APRIL 2008

OUR MANDATE:

1.  To acknowledge that the American Saddlebred horse is a wonderful breed and has something to offer horse enthusiasts of all ages and interests.  To recognize and appreciate that it is because of the adaptability of the breed that many people use and enjoy this horse in many disciplines and sometimes just as a fun pleasure horse.

2. To offer an association where members who share a passion and a love for the American Saddlebred horse, can through this common bond, forge a network of family, friends and business partners that will flourish and grow.

3.  To bring together members of all ages; owners of pure and part Saddlebreds; into a common Saddlebred family.  Members who will hopefully share their news with other members and even market their horses and tack through our bi-monthly newsletter, "SADDLEBRED TALES"

4.  To provide our junior members with every opportunity to gain knowledge about the American Saddlebred Horse, through educational clinics, riding instruction and through special classes for junior members at our horse shows.  To encourage junior members to become involved in running our association so they may become the directors of the future.

5.  To plan and host together, an awesome horse show, "The Saddlebred Classic" where all levels of exhibitors and their Saddlebreds can compete in an atmosphere of fun and good sportsmanship.

 "The American Saddlebred Association of Ontario Inc. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation through the Provincial Sport Organization funding Program.

Dear Members,

 I hope this newsletter finds all of you well and starting to think about showing!!  It's nice to finally have some warmer weather and less snow so that we can finally start getting back to work (for those of us without an arena) on our horses. 

Our AGM in March was a great success.  Once again it was held in conjunction with the Hackney, Shetland and Road Horse Meetings and it worked very well.  The Friday night Mane Event welcoming party was well attended by members of all groups.  Everyone had a good time socializing and purchasing tickets for the various draws that were held on Saturday night. 

There were two meetings held on Saturday, the Ontario AGM in the morning followed by the Canadian AGM in the afternoon.  Both meetings were fairly well attended and there was some good discussion about several issues.

We now have two new members on our board - Larry Papple and Scott Cook.  They join our remaining directors - Brad Wardell, Ashley Fletcher, Marilyn Buller, Leslie Hudson, Nancy McDonald and I.  Marie Papple will continue to look after Membership and Newsletter. 

On the Saturday evening of the AGM we had a presentation for Dorise Breen who has retired after a long term as our Secretary/Treasurer.  Dorise worked very hard on behalf of our membership since the early years of our association, keeping a close eye on our accounting.  I know that all of our directors both past and present appreciate her hard work and dedication. 

Congratulations to all of the winners of the year end High Point Awards!!  Thanks to everyone who competed with their horse this year for helping to promote our breed.  Thanks also to those members who participated in events other than the shows; getting our horses out in other venues (for instance organized trail rides) is a great way to promote them.  Remember, although we all love our show horses, this association is to promote the Saddlebred itself as a horse that can and will do anything.

Just a reminder that our Classic will be held in conjunction with the Ontario Hackney show at the Barrie Fairgrounds at the end of July.  I believe that all who attended had a great time last year so be sure to get your entries in for this year.

Nighswander Stables will be hosting a number of informative clinics this year. Hopefully many of us will be able to attend these to increase our knowledge and enjoy the social aspect.  Please contact Sandra Rizzo for more information on what clinics will be offered.

In closing please remember that this is your association and we value your input, you'll only get out what you put in!  If you have any items for the newsletter please get them to Marie and if you have any concerns or ideas that you want addressed, please contact any of the directors.

Happy Spring!

Rick

Spring has Finally Arrived!!

Oh how great to see those huge snow banks disappearing and splotches of green grass beginning to appear.  Not sure about all of you,  but this winter seemed exceptionally long as compared with other years and I am so glad that the warmer weather is finally beginning to settle in..

I'm sure you all have "Horse Show Fever" and are busy stripping all that winter hair off your horses in preparation for the brand new show season just ahead of us.

Most of you have already sent your memberships and I do appreciate that and any others who have not please send that in ASP please and thanks.

**Please note:  In the December 2007 issue of Saddlebred Tales, a wonderful and touching essay written by Tracy Meisebach titled, "Because My Daughter Grew Up With Horses" was printed.

This essay was posted on the internet without her permission.

Since I had no knowledge of this, I printed it in our newsletter.

Our apologizes to Tracy, may she receive all the credit for this great essay!

Have a Great Spring,

Marie Papple

Saddlebred Tales

- Bi- monthly newsletter

- Informative Saddlebred news and articles

- The latest Ontario horse show information and results

- The ONLY Ontario publication dedicated solely to the....

American Saddlebred Horse

- Free Classifieds for A.S.H.A. members, non-members $10.00

- Business cards $25.00 yearly.

