Thanks to all the AiM club members, past AiM club members and folk who love the AiM club who helped at the AiM at the Hood show this past weekend. Because of the A 1 job each volunteer did, the show ran smoothly. Could not have done the show without you. None show committee Folk who gave their time - Katie Stoddick, Char Wilson, Beth Bonham, Susie Howell, Grant Howell, Tedi Paasch, Jorine Reitman, Jan Finseth and her friend Patty, Kat Kendall, Alex Bowman, Cathy Cegla, Jessica Crawford and Cherlyn Spahan. Thanks to Tracy Graham for sending her student Lynn Johnson who worked most of Saturday and Sunday in various capacities. Thanks to show committee members Zoe Ann Arrington, Lisa Kolke and Barb Zellner who handled the sport horse in hand classes, Sporthorse Under Saddle classes and Carriage Driving classes. Thanks to Bowman Sporthorses who ran the Hunter/Jumper division. Thanks to Marcia Donnelly for organizing the ribbons. The biggest thanks goes to Kaye Phaneuf (show secretary) and Joh Howell (show manager) both who also volunteered their time.

Hope to see some of you back for the AiM Classic and Region 4 Sporthorse championships, July 1-3 at the Devonwood Equestrian Center near Sherwood Oregon.

Sarah Asby
Volunteer co-ordinator

I wanted to add my thanks as well. We had such a great group of volunteers this year, and this show went extremely smoothly because of all of you. On behalf of the Hood Show Committee (and myself), I want to thank each of you.

I know you've all heard the old saying about "the best laid plans . . . ". It's so true. People with a "can-do" attitude can make a lousy plan work. The same kind of people can make a good plan work perfectly. From whichever perspective, you volunteers were the key.

I value your input as much as your assistance. In your jobs you did for the Show, you almoist certainly saw things I did not. Please share your obvservations and suggestions for how we can do things better next year.

Thanks again for your support for the Arabian Sport Horse, this Club, and this show, and I look forward to working with you again next year or this Summer at the Classic.

Best,

Jonathan Howell, Manager
AiM at the Hood Arabian Sport Horse Show
Arabians in Motion, AHA Region 4
503-819-8765

Letter from the Editor, March 2011
John Howell

I hope you’ve all been enjoying the remodeled AiM Website, and I wanted to include my explanation of the incorporation of the former 15 to 25 page Newsletter so ably edited for the last several years by Holly Lenz into this new website.

Holly has graciously accepted the job of Webmaster, so she continues to play a major role in our news efforts.

Approximately half to two thirds of the 2010 Newsletters were Classified or Display ads, these were provided gratis to AiM members and show sponsors only and were not a revenue source for the Club. As part of our non-profit tax status, charges for advertising space to members and non-member commercial enterprises are subject to a special income tax to prevent non-profit organizations from unfairly competing with for-profit companies. AiM’s current and past Boards had wisely decided to avoid this complication to our club’s financial affairs.

This Classified and Display Ad content can now be found on the website on the “Marketplace” tab, and members desiring to place ads should contact Holly at webmaster@arabiansinmotion.org.

The news and photo content that was formerly the front part of the newsletter can now be found on the website in the “News” tab, and I encourage you as members, to continue as our “news reporters”. Your articles and reports are welcome; I encourage you to submit content to me at hoodshowmanager@gmail.com or to Holly and we’ll do our best to get it published on the website.

The Shows and Events information is now on the “Events” tab of the website.

For my part, my favorite “reporter” activity is to scan every issue of the USEF, USDF, AHA and other horse magazines for AiM members and their achievements, and give them recognition in our Newsletters. Don’t let me miss anyone! If you don’t see your Award mentioned on our News page, let me know. We have many members who compete in many venues beyond AiM and the AHA, and those worthy efforts deserve recognition, as do the achievements recognized by the AHA itself.

Finally, as the Club’s Board of Directors moves through the final stages of the Bylaws revision, the decision was made to change the Newsletter Editor from a mandated Board position to a Volunteer position, so my current term as Board member and Newsletter Editor runs to November 2011. I’m happy to carry this on for the Club, in addition to my other “hats” as your AiM at the Hood Show Manager, Board Member and AHA Convention Delegate/Alternate, but there is room for an interested Volunteer to take on this job for 2012. This Club is only as good as the diversity, variety and quantity of members involved in its activities, and new ideas are the high-energy “feed supplement” that made this Club what it is today, and what it will be next year, and into the future.

