Lexington, KY - American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) members, youth and guests poured into the ballroom at the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort and Spa in Lexington, KY, on February 19, 2011 to enjoy the culminating event of the 2011 ASHA Convention & Youth Conference, the Saddlebred Gala.

Included in the night’s festivities were acceptance speeches by the recipients of ASHA’s Annual Awards, several of whom were greeted with rousing ovations. Award recipients included Lifetime Achievement Award winner Bill Thompson and Cronan Sportsmanship Award winner William Shatner, among others. For a complete list of ASHA’s Individual Award winners for 2011, and previous years, visit the ASHA website at http://saddlebred.us1.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=27066aa448ae1afe72ac801fd&id=2b53fd1629&e=cedde81b63.

In other ASHA business leading up to Saturday night’s festivities, four new members of the Association Board of Directors were elected through balloting by the membership: Bret Day (Kentucky), Lisa Duncan (Kentucky), Robert (Bob) Funkhouser (Massachusetts), and Tandy Patrick (Kentucky). Re-elected to the Board were Carl Holden (Kentucky) and Margaret McNeese (Texas). Leaving the board due to expiring terms are Victoria Gillenwater (Tennessee), Barbara Molland (California), Paul Treiber (Wisconsin), and Art Zubrod (Kentucky). Also added to the ASHA Board of Directors was Lisa Siderman (California), who was appointed by the Board to replace Jimmy Robertson (Kentucky), who resigned.

Re-elected as President of the Association was Judy Werner (Illinois), and re-elected as Treasurer was Jim Ruwoldt (Georgia). Newly elected officers include Dr. Margaret McNeese (Texas) as First Vice President, Chuck Herbert (Indiana) as Second Vice President, and Betsy Boone (North Carolina) as Secretary.

In accordance with American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Bylaws, ASR Directors were elected by the Board of Directors of the American Saddlebred Horse Association for one year terms. Those elected were Brian Curran (Wisconsin), Lisa Duncan (Kentucky), Louise Gilliland (Oklahoma), Larry Hartsock (Virginia), Chuck Herbert (Indiana), Carl Holden (Kentucky), Sandra Lilly (West Virginia), Dr. Margaret McNeese (Texas), Scott Matton (Wisconsin), Don Schilling (Missouri) and Suzie Teater (Kentucky).

ASR Officer elections will take place at an upcoming Registry Board meeting in March.

ENDS