ASHA - American Saddlebred Horse Association

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2009 Annual Meeting and Youth Conference
Thursday, February 12 – Saturday, February 14
Lexington, Kentucky | Marriott Griffin Gate Resort

Annual Meeting Highlights -|- Youth Conference Highlights -|- Schedule of Events
Hotel Reservations and Directions

An Invitation

TO ASSOCIATION MEMBERS AND ALL SUPPORTERS OF THE AMERICAN SADDLEBRED:

Please join all those who love the American Saddlebred in celebrating their passion for the breed at the 2009 Saddlebred Summit, formal Annual Meeting of Members, Youth Conference, and the annual Saddlebred Ball!

This is the one time each year when Association members join together to meet with Association leaders, as well as many leading breeders, owners, professionals, and adherents of the breed across a wide variety of disciplines. Share your opinions, attend committee meetings, shop, socialize, and just have fun in Lexington!

Among many activities and highlights will be:

AMERICAN SADDLEBRED BALL AT THE GRIFFIN GATE MARRIOTT RESORT

Dance the night away to superb “Big Band” live music, enjoy fine dining, exceptional video presentations and entertainment, and most of all join together to honor those whose lives have demonstrated passionate dedication to the American Saddlebred!

WELCOME RECEPTION

Relax and enjoy a welcome reception upon your arrival in Lexington, sponsored in part by the FEI Disciplines Committee.

ANNUAL MEMBERS FORUM AND LUNCHEON

Meet with volunteer and staff leadership of the Association to review the organization’s progress in the last year, the state of the breed, official financial reports, plans for the future, and governance.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND FORUMS

All committee meetings will be open to members who register for the convention. Where time permits, member forums will be held as the committees meet. New meeting rooms have been arranged this year to permit easier exchanges of views between committee leaders and the membership.

ANNUAL AWARDS LUNCHEON

Year-end awards will be presented on Friday for all Association programs, including Charter Clubs, FEI Discipline Awards, and National Pleasure Horse Champions, among others. Richard Shrake provides the keynote address: “Young Riders and Horses – Legacy to the World.”

WORKSHOP: YOUR CHARTER CLUB’S TEMPLATE FOR SUCCESS

Charter Clubs form the national backbone of the breed’s outreach, and are represented to the ASHA organizationally by their representatives on the Charter Club Council. From competition to recreation programs, brainstorm how to manage a Charter Club more effectively and efficiently, how to expand membership, how to govern, and perhaps most important, how to promote the Saddlebred for all uses.

OPEN FORUM: FOCUS ON AMATEUR/OWNER TRAINING AND YOUNG HORSES

Leading horsemen have been invited to participate in a discussion to benefit Amateur/Owner Trainers, and everyone who seeks better understanding of the most successful practices in training young American Saddlebreds: renowned horsemen Nelson Green, Allison Deardorff, Tre Lee, Matt Shiflet, and special guest Richard Shrake. Topics of discussion will be generated by attendees.

OPEN DISCUSSIONS: SADDLEBREDS FOR EVERY GENERATION

See and hear presentations – and exchange ideas with the presenters – about successful Saddlebred promotions during 2008 and planned for 2009; technological advances for the Association, Registry, and breed; how top judges really decide the winners (and how they don’t); how to create successful shows for the lower and mid-price horses; where new buyers of Saddlebreds come from; how can the breed as a whole be marketed in challenging economic times.

EDUCATIONAL FORUM FOR SADDLEBRED OWNERS, BREEDERS, AND PROFESSIONALS

Dr. Ed Squires, Executive Director of the Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Foundation at the University of Kentucky, and a pioneer in equine reproductive techniques and the non-surgical collection and transfer of equine embryos, helps breeders and prospective breeders understand how to breed efficiently – the best results for the least cost. Dr. Gregory Ferraro, Director of the Center for Equine Health at the University of California, Davis, has been invited to lead a discussion on the coming stem-cell “miracle” in equine medicine: what’s possible, what’s likely, and what to be wary of.

2009 American Saddlebred Youth Conference

Remember, Youth Conference attendance and registration is now open to all ASHA members under the age of 21! Please join your friends to have fun with your own generation (and those to come) on Friday and Saturday, February 13 and 14, 2009, at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington, Kentucky.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE EXCITING ACTIVITIES PLANNED:

SATURDAY’S FIELD TRIP: BEAUTIFUL VERSAILLES

Visits are scheduled for Bret and Susi Day’s Grey Ridge Farm, Tre Lee’s Prospect Lane, and Clouse Stables. The Youth Awards Luncheon will be held at Melissa Moore’s Sunrise Stables, and will include presentations for outstanding achievements and Youth Club of the Year (as well as a tour of Melissa’s grand new barn).

FRIDAY NIGHT FESTIVITIES: PIZZA AND PAR-TAY

Lots of fun, highlighted by a pizza party and a dance exhibition featuring Ballroom and Latin dancing, including a group lesson with Maryta Montgomery of Kentucky Dance Sport. And back by popular demand: the Outrageous Music Machine so everyone can dance their own way!

SATURDAY BREAKFAST AND YOUTH AWARDS

Just what you want for a Saturday morning with an exciting day ahead – and to top off breakfast, Academy Awards are presented to those earning gold, silver, or bronze medallions for their participation during the 2008 season, as well as the new Academy Master Medals.

