Press release provided by the American Hackney Horse Society Foundation.

Lexington, KY— The American Hackney Horse Society Foundation’s (AHHSF) goal is to preserve the past, promote the future and improve the breed of the American Hackney. To help accomplish this goal, the AHHSF announces the 2008 Adult Amateur Driving Challenge to help promote the showing of five-year-old and older Hackney ponies by adult amateurs at the smaller shows in a designated area.

There are 15 competitions designated each year as qualifying shows. The committee reserves the right to change shows from year to year therefore the shows may vary each year. In 2007, the prize money paid out was $45,000. Thirty thousand dollars was divided over the 15 designated horse shows ($500 per class, paying five places). Fifteen thousand was paid out at the Finals. In addition, there was $7,500 paid to the championship incentive program.

To be eligible, the amateur must be current (paid) member of American Hackney Horse Society (AHHS). The amateur must be 18 years of age or older. The exhibitor’s residence may be from anywhere. Ponies must be registered with the AHHS or CHHS (Canada) and they must be five years of age or older (as of January 1). False representation of eligibility will results in disqualification.

To qualify to compete in the Finals, a pony must exhibit in and complete their respective classes at a minimum of five designated shows in the same section. Classes are complete when the judge’s card is turned in. The qualifying period begins the day following the Finals and ends the day before the Finals begin the following year. A pony does not need to win or place to be eligible for the Finals as long as it has fulfilled the requirements and completed the appropriate number of classes. All prize monies will be paid through the American Hackney Horse Society Foundation, Inc. There will be five places paid per class. If less than five entries compete, the prize money will be distributed on a sliding scale.

If a designated competition offers amateur classes, these become the qualifying classes; if not, then in the open classes, the highest placing amateur receives the first place program money and so on through the class results. To be a designated show, it must offer all four divisions; road pony, cob tail, pleasure pony and harness pony. The fifth division, country pleasure driving pony, is optional but strongly recommended. In the interest of safety, Adult Amateur Driving Challenge classes may be split at the competition at the competition management’s discretion if there are twelve or more entries. Both sections will be paid prize money. It is up to the discretion of the competition how entries in each section are selected.

The Finals will be at the Blue Ribbon Classic, October 3–5, 2008 in Brookville, Ohio. Entries in the Finals must enter the classes on the official horse show entry form. Rules of the horse show will apply to the Finals classes (i.e. measurement cards, amateur cards, etc.).

The classes offered at the Finals are Pleasure Pony, Roadster Pony, Harness Pony, Hackney Pony and Country Pleasure Driving. The classes for the Hackney Roadster Pony, Harness and Hackney Pony are open to mares, stallions and geldings. Classes for the Pleasure Driving and Country Pleasure Driving are limited to mares and geldings only. Headers may or may not be amateurs. Normal horse show rules apply for Pleasure Pony, Roadster Pony, Harness Pony and Hackney Pony.

The forms for verification will be available through the AHHS and on the website at www.hackneysociety.com. The forms must be completed in full and signed by the participant and the designated show secretary. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to forward the form to Ms. Jay Kennedy at 7409 W. Bethel Ave, Muncie, IN 47304 for tabulation. The forms can also be faxed to 765-759-9601.

New for 2008 is the Single