A New Show To Promote Arabian Horses

Looking To The Future:

A New Show To Promote Arabian Horses

by Bob Battaglia

Looking To The Future:

A New Show To Promote Arabian Horses

by Bob Battaglia

You may remember that in the June issue of Arabian Horse Times, I wrote about the creation of a new show for Arabians and Half-Arabians that was in the planning stages. I’m happy to report that the show is becoming a reality. As I wrote then, it is designed along the lines of the old Arabian Horse Fairs, which were popular in the 1970s. In other words, while it will offer exciting competition, it will also include an extensive educational and promotional program to bring more people into Arabian horses. Here are the basics.

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“It will be at Freedom Hall, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. We expect the inaugural show to be held during the third week of September 2012.”

Looking To The Future

Where and when will the show be held? It will be at Freedom Hall, at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. We expect the inaugural show to be held during the third week of September 2012.

to spend every moment at the showgrounds. We talked to a broad cross-section of owners, exhibitors and trainers, and the majority of them told us Louisville was where they’d like to go if it were possible.

Scheduling and other attractions. We envision a schedule of competition classes in the morning and evening— probably no afternoons, except on Friday and Saturday.

The first few afternoons will be reserved for the educational seminars and demonstrations.

In August 2010, during the Saddlebred World’s Championship Horse Show, a group of us met with KFEC management, told them our ideas, explained our requirements and explored dates. The result was that we locked in the dates and now are waiting for contracts. As soon as the paperwork is signed, the specific dates will be announced.

In addition, we will be working on assembling prize money and attracting corporate sponsorships, and plans call for added entertainment to keep both horse people and the non-horse public involved.

How big will the show be? I would have been happy with 300 horses in 2012, but now that I’ve talked to more people, I’ve had to revise that estimate upward. I think we’ll draw about 500 horses. The response we have received has been very, very rewarding.

Who’s behind the show? Contrary to some rumors, it is not the Bob Battaglia Show, the Lara Ames Show, or the Arabian Horse Times Show. Yes, I am involved in its production, as is the Ames family, but there are others and we’re asking anyone who is interested to join us in this promotion of the Arabian horse.

A few details about the facility and how we see the show fitting in. In our planning, we have tried to anticipate every requirement there could be in putting on a horse show of the scope we envision.

Even so, during our walk-through of the KFEC facility, we came up feedback with more ideas.

“Based on from the Arabian show public, we plan to make a few changes in the traditional Arabian show format. For instance, ‘sections’ will be changed to ‘divisions,’ and eight placings (first through eighth) will be announced.”

A little background. In selecting Louisville, we studied several locations (Atlanta, Denver, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Lexington, Memphis, Nashville, Oklahoma City and Orlando), looking for not just a facility that could handle a top-caliber horse show, but one located in a destination city that would please the family and friends of horse people. Most of us do not come alone to our horse shows, and the people who accompany us don’t always want

We were especially impressed with what now is called the North Wing; when the U.S. Nationals were last held in Louisville, it was known as the East Wing, and is where the commercial exhibits and some of the premium stalls were. Since then, it has been completely rebuilt, specifically to accommodate horses. Water and electrical lines are underground, and are set up so water lines run to every other aisle and each stall has an electrical cord. At the Saddlebred show, commercial exhibits and stalls had been set up there, as well as a restaurant which served breakfast, lunch and dinner. (The food and service were very good.)

The restaurant made a big difference because it helped the commercial exhibits and gave everyone someplace to relax, get a bite to eat and talk.

With this setting, we also will have a commercial exhibit area filled with spectacular shopping. Commercial exhibitors play a vital part in an event’s financial

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Looking To The Future

strength and are an important part of the equation of a successful horse show. Many commercial exhibitors are excited about the possibility of a new and progressive venue to showcase their products. They are very much in support of the Louisville facility, and are anxious to be a part of this new show.

compare dollar to dollar, the added expense is not much more than what we would pay anywhere else and the return is superior.

Innovations we have in mind. Based on feedback from the Arabian show public, we plan to make a few changes in the traditional Arabian show format. For As many of you may know, fire destroyed three of the instance, “sections” will be changed to “divisions,” and shed row barns last year. Since then, one has been rebuilt, eight placings (first through eighth) will be announced. and the space where the others were has been covered.

As at the World’s Championship Horse Show, the For the World’s Championships, high quality portable award ceremony itself will be expedited. While we all stalls had been installed there. We propose to use this appreciate the pride that everyone involved with a horse covered area for seminars, has in its win, the fact is demonstrations and a that the long presentations stallion row, so that farms we often see in the Arabian can bring their stallions and show ring—a process “One thing we don’t have yet set up lounge areas where that can take up to 20 is the perfect name.

