Aurora, Colo. - The Arabian Horse Association’s (AHA) Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes program has been rewarding excellence in Arabian breeding for over 30 years. Adding excitement to the show ring through prize money, and bringing pride to breeders across North America, Sweepstakes has recently undergone some positive changes effecting its 2015 program and beyond.
AHA’s Sweepstakes Trustees have made changes to the current program, based on feedback from both current Sweepstakes participants and potential new participants. The value of a Sweepstakes nominated horse is in high demand. This fact is shown through the high percentage (nearly 80%) of Sweepstakes nominated horses owned and shown at Arabian & Half-Arabian U.S. Nationals in the last few years, as well as the fact that nominations make up nearly 50% of Arabian foal registrations within AHA.
Key changes to the program were designed to further benefit the breeder/nominator, encouraging them to meet the demand for Sweepstakes nominated horses, by nominating more foals -concurrently increasing the value of these horses for amateur owners. The Sweepstakes program sells just one thing – nominations – and the proposed new program changes are designed to increase nominations to better serve Arabian breeders and owners.
In 2016, the breeder/nominator payback will increase from 5% to 10%. Additionally, a new nominated Arabian mare category now allows for breeding to a non-nominated Arabian stallion. Therefore, purebred foals out of a nominated dam bred to a non-nominated sire will be eligible to enroll as breeding entries in 2015.
Other added benefits include the prize money allocations at various AHA National Events. Prize money will now be available for National and Regional Distance Rides; a payout for two-year-old classes at Sport Horse nationals; and Yearling Sweepstakes prize money at Canadian Nationals.
Additionally, in 2016, a National Yearling Class will be restricted to Breeders Sweepstakes entries only, requiring a nomination of 2015 foals to be completed prior to December 31, 2014. This premise was designed to allow for an expedited return-on-investment for nominated horses.
However, In-Hand Overall Championships and the Sweepstakes Points Program will be discontinued in 2015.