United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA) President Jim Taylor has informed American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) President Fred Sarver that the American Royal will host the 2007 ASHA Junior Exhibitor Driving Challenge Finals, November 13-17, at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. Several qualifying shows are already scheduled; the current list is available online at www.saddlebred.com/files/drivingchallenge.pdf.

Any horse show interested in becoming one of the qualifying stops along the road to the Royal by adding the Driving Challenge class should contact Brenda Newell at (859) 259-2742, ext. 343, or [email protected]. For more information on the ASHA Junior Exhibitor Driving Challenge, including rules, visit www.saddlebred.com/Youth-Driving-Challenge?PHPSESSID=e6b90e2b4edfafcf514b0c6388d8fb3d.

The ASHA Junior Exhibitor Driving Challenge, funded by Elisabeth Goth Chelberg, was developed to promote the American Saddlebred driving divisions among junior exhibitors. Competitors 17 years of age and under are adding driving to their horsemanship portfolios as horse shows add Driving Challenge classes. The program’s aim is to promote both good sportsmanship and driving skills among ASHA youth members. All horses winning a ribbon in two official qualifying classes in their division are eligible to compete at the finals. Custom medals and ribbons are offered in qualifying events, with $10,000 in cash and prizes available at the finals.
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