Are you interested or involved in Arabian Horse Judging? AHA has produced the first video in an Arabian Horse Judging Educational Resource Series. Take advantage of this FREE tool by emailing MediaInfo@ArabianHorses.org to get the link today!

 The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) announced today that it has added insect control giant, Pyranha, as its "Official Trusted Leader in Insect Control."

"Pyranha has been celebrated by horse owners and professionals as the top manufacturer of fly sprays, barn misting systems and insect control solutions for nearly 40 years, and AHA is thrilled to promote their family of tremendously effective products to our members," says Dan Lawrence, Sr. director of marketing and sales for the AHA.

The program isn't ready for launch as yet, but the sponsorship will soon provide AHA members with a 10 percent discount program. According to AHA officials, the details of this program will be announced in the coming weeks.

Boasting a water-based formula,  spray and wipe, Pyranha has become a stable favorite among horse owners. The product does not attract dust and grime like oil-based products and offers long-lasting protection against a wide array of pests. Products effectively kill, stable flies, house flies, bot flies, horse flies, horn flies, ticks, deer flies, mosquitoes, fleas, face flies, gnats and lice.

Under optimal conditions, (no sweat, no rain) the product family of formulas can be effective for up to 30 days. For best results, avid equine enthusiasts may reapply every 10-14 days.

Pyranha is committed to providing the best quality and most advanced technologies to effectively control insect problems. To learn more about AHA's newest sponsor, visit Pyranha on the web at www.pyranhainc.com or call 1-800-231-2966.

With the help of Christine Ryan and the MDP, AHA has launched a new program! The Learn-To-Ride program was established in response to the needs for barns to market their lesson riding programs. As a recognized Learn-To-Ride Barn you'll have the opportunity to put newcomers on the back of our amazing horse, the Arabian. Building solid riding skills and confidence from the ground up is the perfect way to introduce and showcase Arabians and Half-Arabians to new riders. AHA members are eligible to join this program for free, create a listing and receive discounted educational and promotional literature. 

The Nominating Committee would like all potential officer candidates for 2013 to submit the application form to the AHA office, c/o Joleen White, by August 1, 2012. The Committee will review the forms and take appropriate action that is consistent with an equitable presentation of eligible candidates. A decision on whether to have a candidates' forum will be predicated on the number of new candidates submitting applications. Download an application form here. Contact Joleen White at 303-696-4552 joleen.white@arabianhorses.org if you have any questions.

Did you know that as an AHA member you can save up to 55% on prescription drugs? Your FREE AHA Prescription Card is accepted at pharmacies such as Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid. Print your card, locate a participating pharmacy through the convenient zip code/city/state selection finder, look up drug pricing and view how the plan works through the member benefit screen.

Please note that you cannot use your discount card with other insurance programs.  Call toll free between 9:00 am - 6:00 pm (EST) for questions 1-888-436-3700.

Hate filling out forms? Do your entries online and you will automatically be entered to win a FREE STALL!  One stall will be given away for entries done online for each show. If you choose not to enter online, you may still be eligible for the free stall drawing by sending a postcard with your name and entry information. The postcard must be received separate from your entries and before the entry deadline. Enter online here. 

When you hear the word "Competition Card" you think of the membership requirement to compete at AHA Recognized events or to record results through open competitions for qualifications. Did you know that the Competition Card can be purchased by any member who wants to take advantage of the 1 million dollar excess personal liability insurance that is tied to this level of membership? AHA's Master Policy is to cover your excess personal liability in respect of all sums which may become legally liable to pay as compensation for accidental bodily injury to any person or accidental damage to property or personal injury to any person arising out of the use and/or ownership of a horse or horse-drawn vehicle.

Call Equisure today to learn more about the insurance products available to Arabian Horse Association Members 1-800-752-2472 or www.equisure-inc.com.

