's show is abbreviated in length, but just as packed with classes and fun things. We are hosting Region 12 and Region 15 qualifiers that will run concurrently. For main ring, sport horse and hunter/jumper, each class will have TWO judges in the ring; one for each region and two sets of results. The exception will be dressage. Due to USEF and USDF rules, dressage classes cannot be run concurrently and each region's classes will be run on separate days as indicated above. The Region 12 Working Hunter Championship will be on Sunday, June 7. Exhibitors can qualify earlier in the weekend and show in the Championship on Sunday.
The Prize List!
It will be coming out late this week. 2008 exhibitors and GAHA members will automatically get a copy in the mail. If you are not on either list and want to get a copy, please email me and we will get one in the mail. The Prize List and all info concerning the show will be posted on our website, www.georgia-arabian.com, later this week as well. You will notice that we have a larger list of classes. Spreading the show over a three day period and running two shows concurrently has allowed us to put in a lot of classes that might previously been TBA. If there are classes you would like, and do not see, please let us know. We will do everything we can to accommodate your requests.
Volunteers!
GAHA want YOU! Stephanie Boutwell is again heading up the volunteer effort. Please contact her at,
connordog@bellsouth.net , or call her at 770-316-2438. We will take whatever time you can spare and fit it in. All areas need help...main ring, H/J, dressage and sport horse. We will have a thank gift for all volunteers and will provide lunch for those that work a half day or more.
Class Sponsorships!
Qualifying classes are $25 and Championship classes are $50. And remember, you are sponsoring two classes for the price of one! All class sponsors will be noted on our website and in the GAHA Newsletter. Your sponsorship will be announced throughout the class. And keep in mind that you are actually sponsoring two classes at the same time!
We are offering Box Seats again this year. We have reduced the price, but not the goodies. The price is $100. Each Box Seat will have 8 seats and a table at the back. You will receive our fabulous goodie basket with treats for you and your horses. And a special gift too. Book these soon! We can offer only 18!
All Patron Packages include Box Seats. We have 5 different levels that offer amenities such as hotel rooms, premium stall placement in barns 1, 2 and 6, free stalls and class sponsorships. Book these early too as premium stall space is offered to Patrons first!
One of the most fun things at the show are the Prize Drawings we do. We'll have lots of things to give away. If you have something you would like to donate for us to give away, please let me know. It's a great promotional tool and we'll make sure your are promoted heavily for the donation.
Exhibitors Dinner and Welcome Social!
Our Welcome Social will be Friday evening after the GAHA Futurities. The Exhibitors Dinner, (always a favorite!) will be Saturday evening after the last
class.
AND We are also looking for SPONSORS of both!!
Vendors!
Know anyone that wants to be a vendor at our show? Forms can be found on the website and the Prize List. We are not trying to make money on this. Our fees are what we are being charged by the Horse Park. We just want to have a shopping venue for our spectators and exhibitors.
The official show hotel will be the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Conyers. Seven hotels in Conyers were asked to submit rate proposals as the GAHA Show Hotel. The La Quinta was the hotel that gave us the best rates for the show weekend and also has the amenities we expect. Rates are as follows:
June 3rd & 4th - Wednesday and Thursday nights - $76.50
June 5th & 6th - Friday and Saturday nights - $67.50
These rates are guaranteed if booked by May 1st. We will notify you by the weekly email if there are rate changes after May 1st. When booking at the La Quinta, please tell them that you are booking for the "GAHA Show Rate" to insure that you are charged the right rate. The hotel is 5 miles from the Horse Park and convenient to Home Depot and Walmart if you need to stop there before you get to the show ground. A variety of shopping and restaurants are also close. And the La Quinta is PET FRIENDLY. Believe me, we WOULD NOT book a hotel that wasn't.
We have in previous years booked at the Hawthorn Suites. The Hawthorn is under new management, and is also under going a renovation while open to business. Renovation will still be in progress at the time of our show. This, coupled with the fact that the rates they offered, were higher than other hotels, made the La Quinta an easy choice as the Show Hotel.