As ever, your feedback is important, so please e-mail me with your comments and suggestions.

Notice:

Effective March 1, 2011, for dressage at Arabian competitions: When warming up for a dressage class or when riding in the designated dressage warm-up and competition areas, all riders must wear protective headgear, as defined in USEF Rule DR120.5 and in compliance with GR801. Helmet must meet or exceed ASTM standards, be SEI certified and properly fitted, and harness must be properly secured. Exemption: protective headgear is optional only for adult riders on horses entered only in classes above Fourth Level. Click here for details.

Congratulations to Koby Robson
for earning her USDF Freestyle Silver Bar in 2010!

2009

News From the Endurance Front

Lincoln Falk and Heather AlKrush finished 6th overall and 1st in the Region IV 50 mile Endurance Championship at the Bandit Springs Endurance Ride on July 12th. Lincoln is the 14 year old son of AiM members, Adam Falk and Jannelle Wilde. Heather is part of their Davenport Arabian breeding program. She is 11 years old. Two weeks later she and Lincoln completed 10th in the 30 mile ride at Pacific Crest in southern Oregon. Lincoln and Heather’s riding companion was Susie Griffin of California riding Wilde Ivey Aziz, Heather’s son.

2008

Much Ado Arabian Sport Horses at Youth Nationals

Much Ado Arabians represented the Great Northwest very well this year at Youth Nationals coming back with 2 Nations Championships. AIM youth member Emily Love and El Sharq Asad KB +/ went National Champion first level JTR 13& under and National Champion Second Level JTR 17& under. Horse and rider are trained by AIM member Katie Stodick. Congratulations Guys

Thunder Hill Arabians At Scottsdale

Read all about Thunder Hill Arabians trip to Scottsdale 2008 (PDF)

2007

2007 Bowman Sport Horses

2007 was a great year for Bowman Sport Horses. Not only did we relocate our family and horse business from Phoenix, Arizona to Hillsboro, Oregon, but we also had a very successful show year.

Arabians in Motion Sport Horse Classic

We started off the year by attending the Arabians in Motion Sport Horse Classic in March. We took three horses FF Irish Vodka ++/, Ace of Spades +++//, and Lady Loria +. All three horses and riders preformed superbly. FF Irish Vodka++/ was piloted by Anne Hughes, Ace of Spades +++// was piloted by Courtney Percival, and Lady Loria + (in her first under saddle class) was piloted by Taylor Bowman

Canadian Nationals

In August we headed north for Canadian Nationals. What a long trip but we all made it in one piece. It was a bitter sweet trip. We took FF Irish Vodka ++/, Ace of Spades +++//, and Lady Loria +. It was an incrediable experience. All horses traveled well and competed well. We ended up coming home with 2 National Championships and 3 Reserve National Championships. The bitter part came when some very nice people (The McClouds) from South Carolina approached us about FF Irish Vodka. We ended up selling him to them. So Congratulations to Collier McCloud and her trainer Cynthia Cubbage of Aiken, South Carolina on their purchase of FF Irish Vodka.

2007 Thunder Hill Arabians

Congratulations to Annapolis and Thunder Hill Arabians.
Five Titles in one show year!
That's our boy!!!

Janet and Jeff Jones

Annapolis (Monogramm X SS Annita)
Farnum/Platform Horse of the Yeat United States Equestrian Federation Region 4
Arabian Hunter Pleasure Champion
Arabian Specialty Reserve Champion
Arabian Sport Horse Reserve Champion
Arabian Training Level Dressage 4th Place
Arabian Halter 4th Place

Thunder Hill Arabians is a small farm in Southern Oregon. Here, Jeff and Janet Jones, in combination with trainer Stephanie Snyder, and an assortment of friends and family members have built an association with some of the most beautiful and talented Arabian Sport Horses available. Our goal is simple. We breed the best available bloodlines with show records to our rising star stallion, Annapolis, and then in addition to having a winning string of breeding horses, we bring along the next generations of winners and make them available for purchase.

