EKAHA involed in the 2006 Eqifest
submitted by JR Kendall

The Kansas Horse Council has sponsored EquiFest for the past 8 years starting in the ballroom of the Holidome in Manhattan, KS. The weekend of February 25-26 & 27 this year saw it's 7 th year at the KS Coliseum in Wichita, and for the 6 th year has not only sold out all the vendor space, but also has the luxury of a waiting list. And you can find anything from a currycomb to luxury live-in trailers and clinicians speaking on topics from basic horsemanship, dressage and loading the problem horse.

EKAHA's involvement started when one of our board members, Denise Farris, spoke there several years ago. Denise was also involved in NATRC competitive trail riding, (another pet organization of yours truly), and strongly suggested both organizations should be represented and her law firm paid the booth cost for the first year. We have shared a doublewide booth ever since—an arrangement that has worked well for both organizations.

Attendance for the past several years has hovered around 17,000 over the 3 days, and this year was probably no different with the crowd so heavy on Saturday it was difficult to navigate some of the aisles. And, our booth is in a great location just behind the bleachers on the South side of the arena.

We, as an organization, are very fortunate to have club members willing to spend a portion of their weekend helping at the booth—talking with prospective members and listening to the youthful horse enthusiasts such as 4-H, etc., talk about their horses and how much they would like to have a Arabian. Thanks to Rick Stropes, Victoria Bol, Sandy Williams, Melissa Meyer, Linda & Randy Early, Laurie Swicegood and Julie Schuman for spending part of their weekend in the booth.

An additional treat for EKAHA this year was our participation in the Breed Showcase. This activity was spearheaded by Beckie Dysart and a quick count saw 6 or 7 disciplines or what the Arabian breed does. Thanks to Beckie and all who rode.

A first for this year was a full-page ad in the program. The board approved the expense, but I had not put an ad together for many years. Then I found that we have an advertising specialist within the club membership. Meagan Regan stepped up and put together a very professional ad and we actually got it in on time!! Many thank to Meagan for her contribution.

The date for 2007 will again be the last weekend in February and while we haven't seen a list of clinicians, we heard it would be headlined with Clinton Anderson, who has been a great draw the last several years. Make your plans now.

Elizibeth Albright is 2005-2006 recipient of EKAHA Scholarship

The chestnut gelding's ears flipped back and he let out a tight grunt as the buckles of the girth stretched up another notch. “You always want to make sure that you check your girth before you get on the horse,” the trainer coached as he looked into the young girl's eager eyes. She bent her left knee and lifted her leg as the trainer grabbed her ankle and hoisted her into the saddle. Her long brown pigtails bounced as she hit the oversized seat. The girl slipped her foot into the irons that were rolled to fit her leg, and picked up the reins that loosely draped across the chestnut's withers. The gelding suddenly came alive because he knew that he was carrying precious cargo. The once bitter and annoyed gelding was now alert and attentive to his familiar friend. No matter the case, when his little girl mounted, this gelding knew that he was responsible for her safety. He looked a little sway-backed with a downward slanting croup. These flaws did not exist in the little girl's eyes. He was perfect. And in his eyes, she too was equally as special. The little girl began riding Arabian horses in her mother's womb. Actually, that little girl is me, and the gelding was my hunt horse named Tucson.

I started showing Tucson in youth classes. Beginning with small grass shows I kept working until I was able to take Tucson to the United States Nationals Youth Horse show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When I began to ride hunter classes, I had a gelding that was very green, but we did exceptionally well in our hunt classes. Ten years and six trips to Nationals later, I have developed an idea of where the breed is going in the future. Interest in the Arabian breed has been steadily growing. Class sizes across all disciplines are on the rise. Corporate sponsors are starting to recognize the power of investing in this exotic breed. More and more trainers are beginning to allow sponsors for their barns. The direction of the Arabian breed is also one of higher quality and tougher competition. Today class sizes are larger, and competition is closer. There are now more horses in every class with a real opportunity to win a national championship.

But no matter how competitive the business becomes and no matter the corporate involvement, there will always be one thing that rings true with Arabians. They are a friendly, caring horse breed. They are intelligent, free-spirited, and the love that you show one of these horses will be returned many times over. I believe that no matter where this business takes us, from grass shows in small towns to the United States Nationals, the horses will always maintain their integrity. That has lasted through centuries.

The Arabian breed is special to me not because they are expensive or prestigious, not because they are a multi-million dollar business or trophy of power, but because they are my friends. They take care of me just as much as I do them. Just as my old hunt horse took care of me then, they still take care of me to this day. I cannot think of a better way to wind down a busy week at school than to spend a Sunday in the barn with my horses. It is therapeutic for me to take a curry comb over their coats. This has not changed since I was small. I have been around Arabian horses for as long as I can remember. My Arabian will always be my friend. This one of best friendships I have.

Although my schooling at the University of Kansas is not preparing me to contribute to the Arabian breed directly, I plan to always stay involved and volunteer as much as possible. I am studying Biology at KU with plans to attend Dental School at UMKC in the fall of 2006.

HURRICANE RELIEF DONATIONS FOR THE ANIMALS. EKAHA WILL MATCH YOUR DONATION$ !

