The full listing on Etsy (which we love – buy handmade!) can be found here:

Wild Horse

You can find all the details on the webcast and class schedules on the ASHA web site or by clicking here.

Enjoy, and good luck to all the competitors!

Total premiums and awards at the Kentucky State Fair are estimated to reach approximately $1.2 million over the week of the World’s Championship, culminating Saturday, August 29, with the World’s Grand Championships and the $100,000 Five Gaited Saddlebred “Big Stake.” Purses offered in the American Saddlebred Registry’s (ASR) Kentucky, Amateur, and National Three-Year-Old futurities alone are estimated to exceed $220,000, and begin with in-hand classes on opening night.

The All American Classic to follow has been designated a Regional Championship competition by the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), and was the United Professional Horsemen’s Association National Honor Show for 2008. Held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the All American is the site of the American Saddlebred Registry’s Sweepstakes program, with total estimated purses of over $220,000, an increase of over 5% from a year ago, with an 18% increase in the Four-Year-Old section alone. Total purses in Indianapolis are expected to reach over $700,000, including the American Hackney Horse Society Limited Breeders Stakes, the Indiana Saddlebred and Hackney Futurities, UPHA Classics for Saddlebreds and Hackneys, plus added monies from the Registry’s Grand National program. For further information, including post entries, contact Secretary Judy McNamara, or Manager Claire Panke.

The Indiana spectacular is almost synonymous, however, with the All American Weanling and Three-Year-Old Cups. The latter will award an all-time record in riches of over $172,000 in one American Saddlebred class, exceeding the previous record amount awarded last year, and the champion in that event will leave the ring with over $53,000 on Friday evening, September 11. Of the 115 three-year-olds eligible to compete, only one will claim the largest prize in a single class ever offered in the breed. The All American Cup for weanlings will itself award over $130,000, with over $38,000 going to the champion weanling. For more information on the All American Cup, and to see the 600 Saddlebreds eligible for the All American Cup, visit www.allamericancup.org, or contact Jim Aikman, by email at allamericancup@yahoo.com, or by telephone at (317) 862-4341.

Guests will be treated to the medieval setting of Castle Post from the moment they walk through the mammoth twelve foot doors and enter the Great Hall with thirty foot ceilings and exquisite chandeliers. The use of the Castle was generously donated by the castle owner, Tom Post who is a graduate of Lexington’s Lafayette High School. The grand staircase will be the setting for the drawing at 11:00 a.m. Each of the holders of the $100 tickets will have a chance to win up to $10,000 with the remaining $10,000 going to the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund. Also included is another drawing for a Beautiful collection of Three Freedman Harness items that are only available through their special Sponsorship program – a Zip Top Leather Belize, a Leather wrapped thermos, and a Leather bankers bag, with a total value of $750. Our thanks to Freedman Harness for this wonderful raffle set! To view the castle, you can go to www.thecastlepost.com. Special room rates are available for those attending the Lexington Junior League Horse Show. To reserve a room, contact Dana Martin at Castle Post (859-879-1000) by July 1st, 2009.

Sponsors who are donating items for the silent auction are still stepping forward to help. Dena has expressed her hope that this event will raise $25,000. Sponsors will be recognized each evening of the Lexington Junior League Horse Show on the JumboTron and in the event brochure, as well as having a banner ad on the UPHA website for one year. The Sponsorship opportunities are outlined below

To be included among those supporting this worthy cause by buying a ticket or joining as a sponsor, please contact Karen Richardson at Uphakgr@aol.com or 859-231-5070 or download a ticket reservation form from the UPHA web site, www.UPHAOnline.com.Please make your check payable to the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund (UPHA DHBF).

Any questions, contact me Pat Johnson pat@saddlebredrescue.com or 908-304-3560

Lexington, Kentucky – In mid-May, the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) launched the new “My Membership” section of its website. The new section offers such functionality as adding and updating user profile, bio and contact information, as well as adding photo and video media to a user’s registered horses. Any horses with media attached will display that media on their pedigree pages for all members to see.

Since the initial launch, ASHA has been working to improve functionality and optimize performance of the “My Membership” section, generally streamlining and simplifying the entire section. As a result of these efforts, ASHA has now released an improved version of “My Membership.”

Among the new section’s more notable enhancements is the addition of a search utility allowing users to search other horse or member names, in an effort to identify horses owned by the user, but which may be linked to a separate user account.

