Another great day for the ASHA of NJ Tournament Series! On November 8, 2009, 49 riders, representing six area barns gathered for a day of competition. With such an over whelming attendance classes had to be split! A dream come true for those in the small Saddlebred community of Eastern New Jersey and Western Pennsylvania. Just five short years ago academy classes at local horse shows, such as Children’s Benefit and The Jersey Classic, were recording very dismal academy participation. Since the onset of the ASHA of NJ Tournament Series, which host two Tournament shows per year, academy classes in this area have tripled in numbers! Lesson programs in this area are growing strong with some farms bringing as many as thirteen academy riders to a single show and 23 riders to a single tournament. It is no secret that the Saddlebred community has seen falling numbers over the past two decades in the Mid-Atlantic region. However, hope is shining brightly now, as barns are bring up the next generation of Saddlebred lovers. It won’t be long until the high academy class attendance trickles into pleasure, performance and equitation classes at our rated horse shows!

The ASHA of NJ would like to give special recognition to our area barns that regularly participate in the Tournament Series. Leading the pack is Kierson Farm. owners, trainers and instructors, Mike and Jessie Richardson, who came out in full force with seventeen total entries for the day. North Wind Farm and Instructor Anne Butler were right behind with ten entries. Linda Coffin-Roman and her J and L Farms, as well as Royal Crest Farm, owned by Marty and Peg Waldman, each brought six riders. Smoke Hollow Farm was in attendance, as well, with six entries. It is these same riding programs that filled academy classes all summer long! We are on our way back, and the credit goes to the instructors of these riding programs!

Names to remember for the day were Ally McHugh of Kierson Farm winning all three of her classes including the 12 and under WTC Championship. Monica Connolly of North Wind came out victorious after a two rider workout in the 13 and over WTC championship. North Wind stable mate Jordan Earlywine took home the blue in the 11 and over WT Championship. The 7-10 WT Championship also belonged to not only North Wind, but sister to Jordan Earlywine, Kimberly Earlywine! We need to also mention that Jordan’s twin brother Aaron was reserve champion as well! There were three entries in the 6 and under WT Championship, all Kierson barn mates, with the final nod going to the winner of two earlier classes, Jordan Ferrier. Congratulations to all of the day’s winners.

March 2010 dates TBA. Please contact Jessie Richardson for more information on the ASHA of NJ Tournament Series at 908-391-5348.