La Quinta Inn & Suites
1184 Dogwood Dr.
Conyers, GA 30012
Phone: (770) 918-0092
Fax: (770) 918-0565
About The La Quinta - Conyers, Georgia
· Free Bright Side Breakfast · Free Wireless High-Speed Internet Access
· Free High-Speed Internet Access · Free Local Calls · Free Parking
· Meeting Facilities Available · Guest Laundry Facilities Outdoor Swimming Pool
· Express Checkout Available · Pets Welcome
The La Quinta Inn and Suites Atlanta Conyers is everything you would expect from a world-class hotel. Spacious rooms are loaded with amenities, such as free high-speed Internet access; King rooms and Suites have a microwave and refrigerator. The refreshing outdoor Pool and relaxing Spa compliment a beautifully landscaped courtyard, complete with a romantic gazebo and an outdoor seating area. We also have a well-equipped Fitness Center and available Meeting Facilities. Our courteous staff provides a free Bright Side BreakfastTM every morning. Located just off I-20 (exit 82) behind Cracker Barrel, 30 miles east of the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.
In Closing!
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. The Prize List will go out late this week and will be posted on our website. Look for other information on the website tomorrow.
And look for the Weekly Update (shorter I promise!) next week.
Thank you all for your patience and we look forward to seeing you all at the show!
GAHA delegates at the 2008 AHA convention in Denver, Colorado in November. From left to right Denni Mack, Connie Green, Tracy Lord (Ann Stover not pictured).
2008 Region 12 Championship Results for
Georgia Arabian Horse Association Members
GAHA Board member Connie Green reports the Region 12 honors garnered by GAHA membership.
Psi Factor Owned and shown by Connie Green.
Top 5 Half Arab Sport Horse Under Saddle, ATR
Top 5 Half Arab Sport Horse Geldings In Hand, Open
Top 5 Half Arab Sport Horse Geldings In Hand, ATH
Virtual Reality Owned by Kathy Baier
Reserve Champion Half Arab Sport Horse Geldings In Hand, ATH
Kathy Baier showing
Top 5 Half Arab Sport Horse Geldings In Hand, Open
Robin Ginn showing
Boucco Too - Owned by Robin Hardy and Niki Hardy Hilley
Champion Arabian Hunter Pleasure, AAOTR 40 and over
Robin Hardy showing
Champion Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle, Open
Niki Hardy Hilley showing
Reserve Champion Arabian Sport Horse Under Saddle, ATR
Niki Hardy Hilley showing
Top 5 Arabian Sport Horse Stallions In Hand, ATH
Kathy Baier showing
Top 5 Arabian Western Pleasure, AAOTR 18-39
Niki Hardy Hilley showing
Top 5 Arabian Hunter Pleasure, AAOTR 18-39
Niki Hardy Hilley showing
GAHA 2008 Summer Classic High Point Results
June 2008
Connie Green, High Point Chairman for the Georgia Arabian Horse Association, announced the High Point winners for the 2008 Summer Classic Show. Coolers were given out at the show to the overall high point horses in each ring. This included both the Region 12 and Region 14 qualifiers.
Summer Classic I - Region 12 Qualifier
Main Ring Khemagic El-Marees, Pam Hardin rider
Sport Horse DA Durado, Tracy Lord, rider
Hunter/Jumper DA Durado, Tracy Lord, rider
Dressage Virtual Reality, Kathy Baier, rider Score 77.50
Region 12 Hunter/Jumper Show DA Durado, Tracy Lord, rider
Summer Classic II - Region 14 Qualifier
Main Ring DA Chill Me Thrill Me and Mickey Womble
Sport Horse DA Durado, Tracy Lord, rider
Dressage FF Irish Vodka, Cynthia Cubbage, rider Score 71.304
Kathy Baier, the Summer Classic I dressage High Point winner, was also recognized as receiving the highest dressage score for both shows, with a 77.50. The score was achieved on her horse Virtual Reality. This was only the second time that Virtual Reality had been shown, and only the second time Kathy had shown dressage. Both horse and rider are to be commended for their great results! Way to go, Kathy!
