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The Wisconsin Arabian Horse Association (WAHA) was founded in Waukesha, WI, in 1953, by a small group of Arabian enthusiasts who initially called it the Arabian Horse Association of Wisconsin. The club focuses on promoting the "breeding, exhibiting, use, and perpetuation of Arabian horses" by providing a wide range of educational opportunities for members and the general public, member benefits, and show formats that help promote interest in the care, use, and breeding of Arabian horses.
WAHA coordinates the Arabian demonstration and information booth at the huge Midwest Horse Fair, a major equine promotional venue in the Midwest. In addition, WAHA has regular membership meetings and clinics throughout the year, welcoming members and guests to a variety of educational and social opportunities.
The High Point Awards program offers members awards in many diverse divisions such as Dressage, Costume, Driving, Halter, and pleasure classes. Competition is broken down by age for 13 & Under, 14-17, 18-39, and 40 & Over. Awards are also given for showmanship and equitation. The High Point program also offers a Legion of Merit Award for accumulating 750 points, and the trophy is the prestigious Gladys Brown Edwards trophy that is only available from AHA.
WAHA's expanding Youth program is also very popular. In addition to regular youth meetings and clinics, WAHA sponsors a Youth Judging Team which competes on a local, regional, and national level, winning awards at all levels. And the Youth Achievement Awards program lets youth members earn awards in 4-H and Open shows along with non-competitive awards for youth who don't show.
All WAHA members benefit from futurity programs, membership meetings, and a club newsletter. The futurity programs provide various halter and performance classes with added payback based on the number of entries in each division. Membership meetings provide a variety of informative programs and potlucks throughout the year. We also have a free spaghetti dinner with the annual meeting in January, and we have a pig roast at the August show. To keep members informed, five times a year we publish a newsletter, which also gives them the chance to run ads at little cost. The club website also provides regular information.
Finally, WAHA offers a variety of rated showing opportunities. There is a large Class A show in the spring with a complete list of classes for both youth and amateurs. Our August show has a full complement of classes as well as Dressage, Over Fences, and Sport Horse classes. WAHA is constantly looking for ways to make showing more affordable and more enjoyable for our members, and for other ways to serve our members' interests.
©2008 Wisconsin Arabian Horse Association |