The American Trakehner Association (ATA) is finalizing plans for its 36th annual convention to be held November 11-13, 2010, in Jacksonville, FL. The ATA annual convention activities include a membership meeting, mare and stallion inspections, Horse of the Year Awards, a breed show, jumper Calcutta and much more—all centered on the versatile Trakehner horse. Registration information can be found on the ATA website at www.americantrakehner.com.

All the horse-related activities and meetings will be held at the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, and dinners and award presentations will be at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville—Riverfront, both located in Jacksonville, FL. The schedule will be posted on the ATA website when it becomes available.

One of the main purposes of the event is the inspections, which offer participants a tremendous learning experience while providing the opportunity to present horses for approval into the ATA studbooks. All horses that are presented for inspection must be pre-registered with the ATA.

The inspection process is clearly defined on the ATA website, but basically it includes the following elements:

1. Stand to be measured (height, girth, and cannon bone)
2. Walk and trot on a hard surface (sometimes asphalt)
3. Walk and trot on a triangle in an arena (usually sand or other soft footing)
4. Walk, trot, and canter at liberty in an arena
5. Stallions must also free jump a line of three obstacles. Mares do not jump.
6. Walk for final evaluation before the results are announced.

The ATA gives special thanks to all of the sponsors for making the convention possible and to all the stallion owners for their donations to the Stallion Service Auction.

The American Trakehner Association (ATA) was established in 1974 as a non-profit association of breeders, owners, and friends for the promotion and preservation, in the Western Hemisphere, of the warmblood horse of Trakehner origin. The ATA serves a number of purposes, including:

• Maintaining a public registry of Trakehner horses.
• Marking and branding approved stallions, mares and foals with the association's corporate seal.
• Disseminating information to breeders, owners and friends pertaining to the breeding and raising of Trakehner horses.
• Promoting the performance of the Trakehner horse in dressage, three-day eventing, hunting, jumping, driving and other sporting disciplines.
• Encouraging a public understanding of the Trakehner horse, its breeding and performance.

For more information on the American Trakehner Association, visit www.AmericanTrakehner.com.