We had they can talk to potential minutes—slow the show explored something involving breeders and enthusiasts. down too much. How People will be able to touch can we ask people new to ‘North American,’ but as there the horses, and there can Arabians, who may become is already the North American be showings scheduled candidates for ownership, Livestock Show and Rodeo, so throughout the day in to sit through that class addition to the seminars. after class? we believe a name with its own At the moment, we also are definite personality would be looking into incorporating We’re also talking about better. I’m inviting everyone to a separate ring specifically introducing a new division suggest their favorite.” as an additional warm-up for Half-Arabians. Instead area for western horses. It of dividing them by age would be right next to the and gender, as is now done, traditional make-up arena we’ll break it down by for Freedom Hall. size: 15.2 and Under, and Over 15.2. As it stands now, there is little market for the smaller Half-Arabian, so And, of course, along with the new layouts, we will have we need to open that door. The purebreds can handle the benefit of Louisville’s traditional asset, the skyboxes. themselves, but since we have been breeding threeVery few horse show arenas have skyboxes as convenient quarter-this and three-quarter-that under the umbrella and well-appointed as those in Freedom Hall, and they of the Half-Arabian, we’ve created a problem in selling will be available for rent to interested parties. the ones who are not as tall as the others. One of the worst things I’ve heard is, ‘Oh, it’s a phenomenal If all of this sounds like it might be costly, let me just say show horse, but I don’t think it will win in the show that the KFEC people have been extremely cooperative ring because it’s not big enough.’ We propose to create and willing to work with us in a positive manner. Yes, it classes that will level the playing field. Smaller Halfis a little more expensive than some of the other venues, Arabians will have a place to show and compete, and but for what we want to do, it is the best place. When you along with that, a market of their own.

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Looking To The Future

Halter, too, is high on our priority list. We plan to use a scoring system similar to Scottsdale’s, and we will be seeking input from halter owners, breeders and trainers about the specific design of our schedule of competition.

What we do know at this point is that we want the halter division to be as much of a treat for its enthusiasts as the performance classes will be to those who ride and drive.

to join in. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and, I hope, working with you over the next two years to make this event the next step in the future of the Arabian breed in this country—and, okay, the world.

Ideas for the future. We are well aware that we can’t incorporate every idea in our first year. It may be several years before we are able to achieve all our goals. So, we have an extensive “wish list,” and we hope to build the show as we go along. Some of those goals are big and some are just tweaks to an already good format, but the emphasis in on growing, promoting the breed, and including and educating more people about Arabian horses. We feel that if we take our time, listen to our constituency and do our job right, the future can be unlimited.

And now, let’s get rolling! At this point, we are two years away from our first show. I think we have a great board started, but as I said before, it’s going to take all hands on deck, so we welcome anyone who shares the vision and wants to get involved.

Let me repeat: with our timing, we don’t expect to interfere with any other show; our goal is not to replace or conflict with any existing event, but to offer an alternative that is the major promotional and educational effort we feel the Arabian breed needs now. In talking to people, we’ve found that that is what they want. The past is past, and we’re trying to think ahead to a very positive future.

One thing we don’t have yet is the perfect name. We had explored something involving “North American,” but as there is already the North American Livestock Show and Rodeo, so we believe a name with its own definite personality would be better. I’m inviting everyone to suggest their favorite.

This show will be all about how exciting and rewarding the Arabian breed is on every level, so we’re asking you

Trainer, owner and breeder Bob Battaglia has been involved with Arabian horses for more than four decades. He has lost count of the number of championships and reserves he and his amateurs have won at the U.S., Canadian, and Youth Nationals; more than 10 years ago, it passed 450. He has been named APAHA Horseman of the Year four times, Saddle Seat Trainer of the Year three times, and English Trainer of the Year. In addition, he is known as an instructor with a unique ability to communicate with amateurs. Among other industry contributions, he has served on the Board of Directors of both the Arabian Horse Trust and the Arabian Horse Foundation, and was vice chair of the Education and Evaluation Committee. He has taught at AHA judging seminars, been a member of the AHA Judges’ Steering Committee, been Vice Chairman of the National and Regional Classes Committee, and has served on AHA’s Whip Study and APAHA’s Hoof Study Committees. For USEF, he served as Chair of the Show Standards Committee. He was a founding member and past president of APAHA. As a breeder, he has contributed an impressive array of national winning Arabians and Half-Arabians. n

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