The International Friesian Show Horse Association and the International Andalusian & Lusitano Horse Association have been collaborating for several years, and the two associations have begun hosting shows together. IALHA and IFSHA’s biggest collaborative effort yet will occur later this month. The IFSHA Grand National Show at the Tryon Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, N.C., from September 27-October 1, will host an IALHA Region 7 Championship. Later this fall, the IALHA will reciprocate by hosting an IFSHA regional championship during its IALHA National Championship Show, which runs November 7-11 in Fort Worth, Texas.

IFSHA and IALHA started working together in 2020, after IFSHA President Sandy Jacob was hired as a show manager and event planner for IALHA.

“We see a lot on the same level and see the same need, and we started discussing breed shows. We needed to promote both organizations to increase the numbers and the horses,” Jacob explained.

Jacob and IALHA President Kaeli Dressler discussed the current challenges of breed shows, such as decreasing participation, increasing venue costs, and other challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The show numbers were not as high as we would like to see, but putting these breeds together that were complementary to each other might be a way to increase our numbers at the horse shows,” Jacob said. “We had talked about it for a while, and Kaeli was on board with the idea.”

Andalusian, Lusitano, and Friesian horses are often owned together, judged by the same judges, and cross-bred, Jacob said, so the breeds already were primed for a partnership.

“They’re elegant horses. They're dramatic-looking, and to put them together in a show and to try and introduce new spectators to these breeds, you're bringing the best of these beautiful breeds together. Certainly, the aesthetics were going to be something that people would remember,” Jacob said. “We have a lot of members that have both breeds in their barn. I'm one of them; I have Friesians and Andalusians in my personal barn.”

Jacob explained that the decision to integrate regional championships with national championships, as opposed to putting two national events together, came from the differing central locations of the breed communities and a desire to “start small with a foot in the door.”

“The base of the Andalusian [and Lusitano] world seems to be more in that West/Southwest area, and the Friesian world is more towards the Midwest and the East Coast,” Jacob explained. “When you're trying to put on a national event, you're trying to pull from your strongest base.”

Dressler said the goal of these collaborative events is to expand the reach of limited resources and foster connections between breed communities, possibly paving the way for more collaborative horse shows. Additionally, Jacob projected a better financial base and a stronger collaboration between breeders and owners.

“I have been at both shows, and the level of camaraderie shown between exhibitors is welcoming,” Jacob said. “People enjoy coming, walking up and down the aisle, seeing exhibitors talking with each other, and they want to be part of that. It's getting people in the door to see it and participate in it. I think that's what we're trying to go for as well. It's bringing new people into our associations.”

“I'm often surprised about [how few] degrees of separation [there are] between people in different breeds,” Dressler added. “As soon as you get to talking to people, there's connections all over. This would be an opportunity to develop more connections and introductions, form relationships and hopefully friendships, because that's a big part of the horse business as well.”

When asked what advice she would give to other affiliates who want to execute similar partnerships to maximize resources and crowds, Jacob explained that organizations should be willing to take risks and constantly improve their processes.

“You have to know that it's a first step, and just because it doesn't work quite the way you want it the first time, try it again. It takes work to make something, to make a good event and a good relationship with another association,” Jacob said. “Kaeli and I, as we are both presidents of associations, have always been able to talk on the same level and have worked well together in that respect. It takes being able to talk with your counterparts: ‘OK, this is working. This isn't working. What do you expect? What do I expect?’”

“We've got to figure out ways that we can work together and collaborate and cooperate instead of focusing on the reasons we can't,” Dressler added. “It's a leap of faith in reaching out to people and exploring opportunities and figuring out what you can do.”

Jacob and Dressler are optimistic regarding the future of their partnership and collaborative events.

“We've had several successful shows with Sandy's help, and she was very forward-thinking,” Dressler said. “It takes the right people in the right positions with the right influence, as well as the willingness and skills to take an idea from just an idea to acting upon it and bringing it to fruition. She imagined a way that we could combine forces, so to speak.”

“Kaeli and I are taking a first step into this, and we're hoping for a positive experience. I'm hearing good comments. We have IFSHA members in Texas that are thrilled there's an opportunity for them to show in November,” Jacob said.

Learn more about the Friesian, Andalusian, and Lusitano breeds by visiting usef.org’s Breeds and Disciplines page.