Monday, August 20 is the first full day of competition for the 2012 World’s Championship horse show in Louisville.  Sessions will be streamed live on AHSALive at the usefnetwork.com.  Visit http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2012ksfwchs/ during the live streaming to catch all the action.  This year, the webcast is being presented by Merial.

Visit societypony.com for news and be sure to check out the live streaming courtesy of Merial at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2012ksfwchs/ .

The class list for the Aug. 20 includes:

It’s time for the World’s Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair. Competition begins tonigh, on Sunday, Aug. 19, at 6:30 p.m. Sessions will be streamed live on AHSALive at the usefnetwork.com.  Visit http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2012ksfwchs/ during the live streaming to catch all the action.  This year, the webcast is being presented by Merial.

The 2012 World’s Championship kicks off tonight at 6:30 p.m. (eastern).  Tonight’s schedule includes American Saddlebred Sweepstakes competition and the Kentucky County Fair championships.

Visit societypony.com to see what’s happening at the show each day and check out the live streaming courtesy of Merial at http://usefnetwork.com/featured/2012ksfwchs/ .

The class list for the Aug. 19th session at 6:30 p.m. includes:

ASHA/ UPHA to Present "First Timer" Ribbons at the 2012 World's Championship Horse Show

Thanks to the initiative of American Saddlebred Horse Association (ASHA) Board Member, Randy Cates, and the generous sponsorship from World Champion Horse Equipment, ASHA and the United Professional Horsemen's Association (UPHA) will be presenting inaugural ribbons to every "first timer" trainer and exhibitor at this year's 2012 World's Championship Horse Show.

The inaugural year ribbon is a way to recognize those trainers and exhibitors who are joining us at Louisville for the first time. It has nothing to do with experience, we all know people ride for years often times before they show at Louisville. By hanging these ribbons it will also recognize those stables who are bringing new people to the show and into our business. A first time trainer is an individual who is signing the entry blank as trainer for the first time. An exhibitor is anyone showing in the ring for their first time or for their first time in the last 20 years either under saddle, driving, or in hand.

"We at the ASHA and UPHA are thankful for all our exhibitors and trainers. We also recognize how daunting the first year for a trainer or exhibitor can be. We are very glad they are here and want them to know!" said ASHA Board Member, Randy Cates. There will be a form at the World's Championship Horse Show office for first timer trainers and exhibitors to complete to be eligible.

2012 Congress In The History Books

The 66th Annual American Shetland Pony Congress featuring competition for American Shetlands, American Show Ponies and National Sports Performance Ponies was held last week in Tulsa, OK.  The show kicked off on Tuesday, Aug. 7 and ran through Saturday, Aug. 11. Several hundred ponies hailing from across the United States were on hand to compete.

Due the tight scheduling each day and the extremely long days that often ran ‘til well past midnight, Society Pony Online was unable to post regular coverage during the event.  Presently, we are working on coverage, news and candid photos.  Watch for materials to being appearing on this website soon.

A post-Congress issue of the American Society Pony ezine will come out this fall.  Deadline for ads will be September 1.  If you would like to be included in a publication that will offer full and in-depth Congress coverage at exceptionally low prices, please contact Society Pony staff through the “contact us” menu button.

The Modern Shetland Limited Breeders Sweepstakes is the oldest incentive auction and DNA program for the American Shetland Pony Club.  Founded in the mid-1990s, this program has offered numerous auctions of stallion services, provided competition for dozens of eligible foals and awarded thousands of dollars in prize money since then.

Now, program coordinators are busy preparing for the 2013/2014 Modern Sweepstakes.  The stallion service auction for this program will be held at the 2012 ASPC/ASPR Congress in Tulsa, OK, as a silent auction.

Information on the enrolled stallions will be available throughtout the bidding times at this year’s Congress.  Services offered are for the 2013 breeding year.  The resulting foals from these services will be eligible for a special competition in the summer of 2014.  This class will be held at the 2014 Shetland Congress, the location and dates of which are yet to be determined.