-  Full Page $35.00: Half Page $18.00:  1/4  Page $8.00 (Black/White)

-  Color pages will be at the expense of the advertiser

-  Please contact Marie Papple,  519-458-8409

or (mariepapple@sympatico.ca)

Award & AGM / Mane Event Report

It was great to see such a good turnout at our AGM and Mane Event! This was the largest turnout ever for the banquet. Heard from some first time attendee's who had a great time and are looking forward to next year.

Thank you to those who assisted in setting up the silent auction and to those who donated and purchased items.

Congratulations to the High Point Award recipients and to all who competed in 2007!

It is with sincere thanks, I announce that Nancy MacDonald has volunteered to look after the awards program for 2008. Nancy is no stranger to our awards program and will do a great job!

Best wishes for a rewarding show season! For those not showing, enjoy your wonderful Saddlebreds!

Brenda McKibbin

ASHA of Ontario 2007 High Point Awards Results

                                                Horse                                       Owner / Rider

Line

Aged Mare                   CH        Easter at Seven                       Kerri Hofstede

                                    RS                              

Aged Gelding              CH        High Class Property                  Sandra Rizzo

                                    RS                                                         Gloria Nighswander

Equitation

Lead-Line                     CH                                                       

10 & Under                    RS                                                       

Walk & Trot                  CH        High Class Property                  Jenna Daniels

11 & Under                    RS        Son Ova Gun                            Madison Daniel

Saddle Seat Eq            CH        Hit The Highway                       Ashlyn Moore

13 & Under                    RS                                                       

Saddle Seat Eq            CH        Calloway's Will Oblige               Ali Bianchi

14 - 17                          RS        Alaska Exploration                     Natalie Martens

Performance

3-G Show Pleasure       CH        Rocking Chair City                     Lauren Davis

                                      RS        Santana's Butterfly                    Shelley MacDonald

                                      RS        Hit the Highway                         Ashlyn Moore

Western Pleasure          CH        Nobody's Angel                         Nancy MacDonald

                                      RS        Madem Evil                               Kristi VanPassen 

                                                                                                    Diane Stewart

Show Pleasure              CH        Santana's Butterfly                    Nancy MacDonald

Driving                           RS                                           

Parade                          CH        High Class Property                   Sandra Rizzo

                                                                                                    Gloria Nighswander

3-G Country Pleasure    CH        Nobody's Angel                         Nancy MacDonald

                                      RS        Madam Evil                               Diane Stewart                 

                                                                                                    Kristi VanPassen

Country Pleasure           CH        Nobody's Angel                         Nancy MacDonald

Driving                           RS        Coal County                               Linda Whitney

3-G Park                         CH        High Class Property                  Sandra Rizzo /

    Gloria Nigshwander

                                       RS        Alaska Exporation                    Natalie Martens

3 - Gaited                       CH        Calloway's Will Oblige             Meridith Peterkin

2008 CanAm - Bob Vansickle

I would like to thank all those generous people who took the time out of their busy schedule to help at the Saddlebred booth.  They are as follows: Rick and Janice McKenzie, Brad and Sandy Wardell, Marilyn and Hilary Buller, Pat Vansickle, Doree Breen, and Betty Kalbfleisch with a special thanks to Larry and Marie Papple.  Larry helped to set up the booth and Marie supplied their horse 'Vanity Doll'.  Marie had been ill during the week leading up to the weekend of CanAm but managed to bring her horse and made some beautiful presentations.  I also would like to thank David Chrétien for lending us his stall curtains.  They provided a very elegant back drop for the booth.  David has loaned us his tack room and accessories for the last four years.

During the show we were selling tickets on 'Butterscotch', a mechanical pony that whined, twitched its ears and tail, blinked its eyes and moved its head from side to side.  The young kids were fascinated with it.  The lucky winner of the raffle was Rita Purcell.  All proceeds from this draw went to help sponsor the Canadian Saddle Seat team who will be traveling to South Africa later this year to compete at the Saddle Seat World Cup.  Congratulate Rita and enjoy 'Butterscotch'.

The weekend was very successful, we had many people drop by and it gave us the opportunity to educate the public on this grossly misunderstood breed.  I think it is important that the Saddlebred be visible at CanAm and other similar venues to demonstrate the many qualities of this versatile breed.

Finally, I would like to thank the board of directors for their support in making it possible for the Saddlebred to be represented at this very important trade show.

Dorise Breen Honored at the "Mane Event" 

Dorise Breen's love of horses seemed to start at about four years of age when she waited in front of her home each morning for the milkman with his black horse.  The dairyman was well known in Dorie's town and he would stop to let this little girl go for a ride on the wagon for the distance of no more than two houses.  All of this of course was under the watchful eye of Dorie's mother.