In addition to the “My Membership” section, ASHA is also planning other enhancements to the website, including new “My Trails,” “My Activities,” and “My Meadows” sections. The “My Trails” section will be a trail riding tracking application, which will provide a utility for users to track their trail riding progress. The “My Activities” section will be a tracking program for an individual’s involvement in all the different activities related to the Saddlebred world. This section will allow users to enroll in a wide variety of activities, track time, and more.  The “My Meadows” section will allow members to offer assistance in caring for retired Saddlebreds (additional details to come).

As always, ASHA relies on member suggestions for improvements. Comments can be emailed to webmaster@asha.net. Additionally, comments can be left under the “Offer Suggestions” link in the new “My Membership” area of the website.

Saddlebred competitions begin on Wednesday, May 27, following Open Jumpers and Side Saddle on the evening program.

Devon benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital, to which it has donated more than $13 million over its decades of association.

Last year the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair made a record donation of $335,000 to Bryn Mawr Hospital following a banner year during which the Horse Show played before the largest crowds in its history.

Saddlebred classes open the “Devon at Sunset” program at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and Championship classes are held during both the afternoon and evening schedules on Friday and Saturday.

Misdee Wrigley Miller, whose Hillcroft Farm of Paris, Ky., won four championships at last year’s show, is returning this year with six Saddlebreds as well as her championship four-in-hand coach.

Among Miller’s entries is the 2008 Five-Gaited Saddle Horse Stake winner Callaway’s Mystical Moment.

Callaway's Mystical Moment, owned by Hillcroft Farm in Paris, KY will defend his Five-Gaited Saddlehorse championship at this year's Devon Horse Show & Country Fair May 21-30.

Also returning this year is 2008 Three-Gaited Saddle Horse Stake winner Callaway’s Born With Style, owned by Robin Vuillermet and Bill Beckley.

The Pleasure classes are huge this year, with 10 to 12 entries per class,” said show manager Peter Doubleday. “We’re very encouraged by the number of pleasure entries.”

“Show Pleasure, Country Pleasure, Park and Friesian classes are all very nicely filled,” said Doubleday. “We’re still taking entries in Saddlebred classes and are hoping to fill the Open classes as well.”

“The Northeast stables are supporting the show, but we also have entries from Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia,” said Doubleday.

Saddlebreds are shown in three divisions, three-gaited, five-gaited and fine harness, at Devon.

The Saddlebred is an American breed, including thoroughbred, Morgan and other trotting horse blood, that is judged on action, manner, animation and conformation.

The three-gaited saddle horse, shown with a clipped mane, is judged for a true, flat-footed walk, a balanced, collected and graceful trot, with high, animated action, and a smooth, easy canter.

The five-gaited saddle horse is also scored on these gaits, plus the slow gait, a slow stepping pace with high, animated action, and the rack, a fast, exciting four-beat gait in which each hoof strikes the ground individually. He is shown with a full-flowing mane and tail.

The fine harness horse, also shown with a full mane and tail, is hitched to an appropriate four-wheeled vehicle and performs at only two gaits, a walk and an animated park gait.

The Country Fair features a variety of shopping for all ages, equestrians and non-equestrians alike.

Boutiques sell the latest in fashion, sporting clothes, silver and gold jewelry and beautiful hats, and the Art Gallery features paintings and prints by many local talented artists.

Vendors from all over visit Devon to sell classical pieces ranging from hand-painted furniture with horses and dogs to leather goods, antiques and more, all making wonderful gifts.  Don’t forget to visit the Souvenir Shop for Devon Horse Show apparel, collectibles and the cookbook, Appetizers at Devon.

Food is available for every taste, including hamburgers, hot dogs, the famous French fries, pizza, ice cream, pitas, tea sandwiches, specialty coffee drinks, gourmet dining in the Garden Cafe, and of course, the traditional Devon Fudge and lemon sticks.

Special events occur throughout the 10 days; Thursday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 26 are Family Days, with discounts on food and Midway ride or game tickets, and Back Barn Tours; Saturday, May 23 is Children’s Day, with a variety of fun craft activities; and on Wednesday, May 27, the annual Hat Contest is part of Ladies Day. Please check the website for further details.

General admission is $7 for adults, $3 for children under 12 and $5 for seniors. Reserved seating is available. Call for ticket prices. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the ticket office at the show grounds or call 610-688-2554. Visit our website at www.thedevonhorseshow.org