news

The AHA Board of Directors recently made decisions and received reports at the August 7-8 & 10, 2023 meetings. In summary:

The AHA Board of Directors approved the following:

• The updated Code of Ethics, Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Policy for leadership.
• The Board of Directors Meetings for 2024 have been set for March 15-16 in Colorado, August 19-20 via Zoom, and November 20 in Reno, Nevada at Convention.
• The United States Equestrian Federation Affiliate Agreement effective through November 30, 2025.
• A fund for grants, with the approval of the Regional Director, per Arabian Value Show/Competition Lite Show to help offset anticipated expenses is under development and awaiting approval from the AHA Budget & Finance Committee. 

The USEF has an announcement regarding refinements to the USEF Lite Competition License coming early next week. AHA has worked with the American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA), and American Saddlebred Horse and Breeders Association (ASHBA) to develop refinements to the USEF Lite competition license. We initially met together during the 2023 USEF Annual Meeting in January to address challenges with the USEF Lite competition license and began work to develop solutions that will enhance benefits to participants and organizers of Lite competitions. Meetings continued through the spring and productive modifications to the USEF Lite license were developed.

AHA has had its Value Show program in existence for over a decade and is proud of our program,” said AHA President Deborah Johnson. “AHA has desired to retain our program and the flexibility it affords our competition organizers and participants and solve the gaps of risk for our organizers and licensed officials. Through much work, we have a solution to co-brand the AHA Value Show with the USEF Lite competition. AHA is most pleased with the agreements of the process of the license and with the benefits the license affords. The benefits for participants, organizers, and us as the affiliate are all very good for AHA. This is good for the consistency of sport, risk mitigation for organizers and licensed officials, and preservation of a low-cost entry to participation. I, as AHA President, and Stan Morey as AHA Executive Director, know this is a very well-developed program for AHA and our members.” AHA competition organizers will now have the ability to have Recognized shows, AHA Value Shows/USEF Competition Lite Shows and stand alone AHA Value Shows.

The AHYA Board of Directors recently held their Convention at Youth Nationals and elected officers, made decisions, and received reports at the July 13, 2023 meeting. In summary:

The new AHYA officers are:

• Carli Marasco, President
• Aminah Strand, Vice President
• Bug Burcham, Secretary
• Rachel Vaughn, Treasurer

-- via the Board of Directors, AHA