2009 AMERICAN SADDLEBRED BALL, SATURDAY EVENING

This year, the sensational new Griffin Gate Resort Ballroom awaits, so there’s no icy, snowy driving to your destination for the culmination of the Conference, honoring of the Frank Ogletree Youth Award designee, as well as the Association’s overall top winners for 2008, including the Horse of the Year and the winner of the 2008 World’s Grand Champion Five-Gaited Saddle Horse. Spectacular videos, great music, and the best dance floor of the year await you.

Schedule of Events

2009 ASHA Annual Meeting & Youth Conference Schedule
Detailed schedule is tentative. ASHA reserves the right to make changes as necessary.

Thursday, February 12, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Vendor Area Open
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Annual Convention Registration
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saddlebred Ball Tickets & Seating
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saddlebred Service Center
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Finance Committee
8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Sweepstakes Committee
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Breeders Committee
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Charter Club Workshop: National Representation of the American Saddlebred
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. KY & National Futurity Committee
11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Grand National Committee
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. State Futurities Committee
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Standards and Rules Committee
2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Charter Club Council
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Registry Committee (closed)
4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Pleasure Disciplines Committee
4:45 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Hunter Disciplines Committee
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Welcome Reception - Sponsored by the FEI Disciplines Committee
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ASHA Board of Directors (closed)

Friday, February 13, 2009
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Annual Convention Registration
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saddlebred Ball Tickets & Seating
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saddlebred Service Center
8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. ASHA Silent Auction
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Vendor Area Open
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Ad Hoc Committee; Riding Schools & Instructor Certification
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Youth Committee
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Amateur/Owner-Trainer Open Forum
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Auction Committee
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ASHA Awards Luncheon
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Scholarship Committee
1:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Open Discussions: Saddlebreds For Every Generation
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Youth Planning Committee
2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Equine Welfare Committee
4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. FEI Disciplines Committee
4:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Youth Conference Registration
5:45 p.m. -9:00 p.m. American Saddlebred Museum Exhibit Opening and Reception: “Friday Night at the Movies II” Dinner, Exhibit Opening, Woodford Reserve Bourbon Tasting and Saddlebred Stars II
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Youth Pizza Party
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Youth Activities
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Youth Advisor Reception/Workshop
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Youth Dance Party

Saturday, February 14, 2009
7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Annual Convention Registration
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saddlebred Ball Tickets & Seating
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saddlebred Service Center
8:00 a.m. -7:30 p.m. ASHA Silent Auction
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. Vendor Area Open
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Youth Awards Breakfast
10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Youth Field Trip
8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Saddlebred Breeders & Owners Educational Forum
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Marketing The Breed: Surviving Change
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ASHA Annual Members Luncheon/Keynote Speakers
12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Youth Awards Luncheon
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Scarf Signing with Carson Kressley
1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ASHA Annual Meeting/Open Forum
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. American Saddlebred Museum - Annual Membership Meeting
2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. American Saddlebred Museum - Board of Trustees (closed)
3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ASHA/ASR Board of Directors (closed)
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Saddlebred Cocktail Reception
8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Saddlebred Ball

Hotel Reservations and Directions

To Make Hotel Reservations:

Be sure to identify that you are part of the ASHA Annual Convention and Youth Conference for a special discounted rate; use the group code “amdamda.” Call (859) 231-5100 and ask for Reservation Specialist Marian Spencer, or call 1-888-236-2427. Or, to make your reservations online, go to The Marriott Reservation site. Completing the reservation online using this code will make available the discounted group rate of $99/night. This discounted rate is available until January 29, 2009. No refunds.

*IMPORTANT* If the reservation is made manually (not using the above link) please note that the reservation code has been changed from "amd" to "amdamda" as per Marriott specifications. Please use this new code when reserving rooms manually. Thank you.

Directions:

From I-75/64:

Take Exit 115 off Interstates 64/75 South (Newtown Pike/SR 922). Follow Newtown Pike/SR 922 South approximately 0.4 miles to second light and turn left onto Griffin Gate Drive. Once on Griffin Gate Drive, you are on resort property. Main entrance for resort is to the left.

From Blue Grass Airport:

Turn left on Man-O'-War Boulevard from Airport Parking Area. Go East on Versailles Road (US 60) approximately 2 miles to Second New Circle Road (North) Exit. Follow New Circle Road approximately 4 miles to Newtown Pike Exit 9B North toward I-64 & I-75. Follow Newtown Pike for approximately 1.5 miles to Griffin Gate Boulevard. Resort entrance is on the right.

Map

Saddlebred Farm Open House Week

The American Saddlebred Horse Association is declaring the week of February 9-16, 2009, Monday to Monday, as Open House Week for surrounding Saddlebred farms. Our Annual Convention and Youth Conference will be taking place Thursday, February 12, through Saturday, February 14, 2009, at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa, in Lexington, Kentucky.

The following locations will be included in this open house, during the the dates and times indicated:

Farm: Biggins Stable, Inc.
Dates: Monday, February 9 - Wednesday February 11, and Monday, February 16
Times: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Directions

Farm: Copper Coin Farm
Dates: Monday, February 9 - Saturday February 14, and Sunday February 15, by appointment
Times: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Directions

Farm: Escalade Stable LLC
Dates: Monday, February 9 - Monday, February 16
Times: All Day
Directions

Farm: Grey Ridge Farm
Dates: Monday, February 9 - Saturday, February 14
Times: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Directions

Farm: Nelson Green Stables
Dates: Friday, February 13 - Saturday, February 14
Times: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Directions

Farm: Stonecroft Farm
Dates: Monday, February 9 - Monday, February 16
Times: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Directions