Join us for this fun filled event where you can practice trail obstacles in a relaxed atmosphere. And even participate in a split the pot timed obstacle challenge.

January 22, 2023 at 2PM

There will be a board member meeting beginning at 2PM followed by a general member meeting as scheduled on Sunday, January 22, 2023. Location is The Goose & Gander Resturant, 133 E. Maint St. in Midway, KY.
It is an easy hop from both I-64 & I-75.

Expected to last about two hours, food will be available to order. If you plan to eat, please arrive early to eat before the meeting starts.

Thank you!

An enthusiastic chestnut bursts into the ring, her turquoise and silver native costume gleaming in the lights of the arena as she hand gallops to the cheering of the crowd. Behind her a slew of greys, bays, chestnuts, and a buckskin come streaming in, all ready to put on their performance. The event? The famous Equine Affaire!

Each year, thousands of people flock to the Ohio Expo Center for a weekend of clinics, shopping, and being able to be up close and personal with nearly every single breed of horse. The best of each breed is brought in to demonstrate the various disciplines their horses are known for, and some like to showcase what their breed can do that others weren’t aware was an option. Nearly every horse presented in the demos is also available to be seen back at the public stalls, so the public can meet one on one with the horses that were their favorite.

We’ve been lucky to be invited back a few years in a row with our KAHABA horse, Written In The stars (better known as Izzie). While Izzie enjoys the performance aspect of Equine Affaire, she has always much preferred the interaction with the public. The past two years, our group has upgraded to be in the public stalls to allow more interaction with the crowd. This year, we even took up both sides of an entire aisle to showcase our beautiful Arabians!

Throughout our time there, we were able to change many opinions on our breed. The most common comments were “I’ve heard Arabians are spooky!” “I don’t want an Arabian, they are crazy!” “They are way too small!” All I had to do was ask “do any of these horses look crazy?” Every single one of our horses were greeting the public with ears up and a kind eye. Each ready to meet the smallest child, the oldest adult, and the most timid of all. We had height ranges of 14 hands (true pony size) all the way up to something around 16 hands. We explained how the Arabian was the tent horse for the Bedouins. That their most prized animals were left with the wives and children to protect them, and literally staying in the tent with the family.

With the few years we’ve gone, I’ve honestly lost track of how many people walked away from our horses saying “my next horse is going to be an Arabian!” The beauty of our breed is we allow half Arabians to be registered, which makes them eligible to be shown. This creates an even larger market for our breed. A lot of people don’t understand the Arabian was bred to carry a full grown man while galloping across the desert, so height is often a stopping point for some. Being able to cross the Arabian on a larger horse allows these people who worry about height to find something they are comfortable with. However, there are also MANY large Arabians, which we were very lucky to have a large purebred demo with us in the past!

Equine Affaire is one of the best places to showcase our breed. It’s a very large, sometimes overwhelming environment that takes a special horse to take it all in stride while maintaining a wonderful performance to wow the crowd! So to show a breed that everyone has tried to label as crazy in such a stimulating scene really shows people that the Arabians are far from crazy! What we often tell people is they are just flat out smart!

I do want to take a moment to try and write down all the horses that joined us this year! We had A LOT of horses from Kentucky travel up to Columbus to present, and this event couldn’t have done it without everyone and our fearless leader Jennifer Tucker. – submitted by Katie Lauer.

The horses, along with their disciplines, were:

Written In The Stars (Izzie) – Dressage (KAHABA horse)

Arkynstone (Diego) – Sport Horse In Hand (KAHABA horse)

Groovin’ – Dressage

CF Hot Diggity (Sadie) – Native Costume (In Kentucky)

SRC Laurel Bay (Lolly) – Sport Horse Under Saddle (Kentucky bred)

MSU Supersticious (Sparty) – Native Costume

SF Lil Bit O Texas (Texas) – Jumping (Bridleless!) (In Kentucky)

D Caprio – Halter

Triton PA – Hunter Pleasure

WM Great Scott (Scotty) – Western Pleasure (Kentucky bred)

LC The Cavalier – Ranch Riding (In Kentucky)

Prometheus PA – Ranch Riding

AO Gazelle – Sport Horse In Hand

A worldwide sensation where people flock from every corner of the world to descend on the Kentucky Horse Park for one thing: a huge celebration of the horse. Breyer models spill out of every place you turn. Auctions selling some of the most expensive ones you’ll ever see. Mad dashes to get in line for the Special Run models, or to meet that horse that is on a Breyer.

