Regional Director’s Message, March 2008

Region 17 Spring Meeting, March 29, 2008

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

I would just like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting the Region.  This should be a very interesting day planned with a lot of new information. We will have a meeting, a Vet speech, a farm tour, dinner and a karaoke tonight. A little work, a little learning, and a lot of fun.

Since being elected I have been very busy. I would like to share with you some of the project and events I have been working on.  

1. Show Secretary School: 
   In January we realized that we had a shortage of qualified Show Secretaries.  The Region, with Gary Millar’s assistance, was able to quickly organise a clinic, put on by Marion Enders. We had 14 participants, 2 from Sask. 2 from BC and the remainder from Alberta. We are hoping to make this an Annual event and will invite applicants from other Regions to offset the costs. This is a universal problem. 
   
   
2. Youth Judging:
   In February our Youth Judging team competed at Scottsdale and placed very well in the individual and team events.
   
   
3. EC Arabian Judges and Stewards Clinic: 
   In February I attended the Equine Canada Convention in Calgary. I assisted Jill Barton with the Arabian Judges and Stewarts Clinic; there were 13 present. Jill and I also gave a presentation to the Hunter and Jumper Judges on Arabian Sport Horse Judging.  We were able to start to compile a list of qualified judges that want to judge our shows. I have several names on that list; many are from our Region, anyone wanting the list please let me know.
   
   
4. Perks for EC Members:
   As Members of Equine Canada you are eligible for 30% discounts at Office Depot, 23% off at John Deer, at least $500 cash back from Dodge and 20-40% off at Sherwin Williams.
   
   
5. EC Breeds and Industry: 
   At the EC Convention I represented Region 17 at the Breeds and Industry Meeting.  Through the Arabian Registry we are members of B&I.   At this time they are concerned about NAIS (National Animal Identification) and Horse ID.  With the closing of the Slaughter houses in the US, Canada has become a dumping ground for their unwanted horses.  Horses are being transported illegally to Canada for slaughter, in double decker transports and many horses are being severely injured on their journey. In speaking with Wayne Burwash the federal vet, Canada is 5-10 years away from requiring Horse ID, and years ahead of the USA. Debbie Fuentes at AHA agrees, and says that AHA will not be requiring Horse ID anytime in the near future for Registration.
   
   
6. AHA Board Meeting: 
   I attended my first AHA Board of Directors meeting in March.
    - The AHA had an Operating Profit of $113,000 for 2007. 
    - Budgets for all the National shows were down.
    - AHA is again searching for an Executive Vice President to replace Gary Zimmerman.


• The Modern Arabian Horse magazine has won 2 awards: The Daniel P.Lenehan Memorial trophy for overall excellence by USEF, and the Pegasus Award as Equine publication of the year, by USEF.  The magazine has had a 20% increase in revenue. 
• Registrations are beginning to increase again with Purebreds up 8% and Half & Anglo’s up 5%.
• AHA has once again joined WAHO. The Canadian Registry is also now a member.  
• There were 82 Community Shows in 2007 and there is still the $200 for host clubs being offered in 2008.  The ACS Shows were developed to be entry level shows. Please try to keep the costs down so we can get participation up.
• The newly formed AHA Foundation has had over $100,000 in pledges. It was set up to assist with General Education, Research and Disaster Relief. The Foundation has a Youth Scholarships available, April 1 is the deadline. Contact AHA for information.  This could be something that Region 17 would like to contribute to.
• The Judges School in Michigan has been cancelled, for lack of participation.
• Allan Ehrlick and C.A. Butler were elected to the Organizational Task force with AHA.
• Walk/Trot Trail is a new class at our shows, therefore the Qualifications for Regional’s and Nationals Walk Trot Trail will be waved for 2008.
• They have hired another judging panel for US Nationals to judge the Halter Classes. Judges are Terry Holmes, Bill Melendez, Cindy Reich, Cathy Murphy Wright, and Rick Mosier.
• A National Distance Commission has been set up at AHA. They are Claude Clark, Arthur King (Ontario), Eric Rueter, Cory Soltau & Jan Stevens.

