2009 ASPC/AMHR Convention Report

By Jim Curry

The 2009 ASPC/AMHR Convention was held in Florida on November 3–7, 2009. As usual, it was a busy time with the various committee meetings as well as the board meetings. Those attending did have one night of relaxation, as members were treated to a performance and dinner at the "Arabian Nights" dinner theater.

Officers for 2010 are: President: Larry Parnell; 1st Vice President: Pat Sanders; 2nd Vice President: Dennis O'Keefe.

Judges for Congress are: Moderns—Bill Eperthner; Classics—Sid Hutchcraft, Roger Eitel, and Jim Bruggink.

Judges for AMHR Nationals are: Amateur/Youth—Curt Ford, Jon Wolf, and Les Zadina; Open Halter—Ray Randall, Bill Fairchild, and Kim Seipp; Open Performance—Gary Eads, Amber Montgomery, and Austin VanWyck.

Dates for Congress are August 3–7, 2010.

Dates for R Nationals are September 9–18, 2010.

The 2010 Convention will be held in Area 5 (Little Rock, AR) and the 2011 Convention will be in Area 8.

All Area elections will be by mail in the future. Area 3 election did not have the required percentage of voters and is undecided at this time.

Classic Committee proposals passed included Carriage Driving classes to be split between single entries and pair entries.
A class list was approved for Shetland All Performance shows.
In Amateur classes, the pony must be owned and shown or leased by the amateur or a family member of the amateur.
Foundation Country Pleasure Driving was added as an HOF class.
Foundation Youth Roadster class specifications were added to the rules.

Among the proposals passed by the Modern Committee were that only Modern Shetlands could cross enter into the ASPR classes, and that National Directors should be limited to two successive terms of office with a break of at least one term before being elected again.

There was much discussion on the finances of both the Congress and AMHR National shows.

AMHR Committee proposals passed included that Park Harness horses could be driven in either a snaffle or Liverpool-type bit.
Classes in the Owned, Shown and Bred by Exhibitor classes would be split in all sex divisions into over and under height classes.
Horses that have lost the sight in one eye due to an injury may be shown with a vet certificate.
In Broodmare and Foal classes the mare does not have to qualify, also in Youth classes current year foals do not have to qualify.
Cross entering is not allowed between Open Pleasure Driving, Country Pleasure Driving, Western Country Pleasure Driving, and Park Harness classes.
Ribbons awarded will be the traditional colors, not all the same color as has been done recently.
In Obstacle Driving and Halter Obstacle amateur classes will be added.

There is a new All-Around Gelding program for all divisions of the registry.

Other information included the fact that there were 1,489 horses entered with a total of 5,800 entries at the AMHR National show.

The Journal will be printed online as well as a magazine in the future.

The Finance Committee budgets were reported.

It was announced that 2,000 books written by Johnnie Robb had been purchased and were for sale to the members and others.

Youth halter classes are to be split by the age of exhibitors as well as to junior or senior status of the animals being shown.

Open Fancy Turnout classes will be added in all divisions.

In the Classic division the age of riders was raised from 10 years to 12 years.

Youth English Pleasure and Youth Roadster classes were added in the ASPR division.