The pre-registration deadline for the 2005 American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Annual Meeting and Youth Conference is Friday, February 11, 2005.

The Annual Meeting is set for Thursday through Saturday, February 17-19, at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, KY. After the pre-registration deadline, the Youth Conference registration fees will increase from $95 to $120. Registration fees for the Youth Conference include Friday night’s Youth Activities and Demonstrations Presented by William Woods University, Saturday’s Awards Breakfast, Awards Luncheon at The Red Mile, Saddlebred Ball and field trip, which includes stops at a number of Saddlebred training barns and the Tattersalls Sales Pavilion. Annual Meeting registration package deal fees will increase from $180 to $200. Registration package deals include admittance to all seminars, forums and events such as the Saddlebred Ball, Annual Luncheon and Sport Horse Luncheon.

“It’s very important that we have an early idea of how many people are going to attend the various events due to extra costs when we add meals and other accommodations later,” Alan F. Balch, ASHA executive secretary said. “Based on the number of hotel reservations we’ve been reported, which are way up, members are going to want to register now.”

The futurity forum, titled, “Increase the Breeding of the American Saddlebred and How it Relates to Futurity Involvement,” will be led by Jim Aikman. Aikman has 65 years of experience in the Saddlebred industry as a breeder, former ASHA president and All American Cup founder.

The futurity forum will focus on the training of colts, the idea of good show colts later making good show horses and increasing futurity participation and payouts.

Senator Thayer Featured Speaker at Annual Luncheon
Kentucky Senator Damon Thayer will be the featured speaker at the Saturday, February 19 Annual Luncheon. Thayer, who also serves as Vice President of Breeders' Cup and Event Marketing for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, will speak about a bill pending in the Kentucky legislature to provide incentives for Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds and other breeds. American Saddlebreds may qualify for a portion of an amount in excess of $1 million annually to increase breeding. Thayer, who currently resides in Georgetown, KY, represents the 17th district of Kentucky, which includes Kenton, Scott, Grant and Owen counties.

Complete Annual Meeting and Youth Conference details can be found by clicking here, including registration forms, highlights and latest news.