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REGION 3

Region 3's Championship show has a new location: the beautiful Murieta Equestrian Complex just south east of Sacramento, California. The Region 3 Last Chance Qualifying Show will be July 11-12, 2016. The Championship show itself will be July 13-16, 2016. The club has big plans to make it a great show. For more information contact Sharon Richards. The next Region 3 Board of Directors meeting is April 8, 2016.

On January 23rd, the Diablo Arabian Horse Association held its annual Awards Banquet. What was once a club dinner to recognize the winners of its successful High Point competition evolved into a beautiful celebration of the Arabian Horse. This year, well-known breeder and Arabian enthusiast Marty Sherman and his family hosted the event at Sherman Ranch in Pleasanton, California. More than 200 people attended this event, which led with a liberty competition that included multi-champions Wurlitzer, Eicon BVA, Ragtime, and the evening's winner, Presidio CF. Guests spent the next hour enjoying wine and appetizers in the Car Barn, surrounded by Marty's collection of vintage Corvettes, and other classic autos. The Silent Bid Auction kept everyone busy outbidding each other on items such as spa packages and opera tickets, more than 80 items in all. The Awards Program began, emceed by Rich Doran. During a catered sit-down dinner, attendees enjoyed a program of stories and highlights which included the induction of world-recognized breeders Pat and Carl Hendershot into the DAHA Hall of Fame. This was followed by a keynote address by Mary Trowbridge, chair of the Horsemen's Distress Fund and The Lighthouse project, a program aimed to connect challenged children with the kindness of the Arabian horse. High Point Award Winners enjoyed the fruits of a long 2015 show season with many trophies and ribbons. The evening's finale was raffle drawings for a personal photo session with Kenneally Photography, and the Grand Prize, the Scottsdale Show Package which included four nights at the Orange Tree Golf Resort, two box-seat tickets in the Equidome, and airfare to Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Golden Gate Arabian Horse Association is busy making final arrangements for their 58th Annual Spring show, April 1-3rd, 2016 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, in Santa Rosa, California. The premium is available on the club's Facebook page and website. The main ring judge this year will be Kelly Elm. The show will offer special classes including a Pro/Am and Liberty. Silver belt buckles, garlands and ribbons also will be part of the prizes. This Region 3-based show is a qualifier for Region 3, Youth Nationals, U.S. and Canadian Nationals. A small, covered warm-up area will be available this year in case of inclement weather. Patron opportunities available for preferred stabling, show program ad and other goodies.

The Arabian Horse Association of Northern California will host its 67th Annual Arabian & Half-Arabian and 8th Annual Double Exposure show at Murieta Equestrian Complex, April 14-17. Two shows at the same time in the same ring, it is a Region 2 and Region 3 qualifier and Pacific Slope Championship. Go to AHANC website for further information.

YOUTH CORNER

The youth board held its first meeting on January 29th and was very successful in completing its agenda of brainstorming new fundraising ideas and new youth activities for the regional championship. The board is excited to visit the show grounds and find out where all the activities will be held, and will make the details public as soon as possible.

Below are important dates and locations of upcoming Events:

• April 14-17: AHANC, held at the Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, California.
• May 19-22: Diablo, held at the Brookside Equestrian Park in Elk Grove, California.
• June 11-16: Region 3 Last Chance Qualifier/ Region 3 Championship held at the Murieta Equestrian Center in Rancho Murieta, California.

If you have any questions about the upcoming youth activities, please email Kailey Wessel!

REGION 7

The Region 7 club hopes members plan to attend the Region 7 Championships April 25-May 1 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The show offers three separately managed divisions: performance/halter, working Western, and sport horse. Organizers also added leveling classes for the performance ring and an extra day for the working Western and performance arenas, to help spread out the schedule for exhibitors and horses. The premium is now available online. Entries close March 28th.

Members should mark their calendars for the Southern Arizona Arabian Horse Association's annual Silver Buckle show, September 9-11 in Tucson, Arizona. The show boasts many classes, including performance, halter, sport horse (in hand and under saddle), and working Western. Last year, show organizers awarded more than 50 beautiful championship buckles. There is always extra room in the schedule to add last-minute classes for exhibitors who need more opportunities to qualify for this year's US Nationals. Please email, with any questions.

-- AHA