By Devin Lally
6 December 2014
Imagine: It is the year 2006. The lights are dim at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky as the last class of U.S. Nationals prepares to trot through the in-gate — for the last time. The green shavings shine along with the atmosphere as the best of the best file into the ring. The stands are electric. The crowd roars, soaking up every bit of the last few minutes they will have in Freedom Hall.
"And now, for the last time here in Freedom Hall...REVERSE AND TROT," the announcer shouts as the music is cranked and the crowd produces a deafening sound.
The last line-up, the last Top Ten awarded, and the last National Champion trots out of the ring. The crowd goes silent as everyone takes one last look at this hallowed ground. The lights go out, and the golden age of the Arabian Horse Association comes to a close.
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| Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky (via Vancouver Charity Horse Show Pinterest) |
The Rebuild of AHA
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| Drop in Registered Arabians (via Van Gilder Arabians) |
Take a look a the image to the left to see how the numbers have been dropping since before 2006, even back to 1985.
Additionally, members of AHA no longer find it beneficial to maintain the expensive membership while the payoff from winning at a horse show has become so small. As the number of registered horses and members of AHA falls, so does the spirit of the organization as a whole.
Over the past eight years, the numbers at this National event have begun to steady. We have reached a point where it is now time to recover. 2014 marked the beginning of a new era for the Association.
2014 U.S. Nationals
The 2014 U.S. Nationals shone a light at the end of the tunnel of dejection fro the Arabian Horse Association.In early October, key members of our association, including trainers Christine Ryan and Pepper Proffit, took the long trek from the east coast down to Tulsa, Oklahoma in hopes of bringing the glitz and glamor back to U.S. Nationals.
There are 3 key issues with the current Nationals location at the Tulsa Expo Center:
- Too Much Concrete Between the Stall Area and the Arena: The Tulsa Expo Center is a concrete jungle--a sight at which every horse owner and trainer cringes during such a high-caliber event. The QuikTrip stall area is about 200-250 yards away from the main ring. When horses and humans make this walk multiple times a day, their legs feel the effects of the concrete
- Low Quality Arena Footing: The arena footing at a national event should be of the highest quality to ensure every horse is safe and competes at a level playing field. The footing should not be too deep, nor should it be hard. The footing at Tulsa is notoriously deep, and causes ligament issues in sensitive horses.
- No Allure: The Expo Center is not exactly the most glamorous show grounds. In fact, the show ring is fully enclosed, does not boast sufficient grandstands, and displays an unattractive and distracting view of the warm-up area.
- Mulch Path from QuikTrip to Main Ring: As shown in the image below, U.S. Nationals setup crew worked hard to make this dream a reality. Not only did this prevent horses and riders from getting sore legs, but those who traveled to Tulsa in October know that the weather can be highly unusual. The mulch path prevents any potential dangers that result from wet, icy, or snow-covered concrete.
Jonathan Enz walks from the main ring to QuikTrip barn on the new mulch path - Updated Footing: As opposed to dragging the arena only three times a day (once before each session of competition), the fairgrounds maintenance agreed to rake the footing after and before each session, before and after driving classes, and before in-hand halter classes. This ensures that the footing remains loose and safe. In addition, the show committee ensured that the show had high-quality footing to boost contentment of both horse and rider.
Competitors practice on the fresh footing - Decorated Ring and Additional Seating: Perhaps the most talked about change to U.S. Nationals was the decoration. Sheets of twinkle likes hung from the tall ceiling and lined the handrails in the stands. A beautiful red curtain hung between the practice area and the main ring to lessen the distraction between the two areas. Additionally, a VIP seating section (The Patron's Lounge) offered dining, drinking, and prime seating for those willing to pay fee.
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| Patron's Lounge seating shows prime vantage point (yellow area) |
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| The red separator curtain |
Positive Feedback
The proof was in the numbers at the 2014 U.S. Nationals. After potential exhibitors became aware of the changes made to the show. Sections, semi-finals, and finals were added to the growing class schedule as exhibitors grew up until the last day of entry submission.Chad Judy, head trainer of Empress Arabians in Venetia, Pennsylvania said, "My clients and I finally felt the way we did when we showed in Louisville. Tulsa won me over this year."
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| Chad Judy wins National Champion on EA Appolomalu for Empress Arabians |
Jonathan Enz, freelance groom and trainer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania expressed a similar enthusiasm. "I am busier than ever this year and I have never had so much work to do at Nationals. This is a good thing. It means competitors are starting to come back to the breed."
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| Jonathan Enz and Katie Burr celebrate a victory |
Katie Burr, top competitor from Temecula, California noted that it had been a hard few years for her, and many others in the industry. "I had trouble maintaining excitement. I no longer cared whether I won or lost. This year, I wanted the win because I knew my competition was stiff."
Looking Forward
As we pump new members, registered horses, and positivity back into the Arabian Horse Association, we can look forward with full hearts and hope. The young generation of trainers showed their worthiness at this year's nationals as rising stars like Dalton Budd, Katie Garland, and Jason Krohn swept the more experienced competition. |
| Barbara Gardener and Cassandra Louk are all smiles after Barbara's National Championship ride |
The "reverse and trot" has gained back its glitz, and we can be thankful for such a supportive group of individuals we call the Arabian Horse Association.
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