December 2008

Alabama Quarter Horse Association:
From Ronnie Jones, President 

Hello ALQHA Members,  

     I hope everyone is ready for the fast approaching Holiday Season.   It seems like they roll around faster and quicker sort of like Birthdays.   At any rate our Fall Classic is right around the corner and hopefully many of you are planning on spending the Thanksgiving Weekend in Andalusia.  This show is very important to our association in that it is our major fund raiser for ALQHA, and we need to take this last opportunity to push for a good Exhibitor turnout.    Traditionally this has been a great weekend to show for many years.   Many of you “Ole Timers” like me remember when we use to call it the Turkey Circuit.  This went away a few years ago and as fate would have it this show was pushed from late August to Thanksgiving weekend due to Hurricane Katrina.   We have kept this date with AQHA and we are hopeful that the Fall Classic will turn into one of the “Marque Events” in the Quarter Horse Industry.   We are hoping this show can establish itself in the company of the “Dixie Nationals”,  “Super A”, and “Dogwood Classics” to name a few.   In  order to reach that kind of status it requires a strong base to draw the out of state folks, so that is why we urge each and every ALQHA Exhibitor to come and support this show.

     I am glad to report we had a couple of events in October that were successful outings.    We had a great Fall Trail Ride, and had a resounding successful All Novice Show this past weekend.   Thanks to Mary and Merv Craig for their work and efforts for the Trail Ride, and Julia Caro, Donna Casey, Beverly Davis, and Dr. Charles Crowe for the work put in to this show.  

     As in all our Events the work behind the scenes and the long hours and efforts of our Board and others who do not asks,” What is being done”, but “What can I do” that makes these events go off smoothly.

     There will be another news letter prior to the Annual Meeting in Early January, but I want to take this opportunity to say that I have enjoyed serving as your President for the past 2 years, and that while there is much that needs to be done we have made progress and sustained our membership through some very difficult times to be in this business.   While the pressures still exist that causes us to have to change our thinking, look at how we spend every dollar, and where we want to put our resources we are a better and stronger association today because of the actions we have taken.   I look forward to serving in some other  capacity going forward but I have certainly enjoyed my tenure as your President.

Happy Trails