The AHA's March Board of Directors meeting included some key updates for the organization's members.
A summary of some of the meeting minutes and decisions is listed below.
- Upon recommendation from the Budget & Finance Committee, the Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes Commission, the Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes Trustees and the AHA Board of Directors unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding to enter into a three-year contract for $160,000 per year, including all prior open years, to handle all sweepstakes cost allocations transactions.
- The Board of Directors unanimously approved the FY25 budget. The following increases will commence on May 1, 2024:
o Initial Entry to Horse and Amateur Achievement Awards $70
o Amateur and Horse Achievement Award Renewal $70
o Amateur and Horse Achievement Award Retro/year $125
o Open Dressage Recording -within 30 days $55
o Open Dressage Recording -after 30 days $80
o USDF All Breed - within 30 days $50
o USDF All Breed – after 30 days $65
o Dressage Rider $60
o Distance Riding Initial Entry $60
o Distance Rider Renomination $50
- The Board unanimously approved amending the language in Policy 2.3.14 to read as follows: The money in the cash reserve account shall be maintained in a separate interest and dividends bearing account with all the interest and dividends accrued to the cash reserve account. This is effective immediately.
- Members of the Education and Evaluation Commission (EEC) will be offering a series of Ring Side Discussions in 2024. The goal of this new member/exhibitor-orientated series is to provide informative and interactive discussions while watching classes from ring side to help demystify the judging process. This free opportunity will be offered at Regions 2, 10, 12, 14,15/16, and Region 18 championship shows.
- The Board unanimously approved the $28,000 from the Half-Arabian Designated Fund request from the Market Development and Promotion Committee for promotional activities in FY 25.
- Rules from the 2023 AHA Convention have been submitted to Equestrian Canada for approval by the National Governing Body (NGB) of Canada.
- Information was distributed regarding the reciprocal agreement with USEF and Equestrian Canada, as well as the Safe Sport requirements for those competing in Canada.
- Vicki Humprey was elected by the Board by acclaim to fill Larry Jerome’s seat on the Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes Commission with a term ending in 2025.
- Upon recommendation of the Sweepstakes Commission and the Youth/Mid-Summer National Commission, the Board of Directors unanimously approved the following classes at Youth/Mid-Summer Nationals:
- Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Ranch Horse Rail AATR and Ranch Riding AATR will be changed to Ranch Horse Rail AAOTR and Ranch Riding AAOTR to match the precedent of Amateur owner versus Amateur.
- The Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Ranch Horse Rail AATR and Ranch Riding AATR will still be offered by the show, just not as Sweepstakes classes.
- Chuck Mangan, Chair of the AHA Futurity Commission presented the motion from the AHA Futurity Commission which changed the articles below of PERF 102.1 in the AHA Handbook. The Board approved this unanimously and it is effective immediately.
d. Arabian and Half-Arabian Reining Futurity 3 and 4-year-olds are prohibited from showing in the corresponding Open Reining class. (BOD 11/23)
f. Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Working Cow Horse Futurity 3 and 4-year olds are prohibited from showing in the corresponding Open Working Cow Horse class. (BOD 11/23)
g. Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Western Trail Futurity 3-year-olds are prohibited from showing in the corresponding Western Open Trail class. (BOD) 11/23)
h. Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Herd Work Futurity 3 and 4-year-olds are prohibited from showing in the corresponding Open Herd Work Class. (BOD 8/22)
i. Arabian/Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Ranch Horse Futurity 3-year-olds are prohibited from showing in the corresponding Open Ranch Horse Class. (BOD 8/22)
- Chuck Mangan presented a motion from the AHA Futurity Commission which was unanimously approved by the Board, and it is effective immediately. The Performance Futurity/Maturity/Derby program enrollment fee for the Reining Horse Futurity and Open Reining Derby be changed from $1000 to $700.
- The AHA Distance National Championship ride will be at Iron Mountain Jubilee in Cripple Creek, Virginia August 23-25.
- Jim Hitt, Chair of the Competition Advisory Committee, presented the Competition Advisory Committee report and the Board unanimously approved that qualifications for Versatility Ranch Horse Limited Ranch Cow Work and Versatility Ranch Horse Ranch Trail will be waived for the 2024 Youth/Mid-Summer Nationals and US Nationals.
- AHA Ranch Horse Championships will be held August 30-September 1 in Loveland, Colorado.
- The Board unanimously approved the new points scale for Training, Basic, First and Level 1 recommendation from the Dressage/Western Dressage Committee regarding raising scores needed to obtain Achievement Award Points. These are effective December 1, 2024:
Training/Basic
60% - 63.999 1
64% - 67.999 2
68% - 70.999 3
71% & Above 4
First/Level 1
60% - 63.999 1
64% - 67.999 2
68% - 69.999 3
70% & Above 4
- Cynthia Richardson, Chair of National Directorate, presented the Directorate report and the Board unanimously approved that the Directorate include the following: The AHA National Show Commissions have the authority to penalize participants for infractions of the AHA Rules and/or violation of any show facility rules. At the Commission’s direction, such penalties can include (but are not limited to): fines, suspension, loss of patron seniority cancellation of patronship (and the associated benefits). This is effective immediately.
- The Board of Directors was joined for live presentations and discussion by:
- Vicki Lowell, Chief Marketing and Content Officer, and Mikhail Procter, Director of Membership DEI and Development, both of United States Equestrian Federation, joined the Board meeting to discuss the potential gender inclusion policy, solicit feedback from our Board and answer questions.
- Sonja Keating, General Counsel & Chief Operating Officer and Bill Moroney, Chief Executive Officer, both of United States Equestrian Federation, facilitated discussions and solicited feedback regarding Equine Abuse jurisdiction and the reach or limits of reach regarding USEF.
- In addition to the acquisition of the new equipment, the Show Process Improvements Task Force is working with our software vendor to bring all scoring systems up to date, which will mitigate the risk of AHA software to score all our national events.
Thank you for applying your energy, talent, and resources to our association. To learn more, please visit arabianhorseassociation.org.
-- via AHA