Foals are handled from birth, cautiously and lovingly imprinting them to instill the confidence that makes our horses "show." Jeff works with these foals on a daily basis so that they are gentle, easy to handle, and "want to." They learn early on about halters, clippers, baths, trailers, bridges, plastic, loud noises, running dogs, bicycles, ATVs, well, just about anything you can imagine. From there, they are taught to "pony" from a lead horse and they begin their trail riding lessons through creeks, up and down mountains, through the woods, and in public places with lots of activity.

Stephanie enters the picture when the foals are ready for their first show. She leads them in and lets them shine. But, Stephanie doesn't begin and end with the foals. She is the exclusive trainer for Thunder Hill Arabians, starting our young horses under saddle, tuning them to perfection, and showing them to their best advantage. She handles Annapolis daily. All show preparation and breeding is handled by Stephanie.

Janet is self admittedly the instigator of this whole operation. She grew up dreaming of horses, showing several breeds and styles before breeding the mare Simplyirisistible+. This was a life changing event. She now breeds Arabian Horses and shows our horses as an amateur owner.

Sport Horses are our specialty, however, our horses are adaptable to the trail rider, the hunter/jumper rider, English and Western style riding disciplines, and we even have some cow horse qualities thrown into the pot. Janet's partnership with the mare, Simplyirisistible+, a mare who has competed in everything from barrel racing, to team penning and is a 3-time US Arabian Sport Horse Nationals Top Ten mare, has formed the foundation on which Thunder Hill Arabians was built. With the support and blessing of her late father, the dream continues. The Thunder Hill Team invites you to join us in your personal pursuit for excellence and reminds you to never set limitations on your dreams.

Thunderhill Arabian Sport Horse News

On May 20th, FS Alicia gave birth to a lovely chestnut filly with 4 stockings, and a narrow blaze. This was the first foal by Annapolis, the 4-year-old Monogramm son owned by Jeff and Janet Jones of Thunderhill Arabian Sport Horses in Central Point, Oregon. Sadly, the filly died prior to Jeff and Janet returning from the AHACO show in Salem. Ali has been rebred to Annapolis for a 2008 foal.

On a brighter note, we are still expecting one more foal out of our 3-time US Arabian Sport Horse Nationals Top Ten mare, Simplyirisistible+. Based on the looks of the first filly, we are truly excited about the prospect of this next foal. Abby will not be bred back this year, as we have our eyes on the 2008 Sport Horse Nationals and second level dressage. Her 2007 foal will be offered for sale.

Annapolis continues to prove himself in the show ring, with scores of 78.4% and 76% in USEF Young Horse Tests for 4-year-olds at the State of Jefferson Dressage Show in May, as well as a third place win in Native Costume at AHACO (the first time he had ever seen the costume). He also placed well in Hunter Under Saddle classes (his debut in this event), and in the huge Sport Horse Under Saddle Classes, as well as a 68.7% in training level dressage.

While at AHACO, we were fortunate to acquire a full sister to our exceptional show filly, Crystalaffire. Afirebright is destined to be bred to Annapolis later this month.

Crystalaffire is still recovering from a street nail procedure performed by Dr. Reed of OSU March 30th, after she stepped on an unidentified object at the AiM Sport Horse Classic. The unidentified object punctured her right hind hoof in the frog area, entering the navicular bursa, tearing the flexor tendon sheath, and ultimately fracturing the piercing the navicular bone. We feel very fortunate that we still have "Crys" with us. She is an exceptional filly in both looks and personality. Our deepest thanks to all those who prayed along with us for her recovery. We aren't entirely out of the woods yet, but it sure looks brighter now.

Leila IA, continues in her dressage training and is scheduled to be bred to Raingate Farms' homozygous pinto warmblood stallion, Randomize, later this month. We believe that this will be a rewarding cross. Leila has exceptional gaits with a lot of loft and drive as well as a rich mahogany bay color that makes her really stand out.

