Fires, Friends, Festivals....

From left to right: Joan Rozeboom (MAHA), Steve Hugus (WAHA), Nancy Rohde (MAHA), Tawnya Dykstra (SMAHA), and Cheryl Fulton (MAHA).

Our view of the fire trucks immediately after evacuation.

Our Saturday night banquet was cancelled so we found entertainment at a local Victorian Era Christmas stroll.  So quaint and fun!

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2018 AHA Convention

Every fall the Montana Arabian Horse Association (MAHA) elects three to four delegates to represent our club at the annual Arabian Horse Association (AHA) convention.  This year the MAHA delegates were Joan Rozeboom, Nancy Rohde, and Cheryl Fulton.  The purpose of convention is to vote on changes to the AHA/USEF rulebook and to network with fellow Arabian horse owners and show officials.  MAHA delegates were able to engage in many conversations and meetings that will help us stay connected with AHA and other AHA members on a national level.  Delegates also participated in regional level meetings including the Region 6 delegate's meeting and Region 6 show commission meeting.

There are many committees within AHA including, but not limited to, an amateur committee, dressage committee, competition advisory committee, and a distance committee.  Each of these committees address rule changes and issues that directly affect their discipline.   MAHA delegates were able to attend committee meetings related to disciplines held at our show, as well as meetings that discussed rule changes that will affect our MAHA show and exhibitors.

AHA/USEF rule changes are brought forward in the form of a resolution that is voted on by all AHA delegates.  After a resolution is approved by the AHA delegates, it also needs to be approved by USEF.  So although there are several resolutions that may affect our MAHA members and exhibitors, we will wait to share that information until after it has also been approved by USEF. 

Region 6 proposed a resolution this year and we are very excited to announce that it was approved by AHA and almost certainly will also be approved by USEF.  It proposes a rule change that will allow horses with loss of sight in one eye to show in performance halter classes.  This resolution was for the benefit of our MAHA delegate, Cheryl Fulton, and we are very happy that she will be able to take advantage of this rule change at the 2019 MAHA Spring Show!

MAHA delegates had a great time networking with Region 6 members and other AHA members from around the country.  Everything went as planned until the Friday afternoon session when we were suddenly evacuated from the hotel due to a fire in the escalator.  We were told it would be three to four hours before we could get back into the hotel so we went to the local pub (naturally!) with some delegates from Colorado.  When we returned several hours later, we discovered that we were not going to be able to stay at our hotel due to smoke damage.  After retrieving our things from our room, we found that the closest hotel with availability was 45 minutes away!  After a 45 minute UBER ride and a good night's sleep, we traveled 45 minutes back into Tulsa for an abbreviated session on Saturday.  All other convention activities were cancelled so we made the best of it and took an UBER to Claremore, OK to a quaint, Victorian era Christmas stroll.  We had a lovely dinner while we were there and did some Christmas shopping. 

Due to early Sunday morning flights, it was decided that we would find a hotel closer to the airport.  There was very limited room availability in Tulsa and we were stuck with an unfortunately seedy hotel (not unlike baby Jesus as pointed out by Region 6 director, Steve Hugus).  At least we were only 10 minutes from the airport and we were all able to make it to our flights in a very uneventful manner.  

The MAHA delegates would like to thank the club for allowing us to represent you at convention.  In spite of the commotion, we enjoyed ourselves and hope that we will be able to benefit our club with the connections we made.   Please e-mail MAHA delegate, Nancy Rohde - nrohde57@gmail.com, if you would like more information regarding convention.

-contributed by MAHA delegate, Joan Rozeboom

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