The exhibitors and members stepped up and provided more valuable input than we get on a yearly basis about the competitions they are attending. We received nominations for several competitions in many of the breed categories and lots of positive feedback about the competitions; however, we were only able to award one competition per breed for the Favorite Breed Competition contest. We are pleased to announce the winning competitions for each breed and to share some statements from the exhibitors below:
| Breed | Competition | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Andalusian/Lusitano | IALHA REGION I CHAMPIONSHIP | A Regional Championship is offered in every class. It is a culmination of the hard work you did all year with Championship rewards offered. A good show if you can't make it to Nationals. |
| Arabian | AHAF ANNUAL THANKSGIVING | Fantastic show management, large class variety, wonderful facility, great horses, show in its 40th year and loved by all competitors. |
| Connemara | PONIES ON THE HUDSON | Beautiful facility, excellent surface in wet conditions. Easy to reach competitive rings. |
| Friesian | BAROQUE HORSE CLASSIC | The show is run by professionals. Stalls are safe and grounds are well maintained. |
| Hackney | MIDWEST CHARITY | Midwest Charity Horse Show is a showcase for young stock coming out early in the season. The hospitality and atmosphere at the very horse-friendly location of the Illinois State Fairgrounds is just the best!! The volunteers that put together such a gracious world-class charity horse show, with the right "home town" touch is a pleasure for exhibitors, officials, and spectators to enjoy. |
| Morgan | MASSACHUSETTS MORGAN | The Mass Morgan Horse Show has it all: quantity, quality and A LOT of fun. Each year exhibitors look forward to the annual theme and socializing at this outstanding event. When trainers have to make cuts to their show schedule, Mass Morgan is never cut out. This show is truly one-of-a-kind and deserves recognition. |
| National Show Horse | NSHR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS | Well run and fun. |
| Paso Fino | FOUR BEAT JUBILEE | Georgia PFHA and show management are always friendly and helpful. The show runs smoothly and efficiently. The show is priced affordably. Volunteer personnel maintain a fun but professional demeanor. The facility (and its personnel) is first class, perfect for sunny or rainy weather, kept clean and a pleasant place to be. Food from concession (as well as food provided for Saturday night dinner) is good. |
| Saddlebred | SYRACUSE INTERNATIONAL | The wonderful hospitality, management, facilities, and professionalism of the staff and vendors. Great job Naomi and everyone involved! |
| Shetland | MISSOURI STATE FAIR | I enjoy being able to show the Shetlands with the saddle horses and Hackneys. It also brings in a good audience. The show staff is great as well. |
| Welsh | PENN MARYDEL WELSH PONY | Friendly, well run, very nice facility, great participants. It is a show that children are safe to run and play when not showing. Just a good down-to-earth show with a family feeling. |
Every competition that was voted for will receive a letter sharing the positive feedback from their exhibitors. The breed competitions listed above will receive the same, along with a plaque from USEF in recognition of their efforts to provide exhibitors with a competition atmosphere that prompted them to vote the competition as the Favorite Breed Competition.
The following two competitions have been randomly selected from the above list to receive the Grand and Runner-Up placing:
Grand Prize - MISSOURI STATE FAIR
This competition will receive a pizza party for their exhibitors at the 2010 competition.
Runner-Up - IALHA REGION I CHAMPIONSHIP
This competition will receive an ice cream party for the exhibitors at the 2010 competition.
*In order to be eligible to claim their prize, the competitions must remain USEF licensed for 2010.
We thank the exhibitors and members for taking the time to provide USEF with valuable input about your experience at USEF competitions and invite you to do the same in 2010 when we launch the voting again. You may also always find evaluation forms at the competitions that you can use to provide the same positive input about your experience at USEF competitions. We want to hear your thoughts!
For more information, please contact Lori Nelson, USEF Assistant Executive Director, National Affiliates, at (859) 225-6957 or via e-mail at [email protected].