FROM THE DESK OF
Amy Spinelli-Olson
WELCOME TO THE 2018 NATIONAL
WALKING HORSE ASSOCIATION
PRE-NATIONAL ISSUE
The 2018 National Show is just around the corner. And this event is more than just
a horse show – it is a special occasion and a time for all of us to gather together
and celebrate our amazing breed. We travel many miles to compete, visit with
our horse family and friends and revel in our sound, naturally-gaited horses.
And many of us have been preparing for this event for months – whether as a part of a
committee, a volunteer or as an exhibitor. Many hands and hours of effort go into making the
National Show the best it can possibly be. I want to personally thank all of our hard-working
members, our volunteers, our sponsors and our exhibitors for the endless hours of thought,
time and support. I’m certain that this year’s National Show will be one to remember.
We are blessed with unequalled members, trainers and support teams – and
as a result – each and every National Show continues to thrive and grow.
The passion, teamwork and enthusiasm from our member-driven committees
is second to none. And I’d like to thank them for their tireless efforts.
Focusing on our Future
As in past years, we are keenly focused on our youth. At the 2018 National Show,
all of the Youth rail classes are scheduled primarily on Friday and Saturday to
better support our youth participation. Our members shared feedback on the
difficulty in taking their children out of school for an entire week. While there is still
one youth versatility class prior to Friday, we are confident this modification will
make it easier on our youth riders and their parents in attending and participating
at The National. We must continue to invest in our youth – they are our future.
Amplifying our Dressage
Both Dressage and Western Dressage continue to grow at our National show and across our
industry as a whole. In 2018, our Dressage events will make their debut in the main indoor
ring at the Showplace Arena on both Sunday and Monday to kick off the National Show.
We believe our Dressage program deserves to be in the spot light – and we are excited to
announce – our Dressage exhibitors will find themselves in a brand new Dressage ring as
well. We are thrilled to welcome the Honorable Beth Barritt, a USEF “R” Dressage judge and
licensed Western Dressage judge, who possesses 35 years of experience spanning multiple
events and breeds. 2018 will be a remarkable year for Dressage at the National Show.
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NWHA National News / August 2018