I am working on some updates/changes to the site and you may experience some weirdness

December 23, 2009
Hygiene, Colorado

Horses Forever is pleased to announce both our updated web site www.horsesforever.org and our 501 (c) (3) pending non-profit status which allows us to receive donations that are tax deductible for our contributors.

The Colorado facility is our largest location and, as such, has more horses located in a single place than any other of our facilities in the United States. We have been lucky to have foster homes in Iowa, New York and Rhode Island but we are in need of additional safehomes as the need for horses looking for a safe haven increases across our country.

At this holiday season our most dire need is money to pay for additional hay, grains and supplements that are needed for the increase in our equine family and to maintain our excellent equine care through this “El Nino” winter – a winter that seems to be delivering more snow and cold more frequently than in other years.

Please take time to browse through our web site and learn more about our national organization. We are always looking for forever homes for our equine friends as well as volunteers who may be able to assist us in fundraising efforts and, more importantly, our hope of increasing our outreach throughout the country.

If you can spare $1.00 during this holiday season the horses will surely appreciate it – please send donations to Horses Forever, P O Box 256, Hygiene, CO, 80533. You may also look under “Donations” on our web site or contact us directly to see how you can be a continuing supporter of our ongoing activities. If you wish, email us directly at ~ admin@horsesforever.org or call our office ~ AC 303-651-3070 with any questions you may have about our available horses, our adoption program or any other aspects of our foundation.

Happy Holidays to all and a special “Thank You” to those who are foster homes, have recently taken in a horse in need or have helped an equine friend find safety during these tough economic times. The horses need you!

Oldies but goodies!

Part One

This is not Saddlebred specific, but I came across this piece on Etsy that I thought I would share.  Not sure where I would put it, but I like it!

The full listing on Etsy (which we love – buy handmade!) can be found here:

Wild Horse

Can’t make it to Kentucky for the big dance?  No problem – you can watch it online from anywhere!

You can find all the details on the webcast and class schedules on the ASHA web site or by clicking here.

Enjoy, and good luck to all the competitors!

Lexington, Kentucky - The richest weeks of the year begin today for American Saddlebreds, with the opening of the World’s Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, followed by the All American Classic at Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning Tuesday, September 8.

Total premiums and awards at the Kentucky State Fair are estimated to reach approximately $1.2 million over the week of the World’s Championship, culminating Saturday, August 29, with the World’s Grand Championships and the $100,000 Five Gaited Saddlebred “Big Stake.” Purses offered in the American Saddlebred Registry’s (ASR) Kentucky, Amateur, and National Three-Year-Old futurities alone are estimated to exceed $220,000, and begin with in-hand classes on opening night.

The All American Classic to follow has been designated a Regional Championship competition by the American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA), and was the United Professional Horsemen’s Association National Honor Show for 2008. Held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the All American is the site of the American Saddlebred Registry’s Sweepstakes program, with total estimated purses of over $220,000, an increase of over 5% from a year ago, with an 18% increase in the Four-Year-Old section alone. Total purses in Indianapolis are expected to reach over $700,000, including the American Hackney Horse Society Limited Breeders Stakes, the Indiana Saddlebred and Hackney Futurities, UPHA Classics for Saddlebreds and Hackneys, plus added monies from the Registry’s Grand National program. For further information, including post entries, contact Secretary Judy McNamara, or Manager Claire Panke.

The Indiana spectacular is almost synonymous, however, with the All American Weanling and Three-Year-Old Cups. The latter will award an all-time record in riches of over $172,000 in one American Saddlebred class, exceeding the previous record amount awarded last year, and the champion in that event will leave the ring with over $53,000 on Friday evening, September 11. Of the 115 three-year-olds eligible to compete, only one will claim the largest prize in a single class ever offered in the breed. The All American Cup for weanlings will itself award over $130,000, with over $38,000 going to the champion weanling. For more information on the All American Cup, and to see the 600 Saddlebreds eligible for the All American Cup, visit www.allamericancup.org, or contact Jim Aikman, by email at allamericancup@yahoo.com, or by telephone at (317) 862-4341.

Dave and Dena Lopez, of Double D Ranch LLC, take the slogan of the UPHA to another level as they plan a special fundraising event for the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund. This IRS 501(c) (3) fund was established in memory of long-time horseman, Dewey Henderson, to benefit UPHA members in need because of health issues, fires, theft, injury or accidents. Only two hundred tickets will be sold for the “Kentucky brunch” prepared by Chef Cameron Irvin on Saturday, July 11 from 9:00am to 11:30am. Double D Ranch LLC is generously donating the entire cost of the breakfast for this event.

Guests will be treated to the medieval setting of Castle Post from the moment they walk through the mammoth twelve foot doors and enter the Great Hall with thirty foot ceilings and exquisite chandeliers. The use of the Castle was generously donated by the castle owner, Tom Post who is a graduate of Lexington’s Lafayette High School. The grand staircase will be the setting for the drawing at 11:00 a.m. Each of the holders of the $100 tickets will have a chance to win up to $10,000 with the remaining $10,000 going to the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund. Also included is another drawing for a Beautiful collection of Three Freedman Harness items that are only available through their special Sponsorship program – a Zip Top Leather Belize, a Leather wrapped thermos, and a Leather bankers bag, with a total value of $750. Our thanks to Freedman Harness for this wonderful raffle set! To view the castle, you can go to www.thecastlepost.com. Special room rates are available for those attending the Lexington Junior League Horse Show. To reserve a room, contact Dana Martin at Castle Post (859-879-1000) by July 1st, 2009.

Sponsors who are donating items for the silent auction are still stepping forward to help. Dena has expressed her hope that this event will raise $25,000. Sponsors will be recognized each evening of the Lexington Junior League Horse Show on the JumboTron and in the event brochure, as well as having a banner ad on the UPHA website for one year. The Sponsorship opportunities are outlined below

To be included among those supporting this worthy cause by buying a ticket or joining as a sponsor, please contact Karen Richardson at Uphakgr@aol.com or 859-231-5070 or download a ticket reservation form from the UPHA web site, www.UPHAOnline.com.Please make your check payable to the UPHA Dewey Henderson Benevolent Fund (UPHA DHBF).

If you or anybody you know is looking for a lesson, practice or companion horse check out these horses at Saddlebred Rescue.

Any questions, contact me Pat Johnson pat@saddlebredrescue.com or 908-304-3560