The Arabian Horse naturally excels in the activities of Endurance Riding, Competitive Riding, and Pleasure Trail Riding. AHDRA works to promote and encourage the use of the Arabian Horse in these fields.

February 4, 2008

Dear AHDRA members,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your vote of confidence in electing me as President. This is a tremendous opportunity to give back to the sport I love and to help lead AHDRA in a new, more widely recognized direction. For decades, AHDRA has striven to promote the Arabian horse in distance riding some years more effectively than others. In my four years in the Midwest, AHDRA has promoted several rides in UMECRA but has not extended its promotion or reach beyond the UMECRA family. As a “national” organization affiliated with AHA we are in a unique position to affect and influence the recognition of AHDRA as viable and valuable resource to promote our sport as well as the breed. However, we have yet to be recognized beyond the Midwest. There are a number of ways to improve this, thru communication in AERC, AHA, ride manager forums and a host of other venues such as USEF and equine events such as the Equine Affaire.

In order to grow our membership we need offer something that attracts new members. This means increasing the number of rides supported by AHDRA as well as developing a points and performance achievement recognition system that is nation wide and encourages participation. We have a strong core membership base thanks to those who have led and contributed to the organization over the last several years. As part of the core base I am asking for your input regarding how we grow AHDRA and help it become a recognized organization to support and promote excellence in our sport. The new Board of Directors will be meeting on February 16 to begin discussion on how we should move forward. We welcome your input - please forward your ideas to any of the board members whose email and phone numbers are listed on the AHDRA web site. We will keep the website updated with news and information on the coming ride season.

For those of us who shudder at the idea of change, consider the following:

Number of registered Arabians in the US: 630,000
Number of Arabians competing in AERC rides (2006): 3200
2007 AHDRA Membership: 131
New members last year: 13
Number of member residing outside of the UMECRA region: 10
Average number of rides sanctioned by AERC per year 700
Number of AHDRA sanctioned rides for 2008 (approximately): 750
Number of AHDRA sponsored for 2008: 3

Wishing everyone sound horses, good footing and free time to ride.

Julie
“If the world was truly a rational place, men would ride sidesaddle”.  ~Rita Mae Brown


Click here to ride the AHDRA article published in December/Janurary 2008 Modern Arabian Horse






Site updated 4/21/2008