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.