ANWARC NEWS – OPEN DIVISION – SPRING 2019

 Hey, Everyone!  Who’s ready for show season?  I know I am!

 Our ANWARC Awards Banquet in January was well attended, once the weather cooperated, and our new venue was fantastic!  Many thanks to the Johnson Church of Christ for the hospitality.  It was so nice to have plenty of room to spread out, with no time restraints.  This allowed us to have a silent auction this year, thanks to Organizer Sarah Mitch, and with the help of Rosalie Jones and Marvelene Kusewitt.  We raised over $500 in the auction!  That money will go towards our 2019 Year End Awards.  We had numerous door prizes this year, as well.  We handed out 138 awards to 40 winners, totaling over $7,400.00.  All winners received gold foil certificates for their classes won, thanks to Lynn Francis.  Prizes ranged from trophies, belt buckles, leather halters with nameplates, tack, and gift cards. 

 Our 2019 Officers are:  President Phillip Curlee; Vice President Sarah Markley; Secretary Shirley Shelby; and Treasurer Cindy Pharr.

Congratulations to our Gaited Division Sportsmanship winners, Michael Taylor and Kolton Myers!  And congratulations also to our Open Division Sportsmanship Winners, Junior & Kellie Cantu and Autum Ruth!  Trophies were also awarded to our Top ANWARC Supporters – Kim Landa and Phillip Curlee.  Alie Wood from the Open Division was awarded the Most Improved Rider Award. 

 The items specific to the Open Ballot both passed.  The two Jack Benny classes, English and Western, will now be a combined English/Western class held during the English Division.

The previous Bareback Equitation Walk Trot class will now be a Fun Class!  Bareback Ride-A-Buck Walk Trot will be a winner-take-all class.  Each rider supplies their own dollar bill, and the last person to keep their dollar under their thigh will win everyone’s dollars!  Helmets are required for all riders for this class.  (There will no longer be a year end award for this class, since it will not be placed through six places.)

Most importantly, voted on and passed by both divisions, is the change to our Year End Award system.  Class average will no longer be a factor in determining the number of awards; and there will now be FIVE awards given for each class!  Criteria still require that both exhibitor AND owner be a member; exhibitor must satisfy a four-hour work requirement; and the exhibitor (or horse, in the case of classes with points to the horse) must show in at least half the shows.  For the Open Division, exhibitors (or horse) will have to show in five of the ten shows.  Since a double point show counts as two shows, a person could possibly show on only three show dates to accomplish that – two double point shows, and the third show could be single point or double point to satisfy the requirement.

I shouldn’t have to tell you to be sure to enter the same class or classes at each show you attend, but you’d be surprised at the people who have failed to do that consistently in the past.  Pay attention to whether the points go to the horse or to the exhibitor.  (In the Open Division, almost all classes will award points to the exhibitor, rather than the horse, with the exception of the halter classes.)  If the points go to the horse, a substitute exhibitor can show the horse, provided that exhibitor is also a member of one of our clubs.  And provided that each exhibitor of that horse meets the four hour work requirement.  If the points go to the exhibitor, a person can show a different horse from show to show and the points will all count, as long as the various horses are all owned by a member or there is a lease agreement filed with ANWARC for the horse.  And that one exhibitor, regardless of the number of horses he/she shows, will only have a single 4-hour work requirement.   

The new award system will no doubt be a game-changer!  I see the potential for almost everyone to receive a year end award, IF they follow the criteria.   So get those work hours scheduled early.  With many more people who could be eligible to win awards, work hours may become scarce, especially if you wait until the last half of the show season.  I would encourage those of you who can, to volunteer to work a Gaited Division show to get your hours in.  Another option would be to work an hour or so at several Open shows, either before or after your classes.  The work does not have to be completed all in one show; and you can have someone work on your behalf, if they will assign their work hours to you.

The Open Division shows will start at 9:30 a.m.  Registration opens at 8:00 a.m.  The registration deadline is 9:00 a.m. for the Halter Division.  We simply must have the extra time to transfer the entries to the class sheets so we can start the show on time.  And we expect you to fill out your entry forms completely, using the same name for your horse at every show, so that we can be sure to record your points correctly. 

