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Our News Archives

Title / Summary Publication Date

AMHA Golden Reins Award: Nancy Flower

Growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania, Nancy Flower was a horse crazy little girl. She started taking hunt seat and jumping lessons at a nearby stable. Through her work as a professional photographer, Nancy’s mother met the owners of local Elk Creek Farm. When they found out about Nancy’s love for horses, they gave her a part-Morgan for her 16th birthday.
2/10/2020

UPHA Helen Crabtree Equitation Hall of Fame: David and Kristen Cater

The name Helen Crabtree is synonymous for pioneer…horsemanship…perfection…turnout…success. The fact that her name is the one associated with the UPHA Equitation Hall of Fame award is telling of the caliber of individuals considered for this honor.
2/10/2020

AMHA Breeders Hall of Fame: Fortune Morgans – Jerry and Peggy Hatfield

Established in 2004, the AMHA Breeders' Hall of Fame Award is given to a breeder who has produced Morgans that have had a significant impact on the breed. 
2/10/2020

ASHA Breeders Hall of Fame: William Blacklaw/Gene and Annalize Van Der Walt; ASHA Meritorious Service: William Blacklaw

The ASHA Breeders Hall of Fame and Meritorious Service Awards are a long way from Oregon City, Oregon and a four-stall barn that housed a five-gaited mare and a road horse, but that’s how it started for tonight’s recipient and their longtime trainers.
2/10/2020

AHHS Bill Robinson Trainer of the Year Award

Much like the namesake of this award, this year’s recipient has become known for a level of excellence that he lives up to year after year from his family’s pristine 12-stall facility on the outskirts of Toronto.
2/10/2020

UPHA Richard E. Lavery Horseman Of The Year: Bob and Tonya Brison

With all of the talented trainers this organization has in the American Saddlebred, Morgan and Hackney breeds the Richard E. Lavery Horseman Of The Year award is indeed an honor. This year’s recipients represent generations of horse families and the great state of Missouri, which is sometimes forgotten as being responsible for so much history in the advancement of the American Saddlebred.
2/10/2020

UPHA Harry Sebring Morgan Professionals Award: Shanna Gish

The United Professional Horsemen’s Association is pleased to present the first recipient of the Harry Sebring Morgan Professionals Award. Harry was a trainer of countless show ring champions and an avid promoter of all things Morgan, something our recipient has mirrored.
2/10/2020

UPHA Larry Bacon Lifetime Achievement and ASHA Lifetime Achievement: Jimmy and Helen Robertson

Once in a while, along comes someone who puts our show horse industry ahead of his own interests. Rarely we find two people who work as hard as the other to accomplish complementary objectives, both of them successfully.
2/10/2020

AHHS Gwen Stableford Lifetime Achievement Award: Sandra Surber

Fortunately for the Hackney breed, tonight’s recipient of the AHHS Gwen Stableford Lifetime Achievement Award did not take to a saddle the way a duck takes to water. She had the notion to ride at the age of 50 but that didn’t go so well. Someone suggested that driving might be safer and thus she was introduced to the Friesian world, purchasing her first in 1991.
2/10/2020

AMHA Hall of Fame: Judy Nason

The AMHA Hall of Fame Award annually recognizes people who have given long-term support to the breed through the activities of the AMHA. Judy Nason will tell you she learned horsemanship from the gelding her parents bought her in her teens, Orcland Bellendon. “He taught me to ride and teach,” Judy says.
2/10/2020

UPHA Alvin Ruxer Lifetime Commitment and ASHA Wing Commander Meda: Helen Rich and Ali Degray

Helen & Ali. You don’t even have to mention last names to know who we are talking about. This mother/daughter duo has been involved in the show horse industry for over 20 years and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to UPHA’s and ASHA’s mission, members, goals and programs. 
2/10/2020

UPHA Alvin C. Ruxer Lifetime Commitment: Fu Family

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are pleased to present the Alvin C. Ruxer Lifetime Commitment Award to the Fu Family of Dragonsmeade. Comprised of the late Yum Kee Fu, the late Susan Fu and their daughters Ling Fu Wylie, her husband Rob and son Mac; Iann Fu Longenecker and husband Geoff, daughter Andrea and son Devin, the Fu family has earned this award through their lifetime commitment to the Morgan breed at the highest levels our sport offers.
2/10/2020

UPHA Tom Moore Hall Of Fame: Denessa Harper

Our honoree tonight is not only one half of a very successful husband and wife team but is also a woman who has been enormously successful in her own right. She has trained numerous world’s champions and world’s grand champions as well as horse and pony of the year award winners, in four different breeds; American Saddlebred, Hackney, Standardbred, and Friesian for stables including Iron Horse Farm, Cismont Manor Farm, Frickey Farm and most currently Harper Stables.
2/10/2020

UPHA Tom Moore Hall of Fame: John Conatser

Growing up the son of a legend and trying to follow in his footsteps is not for the faint-hearted, especially in a sport as demanding as ours. When that father was the second person inducted into the UPHA Hall of Fame the bar was high and that’s just how the son liked it.
2/10/2020

What Matters? ASHA Shows Matter.

There’s been a lot of talk over the past month about the new Star Shows from the ASHA. So, what’s it all about? Here’s the straight up scoop...
2/7/2020