The First Arabian Open Shows Championships
By Laura Mickelson, AOSC chair
The first Arabian Open Shows Championships (AOSC), created, sponsored, and run by the Minnesota Arabian Horse Association, was a great success! Held on August 19th with the Steele County Free Fair (SCFF) in Owatonna, the championships drew 26 horses and total of 82 entries. All of the classes except for 2 were full with the largest class having 13 entries. (Results) Due to limited stabling, we had to turn away entries. Horses came from Wisconsin, Iowa, and from the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities proving that this concept has appeal outside of the local area.
Exhibitors were thrilled with the qualifier ribbons and especially impressed with the rose garlands for champion and reserve. Horses qualified for the AOSC by competing in 3 unrated shows, including the SCFF classes. We used the same garlands as are given out at the Region 10 championship show and had comparable Top 5 ribbons. All of the beautiful awards made for a nice display in the barns and drew many of the fair spectators over to the stalls where they could meet the wonderful Arabians and the friendly, enthusiastic people who are privileged to be owned by them! Truly these horses are the best promotion that we can do.
It was very gratifying to see the joy and excitement that these championships generated. MAHA is on the right track with programs like this and the reaction of the exhibitors and spectators proves it. We need to concentrate on what we have in common – the love of these magnificent Arabian horses and build a club that welcomes and appreciates the efforts of all members who share the love. MAHA has also been creating and distributing a calendar of open shows held in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and in the Dakota that have Arabian classes or are of interest to people showing Arabians for two years that is one way of connecting to a wider audience. This calendar is available on our web site in addition to being emailed to an ever-growing list of people in the 5 state area. The calendar also includes a list of Arabian-friendly open shows judges, as recommended by exhibitors.
Holding the championships with the Steele County Free Fair allowed MAHA to promote Arabians, Half Arabians and Anglo Arabians to a wide variety of horse and non-horse owners. There was also an Arabian and open show held at the same time, making for a very full day! The SCFF set an attendance record in 2006 with close to 300,000 people attending. Based on the number of people committee members talked to and the vast quantities of materials handed out, a goodly number of them made it to the horse barn! The AHA Marketing and Development Committee contributed $300 towards the promotional expenses and AHA sent one its portable booths and boxes of materials to hand out. We had a very nice area set up outside of the show office and on the main track through the new barn. The kids really like the coloring sheets and the posters, especially the new Evolution of the Breeds poster. We were quick to point out that all of the breeds came from the Arabian horse! Issues of the MAHA Leader and MAHA pins were also popular items.
It was also interesting to discover how many people there are who own or want to own Arabians but have no idea how to connect to the Arab world. These people were given advice, encouragement, Leaders, open show calendars, and web site and personal contact information, so hopefully they will join us. As part of the promotional elements of the program, all exhibitors were given vouchers for a free Associate membership in MAHA. Exhibitor packets also included a MAHA pin, Leader, open shows calendar, WHY MAHA flyer, and show survey.
Too many times, promotion is viewed as something aimed at people who don’t own Arabians or to the non-horse owning public. While this is certainly a valuable target market, it misses a whole group of people who have horses of Arabian blood, but are not involved in any club or Arabian organization. The goal here is to have them stay with Arabians and join an Arab club so they can get support and continue learning about Arabians. In order to accomplish this, clubs have to reach out to these people by going where they live AND give them a reason to belong to an Arabian club.
Since MAHA viewed this as a promotional event rather than a money-making program, significant funds were spent on advertising with regular ads in the WSCA Spotlight, the ‘go to’ newsletter for the 125+ clubs in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota that make up WSCA (Western Saddle Clubs Association). We ran 6 ads in the Spotlight as well as using our member news page (Yes MAHA is a member club of WSCA!) to promote the show. In addition, MAHA bought the August cover of the Spotlight. Thanks to Jane Boots for putting together a great cover showing Arabians cutting, jumping, showing, and competing in the Tevis Cup (our very own Van Jacobsen!). We also had a full-page ad in the SEMSCA (South East Minnesota Saddle Club Association) and created (Thanks to Roberta Lembke) and distributed an email flyer to Arabian clubs in the 5 state area. Even though this was not about making money, it appears that it will break even or perhaps make a small amount.
I would like to thank the other AOSC Committee members, Natalie Anderson, Jane Boots, Anita Grant, Pat Forehand, and Roberta Lembke for their hard work. Special thanks to Jane, who served at show secretary as well as running the SCFF horse shows. Thank you also to MAHA’s president, Brian Feuling, for his support for the program in general and for his efforts with the promotional materials.
Finally I would like to thank our show patrons and garland donators without who this show would simply not be possible.
Mares & Fillies Championship, any age
Mishek Arabians, Walter
Mishek
Stallions, Colts & Geldings Championship, any
age
Double Dream Arabians, Anita & Steven Grant
Western Pleasure Championship, Senior
Brian & Sandy Feuling
Western Pleasure Championship, Junior
Westlawn Farm, Dr. James & Penny
Gute
English Pleasure Championship, Senior
Conway Arabians, Lori, Pete & Anna
Conway
English Pleasure Championship, Junior
Van Jacobsen
Showmanship at Halter Championship
Arpa Arabians, Pat & Arden
Forehand
Western Horsemanship Championship
Owatonna Veterinary Clinic, Dr.
James Gute
English Equitation Championship
Julie Maidment Training, Julie Maidment
Mounted Native Costume Championship
ProProfit, Faye Rudsends
GARLAND DONATORS
Brian & Sandy Feuling, Jill Frieders, Laura Mickelson
We are evaluating the surveys that we got from the exhibitors. One of the items under consideration is the addition of a halter futurity and we would love to hear from members about whether they would support a futurity held with the AOSC.
We are already considering plans for the 2007 show!
Thanks again to everyone who supported the show.