And there we are with our Arabians, central to all of this. A huge group of fifteen passionate Arabian lovers all wanting to do one thing and one thing only: to share the love and joy of the Arabian horse. Myths are busted left and right as our horses snuggle and enjoy the company of all these people that are strangers to us, but connected in our love for these magnificent animals.

Each year the Arabians have one of the largest presences at this event as so many people want to share the love of their horse with the public. We showcase many different styles and disciplines to really show off the versatile Arabian. Each person in the demonstrations is on a volunteer basis with the participants asking to be a part of this.

I have been fortunate to have been a part of this wonderful event for the last two years. This year, we were able to demo something a little out of the norm. Most demonstrations highlight what the Arabian (or any of the other breeds) can do in the show ring. However, not everyone is out to hop right into the show ring. Many want nothing to do with showing, and instead want to see that they can enjoy their horse elsewhere. So this year, after years of standing on the sidelines watching as I demoed one of our horses, my husband joined me in the ring. He looked like a regular guy, wearing his trademark jeans and a t-shirt (adorned with his helmet!), and just plodding along at the walk, trot, and even canter in front of a packed house. His horse, a young green bean to the show world and the youngest horse in the demo, confidently carried him into the ring. No, they weren’t show ring perfect. But that was the point. The point was to show the Arabian was for EVERYONE. The Arabian wasn’t just for show, but was truly the family horse. The horse to take out on those trails. The horse to explore new things, new ideas. The horse that isn’t just some piece of equipment, but your partner in crime.

The crowd loved it. The crowd loved seeing the diverse Arabians showcase nearly everything they do best. From your family horses to your Country English Pleasure horses. From Western to Jumping. From Dressage to Ranch. And the dazzling Native Costume horse who not only galloped around the huge ring, but also demoed as the lead line horse.

There truly isn’t much of a greater stage to showcase the breed to than a packed full arena with wide eyed children staring in awe as the proud Arabian shows them what it’s all about. We want the breed to succeed regardless if it’s a show home or a pleasure home. The absolute best place to do that is where there is noise and kids wanting nothing more than to have a horse. That is where you find The Next Generation. – submitted by Katie Lauer

Arabians were well represented at the Equine Affaire. Special thanks to all of those who work tirelessly to promote the Arabian breed. We appreciate you all.

In conjunction with the Arabian Horse Association of Region 14, several KAHABA members and their horses participated in the Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio. Equine Affaire is a national, premier equine trade show that promotes all breeds, hosts clinicians and demos, and boasts some of the best equine inspired shopping around!

Danny, Jennifer, and Blair joined forces to share and promote the Arabian and Half-Arabian horse each day with the public and made lots of lasting impressions on many!

Danny Thompson and Aston Marwan ABC

Jennifer Tucker and Rodeo Road

Blair Cecil CF Hot Diggit

HALTER DIVISION – CHAMPION – MAJOR MACGIC AFIRE – ANN HENRY RESERVE – ASTON MARWAN ABC – DANNY THOMPSON

SPORT HORSE DIVISION – CHAMPION – ASTON MARWAN ABC – DANNY THOMPSON RESERVE – WM BURBERRY – WILLIAM OAKLEY

HUNTER DIVISION – CHAMPION – OMEGA TAU PHI – BLAIR CECIL RESERVE – ASTON MARWAN ABC – DANNY THOMPSON

SPECIALTY DIVISION – CHAMPION – ASTON MARWAN ABC – DANNY THOMPSON

WESTERN DIVISION – CHAMPION – ASTON MARWAN ABC – DANNY THOMPSON

OPEN DIVISION – CHAMPION – REWRITE THE STARS – NICHOLAS LAUER RESERVE – WRITTEN IN THE STARS – CAITLYN LAUER

DISTANCE DIVISION – CHAMPION – NAJAPUR – PAIGE TAYLOR