The American Saddlebred Horse Association's (ASHA) Annual Convention and Youth Conference will be held Thursday, February 12, through Saturday, February 14, at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa in Lexington, KY.

With registration set to begin on Thursday morning, the convention will consist of open meetings, forums, youth events, and multiple vendor exhibits, culminating in Saturday night’s Saddlebred Ball, also set to be held onsite at the Griffin Gate Marriott.

Thursday afternoon the Charter Club Council will conduct a workshop, followed later that evening by a welcome reception, sponsored in part by the FEI Disciplines Committee.

The silent auction to benefit ASHA Youth will kick off Friday morning at 8 a.m. and will conclude Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., during the Saddlebred cocktail reception. If interested in making a donation for the silent auction, please contact Brenda Newell at (859) 259-2742, ext. 343.

On Friday night, the youth will have a pizza party, along with a dance exhibition featuring ballroom and Latin dancing, including a group lesson with Maryta Montgomery of Kentucky Dance Sport. Saturday morning begins with the Youth Academy Awards breakfast, followed by a field trip to Saddlebred Farms across the Bluegrass Region. The field trip will end with the Youth Awards Luncheon, held this year at Sunrise Stables in Versailles, KY.

The convention’s grand finale, the Saddlebred Ball, will take place Saturday evening, preceded by a Saddlebred Cocktail Reception. The Saddlebred Ball is a remarkable production, consisting of fine dining, award presentations, an 18-piece band providing the music, and multiple large screens so the action will not be missed by any in attendance.

Official meeting materials are now in the mail, and will include youth and adult member registration forms. Hotel reservations can be made by calling (859) 231-5100, and asking for reservation specialist Marian Spencer, or by calling (888) 236-2427. Reservations may also be made online, by following the instructions at www.asha.net/ASHA-Annual-Meeting.

Convention attendees will have the opportunity to reserve rooms at a discounted rate of $99 per night. When making reservations by phone, be sure to identify that you are part of the ASHA Annual Convention and Youth Conference. If making reservations online, be sure to use the group code “amd.” The discounted rate will be available until Thursday, January 29, 2009.