An open forum for discussion of items before the board was well attended. Three items were brought up for discussion with Bruce Hanson moderating the issues.
First, the idea of giving a break on the registering of older horses was discussed. There was considerable confusion about how old an older horse was, and many breeders questioned whether people would then just wait longer to register their horses. While the point of the break on registration was to provide a temporary, brief amnesty period to register horses which currently are past the typical ages for registration; that point was missed by most in the crowd and the discussion died down without much support.
The next issue generated a lot of comments. The question was put forth, "Who owns the papers, you or the horse?" The intended humor was quickly dispensed with as it was pointed out that horses could not own anything.
Dr. Alan Raun clarified the issue for everyone by explaining that in his opinion, papers were not a birth certificate for a horse. That the horse was property and that the papers were property. Thus horses could be sold with or without papers, such as in instances, when a breeder wants to sell "bad" horses which he does not want representing his breeding program or the American Saddlebred at a "community" type sale.
Some members of the crowd disagreed saying that registration papers were in fact a type of birth certificate and that they should accompany the horse with any sale to maintain the lineage of that horse.
Susan Vestal suggested an alternative that is used in the thoroughbred industry of retiring the papers of horses who were injured or poor performing broodmares or for some other reason should not race or breed any longer.
Judy Werner also said the Morgans and Arabians had a process whereby a registration could be canceled, and suggested that that might be the answer in this situation.
Moderator Bruce Hanson did point out that whatever the board decided on this issue, that the ASHA did have to honor court orders on issuing new papers, and suggested this might be an alternative for some unique situations where new papers were needed.
Gaynor Shane clarified at the very end of the meeting that currently ASHA doesn't permit the cancellation of papers but does permit the sale of a horse without papers. Although the issue remains as to whether the ASHA should tie ownership of the horse and ownership of the papers more closely together.
The final issue on the agenda was whether ASHA membership should be required to show American Saddlebreds. Carter Cox made an adamant presentation, albeit "preaching to the choir."
"I can't understand why someone who loved American Saddlebreds wouldn't be a member of the ASHA... I feel we should go forward with this proposal and I am proud to stand behind it," said Cox to the applause of the crowd.
Cox suggested that we start with administering the program at Louisville.
Show manager Scarlett Matson explained that show secretaries were "up to their eyeballs in work. Mattson suggested that they include the ASHA number on the entry forms and then that information would go to the Association, who would in turn bill anyone who did not currently have a membership.
Bill Munford addressed the crowd stating that he felt the ASHA should decide on the issue of whether they wanted to require the membership or not, and then if they did want to require the membership, to work with Scarlett and other horse show managers to find the most practical way to implement it.
He also suggested that it should be at every recognized show - not just Louisville. And that ASHA should be actively encouraging more recognized shows. Munford restated his comments in the form of a motion to support requiring membership in ASHA to show American Saddlebreds and the resulting membership vote was issued as a unanimous voice vote.
Additional comments from the floor covered a variety of topics. Also the membership voted Don Spear and Bret Day to be the nominating committee for 2003 ASHA Board of Directors.
The American Saddlebred Museum also held their meeting during the weekend. President Mary Ann Pardieck presided over the meeting. The new trustees were unanimously elected with a voice vote. The new trustees are Marie Rudder, Kenny Wheeler and Sally Jo Jackson. The retiring trustees were Nancy Leigh Fisher, Fred Sarver and Lynn Via. The 2002 nominating committee was made up of Elizabeth Deknatel, Fred Sarver and Keith Bartz. The membership voted for their one member of the 2003 nominating committee to be Bill Munford, who was unanimously elected. The remaining members of the nominating committee will be comprised of one member elected by the trustees and one member who is appointed.
Pardieck gave a glowing President's report with an impressive list of accomplishments for the Museum. She explained the joint ticketing arrangement with the Kentucky Horse Park which increased the attendance in the Museum by 27%. She thanked Ed and Ada Perwein and Elisabeth Goth for their matching funds membership drive which garnered 182 new members for the museum. She announced the Roz Harris Walk of Honor had already generated over $33,000 in revenue. She thanked the World's Championship Horse Show for their support of the Victory Pass Raffle, which brought in over $12,000 last year, at no cost to the Museum. She announced a $24,500 donation from the Dr. Helen J. Neave estate for the endowment fund and a perpetual endowment for the Museum by Jackie Stred as part of her estate plan. She also thanked the Lexington Junior League for their donation of a television/vcr and computer for the Museum's library as well as their planned help with the cataloging of everything in the library.
The meeting adjourned and a preview of the new video "High Stepping Through History - The Story of the American Saddlebred Museum and the Horse It Celebrates" was well received by the membership.
The Charter Club luncheon also featured a new video, one of two new Saddlebred videos, produced by the ASHA for presentations on Cable networks and PBS stations across the country. Both videos were well received and followed by applause.
In addition at the Charter Club luncheon, Alice Lear accepted the Charter Club of the Year award for the Minnesota Saddlebred Horse Association.