Convention is not hosted by a region this year and we still have a way to go on sponsorships. Please help AHA keep delegate costs low by becoming a convention sponsor. Find a sponsorship form here. 

The enrollment deadline for the U.S. Performance Futurity/Maturity is June 1, 2012.  In order to avoid late fees, the entry can be paid in full ($630 per class, $1,030 for Reining) or the first payment ($230, $430 for Reining) needs to be postmarked/electronic transaction dated prior to June 1, 2012 in order to avoid late fees. If you choose the payment option, the second payment must be submitted prior to July 1, 2012 and the third payment must be submitted prior to August 1, 2012 (postmarked/electronic transaction dated to the AHA office).  Payments postmarked/electronic transaction dated after the first of each month will be assessed late fees.

Nominations must be made prior to the original close of entries for the U.S. Nationals (for this year the entry deadline for U.S. is August 24, 2012).  Entries postmarked/electronic transaction dated after the original close of U.S. Entries must pay the total nomination fee of $780 plus an additional $750 late fee per performance class, $1,000 late fee for the Reining class (to be included in the prize money pot for that particular class). Nominations are allowed with the additional $750/$1,000 late fee up until the Post Entry Close Date or the actual day the show office opens, which ever is later. Any additional U.S. National class fees (including late fees) must be paid.

National Performance Futurity/Maturity Enrollment Forms can be downloaded from the AHA website or they can be found in the U.S. National portion of the 2012 Arabian & Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Championship Horse Shows Omnibus.

With the age change in the Country English Pleasure AAOTR Performance Maturity and English Pleasure AAOTR Performance Maturity to 5 and 6 year-olds, 4 year-old horses that competed in 2011 will be allowed to show either as a 5 or 6 year-old, but may not show more than two times in these classes.

To make a reservation at our official host hotel, the Albuquerque Marriott by phone, call 1-800-228-9290 and be sure to ask for the Arabian Horse Association Youth Nationals Exhibitor group rate, for a guaranteed lower rate of $107.00.

Any 6 year-old Arabian and 6 year-old Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian horses entered in Country English Pleasure Maturity AAOTR or English Pleasure Maturity AAOTR will be allowed to cross enter in the open corresponding class at U.S. Nationals, provided they are qualified for the open class. 

Youth Nationals, Albuquerque New Mexico - June 6 

Canada Nationals, Brandon Manitoba - June 29

Distance Nationals, Asheville, N.C. - August 1 (see below)

Sport Horse Nationals, Nampa Idaho - August 6

U.S. Nationals, Tulsa, Oklahoma - August 24

The 2012 Distance Nationals will be held in conjunction with the AERC National Championship Ride at the Biltmore Equestrian Center in Asheville, N.C., September 20-24. 

Entry forms are now available for the 2012 Distance Nationals Ride! For CTR entries, please send all entries into the AHA office by August 1.  For those competing in Endurance, please send your entries into the AERC Ride Manager, Cheryl Newman by August 1.  You can find all entry forms here. 

Be one of the first to send in your AHA Distance Nationals entry and be automatically entered into the AHA Go-Pro Camera Raffle!!!  If you send in your entry forms on or before the close of entry deadline, you will be automatically entered to win a Go-Pro HD Hero Camera with helmet mount.  Check out the website for more details.  

Although the yearling classes have changed at the National level, allowing non-Sweepstakes yearlings to compete, the regional Breeder Sweepstakes Yearling classes have not changed.  To compete in these classes, all yearlings must be qualified by virtue of being a Breeding Entry. 

This July marks the 20th time AHA will offer a world-class show for the industry's youth with the Youth Nationals Arabian & Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show, July 21-28, 2012 at Expo New Mexico. The Youth National Show Commission requests your support in providing prestigious awards for our young champions in the form of a championship jacket or belt buckle. Jackets and buckles have been part of the Youth Nationals tradition since 1993 and are held as proud symbols of championship performances earned with hard work and dedication. To help carry on the jacket and buckle tradition, click here.