DECEMBER 1999 BACK ISSUE

Part of Horse Previews Magazine website. Posted on 12/03/99; 2:00:00PM.

National Show Horse Club Formed

It only took one look. I was hooked. I think it was 1990 when, as a music teacher, I attended the American Choral Directors Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Naturally, as a horse lover, I rented a car and went in search of the surrounding Arabian farms. As I watched a student finish her lesson in a huge ring I kept saying to myself "that must be a Saddlebred. No, it must be an Arab." and was beginning to feel incompetent at not knowing the difference. Later I asked the girl and she said it was a National Show Horse - half Arab, half Saddlebred. I knew that was the horse for me. That is how, nine years later, I find myself with five National Show Horses in my pasture and myself President of the newly formed Inland Empire National Show Horse Club.

According to an article in the May 1998 "Horse Illustrated" magazine, a group of breeders and trainers including Gene LaCroix (importer of *Bask) and Bob Ruxer (owner of Supreme Sultan) formed the National Show Horse Registry in 1981. Now the registry boasts more than 13,000 horses and has given out millions of dollars in prize money. Local shows need only apply to the registry and meet certain criteria to receive funds for prize money.

Although originally bred to be an English Pleasure Horse, "A horse that has been bred to have power, balance, impulsion and stamina to perform a brilliant park or English pleasure trot is a supreme athlete that can succeed in many different arenas." "The Ring Less Traveled" by Karen Karvonen from International Arabian Horse August/ September, 1999. This article goes on to give examples of great horses with this cross competing in jumping, combined driving, dressage, reining, trail, distance riding and versatility classes.

Some of the National Show Horse owners in this area have started the Inland Empire National Show Horse Club. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month. We are working to increase the number of classes the NSH in local shows. We have established a High Point Washington State award for the 2000 show season in addition to our current North East Zone award. We are compiling a sales list of horses and a file of NSH nominated stallions in this area and are working with the national office to obtain and spread more information about this wonderful breed. For further information please contact Janet Gorman 509-276-2605.