Monthly visits to Dorie's paternal grandparent's house would always include a ride in the fields on one of their many heavy horses.  The big Clydesdales were gentle but Dorie was never afraid anyway.  She never fell off on her many rides but always jumped off at the end.  Dorie's maternal grandparents had the show horses that were a fair bit more skittish and a lot more attention to safety was required. 

Dorie saw her first jumping horses as a school girl and she and her friends enjoyed the hunting and jumping discipline.  Many shows would follow.  Dorie's mother would accompany her to show jumping events and of course the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.  They looked forward to and attended every one except for the years, 1940 to 1946 when the show was held in abeyance during World War ll.

During this particular time, American Saddlebred show horses were experiencing great popularity and they soon caught Dorie's eye.  With a number of her close friends associated with the breed, Dorie found membership in the new "American Saddlebred Association of Ontario Inc."  founded in 1978 by Robert Vansickle and the late Harold Brittain.  Dorie's business skill did not go unnoticed for long and soon a telephone call came with a request that she might consider taking on the position of Secretary- Treasurer for the newly incorporated breed group.  In 1979, feeling honoured to be asked to handle such a responsibility, Dorie accepted after only one day's deliberation.  It was a decision she has never regretted.

Her dedication to the job and her impeccable execution of her duties impressed all who were involved with the association and at the Annual General Meeting in November 1982; she was honoured by being appointed a Life Member.

AT the AGM of the Ontario Equestrian Federation in November of 2003, Dorie was awarded the "People Who Make a Difference Award" in acknowledgement of selfless and passionate commitment to the American Saddlebred Association of Ontario Inc.

This past March 1^st at the prestigious "Mane Event" held at the Marriott Hotel in Toronto, Dorise Breen" officially retired from her position of Secretary/ Treasurer after 30 yrs. of uninterrupted years of dedicated service!

At the Saturday evening banquet in front of some 200 guests, Dorise was presented with a plaque of appreciation and a beautiful engraved jewelry box as small mementoes of an excellent job well done.

The American Saddlebred Association of Ontario Inc. has been so lucky to have been pioneered and nurtured these past 30 yrs.  By one very special lady, who has given so freely of her time and talents.

We thank you Dorie for your positive attitude, your cheerful disposition, your dedication...the list goes on and on!  We wish you well in your retirement. Well Done!

OEF Saddle Seat Committee

The Ontario Equestrian Federation (OEF) Saddle Seat Committee was originally formed in 1994 to develop a Saddle Seat Coaching programme similar to the existing Western and English programmes offered by the Canadian Equestrian Federation (now Equine Canada). The EC Coaching Programme has recently undergone extensive renovations and has expanded to include an Instructor Level and Rider Level programmes.  The committee continues to work together with the Equine Canada (EC) Saddle Seat Committee to maintain the EC Rider, Instructor and Coaching Certification Programmes and to provide the essential paperwork and manuals to meet the requirements to implement these programmes.

 This task requires a great deal of time commitment, to writing, proofing and re-writing.  Committee members at this time include Mary Ruth Moore, Nancy Kavanagh, Susan Hawkshaw, Peggy Rice, Jennifer Sills and Jenny King. 

Guests may attend any of the meetings and new members are always welcomed. Please contact Mary Ruth (mrmoore2784@yahoo.com, 905-263-2689) if you would like to attend a meeting. The committee encourages you to visit the OEF Website to access further information about the Coaching programme, certified coaches, lesson barns, and more.  www.horse.on.ca  

Equine Canada 

Ø       Sport Council

Ø       EC Coaching Committee -representatives from  all disciplines

Ø       EC (National) Saddle Seat Committee--responsibilities include: SSEquitaton Rules and Regs, World Cup, approval of SSEquitation judges cards and coaching programmes.)

Ø       OEF (Provincial) Saddle Seat Committee -(continue to develop Saddle Seat instructor, coaching and rider  programmes )

In an effort to encourage Saddle Seat Equitation competition and to honour excellence in Saddle Seat Equitation, the SS Committee sponsored an Annual Provincial Saddle Seat Equitation Championship Award from 2003-2006. Riders were invited to participate in the Championship Class by meeting qualifications at Provincial or Nationally sanctioned shows. It is exciting to see our rider base growing again thanks to the effort of our Saddle Seat coaches, however the number of equitation carded judges and sanctioned shows available for riders to qualify continues to be a challenging obstacle.  It is our hope to restore this award in the future.

The committee members and a group of wonderful volunteers, also organize an annual Fundraiser for the Canada's World Cup of Saddle Seat Equitation Teams, to raise funds and provide information about the Saddle Seat Equitation World Cup Competition, and also to provide an opportunity for coaches to obtain the required Saddle Seat specific updating hours.  Judges may also update their portfolio.