The American Trakehner Association Announces 2008 Convention

Burbank, CA, November 03, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The American Trakehner Association (ATA) is pleased to announce its 2008 Convention to be held November 20 – 22 in Burbank, Ca. The ATA convention will feature an array of activities from board meetings to stallion inspections, the mare show, branding, show jumping, a dressage exhibition and much more – all showcasing the versatile Trakehner horse. A complete schedule of events and registrations information can be found on the ATA website at www.americantrakehner.com.

All horse related activities will occur at the LA Equestrian Center. Board meetings and evening networking events and dinners will take place at the Glendale Hilton. Here is the schedule at a glance:

Thursday, November 20
8 a.m. – Mare and Young horse show judged by Hilda Gurney, suitability class to follow judged by Margo Hoagland and Jean Brinkman.
1 - 3:30 p.m. – Seminar/Demonstration, topics to be announced
3:30 p.m. – Seminar/Demonstration in outdoor arena
6:30 p.m. – Reception at the Glendale Hilton
8 p.m. – ATA Horse of the Year Award Announcements

Friday, November 21
8 a.m. - noon – Mare Inspections
noon - 1 p.m. – Seminar: Evaluation of weanlings and yearlings as future sporthorses by Erhard Schulte
1 p.m. – Stallion Inspection: measuring and hard surface followed by triangle
2 - 3 p.m. – Seminar: The importance of the Mare in breeding by Maren Englehardt & Erhard Schulte
3 p.m. – Branding clinic and branding of horses, location to be announced
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. – Schooling of participating stake horses
3:30 p.m. – Tentative clinic/seminar in outdoor arena
4:30 p.m. – Jumper Calcutta auction
6:30 p.m. – Exhibition: Hunter Stake, Jumper Stake, Foal Photo Contest and futurity winners announced, followed by performance exhibition and stallion parade

Friday night’s exhibition and stallion parade promises to be an event highlight. Horses performing in the exhibition include Pr.St. In Zukunft, Pr.St. Helca, Promises to Keep and Herzberg. Stallions participating in the Stallion Parade include Aul Magic, Horalas *Pg*, Windwalzer *Pg* and Saxon.

Saturday, November 22, 2008
8 a.m. – General membership meeting at the Hilton
1 p.m. – Stallion Inspection: At liberty, free jumping and announcements (branding to follow)
2:30 - 4:30 p.m. – Clinic/demonstration: On the road to Grand Prix, Development of the young dressage horse by Stefanie Herken-Wendt
6 p.m. – Banquet at the Hilton

Inspections provide the opportunity to present horses for approval into the ATA studbooks, as well as offer participants a tremendous learning experience. All horses that are presented for inspection must be pre-registered with the ATA.

The inspection process is clearly defined on the ATA website, but basically it includes the following elements:
1. Stand to be measured (height, girth, and canon bone)

Walk and trot on a hard surface (sometimes asphalt)
Walk and trot on a triangle in an arena. (usually sand or other soft footing)
Walk, trot, and canter at liberty in an arena.
Stallions must also free jump three obstacles. Mares do not jump.
Walk for final evaluation before the results are announced.

A special thanks to all of the sponsors for making the convention possible and to all the stallion owners for their donations to the Stallion Service Auction.
The American Trakehner Association (ATA) was established in 1974 as a non-profit association of breeders, owners, and friends for the promotion and preservation, in the Western Hemisphere, of the warmblood horse of Trakehner origin. The ATA serves a number of purposes including:
· Maintaining a public registry of Trakehner horses.
· Marking and branding approved stallions, mares and foals with the Association's corporate seal.
· Disseminating information to breeders, owners and friends pertaining to the breeding and raising of Trakehner horses.
· Promoting the performance of the Trakehner horse in dressage, three-day eventing, hunting, jumping, driving and other sporting disciplines.
· Encouraging a public understanding of the Trakehner horse, its breeding and performance.

For more information on the American Trakehner Association visit www.AmericanTrakehner.com.

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