We are very fortunate that Kendall Smith will continue as our Registration Secretary!  When you report to the Registration Desk, you need to see Kendall first.  Do not give your entry form to any of the personnel who are transferring entries.  All entries must go through Kendall; or in her absence, whoever is running the cash box that day.

Our Buy-A-Class program will continue, in which you can purchase a class of your choosing for $25.00 per show.  This affords an opportunity to show for those who need a different class than what is currently being offered.  If the class is purchased in at least half the shows, there will be year-end awards offered for the class, as well, provided there are exhibitors who meet the criteria to receive year-end awards.

So let’s review:

Membership is not required to show with us; however, we do have a very nice year-end award program for those who ARE members, especially now that we are offering five awards per class.  Since ANWARC is an association of clubs, your membership dues need to be paid directly to one of our member clubs.  Once you pay your dues to one of our member clubs, you are automatically a member of ANWARC.  There are no separate dues that have to be paid.  Since our first Open show is on April 13^th, you have time to pay your membership dues directly, prior to show season starting.  I will attach a membership application to your current club.  Or you can download club membership applications from our website.  They will have the information as to where to mail your club dues.  Please pay this with enough advance notice for the first show.  Registration will go much more smoothly if we do not have to also deal with membership dues money, since that requires a separate check. 

Class Sponsorships:  These must be paid before the first show.  Again, registration will go much smoother – and you won’t forget to pay – if we do not have to collect sponsor money with entry fees.  If you are showing for points, your points will not count until your sponsorship is paid, so this is important.   Please mail your class sponsorship to me at:

Mrs. Cindy Pharr

P. O. Box 96

Lincoln, AR 72744 (If you don’t remember how much you owe – or IF you owe - call or text me at 479-841-1135.)

WORK HOURS:  As previously mentioned, each exhibitor must put in four hours of work.  That can be done by the exhibitor OR someone working on their behalf.  Half the hours must be “registration” hours – which is ANY job, other than working the gate and handing out ribbons.  If we did not stipulate this, we would have three people working the gate at the same time and four people trying to all hand out ribbons, since those are the easiest jobs.  The other jobs are much more important.  Sign up before the shows start by contacting me at pharrsha@pgtc.com.  The Work Hours Book will also be in Registration at each show.  You must sign in and out to record your work hours in the front of the book.  There is a section behind the sign-in sheets to sign up ahead of time for future shows. 

Now, pay attention, this is very important!  In the nine halter classes, the points go to the HORSE.  If four different people show that horse in a particular class throughout the season, for that horse to win an award, all four people must be members and each has to have 4 work hours!  The points for the remaining classes, #10 - #50, will go to the exhibitor.

Another important rule for awards:  BOTH the Exhibitor AND the Owner of a horse have to be members of ANWARC.  If you are showing someone else’s horse, be SURE they have a current membership.  If they do not, and you are leasing the horse, then you must provide a copy of your lease agreement at the first show in which you compete.

Showbills and entry forms can be downloaded from our website:  http://anwarcclub.tripod.com.  The 2019 Rule Books will be available soon, both online for download, as well as printed copies in registration for $2.00.

Negative Coggins papers are required and will be checked.  (This will be enforced, regardless of the pending outcome of Senate Bill 405 – which I’ve been told may be re-introduced, in spite of already being defeated.)  You will get your entry forms from the EIA Verifier.  If you choose to download your entry form to save time by filling out ahead of time, that is great!  But be sure to have the Verifier initial your form for you!

Concessions at the first show – April 14^th - will be provided by our club host, the University of Arkansas Block and Bridle Club.  This fundraiser helps to fund their educational trips, so please support the concessions!

Any questions?  Read the Rule Book!  We want all of you to earn a year end award at the end of the season, but it is your responsibility to know the rules to accomplish that.  Download a Rule Book or buy one at the Registration Desk!

ANWARC also has classes designated to qualify you to show at the Arkansas State Championship Show over Labor Day weekend.  Thanks to the Northwest Arkansas Horse Show Assn. (NWAHSA), for providing our Gaited exhibitors with this amazing opportunity!  (Those classes are also indicated on the showbill.)