Saddlebred Regional Championships Set to Kick Off with All American Horse Classic, Qualified Horses and Riders Now Posted

Lexington, Kentucky – Kicking off the fall season of American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Regional Championship competition is the  All American Horse Classic, set to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning tonight, Tuesday September 8, continuing through Saturday, September 12.

The All American Horse Classic is hosting the Bluegrass Region’s championship for the first time. Also new to the 2009 lineup of Regional Championships is the ASHAV Horse Show, site of the Northeastern Regional Championship in Lexington, Virginia, scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, through Saturday, September 26.

The other Regional Championships include the California Saddle Horse Futurity for the West Coast, and the Arizona Saddlebred Futurity for the Southwest. In the Northwest Region, the NWSA Fall Classic and Futurity; in the North Central Region, the Wisconsin Futurity, in the Heart of America Region, the Mid-America Mane Event; the South Central Region, the State Fair of Texas UPHA Show; for the Atlantic Coast, the North  Carolina State Fair; in the Southeast, the Southeastern Charity Horse Show; and in New England, the Eastern States Exposition.

Exhibitors need to be aware that declaration of region is not required in 2009. All horses that place 1st through 8th at three or more competitions within their respective regions are automatically qualified to contend for Regional Championship honors. Horses may qualify in more than one region, but can earn only one Regional Championship title each year. If a horse competes in a Regional Championship class and does not win the Regional Championship title, it may compete for a Regional Championship title at other Regional Championship competitions for which it is eligible. The complete guidelines are available www.asha.net.

ASHA is now displaying a complete database of all horses’ current regional competition records, by region and section, on its website, so that all competitors and managements can easily see the region(s) and section(s) for which a given horse or equitation rider is qualified. The qualifying lists are now posted by region on the ASHA website and can be found by clicking www.asha.net. The competition results continue to be updated daily.

The Grand National program is once again partnering with the Regional Championships by offering $5,000 Grand National Championships at the following regional competitions: All American Horse Classic, Southeastern Charity, Wisconsin Futurity, ASHAV, NWSA Fall Classic, and Mid-America Mane Event. Sections for those $5,000 stakes are Five-Gaited, Five-Gaited, Three-Gaited Park, Three-Gaited, Three-Gaited Show Pleasure, and Fine Harness respectively. For additional information on the Grand National program, visit the ASHA website, www.asha.net.

Questions on ASHA Regional Championships should be directed to Susan Harris, Registry Associate/Competitions, at [email protected].