Jeff's gelding, Smokin' Colt 45, continues to train in harness. Janet keeps threatening to turn him into a dressage horse, but Jeff prefers to rumble along in his pleasure cart. What a pair!

If you are ever in the southern Oregon area, please give a call and stop by for a visit.

Thunder Hill Arabians

Farnum/Platform Horse of the Year United States Equestrian Federation Region 4

Firgrove Pacific Ekko

(Kevekko [Dutch WB by Wellington (Nimmerdor)] x Mi-Gai Pacifica [Gai Midas x Bint Ahmara Azon]

Champion Half-Anglo-Arabian Dressage Training Level

Region 4 Reserve Champion Half/Anglo-Arabian Sport Horse

USDF Horse of the Year AHA All-Breeds Winners

PUREBRED

Training Level

El Sharq Asad KB - 2002 chestnut gelding - 5th 66.154%

(PV El Shikar x My Miss Pride by Baskes Pride+)

Bred by Painted Valley Farms

Owned and ridden by AiM member Katie Stodick

HALF-ARABIAN / ANGLO-ARABIAN

Second Level

Questt+ - 1995 bay gelding - 2nd - 63.066%

(Quartet [Swedish Warmblood] x Thrill by Taliesin)

Bred by the late Lesley Eastwood

Owned and ridden by AiM youth member Jessica Crawford

Firgrove Paladin+/ - 1999 bay gelding - 5th - 56.9%

(Oxenholm Pastis [Danish Warmblood] x Mi-Gai Pacifica by Gai Midas)

Bred by Kaye Phaneuf

Owned and ridden by Sheila McElwee of Danville, Illinois

(coached by AiM member Sandi Chohany)

Third Level

Questt+ - 3rd - 61.445%

Fourth Level

Chocalate Mahogany+/ - 1994 bay mare - 4th - 58.913%

(Ailectric x Soft as Velvet [Half-TB])

Bred by Kimberly Schopp

Ridden by AiM member Tracey Moneta for owners Angela & Jill Lyon

These percentages are the median scores earned at the level in USDF-recognized competition for the year. (Median score: half the scores earned were higher, and half lower, than this score.) At the above levels, the horse must have earned at least 8 scores from 4 different judges and 4 different competitions. 2 of the scores must have been earned at the highest test of the level, and must have been 58% or higher. All scores recorded in the competition year count toward determining the median score - you don't get to use just your 8 highest scores and throw out any lower ones.

Extragold Memory

USEF announced last week that Extragold Memory has been named USEF Horse of the Year Region 4 Champion Arabian Hunter/Jumper!

Memo - A nine-year-old chestnut mare, has been leased, trained, and shown for the past four years by AiM member, Elise Maxwell. The mare is owned and bred by AiM member, Kaye Phaneuf, who also owns her dam, Mi-Gai Pacifica (Gai Midas x Bint Ahmara Azon by Ibn Survan). Memo's sire is Twinfir Extragold (Port Bask x Calica by Negatraz), owned by AiM member, Stuart Sander.

Linda Royer's Four Year Old

This is my four year old Winterprintz boy out of Sadie, with my husband, Ken.

Don't you think they are ready for Wine and Ride? Most people spoil their horses with carrots. Not us! On another note: We took FF Sassee to the Hanoverian inspection this morning where she was accepted into the pre-mare book and complimented with high scores and praise for an Arab mare of a quality that they seldom see! She is in foal to Winterprintz.

Linda Royer

Sassee

This is Sassee and I riding in the desert. We live 10 miles East of Scottsdale (on a golf course for my husband) from October through April. Yes, it is lovely to ride in the desert in January in a tee shirt, but we do get some rain and frost, which year-rounders relish. We are next to many thousands of acres of National Forest land. The "forest" part is cactus, not trees. There is a particularly viscous type of cactus called cholla or 'jumping cactus'. It is everywhere in our area and is wicked so you have to be constantly scanning the trails for little balls of it that have broken off. It often requires tweezers and tranquilizers to remove.

I found a dressage trainer nearby and next year will be taking my four year old gelding south while the mares are bred and stay in Oregon. We ship the horses commercially while we drive the truck and trailer. That is much easier on the nerves. Of course Scottsdale is our 'local show.' This year I scribed for dressage and sporthorse in hand. Next year hope to be riding. I board the horses with a lady I found through NAERC so we do lots of long rides in the desert.

