Horse Illustrated Magazine

The Arabian horse industry’s largest event for youth, the Youth National Arabian and Half-Arabian Championship Horse Show, moves into Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, July 25-August 1, 2009. The eight-day event combines top-level equine competition in a variety of disciplines with daily youth activities and a shopping expo, bringing approximately $10.2 million to the city.

Nearly 1,000 horses from across the U.S. and Canada will compete each day from 7:30 a.m. to about 10 p.m. in everything from English pleasure to working cow. Highlights of the week will include a Total Arabian Interactive and Learning (T.A.I.L.) experience for youth and families in the community on July 31, and the show’s semi-final and final classes from Thursday, July 30, through Saturday August 1.

The Arabian Horse Youth Association (AHYA) makes up about 10 percent of AHA’s membership and hosts a myriad of youth-oriented activities throughout the week including a Guitar-Hero tournament, the Stick Horse Workshop and Contest, a Flying Pigs Fundraiser and some educational opportunities with the Hippology Contest (which tests horse knowledge) and a novice horse judging contest.

AHA, a 35,000-member association based in Aurora, Colo., produces Youth Nationals. AHA corporate partners include Bank of America, Cacties, The Hat Lady, Markel Insurance Company, PowerRV Inc. and UniteHealthcare. Youth Activity sponsors include Long Meadow Arabians & Exxpectation, Hesten Park & the Hoffman Family, Jim & Chirsty Egan & Results, AHA Region 1, Region 10, Region 10 Youth, Bennett Fine Jewelry, Flatiron Springs and Charlotte’s Saddlery.

Admission to all performances is free and open to the public. For more information about the public T.A.I.L. program, contact Hilary Nixon at hilary.nixon@arabianhorses.org.