A new Charter Club of the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) has been formed in Kentucky, named the Kentucky Saddlebred Owners and Breeders Association (KSOBA). The ASHA has received notification of the new club's compliance with the requirements of ASHA bylaws for recognition.

Officers of the new club, who also serve as directors, are Don Spear, President; Joan Hamilton, Vice President; Melissa Moore, Secretary; and Misdee Wrigley, Treasurer. Other directors are Redd Crabtree, Al Dix and Fred Sarver. Charter members of the club include Kaye Bowles-Durnell, Carter Cox, Mary Anne Cronan, Susi Day, Barclay De Wet, Darryl Leifheit, Joan Lurie, Mary Gaylord McClean, Danette Musselman, Tim O'Brien, Tandy Patrick, John Scheidt, Suzie Teater and Linda Fischer Wheeler.

"This new organization has been formed to represent the interest of Kentucky Saddlebred owners and breeders in developing programs for breeder incentive funds newly organized by the Kentucky legislature," Spear said. "The law provides for significant monies to be made available each year for breeds other than Throughbreds and Standardbreds, and we formed our group to be sure that Saddlebreds get their fair share, and that the money is expended wisely in rewarding Kentucky breeders for top performers."

"The Kentucky Racing Authority has the task of making decisions on the allotment of funds, and we will appear at its meetings to represent our breed," Spear said.

Several organizational meetings of the board have been held already, Spear explained, to approve articles of incorporation and develop bylaws. An open meeting is planned for the near future to inform the entire Kentucky Saddlebred community of initiatives that are underway and to seek suggestions for the future. General memberships in KSOBA are $25, with $10 from each membership going to the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) for membership in that organization. Existing members of KEEP can join KSOBA for $15. For information on general memberships in KSOBA, contact Matthew Williams at ASHA by calling (859) 259-2742, ext. 348, or e-mailing [email protected].


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