Riders attending the 32nd Annual Arabian Horse Association National Championship Arabian and Half-Arabian Competitive Trail Ride on October 31-November 2 will enjoy the scenic trails of the Ocala National Forest on the two-day, 80-mile ride. In a change from previous rides, no portable stalls are allowed. All horses must be stabled at Rocking Horse Farms in Altoona, Fla.

Bordered by the St. John's River on one side and the Ocklawaha River on the other, the 382,408-acre Ocala National Forest includes several springs and quite a bit of water. Footing is a combination of hard packed trails, grass and sand with some hills to negotiate. Riders should be prepared for showers since the average rainfall in November is more than 2 inches. Temperatures are mild with lows in the mid 50s in the early morning and day time highs in the low 80s.

Separate awards will be presented to the Arabian and Half-Arabian divisions.
The champion and reserve will receive a trophy, plaque and ribbon, and Total Mobility will donate its hoof and joint supplement to the champion. Paint Rock Designs will present a "Turtle Neck" blanket to the champion and reserve and a horse sheet to the top ten, who will also receive plaques and ribbons. AHA Region 11 will donate a jacket to the High Scoring Junior Rider. All riders who finish will receive AHA silver buckles. Additional prizes include Total Mobility, product of Mobile Milling Services, Inc., Cowboy Magic, courtesy of Country Saddlery and Gnawbone Feed, Hawthorne Products, Rio Vista Products and Creative Science.

The International Arabian Breeders Sweepstakes will pay out to eligible horses with Arabians and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabians combined for the prize money payout. The champion will receive $5,000, the reserve champion will receive $2,500 and each of the top ten will be awarded $525.

The entry fee of $175 must be postmarked by October 1, 2003. After October 1, 2003 and for entries made at the ride, the fee is $200. Because all horse must be stabled at Rocking Horse Farms, there is a stall rental fee of $15 per night, and this fee must be included with the entry form. The entry fee includes Friday and Saturday dinners, light breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, lunch and snacks on the trail. Non-rider dinners may be purchased at $10/per person. The camping fee is $20 per night with RV hookups or $10 with no hookups.

To qualify a horse must be owned by a direct or affiliate member of AHA, have a certificate of registration, be at least 5 years (60 months) of age and not be currently owned, managed or trained by the judge or ride steward. Horses must have completed at least 100 miles of AERC endurance rides or competitive trail rides with at least 50 of those miles coming from competitive trail rides. All qualifying competitive trail miles must be from rides sanctioned by an AHA approved ride organization (as listed in the AHA Handbook in Article 1606.4.e) or have placed top five in a regional championship competitive trail ride.

Ride management includes manager Jean Eastman, secretary Jodie Moore, trail master Ken Anderson, treatment veterinarian Kent Seamonson, DVM, and farrier George Holman. Maureen Fehrs, DVM, and Doug Schearer, DVM, are the veterinarian judges, and Micky Creech is the AHA Competitive Trail Ride Committee Chair. For more information, contact Jean Eastman at 18212 Boys Ranch Rd., Altoona, FL 32702; (352) 669-1505; buttonwood1Awmconnect.com or Jodie Moore at P.O. Box 424, Lecanto, FL 34461; (352) 621-3231.

The 2003 Ride sponsors include Equisure, Mobile Milling Servics, Inc., Paint Rock Designs, the Indiana Arabian Horse Club, the Indiana AHC Distance Program and AHA Regions 11, 12 and 13.

AHA is a 40,000 member equine association that registers and maintains a database of more then one million Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses. It administers more than $4 million in annual prize money, produces national events, maintains official event records, recognizes more than 400 Arabian horse shows and distance rides and provides activities and programs that promote breeding and ownership. For information about Arabian, Half-Arabian and Anglo-Arabian horses, call 303-696-4500, e-mail info@ArabianHorses.org or visit www.ArabianHorses.org.

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