ASHA Youth Conference and Saddlebred Ball
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Lexington, Kentucky - The 2010 American Saddlebred Horse Association's (ASHA) Annual Convention and Youth Conference will be held Thursday, February 18, through Saturday, February 20, at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa in Lexington, Kentucky.
The 2010 Annual Convention will not be held during President's Day weekend, as is customarily the case. However, Convention dates for 2011 and 2012 will once again coincide with President's Day weekend, scheduled for Thursday, February 17 through Saturday, February 19, in 2011, and Thursday, February 16 through Saturday, February 18, in 2012.
The day before the opening of the 2010 convention, Wednesday, February 17, will be devoted to a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Judges' Clinic, to which owners and all the breed's constituents are invited, as well as judges and applicants. Additional information and an application for the clinic can be found at the USEF website, here. USEF members can apply online, here. In addition, an American Riding Instructors Association Riding Instructor Certification Test will also be held the same day. The Test Center fee is $595, and registration must be completed 30 days in advance. For additional information, visit www.riding-instructor.com, call (239) 948-3232, or email riding-instructor@comcast.net. Both events are at the Marriott Griffin Gate as well.
Registration for the 2010 Convention will begin on Thursday morning. Also on Thursday morning will be a Charter Club Council meeting, followed throughout the day by open committee meetings. On Thursday afternoon, there will be a Charter Club workshop, followed in the evening by a Welcome Reception, sponsored in part by the FEI Disciplines Committee.
The convention will continue on Friday with open forums, and is also the official beginning of the ASHA Youth Conference, which consists of multiple youth activities, generally including a field trip, as well as the Academy Awards breakfast and ASHA Youth Club Awards Luncheon. Details about speakers and open forums to be held Friday and Saturday will be announced shortly, and will be available on the ASHA website, here.
The convention’s grand finale, the Saddlebred Ball, will take place Saturday evening, preceded by a Saddlebred Cocktail Reception. The Saddlebred Ball is a remarkable production, consisting of fine dining, award presentations, an 18-piece band providing the music, and multiple large screens so the action will not be missed by any in attendance.
Official meeting materials will soon be in the mail, and will include youth and adult member registration forms. Hotel reservations can be made at the Griffin Gate Marriott by calling (800) 228-9290, or online, here.
Convention attendees will have the opportunity to reserve rooms at a discounted nightly rate of $99. When making reservations by phone, be sure to identify that you are part of the ASHA Annual Convention and Youth Conference. The discounted rate will be available until Wednesday, January 27, 2009.
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