Election results for the Arabian Reining Horse Association are final, with the newly announced Board of Directors to be seated on January 1, 2016.
Judy Kibler was re-elected and continues as ARHA president, with Hoyt Rose continuing as the organization’s treasurer and Crystal McNutt as vice president. Newly elected Board members are Dale Brown from Rentz, Ga., and Doug Stewart of La Grande, Ore. Toni Dunker, Kimberly Tillman and Preston Kent continue as directors at large. Eleanor Hamilton continues her devoted support and service to the organization as ARHA past president.
Each year, the organization strives to expand the class schedule in response to ever-increasing participation and competitor’s requests. Futurity Classic competitors vie for an array of prizes including cash awards, saddles, trophies and buckles. The Board of Directors has announced that the 2016 Futurity offers more than $70,000 in added prize money in addition to an array of special prizes.
Reining’s ability to draw loyal support is well evidenced by returning sponsorships. Wells Fargo Advisors LLC returns as Arena 5 sponsor; Markel Insurance repeats sponsorship of the popular Celebrity Slide event which returns to the Equidome on the evening of Monday, February 15th. The granddame of reining, Eleanor Hamilton, of Eleanor’s Arabian Farm in Rogers, Minn., together with her late multi-champion stallion, Hesa Zee, return as bedrock supporters of the sport where Hesa Zee’s offspring continue to capture championships to carry on his legacy. Additional returning sponsors include Kyle Tack of Whitesboro, Tex., Silver Spurs Equine, Scottsdale, Ariz., and Bingham Equipment Company, Mesa, Ariz.
“We’re very proud that the ARHA competition at Scottsdale has made a name in the highly competitive sport,” says President Kibler. “We welcome additional sponsorship inquiries and strive to develop long-term relationships with our supporters. A number of reining trainers who had never worked with Arabians have joined our competitive ranks in the past three years. That these talented trainers chose to come to our Scottsdale Show speaks to the respect Arabian reining has gained and we wish good luck to all this year.”
The Wells Fargo Advisors Arena Five is located on the southeast side of the show grounds at WestWorld, in Scottsdale, Ariz.