President's Message and March, 2010, NCAHA News Update
This is indeed an interesting and challenging time to assume the office of President of the NCAHA. It seems that everywhere one turns we face not only personal but association budgetary difficulties, possible drops in membership and attendance at shows, and other symptoms of the current economy. I hope that we can all remain steadfast to our devotion to our Arabian horses and persist in doing our best to support our club in its activities while at the same time being aware of the ramifications of the economy and the personal sacrifices many of us must make. The NCAHA has been so far blessed by consistent membership numbers and interest in our activities. Let's keep it going!We had approximately 80 members, family and friends in attendance at our first club activity of 2010, our annual awards banquet and elections, where we enjoyed a fun social hour, great dinner and numerous door prizes. Our annual awards were lovely and greatly appreciated by all who participated in the program. I'd like to thank Heather Hargrave, Jess Crutchfield and Donna Reiter for all their hard work selecting the lovely awards on a strict budget and for tabulating points and Rory Meacham for being master of ceremonies for the event. Congratulations to all the winners in the awards program; we hope to see even more members send in points in 2010. I'd like to remind members that the awards program is open to participants in both Open and Rated shows and that participation is FREE to all pure and part-bred Arabians owned and shown by NCAHA members. We already include open dressage, and we plan to add a trail division to the awards for 2010. Other divisions may be added if members request them. So, to all of you, please let your Board and Officers know your desires. Forms are on the web site; updates will be posted after the May board meeting.
Those enrolled in our Challenge Series received their checks at the banquet as well. The Challenge Series is open to pure and part-breds for points earned at "A" shows only; double points are awarded for points earned at our NCAHA April show and at the NC State Fair Arabian show. If you are showing the "A" circuit this year and have not yet enrolled your horse, nominations must be to Rory Meacham prior to the first show at which you want your points to count. The NCAHA will again be subsidizing the "pot" for the Challenge Series. You can find nomination forms on this web site.
Our second NCAHA club activity was a well-attended March 13th pre-show clinic held at Cedarwood/Grayland Farms in Durham. Thanks to Jim Paden and the group from his facility for planning the day. We had a special sport horse section featuring Larry Jones of Virginia and two of his national champion sport horses. Meredith Reiter gave an excellent demonstration of show grooming including body clipping and hoof preparation. Denny Powell presented a well-organized and helpful overview of center-point riding with Heather Hargrave demonstrating. We wound up the afternoon with a "judge's panel" consisting of Judy Warner, Liz Obriant and Pat Winecoff fielding questions from the group. Thanks to everyone who participated and contributed to making this clinic successful!
We will be planning additional clinics during 2010, based on feedback from membership as to what they would like to have. Already in planning stages is a showmanship clinic, which we hope to have on a Sunday afternoon before warm weather arrives. Contact Karen Sanders if you want additional details or to give input. Also either full or half-day clinics being considered are English and Country pleasure, western pleasure, choosing and using bits, and a more in-depth sport horse day. Let us know what areas interested you and when would be good times to hold these clinics.
Additionally, the NCAHA has a new Trail Ride Committee consisting of Libby Williams, Jackie Stott, and Mary Ann Laferriere. Please contact them if you know of locations that would be convenient for members and friends to meet, ride, and possibly share a covered dish social after the ride. We hope to hold at least two NCAHA trail rides this year; if interest is good, more will be considered.
Plans are also underway to make changes in our web site and to develop an electronic monthly newsletter similar to those distributed by Regions 12 and 15. If you'd like to have input into this process or have skills that would be useful to the club, let us know.
As president, I hope to help the club explore new ways of meeting the needs of our large and varied membership whether this be through expansion of education efforts and clinics, promotion of the breed through Class A and open shows, trail rides, or other venues. I want to see the NCAHA expand the range of services we offer our membership while still making participation affordable. To do this, we need YOUR help. Please bring your ideas to me and all other officers and board members. We want and value your ideas and participation! This is your club - help us make it better.
As I write this, the weather is turning warm, mud is drying up, horses are shedding, and anticipation of upcoming shows, trail rides and just seeing our horse friends again has begun to pleasantly supplant the memory of the long, hard winter. I hope everyone is feeling the warmth and joy of those first rays of spring as much as I am.
If you haven't sent in those entries for the April 9, 10, & 11, NCAHA "A" show, it isn't too late! If you don't show, come help or just hang out. Hope to see you there…
Sincerely,
Myra Daniel
