ASHA to Sponsor $1,000 Scholarship for ASHA National Pleasure Equitation Finals at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show
Friday, September 14, 2018
The American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) is proud to support the hosting of the ASHA National Pleasure Equitation Finals at the storied St. Louis National Charity Horse Show. Phase One and Phase Two of the Finals will take place on Thursday, Sept. 27. ASHA is proud of the history of what the ASHA Finals bring to the Pleasure Equitation and American Saddlebred community and will be sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship to this year’s winner and gifts to all of the remaining ASHA Finals competitors.
The ASHA National Pleasure Equitation Finals are integral in growing the sport of Equitation and the use of the American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse. For decades, the ASHA Finals have brought national recognition and scholarship monies to the exhibitors competing. Historically, the ASHA Finals were a part of the Illinois American Saddlebred Pleasure Horse Association (IASHPA) Equitation Championship series at their National Championship Pleasure Horse Show and then migrated to become a feature of the Wisconsin Futurity. Recently, the ASHA Finals have found a new home at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show and has been strongly supported by the Saddle Seat Equitation community, averaging 16 entries annually since 2015.
In 2017, winner Lauren Beck and her mount Dreamacres Lucy In The Sky (147592M) bested a field of 17 entries to win the ASHA Finals. Beck also took home the top prize in the 2017 Saddle & Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion Senior National Finals in St. Louis. Beck’s 2017 road to the Finals was marked with top finishes in Equitation at Midwest Charity Horse Show, ASAW Summerfun Show and the Pleasure Equitation Olympics at the All American Horse Classic. Beck also had success in the Performance division as well during the year. She guided I’m A Holiday (149000M) to win a 2017 World Champion title in the Junior Exhibitor Park Division (Section 2) at the World Championship Horse Show in Louisville, Ky. Beck’s season concluded with a Top 10 finish in the USEF Saddle Seat Medal Finals at the American Royal National Championship Horse Show in Kansas City, Mo.
To qualify for this year’s ASHA Finals, competitors must have shown in a minimum of six Pleasure Equitation classes at three different shows throughout the 2018 season. Qualification period starts December 1st of the previous year. The ASHA Finals are open to equitation riders that have not reached their 18th birthday and are competing on horses registered with the American Saddlebred Registry or the Half American Saddlebred Registry of America. Horses must be shown with full mane and tail with natural carriage. The ASHA Finals will be judged in two phases with equal consideration on both rail work and a workout. All competitors will have the opportunity to execute the workout in phase two.
ASHA takes great pride in being able to support the Pleasure Equitation Division and looks forward to increasing their involvement now and in the future. The ASHA Finals will showcase the American Saddlebred versatility and be a tremendous incorporation to the already strong and wonderfully supported Pleasure Equitation Finals series that occurs every fall. Many of the riders in St. Louis will also compete later during the week in the prestigious Saddle & Bridle Pleasure Equitation Medallion Finals.
If you can’t be a part of the ASHA National Pleasure Equitation Finals this year, “Meet ASHA in St. Louis” in 2019!
Please visit the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show website for more entry information.
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