To date, the following outstanding Modern American Shetland Stallions have been nominated.  Services to these ponies will be available via auction during Congress:

The ASPC/AMHR/ASPR Royalty Resale Shop offers a place for members of the ASPC’s various registeries (American Shetland Pony Club, American Miniature Horse Registry,  American Show Pony Registry and Nat’l. Sports Performance Pony Registry) to put their show clothes and accessories or other horse-related goods up for re-sale.  The booth features gently worn show clothes, boots, hats and more as well as other gently used horse-y and horse-show related items – from toys to decorative items and more.

Consignors receive 85% of the sale from the items they donate while the royalty program gets to keep 15% to help with their expenses.  To date, several generous consignors have donated more than the minimum 15% to royalty while some have even donated their entire sale amounts.  Other donors have also opted to give a percentage of their sale to the Royalty Program but designate another percentage to benefit the association’s Youth Program.

The Royalty Resale Shop is a win-win.  You can reduce clutter and work to clean out your closets and tack trunks while your support helps benefit the Royalty and youth.

To date, the Royalty Resale Shop has been set up at the Youth Clinic & Jr. Judging Event hosted by the Illinois Miniature Horse Owners Association in March and at the Central State Pony Association’s four star competition in June in Illinois.  Many members and families have scored some incredible deals on show clothes, fun items and more!

Plans are underway for the Royalty Resale Shop to be set up at the 2012 Congress for your shopping convenience.  Presently, the committee is looking for volunteers to help man the booth during limited shifts when the Congress hits Tulsa, OK, from Aug. 7-11.  If you can assist, please contact Brenda Prince at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You may also contact her about donating items to the resale shop.

To learn more about the ASPC Inc.’s Royalty Program, visit ASPC/AMHR’s dedicated youth website www.aspcamhryouth.com

To sponsor a youth member or to learn about youth memberships, contact the American Shetland Pony Club, Inc., through its website at www.shetlandminiature.com or call the ASPC/AMHR Office at (309) 263-4044.

The 2012 American Shetland Pony Congress will take place August 7-11 at Expo Square in Tulsa, OK.  The Congress is the longest continually running show of the American Shetland Pony Club, Inc., one of the oldest breed registries in the United States.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of this historic pony championship.  What better location for such a noteworthy event than the Pavilion, the historic art deco arena at Expo Square?

The Pavilion in Tulsa will play home to more than 400 classes for small equine during the historic Congress.  This Congress is the official national championship for all divisions of the American Shetland Pony, for the American Show Pony (ASPR) and for the National Sports Performance Pony Registry (NSPPR). Competition will range from beautiful halter to majestic fine harness to thrilling roadster and will include classes that highlight the versatility of ponies such as halter obstacle, under saddle and costume as well.

“There's something about these ponies, these events and the people involved.  No other equine organization can boast of anything even close to the Congress and what such an event means to its people in terms of tenure and both the ability to attract new people AND retain so many long-term stables,” said Amy Roberts Clark, chair of the ASPC’s Historical Committee and fourth-generation American Shetland enthusiast and Congress exhibitor.

It’s been a busy few weeks for the Welsh Pony & Cob Society (WPCSA). 

After announcing that it would open its registry to part bred Welsh earlier this year, the WPCSA welcomed its first part-bred in late June. 

Related to the new part-bred acceptance, the WPCSA has expanded its Pony Finals High Score Awards to include the part bred Welsh in addition to purebred and half-bred Welsh.

Also in late June, the WCPSA announced the creation of Welsh of the Year awards.  This new exciting lifetime distinction will begin with the current show season and be awarded early in 2013 at the association’s

Check out more details about this news for the Welsh Pony and Cob Society from association press releases posted on Society Pony Online under the “Association News” menu in the “Other Pony” area.

The United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA) recently shared the following important news for exhibitors for the 2012 show season:

The United Professional Horsemen’s Association (UPHA) hopes that everyone is enjoying a great start to the 2012 show season. Please note that there is a possibility that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be attending and observing at several of the American Saddlebred, Morgan and Hackney Pony horse shows across the country.  As you meet and greet these federal employees, please be kind and courteous and represent our breeds with the class they deserve.

The UPHA along with officials from ASHA, AHHS and AMHA are reminding all horsemen of the importance to fully understand the rules and regulations contained in the Horse Protection Act (HPA).  The HPA applies to all horsemen at all times. The rules and regulations contained in this Federal Law can be found at the following website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/hp/

With the recent heightened sensitivity regarding equine welfare, we need to remind the outside world how much effort and care goes into the welfare of our horses and exhibit those same actions at all times.