Multiple High Point winner, Tracy Lord was also the first recipient of the Chris Elliott Memorial Trophy. This award is given to the High Point exhibitor in the Region 12 Working Hunter Championship Show. Tracy and her horse DA Durado have won numerous awards and GAHA is proud of Tracy as the first winner of this award.
The Chris Elliott Memorial Trophy is given in honor and remembrance of Chris Elliott, long time member of the Georgia Arabian Horse Association. Throughout the years, Chris served as a GAHA officer and board member and she gave the Summer Classic her time and expertise for many, many years. But she is most remembered as a loyal friend, a wonderful teacher and extremely talented rider and trainer. Chris always put her friends and students first. She was known for her bubbly personality and her caring nature. Chris never met a stranger, and all that ever met her, always remembered her. She is greatly missed, but will be forever remembered at our show through this award.
Club and Membership News
All of you should have received a letter from Denni Mack, GAHA Board Member and Chairman of the Nominating Committee for 2008 elections in the mail this week along with the GAHA Membership Directory. Please read Dennis letter carefully. We want ALL members to participate in our club. If you want to be considered for a Board seat, or officer seat, or you would like to nominate someone, please contact Denni as soon as possible and let her know. And once you receive your voting package in December, please send in your proxy if you are unable to attend the Annual meeting.
YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE AND THEY BOTH COUNT! ==================================================================== DIRECTORY The 2007-2008 Membership Directory will be the last one that the club produces. The Region 12 Directory includes all GAHA members that are linked through AHA, and it would be a great cost savings to us as a club. The information in the Directory is taken from the AHA database. If you find incorrect information, please contact Kathy Hedgepeth to get it corrected
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MEMBERSHIP DRIVE If you are an adult GAHA member, or a GAHA Life Member and not linked to our club through AHA, (linked to another club or GAHA only), please consider doing so. The number of delegates that we send to convention is determined by this number. We have many members that have GAHA memberships and memberships with other clubs. You determine what club your delegate vote goes to when renewing your AHA membership. If you choose another club as your home club, that club is the one that can claim you for delegate counts and you are recognized by AHA as belonging to that club only. Only one club membership can be linked to one AHA membership. You can however purchase a second AHA membership to link with GAHA. The cost to link your GAHA membership to AHA is $25. While duplicate AHA memberships may seem redundant, you will be helping our delegates represent GAHA with the strongest voice possible. Please let Kathy Hedgepeth know if you want to do this. She can handle all of the details for you.
We missed sending an extra delegate to Convention by 10 memberships this year. We dont want to let that happen again so we are initiating a membership drive for 2008. The person who accumulates the most points will have their 2008 AHA/GAHA dues WITH competition card paid by GAHA. They will also receive two bridle bags. The two runners up will also receive a bridle bag. A form was also sent along with the Directory package and one is posted here also that will give details on how this works. The Prize will be awarded at our 2008 Annual Meeting in January. Our Youth memberships are important to us too so weve included a little something for them too with the Membership Drive. Each current GAHA youth member that brings us a NEW youth member will receive an bridle bag too! Our goal is to get our total AHA/GAHA recognized membership to 251 or MORE!. That is 58 more than we have now. That would give us a cushion, and get us 2 more delegates for 2008.
Details on the Annual Election and Membership Meeting will be mailed in December along with your voting package. Please plan to attend.
See you all in January at the Meeting in January!
Georgia Arabian Horse Association
Futurity Program
GAHA members we need your input! The GAHA futurity program is getting smaller in size each year. At the recent Board of Directors meeting we came up with some ideas to help it grow. Review our ideas and comment on them and/or add your ideas to boost the program. Here are some of our ideas: Add an under saddle class for 5 year olds (you would pay a one time fee for it like $125), add a Sport horse in hand (halter class for the 3 year olds) and a Sport Horse under saddle for the 4 and 5 year olds. Got any ideas or comments? Contact me at conniehgreen@aol.com, 770-974-8040 or Susan White at SWdeepcreekarabs@aol.com, 770-567-4937. We really need your help!