Oregon looks wonderful when we returned. The mares had to be slowly reintroduced to pasture and love every minute they get. I look forward to seeing my AIM friends at rides and shows this summer.

Linda Royer

Letter From Karen Bragg

We took two horses and two kids to Youth Nationals and came home with a National Championship, a Reserve and two top tens!

Emily Love, riding El Sharq Asad (owned and trained by Katie Stodick) won the 13 & Under Level National Championship, and took a Top Ten in Training Level.

Karen Lincke riding VW Britania (owned by Karen Bragg) went Reserve National Champion in First Level 13 & Under, which gave Much Ado Arabians and Katie Stodick the two top spots in that class, and a top ten in Training Level.

Both of these girls began their riding education here with Katie and Karen, and we are very proud of their accomplishments. For Emily, it was her 3rd Class A show ever! She did AiM, the Region IV where she also won the First Level JTR class, then Nationals! Karen Lincke is from Germany and when she began riding with us, she spoke little English. She bonded with our 18 year old lesson horse, "Annie", and her commitment to this mare, her riding skills and dressage in general has made her and outstanding rider. She did AiM and Region IV last year, then again this year. She took Top 5s in Training and First Level at Regionals this year, then went on to Youth Nationals.

Photo: Emily Love and Sharq on the left. Karen Lincke and Annie on the right.

The youth of Arabians in Motion have definitely raised the bar this year! These young ladies traveled a long road to Albuquerque (in more ways than one!) and faced tough competition. We couldn't be prouder of you!

About the competitors:

Jessie Crawford lives in Tualatin, Oregon. She turned 18 this spring, so this was her last Youth Nationals. Studly Do Right is a 1993, 14.2h, bay Arabian gelding (Sharif Shahid x Nakishkaa by Statik), bred by Jonanne J McDowell. Questt is a 1995, 15.3h, grey Half-Arabian gelding (Quartet [Swedish Warmblood] x Thrill by Taliesin), bred by Lesley Eastwood.

Emily Love lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon, and is 13 years old. She trains with AiM member Katie Stodick at Painted Valley Farms in Sherwood, Oregon. El Sharq Asad KB is a 2002, 14.3h, chestnut Arabian gelding (PV El Shikar x My Miss Pride by Baskes Pride+), bred by Painted Valley Farms and owned by Katie Stodick.

Karen Lincke is another of Katie's students; she also lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Karen will be 14 this month, so will move up to the 14-17 division next year. VW Brittania is a 1987, 15.2h, bay Arabian mare (*Londonn x Electricity by HMR Hallany). Brittania was bred by Garen Warren and is owned by Karen Bragg.

What they accomplished:

Dressage Training Level, Riders 13 & Under

Top Ten (in a 3-way tie for Reserve Champion!) Karen Lincke and VW Brittania, 64.6%

Top Ten Emily Love and El Sharq Asad KB, 63.4%

Dressage Training Level, Riders 14-17

Reserve Champion Jessica Crawford and Studly Do Right, 66.4%

Dressage First Level, Riders 13 & Under

Champion Emily Love and El Sharq Asad KB, 67.105%

Reserve Champion Karen Lincke and VW Brittania, 62.895%

Dressage First Level, Riders 14-17

Reserve Champion Jessica Crawford and Studly Do Right, 63.158%

Dressage Second Level

Champion Jessica Crawford and Questt, 63.69%

Dressage Third Level

Champion Jessica Crawford and Questt, 62.326%

Judges were Sarah Michael of Beverly Hills, Michigan, and Loris Henry, of Fresno, California. Both of these ladies are 'S' dressage judges, which means that they licensed to judge the very highest levels of dressage competition in the U.S. This is the first year that Youth Nationals has used 'S' judges exclusively; our youth were privileged to ride for them. Of course, they were privileged to judge Emily, Karen and Jessica, too clearly the best young Arabian dressage riders in AiM, Region 4, the Pacific Northwest, and the entire U.S! Well done, ladies!