From racing to riding... the training diary of an off the track Standardbred

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

SPHO of Massachusetts

To all of my fellow Standardbred owners, I have news! The SPHO in MA is quite inactive as of now. I connected with the vice president today and I am hopefully going to try to get it back up in running. As of now, I am putting together a Year End Awards Program. Details should be posted within the next few days at www.standardbredhorse.com

For those of you who have been part of other SPHO's, what do you think are the most important awards to give? Considering there are few members in the SPHO of MA now, I don't think having a bunch of different divisions to have to buy ribbons and awards for would be economically smart. As of now, I have the following categories:

  • Two Gait
  • Three Gait
  • Eventing/Combined Training
  • Dressage
  • Trail/Hunter Paces/Fox Hunts
  • Driving
  • Gymkhana/Games
  • Hunter/Jumper
  • Pleasure Horse
  • High Point Junior Rider
  • High Point Senior Rider
  • High Point Standardbred (based on points)
  • Standardbred of the Year (horse that shows the most versatility and showcases the breed the best throughout the year)
Any comments, tips, ideas?

It would also be fantastic if you joined! Membership for the SPHO of MA is completely free for 2011, so why not? You have nothing to loose. I am asking a $10 donation (optional ofcourse) if you would like to be part of the awards program to help pay for the award fees at the end of the year. Membership info is currently up on the website (www.standardbredhorse.com) and the awards program info will be up in a few days.

3 comments:

  1. Well, heck, I'd love to join...but of course, I live 3,000 miles away from your fine state. Harumph.

    Good luck with the project, though--I'll be watching and cheering from wa-a-a-a-ay over here!

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  2. I'm so glad to see someone trying to make another chapter more active!

    I'm in NJ and not showing this year, but I wish you luck! If you need some ideas for divisions or specs, the NJ chapter has a very good, thoroughly spelled-out rulebook for their year-end stuff: http://standardbredpleasurehorse.org/PDF/rulebook.pdf

    They're as close as we have to a "national" overheard anymore, so there are a LOT of divisions, but I think your list is a good place to start.

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  3. Good for you!

    -High mile award (people log their training hours)
    -Endurance
    -High point green horse or straight off the track

    Good luck with it :)

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