2001 Arabian Youth Nationals Makes New Mexico Debut in July

Albuquerque, N.M. - The ninth annual Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show is set to impress the Land of Enchantment July 22-28 at the New Mexico State Fair Grounds. The weeklong event features top-level horse show competition, commercial trade fair, silent auction, annual youth convention and many exciting activities.

2001 marks the first year the annual event will come to New Mexico. Previously, it has been held in Oklahoma City.

The International Arabian Horse Association® (IAHA®) of Aurora, Colo., produces the event, which will start Sunday, July 22 and run through Saturday, July 28 and is open to the public. Classes run from 8 a.m. through approximately 10 p.m. each day and are divided into morning, afternoon and evening sessions. Admission is $5 during evening performances on the 26th through the 28th, as well as afternoon sessions on the 28th. The rest of the performances are free. IAHA will donate $2 from each admission ticket to New Day Youth and Family Services, an Albuquerque based non-profit program dedicated to providing services for at-risk youth.

This year's show will feature 100 classes. A total of approximately $62,500 in scholarship money is available for class winners from the International Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes program. The Arabian Horse Foundation will also provide scholarship money to selected competitors.

Last year's event drew approximately 8,000 spectators and brought in close to 1,000 horses from all over the United States and Canada. Economic impact to Oklahoma City was estimated at $3.7 million. Last year's largest class was Hunt Seat Equitation 14-17, with 84 participants.

Horse show competition and activities are open to youth, defined as competitors up to 18 years of age. The International Arabian Horse Youth Association (IAHYA), which makes up 18 percent of IAHA, has approximately 5,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. IAHYA will hold its annual convention Saturday July 21, the day before the show starts, at the Albuquerque Marriott, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The convention features speakers, committee meetings, seminars and a general assembly, where the 2001-2002 IAHYA officers will be elected by delegates from youth clubs.

In addition to the convention and horse show, the event features a silent auction to benefit IAHYA, including items such as a Sundowner two-horse trailer, as well as a trade fair, with more than 70 booths offering items such as tack, equestrian gifts, clothing and jewelry. Also, a stick horse workshop and contest is open to toddlers up to 6 years old who can build a custom Arabian stick horse creation and compete with it the evening of Monday, July 23rd. Admission to the stick horse contest is free to the public.

Competition during Finals Night, Saturday the 28th, is sure to be exciting, as competitors go head to head in classes like Ladies Side Saddle Western, English Pleasure, Park Horse and the second annual Freestyle Reining jackpot class, which proved to be one of the most crowd pleasing classes at the 2000 Youth Nationals. This class combines fast paced reining moves, exciting grandstanding antics and outrageous costumes, as exhibitors compete for the top spot and the loudest audience applause.

Saturday is also Saddle Up America Day, co-produced by IAHYA and the New Mexico Arabian Horse Association. Prizes, free rides, community equine group booths and educational seminars will all be offered on this community involvement day.

This year for the first time, youth exhibitors will also have the option to compete in a new working cow class, as well as added classes in Third Level and Introductory dressage.

A novice horse judging contest, Friday, July 27, is open to everyone, and prizes are awarded to participants whose scores most closely match those of a professional judge.

A Hippology contest Thursday, July 26, offers all participants, including adults, the opportunity to test their equine knowledge about horse anatomy, nutrition, physiology and tack.

Also new this year will be a stall-decorating contest. Youth exhibitors will turn their ordinary stalls into extraordinary creations, showcasing their limitless enthusiasm and creativity. An informal dog show with costume contest is also scheduled and is bound to evoke many smiles as each entry will seem to be more outrageous and humorous than the last.

IAHA's corporate partners include: Arabian Saddle Company, Inc., Ariat International Inc., Equisure, Inc., MD Barns Inc., Pfizer Inc., Sundowner Trailers and MBNA.

The Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau, Albuquerque Marriott, Gardunos, John Deere, New Mexico Department of Tourism, Sandia Casinos, Sandia Trailer Sales, Show Season, The Cooperage and Ventura Farms are this year's event sponsors.

The IAHA press office is located in the Creative Arts Building, in the IAHA Booth. Press passes, show programs and current class schedules are available here, as are tentative class schedules and events schedules. Show results can be found at www.iaha.com.