 

7. Rescue 100: 
   The beginning of March, Region 17 has been faced with a terrible tragedy, with the discovery of over 100 starving Arabian Horses in Northern Alberta. Several of our members along with Susan Fife have taken on the horrendous task of trying to recover these horses and bring them back to good health. They have formed Rescue 100. I would like to see Region 17 make a donation to this cause, and do whatever we can to assist in these horses rescue.
• I have spoken to Cam Prowse regarding petitioning the Government through Breeds and Industry to get the laws changed regarding horses that are seized, the Registration papers should remain with the horses. At this time the Registry is unable to transfer the papers unless the recorded owner has signed them.  Also we will be petitioning the government to change the rules regarding visitation rights of the SPCA after a person has a violation: the SPCA should be able to make routine visits, without cause.
• I would also like to see the Region set up a Disaster Relief program for other situations as well.  There have been fires, floods, droughts and other situations where our members have needed our assistance.
  
  
8. AHA’s new Halter Scoring System:
   On April 1 all our shows are required to use the new scoring system for all the regular halter classes.  Championships will be run as they were previously run using the comparative system. Score cards can be downloaded from the AHA website. You must have 1 scorecard per horse; you will need a runner and a calculator at center ring to do your tabulating.  The “In the ring system” is recommended, the scores are to be announced after each horse, but with the in the ring system the judge can be evaluating the next horse, while the tabulating and announcing is done for the previous horse. In the “out of the ring” procedure the score must be announced before the next horse enters the ring. 
   
   
9. Hosting the 2010 AHA Convention:
   I have been approached by Tourism Vancouver and AHA regarding Region 17 hosting the 2010 AHA Convention.  This would be a wonderful year, along with the Olympics to promote Region 17 and Vancouver. Tourism Vancouver will do a lot of the legwork for us and AHA will assist with the running of the event.  This would take some financial contribution, and some volunteer commitment from the Region.
   
   
10. Region 17 Bylaws:
    It has come to my attention that our bylaws have not been registered since 1989 so it is time to renew our bylaws and get them registered.
    
    
11. Investment Committee: 
    Sheena Steenhart has taken on the task of organizing the investment committee and she will be giving her report.
    
    
12. Region 17 Endurance Rides:
    Nan Harrison is on the committee to put on a Regional Endurance Ride in Sundre Alberta, in August. There will be a 50 and 100 mile ride. This will be held in conjunction with the Canadian National Rides.
    
    
13. Resignation from Show Commission: 
    Wally Goertz has resigned from the Regional Show Commission. He will be greatly missed and we appreciate all his hard work and time.
    
    
14. Sponsorships: 
    Region 17 will be sponsoring 10 Reserve Champion Garlands at Canadian Nationals.
    
    

Working together …

We have the largest geographical region in AHA and face some difficult tasks because of it.  We have a very passionate and hard working Show Commission to put on the very best show for you. We have some excellent delegates in our area that work very hard and put out considerable time and effort.  In this time of declining shows and entries, declining registrations and breedings, we all need to work together to support one another so we all survive. Help support some of the great promotional activities in the Region -  Quarter Horse Bazaar, the Battle of the Breeds, Equifair, and Mane Event etc.  

Please get your Youth teams into Kimberly before the first Show.

Any information you would like on the website you can forward to me and I can have it posted for you.  We can now also do e-blasts for club information.

Get together, share ideas, and find out what other clubs are doing, so you can support them or you may be able to use their ideas in your area.  

Have Fun Out There!
Terry Johnson
Director Region 17

The next meeting will be at Pomeroy Arabians in Grand Prairie Alberta, on Oct 3 & 4, 2008.  All members are welcome to attend.