The Arabian Horse Association (AHA) is asking for your support in relief efforts for equine and other animal victims of hurricane Katrina. During the months of September and October, the Eastern Kansas Arabian Horse Association (EKAHA) will match your donations for hurricane relief! (Up to $500 total.)
You can make donations at the entry booth. Make checks payable to EKAHA. Watch the newsletter and www.ekaha.org to follow the progress of your donations!

EKAHA'S HILL & DALE COMPETITIVE TRAIL RIDE CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Submitted by J.R. Kendall

On June 17 th & 18 th of this year, another milestone found it's way into our history books by sponsoring the Hill & Dale competitive trail ride at Hillsdale Lake, about 25 miles South of KC.

Hill & Dale is sanctioned by the North American Trail Ride Conference based in Colorado which sanctions over 70 rides each year.

Our first year was in 1981 while the lake was still under construction. There was no water in the lake bed and the road over the dam was still dirt.

We experienced a terrible storm on Friday night that overturned every tent, blew down trees, power lines and dumped several inches of rain in 9 hours. We did, however, start the ride on Saturday morning only to find a creek crossing which normally had a trickle under the bridge was now raging several feet above. Some riders and horses were swept down stream, but all ended well. By afternoon the sun came out raising the temperature and humidity to very high levels which took it's toll on many of the horses.

Our 25 years have been consecutive with the only glitch being one year when a coggins scare in the area required us to push our date into the Fall. Again, we had rain-a-plenty requiring many rigs to be pulled out by tractors from neighboring farmers.

While there had been equestrian activity around what was to become the lake, the land had all been privately owned which limited riding to permission only. Even when we started, we rode on some portions of private land and found the land owners very cooperative. This was a great help for the next 3 years when our campground was several miles North of Corps property.

As the years progressed, NATRC grew in numbers as did Hill & Dale. We hosted an IAHA Regional ride in conjunction with Hill & Dale and drew riders as far away as PA.

The local region of NATRC, Region 6, is comprised of the active states of MO, KS, IA, NE and IL. For this 25 th celebration we not only had participants from these states, but also from NM, CO, OK, AR, TN and TX. We started 66 riders and finished 63.

We have seen our share of humorous incidents in the past. EKAHA member Charlie Armour had the misfortune of getting stuck after a 1993 storm left the campground a mud pit. He has a picture, (blown very large), of a tractor hooked to his van and about 20 people pushing the back of the gooseneck trailer. We have also seen riders lose things such as an entire stirrup leather, cantle bags, water bottles, sponges and one young rider who had strict instructions from his mother to ride with his sister. Yes, you guessed it, he lost her. (We found her way off trail about an hour later).

This event in EKAHA's history has been a very memorable one for this writer, and it is next to impossible to thank everyone who has contributed through financial sponsorships, a friend of the sport or most importantly, coming just to help work a gate or a road crossing.

EKAHA can be proud of the success Hill & Dale has enjoyed. It is one of only 5 or so that has continued for 25 consecutive years; at the same location, under same sponsorship and same management in NATRC history.

Thank you EKAHA for supporting this club event, and we are already working on 2006.

Ava Regan is awarded the Serenata Cup at High Point Banquet
Acticle submitted by Marybelle Cooper

Ava lives in Lawrence and is the daughter of Jim and Nedia Regan. She started riding at age 8. She wanted to ride the trails, but the only horse I had for her was a little mare named Bint who was the same age, but didn't have much more experience than her rider. On their first ride, Bint shied at a hidden rock and Ava wound up with a broken arm.
She didn't get to ride much the next year, but we did do several competitive rides and a few limited distance endurance rides. More experience for both, but Ava's left leg would get tired and quit working, which left her hanging off the other side of the horse! It cost us some Top Ten/lst Jr. placings. In 2003, at age 10, Ava began riding a lot more. The left leg got stronger, her riding improved, and Bint became more steady on trail. The pair won the Jr. division in several competitive rides, including their first 2 day. They also completed their first 50 mile endurance ride, where the two of us finished 5th and 6th. Ava was 2nd Jr. rider. She finished the year with just over 300 accumulated miles of competition.
This year, we'll do more 50's, and maybe get to some AHA Regional rides Maybe even the National Championship CTR in Ohio. I think this pair is ready.

Ann Molloy is 2003-2004 recipient of EKAHA Scholarship
EKAHA is proud to announce that Ann Molloy has been selected as the 2003-2004 EKAHA Scholarship recipient.

I plan on attending Kansas State University where I will work towards a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Industry with a Pre-Vet option. Upon completion of that program I hope to continue on in the Veterinary School of Medicine at Kansas State University. After I finish all my schooling I want to be an equine veterinarian. I either want to specialize in equine reproduction or work with racehorses. I also plan on competing in endurance and competitive trail rides, whenever time permits, with Finally Phoenix or other Arabian horses that I own. I will always be involved with horses in some capacity because of their extreme importance in my life.

Due to previous scheduled obligations Ann was unable to attend the EKAHA Longview show so her mother, Carol Molloy, accepted the scholarship on her behalf.

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