The Modern Shetland Limited Breeders Sweepstakes is the oldest incentive auction and DNA program for the American Shetland Pony Club.  Founded in the mid-1990s, this program has offered numerous auctions of stallion services, provided competition for dozens of eligible foals and awarded thousands of dollars in prize money since then.

Now, program coordinators are busy preparing for the 2013/2014 Modern Sweepstakes.  The stallion service auction for this program will be held at the 2012 ASPC/ASPR Congress in Tulsa, OK, as a silent auction. 

Information on the enrolled stallions will be available throughtout the bidding times at this year’s Congress.  Services offered are for the 2013 breeding year.  The resulting foals from these services will be eligible for a special competition in the summer of 2014.  This class will be held at the 2014 Shetland Congress, the location and dates of which are yet to be determined.

The American Shetland Pony Club, Inc., (ASPC) established a Super Gelding Program a couple of years ago to promote geldings in all of its registries – the ASPC (American Shetlands), the American Miniature Horse Registry, the American Show Pony Registry and the National Sports Performance Pony Registry. This incentive program rewards those members showing and campaigning their small equine geldings.  For 2012, the Super Gelding Program is expanding and reaching new levels thanks to recent reinvigoration and promotion.

The ASPC’s Gelding Committee has been working diligently to promote the program through various channels and is seeing increased participation from more areas of the country as a result.

“This is going to be an amazing year for the Super Gelding Program, and there is still time to nominate your gelding,” says Trace Anderson, chair of the Super Gelding Program for the ASPC/AMHR/ASPR/NSPPR.

The program runs through the association’s show year, which ends on November 30, 2012. There are still dozens and dozens of recognized shows across the country over the coming months where nominated geldings may compete.

The Hoosier Hackney Association invites you to join your friends for two fun filled days of showing your Hackney ponies at the Indiana Celebration.  See the full article on Society Pony Online... click on the "News/Articles" menu button and look for the article under "Shows/Events."

Central States Pony Association’s 2012 Four Star Event for society ponies and other small equine, on June 16-17 in Illinois, was a stunning success.  Held at Gordyville Arena near Rantoul, IL, the well-known competition experienced an increase in participation of 50%.  Entries were strong in many of the show’s several hundred classes that featured opportunities for American Shetlands, American Show Ponies, AMHR registered Miniatures, Hackneys, Welsh and grade ponies.   

The show included a fun theme (“Beach Party”) and offered awards, give-aways and fun activities to match.  Most participants’ enjoyed the show’s ever-popular exhibitors’ dinner, and the youth enjoyed some activities designed just or them.

This show is a recognized or pointed competition for several different associations and clubs. 

Check out the full story for this great event under SPO’s “Show/Events” section under the "News Articles" menu.  Also, check out the photos elsewhere on Society Pony Online.

The official deadline for entries for the 2012 ASPC/ASPR Congress to be held Aug. 7-11 at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Tulsa, OK, is July 1.  Entries must be post-marked by that date.

This year, July 1 falls on a Sunday. Although common for mailing requirments to be extended one day when the postmark date falls on a Sunday (think Federal Income Tax due dates), the ASPC national office has a precedent of following deadline dates exactly when it comes to show entries. Therefore, Congress exhibitors should remember to get their entries in the mail no later than Saturday, June 30, since mail can’t be postmarked on a Sunday.

Join the American Shetland Pony Club, Inc., (ASPC) & American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) and earn $20!   Don’t delay, this offer expires at the end of June.

The ASPC, one of the oldest equine breed registries in the United States, is offering a unique incentive toward its 2012 memberships.  Eligible new memberships and renewals will receive a $20 credit that may be used toward work with the association. A membership to the American Shetland Pony Club, Inc., includes the Shetland registry, the American Miniature Horse Registry, the American Show Pony Registry and the National Show Pony Registry.

The $20 credit is being granted to all 2012 first (i.e., primary) memberships within a household.  The incentive extends to all members who have already renewed or joined for 2012.  It will apply to all new memberships or renewals that are received by July 1 as well.